The real classic from the NFC East comes in the Sunday Night Game of Week 11. The Dallas Cowboys (5-4) receive the team with the best record so far, the Philadelphia Eagles (8-1). The Texans need to improve their offensive line urgently, because the Eagles are known for a good pass rush and have even dangerous weapons. DAZN will broadcast the match live from 2.30 a. m. on Monday night.
The infinite saga has an end. Ezekiel Elliott withdraws his objection and lacks the cowboys until week 15. The running back may not train with the team during his suspension. According to media reports, he has left the country and is keeping himself fit in an undisclosed place.
Sure, the failure hurts the cowboys. Elliott leads the league in Rush-yards per match, with Dallas almost all the running moves over the 22-year-old started. But already last week Alfred Morris showed that he had what it takes to be a worthy replacement. Against Atlanta, the backup achieved an average of 4.8 yards per run in its eleven carries.
However, the cowboys did not trust Morris very early on in the game and increasingly opted for pass-plays from quarterback Dak Prescott: While the boys with Elliott ran against the 49ers and Redskins at around 60 percent of their snaps each, they decided against the Falcons for a pass on average in two of three moves.
The Eagles, who come back from Bye Week, are one of the best defenses in the league against the run, they only allow 3.6 yards per run. Fairly enough, however, it should be mentioned that due to the strong offense and their good rush defenses against no other team fewer attempts are made than against the Eagles. If teams try their hand at the run, they are often quickly stopped by the strong front line.
The much bigger problem in the Cowboys-Offense is the failure of Left Tackle Tyron Smith. In the game against the Falcons, Backup Chaz Green showed a devastating performance, with the 25-year-old playing a major part in his opponent Adrian Clayborn scoring six sacks.
I feel good,”he said Thursday, although he had to take ten hits against the Falcons throughout the match,” I’ve had worse games.”
One of the best offensive lines in the league misses with Smith her most important piece of the puzzle and suddenly shakes. While the cowboys with the fourfold pro-bowler in their pass-protection allow an average of 1.6 sacks, without them there are 2.5.
“We’re usually really proud of how we protect our quarterback,”said offensive coordinator Scott Linehan during the week,”I don’t want to call it a runaway, the Falcons caught us cold in the pass rush.”
But Linehan sees no reason to completely change his team against the strong Eagles:”When a golfer plays a bad round, he doesn’t immediately throw away all his clubs and fire his caddy. He’s gonna try to work on his weaknesses on the range, and that’s exactly what we’re gonna do.”
“I’ll take it a little bit too,”added Linehan,”it’s not just the man on the left. We have to tell ourselves that this (the appearance against the Falcons, Note. d. ) actually wasn’t ourselves.”
Talking to NFL Networks Ian Rapoport, Prescott joined his coach in blaming the O-Line for the feeble performance against the Falcons. Rather, he also took his receivers into his duty to offer himself against the Eagles earlier. In addition, Prescott had to see for himself how to get rid of the ball faster.
With the Eagles, Dallas is expecting a defense that’s been struggling to score points on the scoreboard all year round,”We’re going to make some adjustments and go on,”says Linehan. Byron Bell is expected to appear as Left Tackle on Sunday evening. A further adaptation could be to use several backs and tight ends for passport protection.
On the other side of the ball, the cowboys’ injuries are just as worrying and just like Smith in the offense, there is no elementary piece of the puzzle. Linebacker Sean Lee, who had to leave the field against the Falcons due to thigh problems, will miss the cowboy front in the division duel.
“We know how important Sean is to us, but that can’t be an excuse for us,”said veteran Justin Durant, who is in discussion with Rookie Jaylon Smith for the position of the Middle Linebacker.
Lee’s failure is a bitter setback for head coach Jason Garrett’s men, as Philadelphia has impressive options for backfield moves despite Darren Sproles’ injuries with LeGarrette Blount and newcomer Jay Ajayi. In addition, there is the solid Rookie Corey Clement, which also gets more and more snaps.
Blount and Ajayi have been used to getting most of the workload in their teams in the past. We have great dynamics,”Ajayi said on Thursday about his colleagues from the Backfield:” We all have our special strengths, and whoever’s out there is about giving it all.”
“If you want to win games, you have to run efficiently,”Blount emphasises the importance of the running game,”We have to make sure that we circulate the ball well, especially during this season’s phase. Cause that’s when the teams are tired and beat, they’re no longer the fittest.”
Good rushes also help quarterback Carson Wentz to widen his passing game. The 24-year-old is playing a strong second NFL season and is looking forward to his third game of his career against the cowboys:”I think it’s really cool. Like our fans aren’t passionate enough, but this is another big week.”
Clement also rejoices because he suddenly finds himself in a childhood memory:”I grew up with the cowboy Eagles rivalry. It’s crazy to be a part of it all at once.”
“We’re perfectly aware of how much this game means to the fans,”says Safety Malcolm Jenkins,”We try to shield ourselves from it a little bit, but when you get out of the training ground, you’re going to get a lot out of it. d. Red.).”.
The last duels between the two teams in the AT&T Stadium went into overtime, in October last year the cowboys won, in the previous season the Eagles prevailed. Philly also won the last duel on New Year’s Day this year with 27:13. Quarterback Tony Romo made his last appearance in the NFL in this match.
Dallas Cowboys (5-4) – Philadelphia Eagles (8-1) (Monday, 2:30 a. m. live on DAZN)
The SPOX NFL betting game, Week 11:
Pascal
De Marco
90-56