When the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys renew their heated rivalry this week, control of the NFC East is at stake. While many anticipate an offensive shootout, this matchup will likely hinge on which team can assert defensive dominance and take command of the division.
Defensively, the Eagles rank 7th in the NFL, allowing only 20.1 points per game. That includes being the 17th-best against the run and the 10th-best against the pass. The Philadelphia defensive line is 21st in the NFL with 2.1 sacks per game. But the key stat for the Eagles is their +6 turnover differential.
For most of the season, the Dallas Cowboys have not met the Eagles’ defensive standard, allowing 29.3 points per game. They are also 29th against the rush and 30th against the pass. Where the Cowboys have an advantage over the Eagles is that their pass rush has produced 2.4 sacks per game. And the turnover differential for Dallas is +8 so far this season.
The overall rankings are skewed toward the Eagles’ defense because they started the season with an elite group of defenders who helped them win the Super Bowl. On the other hand, the Cowboys have recently upgraded their defensive line by adding Quinnen Williams and their linebacker position by adding Logan Wilson during moves at the trade deadline. These personnel moves potentially give the Cowboys the edge defensively against Philadelphia, especially if they can sack Jalen Hurts and take the ball away from the Eagles. Not only will these differences be a factor this week, but they could also determine who wins the NFC East this season.
