Eagles Face Cowboys Without Hurts

The Philadelphia Eagles will host the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field on Monday, Oct. 26, at 8:15 p.m. ET in Week 7 of the NFL season. The Eagles enter the game after losing four consecutive matches, having started the year with two wins. Injuries have severely limited the starting lineup for the home team. Quarterback Jalen Hurts is out of the game after blood clots were found in his calf and lungs. Wide receivers DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks are also missing from the lineup. Running back Saquon Barkley, guard Landon Dickerson, and linemen Jonathan Greenard and Jalyx Hunt are listed as questionable to play.

The Dallas Cowboys arrive in Philadelphia after losing their previous two games in close fashion. The offense scored more than 30 points in each of the three games prior to those losses but managed only 29 points total against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Green Bay Packers. The team struggled to handle blitzing defenses during that stretch. Quarterback Dak Prescott completed 20 of 38 passes for 194 yards and no touchdowns when facing extra rushers in those two contests. The running game produced just 98 yards combined in those games despite the return of guard Tyler Smith.

Coaches Todd Bowles of the Buccaneers and Jonathan Gannon of the Packers utilized blitz schemes that disrupted the Cowboys' protection. According to Tru Media, Tampa Bay and Green Bay sent extra rushers on 38.8 percent of Prescott's dropbacks in Weeks 5 and 6. The Eagles under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio have blitzed on only 24.1 percent of opponent dropbacks this season, which ranks fourth lowest in the league. Fangio has only once since taking the job blitzed on at least 38 percent of dropbacks, suggesting Philadelphia will likely employ a different defensive strategy against Dallas.

The Eagles' secondary has been effective but faces challenges with pass rush generation. Cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell, Riq Woolen, and Cooper DeJean have forced quarterbacks to hold the ball too long on some drops. Philadelphia has recorded a sack, hit, or hurry on only 32.9 percent of opponent dropbacks. The team allows opponents to complete 60.4 percent of passes at 7.0 yards per attempt. However, the defense has given up eight touchdown passes while forcing only three interceptions. The Eagles also benefited from 14 opponent drops, the second most in the league.

The Eagles' offensive options are limited by their injury report. Backup quarterback Tanner McKee started last week and dropped back to throw 48 times. McKee has previously started two games in Week 18 and averaged 44 passes per game in those appearances. The Eagles will likely lean on a pass-heavy approach without Hurts' running threat. If Barkley returns, he has averaged 5.5 yards per carry in the two games he has completed this season. He practiced fully on Friday for the first time since his hamstring injury, though the team may limit his touches initially.

The Cowboys' run defense has been vulnerable this season. Opponents have gained at least 165 rushing yards against Dallas in five of their games. Teams have averaged 4.7 yards per carry against the Cowboys. If the Eagles can establish a rushing attack through Barkley or Dameon Pierce, they may control the pace of the game. The Eagles will look to Makai Lemon, Darius Cooper, and Dallas Goedert as primary receiving targets for McKee. The Cowboys may adjust their secondary alignment with the return of Cobie Durant, who could push Daron Bland to the bench.

McKee has struggled under pressure throughout his career, completing 16 of 45 passes for 179 yards without a touchdown in such situations. His career sack rate is 15.1 percent. The Cowboys have not been elite at rushing the passer, but the state of the Eagles' offensive line could create more opportunities for pressure. The Cowboys are favored by 4.5 points at DraftKings Sportsbook, with an over/under total of 43.5 points. The game will be broadcast on ESPN and ABC and streamed on Fubo.