NFL odds for every playoff game this weekend are up and perhaps the most anticipated game of the week is the Eagles/Cowboys rematch. Dallas won in Philly earlier this year and trounced the Eagles 24-0 at Cowboys Stadium last Sunday. If Philadelphia wants to reach the Super Bowl, as many football handicappers predicted at the start of the season, it has to improve in a hurry.
Eagles vs Cowboys
Saturday, January 9, 8:00 p.m. ET
Sports betting favorite: Cowboys -4
The Eagles sputtered early but spent much of the season as a powerhouse, winning six straight games before flopping in Dallas last week. We thus can't totally judge them on one poor performance. The Eagles are still a formidable team that gets the quarterback and forces lots of turnovers. Offensively, their pass-heavy attack helps them put points on the board in a hurry. DeSean Jackson predictably broke out this season; he made the Pro Bowl as a receiver and return specialist. He's as fast as any football player in the game (save for Chris Johnson?) and will give a mediocre Dallas secondary major headaches. In Brent Celek, Donovan McNabb has another athletic young target.
Is Philly's rushing attack its Achilles heel? Andy Reid doesn't like to run and LeSean McCoy didn't really grow throughout the season because of that. The Cowboys have the NFL's No. 4 run defense; if the Eagles get the lead, they'll have trouble controlling the clock.
Philadelphia is also susceptible to the big play; that's where Tony Romo and Miles Austin (who quietly led the NFC in passing and receiving yards, respectively, this season) come in. Romo excelled against the Giants, Saints, Redskins and Eagles in December, finally conquering his December hex. He also had a higher quarterback rating the lower the outside temperature got. He was good in all weather, posting a career-best passer rating of 97.6, but the important takeaway here is that Romo no longer seems to be struggling in crunch time. He gets a comfy matchup at home in Dallas this week and could continue to play well even in cold weather later in the playoffs.
The Cowboys will win this game via balance. They have a top-10 rushing attack thanks to the three-headed monster of Marion Barber, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice. Combined with the passing game, that gives Dallas the NFL's second-ranked offense. They will score points, stop the run and pressure Donovan McNabb via DeMarcus Ware and Jay Ratliff. Pick Dallas.
Free pick: Cowboys -4
