I'm now 15-0 picking Eagle games in the 2017 season. Sunday's New Year's Eve contest at blustery Lincoln Financial Field is a meaningless game in the standings. The eagles have clinched a bye and home field advantage in the NFC playoffs. Dallas has nothing to play for, eliminated from the postseason last week with their home loss to Seattle.
Despite this, in many ways, this is a tough game to predict. And it does have meaning, in several ways.
For the Eagles, beating Dallas is always a good thing. It would sweep the NFC East ( 6-0) and complete a perfect home season at 8-0. Winning on Sunday would establish a new franchise record for a season with 14 wins. Despite the recent concern after Carson Wentz' injury, if you told me the Birds would finish with 14 wins, I would've taken that in a heartbeat.
Winning on Sunday, better yet, defeating Dallas with authority, would instill new confidence in the players and fans going into the postseason. QB Nick Foles needs to play well, not only for his own sake, but to give the players around him the confidence to succeed.
Wentz is a great player, but, like most great players, he makes others around him better too. Maybe that's why we saw so many different guys on offense have outstanding years. So, if Foles is struggling- missing wide open receivers, or failing to push the ball down the field due to lack of arm strength or confidence in his teammates, then his teammates will be playing with doubt and hesitance as well.
For the Cowboys, winning would ensure a disappointing, yet winning season at 9-7. A big letdown from 13-3 a year ago, for sure. Losing would mean an average 8-8 year, which would be appropriate for how their season unfolded.
QB Dak Prescott came up small in big games. RB Zeke Elliot was suspended for six games. Dallas will use that as an excuse for their less-than-expected season, but Elliot also failed last week when they needed him in his return against Seattle, a key win-or-go home battle. Linebacker Sean Lee, their best defensive player, got hurt again for much of the year. And their coach proved again that he is not a championship-caliber guy.
Add to that mess the fact that owner Jerry Jones is the worst. The Cowboys had as many off the field problems as they did on. As long as Jones plays general manager, the Eagles, and the rest of the NFC, should feel safe of Dallas getting to the Super Bowl anytime soon.
As always, turnovers will be a key on Sunday. Will the Eagles play their starters a quarter, half or not at all? Dallas will run the ball a lot behind Elliot, especially with the weather predicted to be brutally cold. The Eagles should depend on their running game as well, a combo of Ajayi, blount and clement carrying the load.
A few weeks ago I said the Birds would finish out 14-2, so I can't go against myself now. The fans will be loud on Sunday afternoon. They should will the Eagles onto victory. But it will depend how much the starters do play.
The score should be low, considering the weather and the fact the both running games should dominate. It may be tough to kick field goals as well, with the swirling wind at the Linc, and the fact that Dallas kicker Dan Bailey isn't healthy.
I'm tempted to pick Dallas, especially since the Eagle starters probably won't play the entire game. But I just can't do it. I think the Birds have enough incentive to play well. Hopefully they have a lead before the reserves come in the game.
It would be reassuring if Philly beat the Cowboys badly. I expecting a thrashing on Christmas night against Oakland. it didn't happen and I don't think it will happen on Sunday.
So let's make it Eagles 20 Cowboys 17
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