Duel in Dallas

After an ugly loss, the Philadelphia Eagles have no time to sulk with a major matchup that could help determine the winner of the NFC East.

On the latest episode of “Inside The Birds,” Adam Caplan and Geoff Mosher previewed the Sunday night showdown against the Dallas Cowboys and gave their final score prediction. 

The struggling Eagles secondary will have a tough task against Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb

Dallas Goedert

Adam Caplan: “Because he did have surgery, you have to give it four weeks, you can’t come back before that. That is why even though he felt he could play last week, from a medial standpoint you can’t bring a guy back before four weeks. He’s ready to go, the only question is does he take his normal amount of snaps in a game.”

Geoff Mosher: “You wonder how many snaps he can play and the blocking element. I don’t worry about the catching element, I worry about his ability to get his hands on the jersey whether he is coming across the line of scrimmage, or just a straight up in-line block, or even a chip and release. I’m sure he will be wearing something [on his arm]. Against this Dallas defensive front, if you keep a tight end to block on the run or pass, the tight end actually has to block.”

Cowboys Secondary

Mosher: “For the first time in three weeks, they are playing a team that doesn’t specialize in playing 75% zone like the 49ers and Bills. The Cowboys are going to play man, and in the few times the Niners play man last week, you saw the Eagles have really good man beaters. If they can use that quick game and can run a little bit, the Eagles should be able to create explosive plays using their playmakers as long as they block it up.”

Caplan: “DaRon Bland got roasted by DK Metcalf. To me, [the Eagles offense] should have plenty of success and no trouble moving the ball. They have a healthy group of pass targets here. Stephon Gilmore is a good player, not elite anymore. Go after Bland, if he doesn’t make the big play he is giving it up, get Jourdan Lewis.”

Cowboys Receivers

Caplan: “They are going to spread the Eagles out. (Offensive coordinator) Brian Schottenheimer has had a great influence on (Mike) McCarthy, they are super aggressive together. It’s coming folks, they are going to attack, attack, attack.”

Dak Prescott

Mosher: “One thing that Dak is doing well that is a reprisal from before he had his gruesome ankle injury is he is starting to get outside the pocket in positive ways again and using his legs, not just to run but also to buy time.”

Final Score Prediction

Caplan: “I have it Cowboys 30, Eagles 33. This is less about the rivalry, more about pride. It’ll be ugly at times for the defense, I would be shocked if they gave up less than 24 points.”

Mosher: “I think it is going to be a lower scoring game. The Eagles defensive line knows it has to step it up, and I see them squeezing this one out 28-23.”

– Benjamin Paul is a staff writer for InsideTheBirds.com.