Eagles-Cowboys preview: Five things to watch

2) Can Kenny Pickett make some plays?

After Hurts left the game last Sunday, the Commanders showed little respect for Pickett either as a passer or a runner. They packed the box and dared Pickett to beat them through the air. If the Cowboys employ a similar defensive approach — and spoiler, they will — the Eagles have to make them pay with chunk plays down the field. On Friday morning we took an in-depth look at Pickett's performance against the Commanders on Sunday. In my opinion, it's unlikely that the Eagles would have lost that game if Hurts hadn't gotten concussed. 

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Kellen Moore and Nick Sirianni will be responsible for putting together a game plan for Pickett that hides his deficiencies. That means no more zone reads that opposing defenses aren't going to respect, for example. Their play calls made little sense at times, as they failed to adjust to a less physically gifted quarterback entering the game. They cannot just run their offense as is on Sunday as if Hurts is still the starter.

3) Someone other than 88 will have to beat the Eagles' secondary

A week ago, the Eagles faced a team in the Commanders that has one dominant receiver (Terry McLaurin) and then a big dropoff statistically to the second-leading receiver. 

The Cowboys have a similar dynamic, as CeeDee Lamb has 712 more receiving yards than anyone else on Dallas' roster:

The Cowboys announced on Thursday that they were shutting Lamb down for the season. It's also worth noting that Jalen Tolbert and Jalen Brooks are on the Cowboys' injury report.

In the their loss to the Eagles Week 10, the Cowboys had an impossibly low 49 net passing yards. Cooper Rush was 13 of 23 for 45 yards. He was eventually benched in a blowout for Trey Lance, who was 4/6 for 21 yards and an INT. 

Since then Rush has been much better. He is 4-2 as a starter since that loss, and has 11 TDs vs. 3 INTs. But again, he'll be throwing to a depleted wide receiver corps, and the Cowboys are the sixth-most pass-happy team in the NFL because they have struggled to run it all season.

4) Where might the Eagles go Feastin'™️ 🍗

The Cowboys' offensive line looks like this:

The concern areas:

• Guyton has struggled in his rookie season, as PFF has him down for 16 penalties and 5 sacks allowed. He was benched in favor of Chuma Edoga, who has started the last three games. Edoga is on the injury report with a toe injury. So it'll be a journeyman (Edoga) or a benched rookie at LT.

• Brock Hoffman is filling in for nine-time All-Pro Zack Martin, who is on IR.

• The Eagles wreck Steele every time they play the Cowboys. Even Bryce Huff got himself a strip sack against Steele this season.

FeastinMeter™️: 6/10 turkey legs 🍗🍗🍗🍗🍗🍗

5) Don't kick it to Kavontae Turpin

The Eagles' kick coverage units sucked against the Commanders Week 16. Braden Mann's kickoffs didn't go very far, and the coverage units ceded a lot of yardage on the returns. Here were Mann's kickoff landing points and the Commanders' starting field position after each of his 8 kickoffs on Sunday: 

The Commanders' average starting field position was their 38 yard line.

The Cowboys employ arguably the best kick returner in the NFL in Kavontae Turpin. In the Eagles' first matchup with the Cowboys, Turpin had 47-yard and 36-yard kick returns that he fielded deep in the Cowboys' end zone. 

Turpin is averaging 34.4 yards per kick return this season. He housed one against the Commanders this season on an absolutely electric return:

He also housed a punt return against the Browns.

This statement is maybe a little easier said than done, but DON'T KICK IT TO THAT GUY, especially in a game in which your opponent should be otherwise overmatched.