Place battleground (offense): Cowboys vs. Eagles head-to-head breakdown

From everybody at Running a blog The Boys we hope you and your households all had a incredible Christmas. It’s now time to get again into it and look forward at this weekend’s recreation with the Dallas Cowboys taking up fierce division rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles. These two groups are in very completely different locations, one staff has had a season to overlook with a string of unlucky accidents. The opposite is excessive flying and solely has misplaced three video games this season. So how do each these groups offenses stack towards one another? Let’s break it down by place as we do each week right here on the Place Battleground.

QUARTERBACK

Cooper Rushvs.Jalen Hurts

Cooper Rush had one other good recreation, and though he got here near throwing an interception, he by no means turned the ball over. With out CeeDee Lamb on the sphere the offense did drop off however Rush was nonetheless capable of handle the sport and assist produce a win. His landing go to Jalen Tolbert was very good, and Rush acquired rookie Ryan Flournoy concerned final week towards Tampa Bay.

Jalen Hurts leads your entire NFL in dashing touchdowns. He now has 14 dashing touchdowns this season which is greater than each different quarterback and matches working again James Prepare dinner. As a passer, nonetheless, Hurts’ manufacturing isn’t all that spectacular. He ranks twentieth in passing yards and completions, sixteenth in passing touchdowns and has been sacked the fifth-most variety of instances this yr.

Conclusion:Final week, Hurts left the sport at the beginning attributable to a concussion and is now in concussion protocol. Which means there’s an opportunity he gained’t play. If he doesn’t play then this place battle turns into a push since Eagles backup quarterback, Kenny Pickett, can also be questionable attributable to a rib damage. Win: Eagles (if Hurts performs, or this can be a push)

Photograph by Scott Taetsch/Getty Photographs

RUNNING BACK

Rico Dowdle/Ezekiel Elliottvs.Saquon Barkley/Kenneth Gainwell

The streak lastly got here to an finish final week towards the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as Rico Dowdle didn’t rush for over 100-yards in a recreation since Week 13. It wasn’t simply the efforts of the Tampa Bay defensive position that held Dowdle again, however the offensive technique additionally performed its half. The Buccaneers protection hasn’t been dangerous at defending the run however considered one of worst at stopping the go. That meant Dowdle had a day the place he solely rushed for 23 yards, however he did catch three passes for 28 yards. Ezekiel Elliott had a landing off a aim line plunge from the one-yard line, it was his solely carry of the sport which means he had one rush for one yard and one landing.

The Eagles offense is totally predicated on the working recreation and the very fact they’re the quantity dashing staff this yr reveals how dedicated they’re to working the ball. Hurts provides to the staff whole of dashing yards, nevertheless it’s Saquon Barkley who steals the present right here. Barkley leads the league in dashing by a big margin and can greater than probably hit the two,000 yard mark this season which is an insane benchmark. Barkley’s 5.9 yards per carry is probably the most amongst all working backs (minimal 100 carries). He’s additionally second amongst all working backs in dashing touchdowns (and one lower than Hurts), and he’s first in explosive performs amongst all working backs. It’s been a monumental season, and one that the majority New York Giants followers will probably be seething over.

Conclusion:The Cowboys face the daunting job of making an attempt to carry again the incessant tide of Barkley and Hurts as they chew up discipline with their working recreation. The Cowboys protection has an enormous weak spot and that’s in stopping the run. They rank sixth-last in stopping the run this yr. Win: Eagles

Photograph by Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Photographs

WIDE RECEIVERS

CeeDee Lamb/Brandin Cooks/KaVontae Turpin vs.A.J. Brown/DeVonta Smith/Jahan Dotson

A.J. Brown leads the Eagles in receiving and broke the 1000-yard mark final week. He’s fairly a long way behind Lamb by way of receptions and yards, however he has scored six touchdowns which is the equal quantity as Lamb. Brown now has over 200 yards and two touchdowns in his final two video games. DeVonta Smith had begin to the season however his manufacturing took a giant dip for almost all or the mid-season schedule, even managing to provide a recreation the place he went for -2 receiving yards. Jahan Dotson has had a really quiet season and has managed to catch one reception in his final three video games.

Conclusion:Lamb is the chief of the pack between each these staff’s receivers. However the Eagles even have a greater one-two punch on the receiver place. KaVontae Turpin and the rise of Jalen Tolbert not too long ago have given Dallas mroe choices than they’d. Win: Push

Photograph by Cooper Neill/Getty Photographs

TIGHT END

Jake Ferguson vs.Grant Calcaterra

Jake Ferguson completed second in receptions final week towards Tampa Bay. He went for 40 yards and picked up an necessary first down. He labored arduous as a run blocker however as a receiver he nonetheless has but to attain a landing this yr.

Grant Calcaterra is in for the injured Dallas Goedert who’s now on injured reserve. Calcaterra made zero receptions final week and was focused zero instances.

Conclusion:Since getting into the beginning position attributable to Goedert’s damage, Calcaterra has made 4 receptions for 38 yards. However he has scored a landing. Win: Cowboys

Photograph by Cooper Neill/Getty Photographs

OFFENSIVE LINE

We noticed an fascinating beginning 5 on the offensive line final week. Tyler Guyton was on the bench whereas Chuma Edoga began at left sort out. Tyler Smith and Cooper Beebe performed at their respective positions whereas Brock Hoffman performed the suitable guard spot with Zack Martin shutdown for the yr. And Terence Steele remained at his place at proper sort out. The one participant that did battle towards Tampa was Brock Hoffman. He had points each within the passing and working recreation and dedicated two penalties.

However your entire offensive line allowed just one sack all day. The one sack Tampa did get noticed your entire defensive position break by to get to Cooper Rush making it arduous to place the blame on the sack on anyone participant.

This week they face the Eagles who’ve 40 sacks this yr, that eighth-most, however have solely managed to create 104 pressures this yr, that’s the seventh-fewest. The place this Cowboys offensive line could have issues although is within the run recreation. The Eagles protection has carried out very nicely in stopping the run and have allowed the ninth-fewest rush yards this yr. Asim Richards, who has been on injured reserve, has been designated to return so maintain a watch on his observe report this week.

The Eagles offensive line has had their work lower out this season. With Hurts seeking to run greater than go it has led to a lot of pressured sacks, however even with Hurts out this line has been leaking. Final week towards Washington, this offensive line allowed 4 sacks and 11 pressures. This season they’ve allowed the ninth-most sacks.

The place this offensive line comes into its personal is within the run recreation. They’re a particularly gifted run-blocking group with beginning left sort out Jordan Mailata main the way in which. Landon Dickerson and Lane Johnson each add to the firepower in run blocking and this complete line is a bodily and aggressive unit. What has additionally helped this beginning 5 is the dearth of accidents, the place they haven’t had any. By protecting the beginning 5 you create a cohesiveness that helps carry consistency, and that’s precisely what the Eagles have this season. The tip result’s the highest staff in relation to working the ball. Win: Eagles

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Philadelphia Eagles

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