Philly at Dallas a tough call

Predicting who wins in Dallas this Sunday requires juggling a mixed bag of variables, to the point for me where it’s a genuine toss-up.

Let’s look at the plus side for Dallas:

OVERALL STRONG, SOUND DEFENSE with really good linebackers
ZEKE ELLIOTT=Herschel Walker at his best
AMARI COOPER > Dez Bryant
4 EXTRA DAYS OF REST
BYRON JONES=lockdown corner
DEMARCUS LAWRENCE=comin’ to getcha off the edge
BEASLEY BUGS US

Now the plus side for the Eagles:

LANE JOHNSON IS BACK AT RIGHT TACKLE
EAGLES RUN GAME IS BETTER NOW (compared to first Dallas game)
CARSON WENTZ > DAK PRESCOTT
DEFENSIVE LINE + BLITZ  > DALLAS PASS PROTECTION
ZACH ERTZ = 15 OPEN TARGETS
DARREN SPROLES = PUNT RETURN WAITING TO HAPPEN
DOUG PEDERSON > JASON GARRETT

Cracks in the Eagles’ mirror:

DEFENSE MISSES Rodney McLeod, Ronald Darby and Derek Barnett
DEFENSE ALLOWING 6.95 YPC on 1st Down last seven games
Corey Graham and Tre Sullivan at Free Safety = PRAY
Rasul Douglas or Sidney Jones at Cornerback = OFFER INCENSE
NOBODY = stretch the field at wide receiver
JASON PETERS < what he used to be

Las Vegas has installed the Cowboys as a 3.5 point favorite (at Home, which is usually worth 3 points in the odds anyway), so even the pro gamblers see this game as more of a “pick ’em” in the greater scheme of things.

Gee, it was nice of linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill to throw some gasoline on the Cowboys’ rally bonfire this weekend with his public comments about the likelihood of Dallas “choking” away this game. Maybe in some bizarre “reverse-lock” effect the comments will motivate the Eagles, too? More likely, it will evoke the dulcimer tones of Donovan McNabb’s air guitar circa 2009.