Eagles vs Cowboys: Inactives, Keys to the Game and Pick

The Eagles know they have a lot on the line tonight when they head to Dallas to face the Cowboys.

The Eagles dropped an ugly 20-10 decision to Dallas back in Week 2, but this week they can not only get revenge for that loss, but put a huge hammer to the nail in the Cowboys coffin with a win.

Overall, the Eagles and Cowboys have met 113 times, including playoffs, with the Eagles trailing the series, 64-49.

In Dallas, the Cowboys lead the series 36-22 over Philadelphia. At AT&T Stadium, the Eagles lead the series with the Cowboys 4-3, including wins in the last two seasons

(Listen on 97.3 ESPN, coverage starts at 7:30pm, Kick-off at 8:30pm)

The Eagles listed left tackle Jason Peters (back) as out, WR Nelson Agholor (ankle), RB Ryan Mathews (groin), LB DeMeco Ryans (hamstring) are all questionable.  LB Kiko Alonso (knee), DE Brandon Bair (groin), LB Bryan Braman (shoulder) are all probable.

On the Cowboys injury front, Bryant was listed as "limited" in each of Dallas' practices this week, but is listed as probable for the game.  Other than Tony Romo being out, Dallas is pretty healthy for the game.

Eagles’ inactives: LT Jason Peters, ILB Demeco Ryans, WR Nelson Agholor, DL Brandon Bair, ILB Brad Jones, CB Denzel Rice, and QB Thad Lewis.

Cowboys’ inactives: 

Outside View: Chuck Cooperstein, 103.3 Dallas:

Outside View: Drew Pearson, Cowboys Post-Game Show:

Outside View: Charean Williams, Fort-Worth Telegram:

Outside View: Brad Sham, Voice of the Cowboys:

Matchup to Watch:  Defensive end Greg Hardy vs Left Tackle Lane Johnson and Right Tackle Dennis Kelly – The Eagles will be without all-pro left tackle Jason Peters, Lane Johnson will be playing left tackle for the first time in his NFL career and Dennis Kelly will start at right tackle.  As Chip Kelly discussed this week, the Cowboys will move Hardy up-and-down the line and could try to match him up with Kelly who might be the weakest link on the Eagles line.

Reaction:

While it's not a 'must-win' game for the Eagles or Cowboys, they both will be mathematically alive with a loss in the NFC East race, neither team has an identity other than disappointing teams right now.

The Eagles have run the ball much better since the first time these two teams met and the Dallas defense is last in the NFL in forcing turnovers, the Eagles should try to work the run game, control the clock and pace of the game to try and help keep the mistakes at a minimum. Philadelphia QB Sam Bradford, who has thrown more interceptions than touchdowns in 2015.

On the flip side, the Eagles defense is the NFL's leader in takeaways, and will face Dallas quarterback Matt Cassel, who in two starts for Dallas in 2015 he threw three interceptions in his first game and his second game he went 13-of-25 passing for just 97 yards.

I think the Eagles defense is better than the Cowboys defense and Sam Bradford and the Eagles run game is slightly better then Matt Cassel and the Cowboys offense so i'll lean that way in another ugly game between the two NFC East rivals.

The Pick:  Eagles 22, Cowboys 10

John McMullen’s Take: