Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys Pick

Philadelphia Eagles (6-6 SU, 4-8 ATS) vs. Dallas Cowboys (7-5 SU, 7-5 ATS)
When: December 09, 2018, 4:25 PM EST
Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
TV: FOX
BY: Rick Wise

Point Spread: PHI +3.5/DAL -3.5
Over/Under: 43

Takeaways From Week 13

Philadelphia improved to 6-6 after outlasting the Washington Redskins 28-13 Monday night, setting up an NFC East showdown with the Cowboys on Sunday that could make or break its chances of returning to the postseason.

The Eagles offense was pretty good all the way around. Carson Wentz still hasn’t gotten back to what he was last season, but he finished 27-of-39 for 306 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception; Josh Adams led the way on the ground with 85 yards on 20 carries and late acquisition Golden Tate broke out with 7 catches for 85 yards and 1 touchdown. The receiving corps in general gave Wentz a big assist as Zach Ertz, who broke a franchise record in the game with his 93rd reception, added another 9 receptions for 83 yards and Nelson Agholor had 4 catches for 56 yards.

Detroit Lions vs. Arizona Cardinals Pick

The Philly defense also didn’t have its best stuff but was able to hold a Washington offense manned by two backup quarterbacks in Colt McCoy and Mark Sanchez to 235 total yards, 131 passing and 104 rushing. However the unit was unable to contain an aging Adrian Peterson, who posted 98 yards and 1 score on 9 carries, including a 90-yard touchdown gallop.

Meanwhile, the Cowboys suffocated the NFL’s most potent offense with a stunning 13-10 victory over the New Orleans Saints Thursday that puts them in the NFC East driver’s seat.

Pick: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas defense dominated. Led by linebackers Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch, the unit held Drew Brees and the high octane Saints’ offense to 176 total yards, the team’s lowest output since Brees joined the team in 2006. It was shocking to see an offense that was averaging a league-best 37.6 points per game get completely dismantled for virtually the entire game. New Orleans was forced to punt on its first three possessions and was unable to convert a single first down until the final play of the first quarter.

On the offensive side, the Cowboys did just enough to win the game. Ezekiel Elliot totaled 76 yards on 23 carries, Dak Prescott connected on 24-of-28 for 248 yards and 1 touchdown and Michael Gallup and Amari Cooper combined for 151 yards on 13 catches, 5 catches for 76 yards and 8 catches for 75 yards, respectively. Elliot added another 60 yards and 1 touchdown on 6 catches.

The Historicals

This is one of the NFL’s most heated rivalries. The Cowboys and the Eagles have faced each other a total of 119 times dating back to 1960 and the Cowboys lead the series 67-52-0. As of the late, the series is split right down the middle with each team winning 5 of the last 10 matchups going back to 2013.

Injury Concerns

For Philadelphia, listed as questionable for Sunday’s game are LB Jordan Hicks (calf), CB Jalen Mills (foot) CB Avonte Maddox (knee).

For Dallas, listed as questionable for Sunday’s game are LB Sean Lee (hamstring), T Tyron Smith (stinger), WR Cole Beasley (foot), WR Tayvon Austin (groin), DT David Irving (ankle).

When the Eagles have the Ball

The Birds have looked promising in spots each time out, but Carson Wentz still has yet to display the form he did last year in his near-MVP season. The offense does seem to be on the right track though. In the last two games, Josh Adams carried 42 times for 169 yards, a trend that could be paramount to Wentz’s success down the stretch. Running the ball could be a tall order against Dallas’ stout 4th-ranked run defense but so will passing it, as the 7th-ranked unit showed Drew Brees and the Saints.

When the Cowboys have the Ball

The Cowboys did just enough to beat the Saints but it doesn’t look like that’ll be the case against Philly this Sunday, at least on paper. The Eagles rank 10th in the NFL against the run, but Elliot gashed them for 151 yards and 1 touchdown when the two squared off last month. Prescott also had a decent day, going 26-of-36 for 270 yards and a touchdown, which doesn’t bode well for the 21st-ranked Philly pass defense. They employed a fairly balanced attack in that game with 38 pass attempts to 28 rushing, and look for more of the same on Sunday.

Betting Trends

• Philadelphia is 3-8 ATS in its last 11 games
• Philadelphia is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games
• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Philadelphia’s last 6 games
• Philadelphia is 8-4 SU in its last 12 games on the road
• The total has gone OVER in 6 of Philadelphia’s last 8 games on the road
• Philadelphia is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Dallas
• Philadelphia is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Dallas
• Dallas is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
• Dallas is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
• The total has gone UNDER in 15 of Dallas’s last 21 games
• Dallas is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games at home
• Dallas is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Dallas’s last 5 games at home
• Dallas is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing at home against Philadelphia
• Dallas is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Philadelphia

Weather Report
Temperatures of 46 degrees are expected for this one under clear skies with 50% humidity and 13 mph NNW winds.

Rick Wise’s Pick: Dallas +3.5