The Cowboys have reeled off four consecutive wins after losing their opener to the Buccaneers. Cooper Rush has been a capable fill-in for Dak Prescott and will likely lead them again this week. However, Dallas’s four-game winning streak will be tested against the only undefeated team remaining.
The Eagles have played outstanding football and will attempt to fend off the champagne popping for Mercury Morris and company for at least another week. Will they? Check out the following betting preview to find my expectations for the game and my overall Eagles vs. Cowboys predictions.
Eagles vs. Cowboys Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cowboys | +6.5 (-110) | +215 | O 42 (-110) |
| @ Eagles | -6.5 (-110) | -267 | U 42 (-110) |
Odds via Caesars Sportsbook as of 9 pm ET on Oct. 14.
Game Info
- Date: Sunday, Oct. 16
- Time: 8:20 p.m. ET
- Location: Lincoln Financial Field
- TV: NBC
Eagles vs. Cowboys Trends
- The Eagles opened at -6.5 on Caesars Sportsbook on Sunday morning, dipped as low as -5 on Wednesday morning, and sit at -6.5 as of Friday (10/14) night.
- Philadelphia is 4-1-1 against the spread in their last six home games.
- The Eagles are 2-5 against the spread in their last seven games versus NFC opponents.
- The Cowboys are 10-1 against the spread in their last 11 road games.
- Dallas is 17-5 against the spread in their last 22 games against the NFC.
- The Cowboys are 20-7 against the spread in their last 27 games overall.
The Eagles are a Well-Oiled Machine
The Eagles are awesome across the board. As a result, according to Pro-Football-Reference, they’re tied for the second-highest point differential, outscoring opponents by 47 points. In addition, per Football Outsiders, the Eagles are fifth in total offense Defense-Adjusted Value Over Average (DVOA) and fifth in total defense DVOA.
Pro Football Focus (PFF) has also been impressed with their work, giving them the highest overall team grade, second-highest offense grade, and sixth-highest defense grade. Thus, they have multiple paths to victory if one facet of their team underachieves in a game.
Philadelphia’s versatility starts with Jalen Hurts on offense. The dual-threat quarterback has made impressive strides as a passer this year. As a result, he’s averaging 271.8 passing yards per game with four touchdowns and just two interceptions. Still, Hurts is a weapon on the ground, averaging 53.2 rushing yards per game with six touchdown scampers. So, the Eagles are a well-oiled machine.
Can Dallas’s Offense Hold Serve?
The Cowboys aren’t nearly as balanced as the Eagles. Dallas’s defense is carrying the bulk of the load this year. They’re sixth in total defense DVOA and third in PFF’s total defense grade.
Meanwhile, the offense is only 17th in total offense DVOA and ranked 27th at PFF. Thus, Dallas’s defense doesn’t have much margin for error against a supremely talented offense unless the Cowboys’ offense has a surprisingly stellar effort this week.
However, Philly’s stingy defense makes an offensive outburst from the visiting Cowboys unlikely. And, again, Dallas’s offense has been underwhelming, even by traditional measures. According to Pro-Football-Reference, the Cowboys are 23rd in yards per play (5.1) and tied with the Panthers for 24th in scoring offense (18.6). In case you need a reminder of how Carolina’s season is going, the following tweet should sum things up.
The Panthers have parted ways with head coach Matt Rhule, the team announced.
He was 11-27 during his three seasons in Carolina. pic.twitter.com/pN3ULsPixQ
— ESPN (@espn) October 10, 2022
Being in the same discussion with the Panthers in 2022 is a tough look before facing the NFL’s last undefeated team.
Eagles vs. Cowboys Predictions
The Cowboys deserve a ton of credit for their resiliency while navigating the absence of starting quarterback Dak Prescott. Their defense has been clicking on all cylinders, but the Eagles will be their most significant challenge since their Week 1 loss to the Buccaneers.
Conversely, Philadelphia’s loaded defense should be able to keep Dallas’s offense in check, allowing them to feel things out on offense and find their best means of attacking the Cowboys. Additionally, if Dallas’s pass rushers get after Hurts, he has the wheels to evade them, or the Eagles can opt to lean on their rushing attack more often this week. Philadelphia’s versatility will make them a formidable foe against everyone all year. Further, they should be motivated to secure an NFC East win that could pay dividends later in the year. Finally, the Eagles have won three times this year by more than 6.5, doing so in both home contests. As a result, I’ll lay the points with the Eagles.
Pick: Eagles -6.5 Points (-110) at Caesars Sportsbook
