The Cowboys are using a little bit of a excessive after their emotional win over the Raiders, and the prospect to get again to .500 is correct across the nook. It gained’t be straightforward, although, as they host the Eagles for a rematch of what was an in depth loss on the highway within the season opener.
Again then, we profiled the offensive and defensive schemes for the Eagles, projecting their new look on offense below a brand new coordinator whereas detailing the modifications that grizzled veteran Vic Fangio was coping with. Not a lot has modified schematically for both facet, however the best way they’re enjoying has.
Defensively, Fangio’s unit began out poorly. Holding Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs to 17 factors in Week 2 was the lone vivid spot, as Philadelphia ranked 18th in EPA/play and twentieth in success charge by way of the primary eight weeks of the season.
Then they went to their bye week and seemingly figured issues out. Within the two video games since, they’ve allowed 16 complete factors and are second in EPA/play whereas rating third in success charge. Granted, a type of video games got here in opposition to a Broncos offense that’s seventeenth in EPA/play, whereas the Lions have been a bit inconsistent and simply modified offensive play-callers the week earlier than going through the Eagles.
Briefly, should you wished to argue that the Eagles nonetheless haven’t figured issues out defensively, there’s one thing to work with there. Odds are in all probability good that they’ve, certainly, figured it out contemplating Fangio’s very lengthy monitor document of success.
The larger downside for the Eagles is that the protection is the one purpose the Eagles aren’t coming into this one on a two-game shedding streak.
The offense has utterly fallen off, and followers are calling for first-year coordinator Kevin Patullo to lose his job. It’s not precisely groundbreaking information that Eagles followers are directing their hatred at somebody after just a few down weeks, however the decline has been stark.
Over the primary eight weeks, when the protection was having hassle stopping a nosebleed, the offense was in a groove. They ranked eighth in EPA/play and fourth in EPA/rush, with Saquon Barkley doing what he typically does.
Since then, although, the Eagles are twenty sixth in EPA/play and thirty first in success charge, forward of solely the Browns. Most regarding is their run recreation, which has all the time been the factor that Nick Sirianni resorts to when the offense isn’t buzzing. These final two weeks, Philly is twenty ninth in EPA/rush, an incredibly low outcome for them.
Maybe the most important concern for the Eagles is that the issue appears to be their offensive line. Solely two different groups are getting stuffed on a better charge of runs for the 12 months; it doesn’t assist that they’re thirtieth in yards after contact per try, both.
Within the cross recreation, Jalen Hurts is seeing extra stress than he often does, and his pressure-to-sack ratio of 21.3% is fifth amongst beginning quarterbacks, simply behind the final quarterback the Cowboys confronted, Geno Smith. The Eagles offense is cratering proper now.
That’s splendid timing for the Cowboys, as a result of their protection simply received an enormous enhance. Quinnen Williams dominated the Raiders and helped open issues up for others on that defensive position, whereas DeMarvion Overshown and Logan Wilson represented tangible upgrades in each run protection and cross protection of intermediate lanes. Even Malik Hooker, who returned from damage, supplied a noticeable bump in manufacturing.
It feels incorrect to say that Dallas is well-positioned to close down Hurts, Barkley, and this offense. That’s the place we could also be although, and looking out on the method every workforce is enjoying coming into this one, it’s laborious to argue in any other case. That leaves issues as much as the battle between Dak Prescott and Vic Fangio, a battle that Dallas was profitable earlier this 12 months earlier than some ill-timed drops from their star receiver.
A technique or one other, although, the stage is ready for the Cowboys and Eagles to ship us one of the crucial thrilling video games you can think about between an 8-2 workforce and a 4-5-1 workforce.
