Eagles vs. Cowboys predictions: Our expert picks as rivals battle for NFC East lead Sunday
There's nothing like an Eagles-Cowboys rivalry game, especially with so much on the line this late in the season.
Both teams are powerhouses. The Eagles lead the NFC East with a 10-2 record, with the Cowboys one game behind at 9-3. The Eagles lead Dallas, San Francisco and Detroit by that same margin for the top seed in the NFC playoffs, and thus a first-round bye.
But the Cowboys are virtually unbeatable at home. They have won 14 straight in "Jerry World," where they're averaging 41 points per game this season.
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The Eagles, meanwhile, just gave up 42 points in a 42-19 loss to the 49ers.
Can the Eagles bounce back and take control of the division, and perhaps the conference race? Or will Dallas get revenge for the Eagles' 28-23 win over them in Philadelphia on Nov. 5, and thus throw the entire NFC into chaos?
Here's how we see the game:
Our prognosticators are Martin Frank (Eagles beat writer/columnist, Delawareonline.com), Greg Giesen (sports strategist, Delawareonline.com), Tom McGurk (sports editor, Courierpostonline.com), Tom Moore (sports columnist, Phillyburbs.com), Bob Jordan (Sports editor, app.com), Bert Bainbridge (Sports betting analyst & columnist, Northjersey.com), Tom Haines (Pennsylvania state planning), Brad Myers (high school sports writer, Delawareonline.com), Melissa Hanejko (High School Sports Content & Social Media, Phillyburbs.com), Kevin Tresolini, (college sports reporter, Delawareonline.com), Michelle Ganassi (audience director & die-hard Steelers fan, Delawareonline.com).
Martin Frank
The Eagles haven't beaten the Cowboys in Dallas since 2017. But the Eagles have a Dallas (Goedert) who's returning from injury. That will help the Eagles' offense just enough, and the defense will improve just enough with the addition of linebacker Shaq Leonard.
The pick: Eagles 33, Cowboys 31
Greg Giesen
So the Eagles were humbled by the 49ers. The Birds were due. Now, prepare for a surge toward the playoffs. The game in Dallas is the first step, and it's going to be a day of redemption for Philly.
The pick: Eagles 38, Cowboys 24
Kevin Tresolini
Can't endorse the Eagles after the way the defense performed against San Francisco and with the struggles they sometimes have in Dallas.
The pick: Cowboys 31, Eagles 27
Tom McGurk
Hospitals will be overloaded with ankle injuries from fans jumping off the bandwagon. But have no fear, the Birds won’t lose another regular-season game the rest of the way.
The pick: Cowboys 35, Eagles 32
Tom Moore
This game should tell us a lot about the 2023 Eagles coming off the blowout home loss to the 49ers. The Birds should have a chance to win, which is encouraging, but they won't quite be able to finish the job at Jerry World.
The pick: Cowboys 27, Eagles 24
Bert Bainbridge
The big question here is can the Eagles 24th ranked scoring defense slow down a Cowboys' offense that has put up 40+ points in four of their last six games? I believe they do at times but ultimately fall just short in a shootout in the Lone Star State on Sunday night.
Prediction: Cowboys 34, Eagles 27
Brad Myers
The Cowboys really, really need to win this game to prove they are among the best in the NFC. And since 1997, whenever the Cowboys have really, really needed to win a game, they haven't.
The pick: Eagles 41, Cowboys 38
Tom Haines
Look for the Eagles to tighten up defensively but come up just short.
The pick: Cowboys 28, Eagles 24
Michelle Ganassi
It may be close, but the Eagles will bounce back from last week's loss.
The pick: Eagles 28, Cowboys 24
Bob Jordan
The Birds will have played Miami, Kansas City, Buffalo, San Francisco, and Dallas twice over a stretch of seven games. That kind of schedule would cook any team.
The pick: Cowboys 28, Eagles 14
Melissa Hanejko
Last week's performance against the 49ers didn't inspire much confidence. And the Cowboys at home are a different animal. So for the first time this season, I'm going to pick the "other guys."
The pick: Cowboys 34, Eagles 29
Overall records
10-2: Hanejko, Bainbridge
9-3: Moore, Tresolini, Frank, Haines, Myers, McGurk
8-2: Ganassi
7-5: Giesen
6-6: Jordan
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Eagles vs. Cowboys predictions: Our picks in battle for NFC East lead
