Dallas Cowboys (3-5 SU, 3-5 ATS) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (4-4 SU, 3-5 ATS)
Week 10 NFL
Date/Time: Sunday Night Football, November 11, 2018 at 8:20PM EST
Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
TV: NBC
By Loot, NFL Football Handicapper, Lootmeister.com
Point Spread: DAL +6.5/PHI -6.5
Over/Under Total: 43.5
The Dallas Cowboys come to Lincoln Financial Field for a Sunday Night Football matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles. This NFC East matchup features two teams stuck in limbo. It could still go a few different ways. For the Eagles, they sit even at 4-4 in defense of their Super Bowl Championship last season. They are coming off the bye and before that, they beat the Jaguars, 24-18, and are starting to show a little of their old fire after winning two of three games. Dallas, meanwhile, is looking to get back on the winning track after losing their second in a row on Monday Night Football to the Titans, 28-14. At 3-5, they are now officially up against it, with players and coaches alike now fighting for their careers in a lot of ways.
The Eagles have suffered a Super Bowl hangover of sorts. Still, departures of players and coaches, along with injuries have played a big role in that condition. The offense has struggled to mirror last season's form and is struggling to be average. Flux in some key positions have played a role, like Foles being behind center and then replaced by Carson Wentz. RB Jay Ajayi is on IR and so are a lot of other skill guys. The line is battered. On defense, the injuries have really become an issue. The list of guys injured on defense is almost a more-impressive collection of talent than who is healthy and ready to go.
Maybe coming off the bye, we can see the Eagles hit another gear. Wentz should continue to get better, as he has actually been pretty good. The most-valuable aerial weapon is superb tight end Zach Ertz, but the distance between him and receivers like Alshon Jeffery, Nelson Agholor, and others is too-wide. Addressing a moribund WR crew, the Eagles traded for Golden Tate during the bye week. Maybe that can give them a boost. Whether it's the depreciation of the line or it's just taking time to congeal, but more often than not, this group hasn't been up-to-par this season.
With 48 points allowed in their last three games combined, the Philly defense has been seeing things go better recently. They look forward to getting some pieces back up-front, with Timmy Jernigan and Derek Barnett getting back. The secondary could be getting Sidney Jones and Corey Graham back after missing time. Cornerback Jalen Mills is also questionable. They are still strong against the run, though having to use so much depth in the secondary has come at a cost this season. We'll see how they do in this divisional spot.
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Dallas was able to hold off the effects of mediocrity for almost half the season, alternating wins and losses for the first seven games. Two straight losses, however, have them on the endangered species list. A 14-point home-loss to a Titans team that entered the game on the heels of three straight losses isn't a terribly-positive sign. Still, in a division where no one is taking the lead, they are still vaguely in this, but they have to get to the business of winning and start right now.
The Dallas offense has been leaving a lot to be desired in recent weeks. They are a good running team, but it hasn't really come to pass in recent weeks. Three out of the last four games have seen Ezekiel Elliott having lukewarm performances. That takes away a lot of their menace. We see an offensive line that isn't really what it once was, as evidenced by their line coach getting canned prior to their last game—a demoralizing loss coming off the bye. The line gave up five sacks in the Tennessee game, illustrating their slippage. Getting WR Amari Cooper enhances the aerial-game and gives wayward Dak Prescott another option, with the receiver crew being thin. Still, when you have two weeks to get it together and Tennessee beats you at home by two TDs, it doesn't say much about where this team is headed.
We saw Dallas' defense not really get it done on MNF. They had been showing a lot of stinginess lately, having not given up over 24 points until last week. And while they may still be ranked highly in certain areas, they are not playing in tandem with an offense that struggles lately to put up points. The team needs a clutch defense more than anything and when the chips are in the middle of the pot; this defense typically hasn't answered the call this season. There are still playmakers on this side of the ball like Demarcus Lawrence. We'll see if they can get it on the right track and show some of their rigidity against an Eagles offense that hasn't hit their stride this season. Still, with so many injuries, this could be a time where we start to see the Dallas "D" truly start to ebb.
The Eagles really need to win, but so do the Cowboys. The game has an urgent feel for both teams. Granted, NFC East-leading Washington is only 5-3, so this won't be cinched up for a while, but each team needs to get to the business of winning this week. Coming off the bye didn't help the Cowboys last week, but I see the Eagles benefitting from the time off and using the time to get refreshed physically and mentally. I'm going with the Eagles in this one.
Loot's Prediction to Cover the Point Spread: I'm betting on the Philadelphia Eagles minus 6.5 points. Bet the Cowboys vs. Eagles Sunday Night Football game for FREE by taking advantage of a massive 100% sign-up bonus on your first deposit of $100 to $500 at GTBets!
