Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles Thoughts

The only NFL I’m all that interested in discussing is Pete Carroll to the Seahawks and pending NCAA restrictions for USC. So why did I comment on this post, you ask? Because it was at the top and my apathetic sloth is measured on the Mangino scale.

Very nice summation of the keys to the game, IMO. Thanks for doing it.

Big Leonard and Gurode just wore the Eagles’ interior linemen out last Sunday, and I see no reason to think they won’t do it again tonight. So the Cowboys’ run game should again be effective. I do expect Philly to bring lots and lots of blitzes to this game, in both run and pass situations, which will be an adjustment from last week. The Cowboys should be able to counter that with their variety of screens and play action passes, so it should be a wash.

We can’t expect McNabb to be as bad as he was last week, though, even though he should still be under great pressure. McNabb has a long history of playing poorly against Dallas, and then following that up with a great game. I expect him to be much more accurate throwing the ball tonight.

This is just a rivalry in which the Cowboys simply match up very well with the Eagles this season. In years past, the opposite has been true. While I agree it is very tough for any NFL team to beat any other NFL team three times in the same season, much less twice in 6 days, I can’t help thinking the Cowboys win again tonight, though certainly not with a shutout.

Call it Dallas 27, Eagles 21.

In the other game today, much as I’d like to think Cedric Benson and the Bengals might prevail, you have to think the Jets are a little too good.

Hook ’em!!!

personalized cheap shot with Andy Reid’s kids.

They’re grown adults, drug addicts, and Eagles fans. How’s it a cheap shot?

and how are they different than other eagles fans?

Not just drug addicts – drug dealers. Fuck ’em.

Hook ’em!!!

Criticize Andy Reid’s kids all you want, they always have the best stuff and you know it.

Excellent write up. I need the ‘boys to win a big one to take the sting out of thursday’s disaster.

OT: Pete Carroll to the Seahawks, I think Saban was interviewing for the SC job while he was in Cali.

I think you made up the Maclin drop that hit him in the chest. I don’t remember that at all – there was the hard pass over his head and behind him that he should have caught – it would have been a really nice grab, but yeah, he could have caught it. He didn’t get hit on the play. I’ve read every recap of the game last week and that play was mentioned a lot, but nothing like you describe.

Further, Maclin’s a pussy if Colt McCoy’s soft. That’s ridiculous. Maclin has caught more balls over the middle than anyone on that team. He gets hit hard all the time. He gets up. He goes back out there. He catches another one. He’s not perfect or anything, but a pussy he is far from.

Phen, did he eyeball the safety for about 5 strides? Did he?

It was a play after the game was out of reach. It was a nine route and he looked up the safety as the ball was approaching. It was one of the most cowardly plays from a receiver that I’ve ever witnessed.

As for Colt McCoy, that’s weak sauce. You’ve already admitted you haven’t seen the play.

Nice win vs. KSU, by the way.

3 penalties on one drive, one of which is entirely phantom.

Pokes are dominating up front. Should be 7 nothing.

Cowboys gonna roll. Eagles have no chance if they can’t run.

McNabb is just awful.

That was a pretty nice take-down on the punt.

Come on Garrett, run the fucking ball.

Don’t run the draw on 3rd and 15, though.

Punt.

Completely BS interference call, but I’ll take it.

Tor, makes up for the first drive. Pokes look good. The Eagles have no answers other than a Michael Vick trick play, they’re being physically beat up.

Cowboys have ran 30 plays to the Eagles 9. Wow.

Egregious amount of holding by the Eagles. Almost as bad as tech got away with last year.

Roy looks pretty good so far.

Here comes the fade to Roy if he gets the same look we just got prior to the two minute warning.

2 of the 3 Philly first downs are by penalty

NDS, wow. That’s crazy.

Eagles are holding with impunity.

Trips, I’m saying Maclin is no pussy. The dude makes plays over the middle constantly. Name-calling is for pussies, by the way.

As for Colt, I was riffing on BOR’s take on him. If Colt is soft as per BOR, then Maclin’s a pussy. However, the bodies of work show toughness.

The Cowboys are playing lights out. And, it’s hard to believe these Eagles were ever considered an offensive juggernaut this year.

big holding call on Leonard Davis. I’m not OK with letting Dallas K try a FG at the end of the half here. Get in the end zone.

Lots of holding on both sides. Guess what, it’s a football game. That’s one of the rules that should abolished since it’s so arbitrarily enforced. Speaking of, isn’t the spot-of-foul pass interference call too punitive? It’s a call that could be called on someone on nearly every long pass and when it’s called, it’s not right more than half the time. When I’m head of the NFL rules committee, I’ll be looking into changing these.

I knew you could do it Shaun!

Cowboys are outclassing the Eagles. The Eagles are playing like pussies. :)

Still a lot of football left, but damn things look pretty good in this game.

Right through your hands, Roy. C’mon.

Maclin with a chickenshit poke at Hamilin out of bounds.

I loved it. They’ve been poking each other on every play. By the way, why would it be chickenshit to hit a guy in the face? The back of the head maybe.

Seriously, these two teams don’t belong on the same field. Either the Cowboys have become the class of the NFC or the Eagles have fallen off a cliff.

Ha, they just showed the play. Did you see it, Phen?

He’s eyeballing the D, again, instead of pulling the ball in. Candyass.

Ha, now Hamlin’s the chickenshit.

Phen, they just showed the replay, did you see the play I was talking about? You know, the one you claimed I was lying about.

It didn’t hit him in the chest…. I saw that when it happened and didn’t think anything of it. Cowardly? I thought it was wise.

Maclin is the sole bright spot on this pathetic team.

Weird, because Chris Collinsworth just made fun of Maclin for doing it.

Is that what the bubble screen is supposed to look like?

Chris Collinsworth? Now, there’s you pussy. Come on!

I didn’t hear any fun-making – for some reason they used that play to show a “history” between Maclin and Hamlin. Admittedly, I have the volume down low as my fussy five month old just dozed on my wife’s lap. I’m missing some audio – but I did hear him say that about Maclin and Hamlin and thought “that’s strange.”

Again, Maclin is the sole bright spot on this pathetic team. How did they get in the playoffs?

Deshaun Jackson is a better player, but he didn’t play for Mizzou so I get it.

Jackson’s fine, but I hate Twitter so when players are well-known for their twittering, I begin to dislike him. I’m not so sure he’s better – they’re pretty similar players. Maclin’s better over the middle in the 5 to 8 yard range. Jackson’s probably better deep.

I mean sole bright spot on this pathetic team – meaning tonight, by the way. The team as a whole has a lot of bright spots. I don’t think the Eagles in general are a pathetic team (my favorite team is the Rams, so I know of pathetic), but they are pathetic tonight. Maclin has more receiving yards than his teammates combined. Sole bright spot.

Dude, Jackson is much better.

Good game for the Pokes. Went about how I expected. The Boys have a real shot up in Minnesota because they run the ball and stop the run. Minny has struggled with power rushing attacks.

I think the Boys beat the Vikings next week. AD fumbles at least once, and Farve does what he does…. by that I mean forces throws, makes it about him, and loses a playoff game. I think Dallas plays up to their potential now that the monkey is off their back.

I also think the Packers beat the Cardinals tomorrow, and then the Packers beat the Saints. Cowboys host NFC championship against Pack.

Boys in Super Bowl against winner of Colts and Pats (in my opinion).

Dallas is already an official FLV NFL bet next week without even seeing the line.

Oh damn, it’s only Minny -2.5. Hold off on my previous comment. Vegas is telling me that Dallas is better on a neutral field. I was hoping for 3.5 or 4.

Art, that’s how I see the NFC playing out too.

Finally, the “hasn’t won a playoff game since ’96” talk can be put to rest. This team is playing lights out on defense, and that gives them a great shot to get to the big bowl. They had a superb balance of rush and pass tonight, and Philly’s D didn’t come close to stopping any of it. Time of possession discrepancy was ridiculous.

The fact the Cowboys exorcised their playoff demons against the despicable Eagles - who have abused and embarrassed Dallas so often in the past decade - made it doubly sweet. Very nice to see Roy making some catches and contributing tonight, although yes, he did have a couple get past him, too.

Also great to see Cedric torch the Jets’ D for 169 yards today in the Bungles’ loss. So nice to see Vince, Ced, Ricky and Jamaal have such good seasons (especially VY).