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Eagles-Cowboys TV preview: Jalen Hurts in the spotlight on ESPN and NFL Network

Even if he doesn’t play, Eagles fans will see a lot of Jalen Hurts on television Saturday.

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts sat for interviews with both ESPN and the NFL Network that will air Saturday afternoon.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts sat for interviews with both ESPN and the NFL Network that will air Saturday afternoon.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
    by Rob Tornoe
    Published 

Despite having nothing on the line, the Eagles will end their season in primetime Saturday in a nationally televised game against the Dallas Cowboys.

The mostly meaningless game will air on both ABC and ESPN. Calling the game will be Monday Night Football announcers Steve Leve, Bob Griese, and former Eagles director of pro personnel Louis Riddick. King of Prussia native Lisa Salters will report from the sidelines.

The Cowboys have a modest reason to care about the game — Dallas could move up to No. 2 seen in the NFC with a win against the Eagles paired with a losses by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Los Angeles Rams, and Arizona Cardinals. So possible, but highly unlikely.

» READ MORE: Eagles playoff scenarios and potential wild card opponents

Meanwhile, the Eagles have nothing to play for after clinching a playoff spot last week with the win over Washington. On Thursday, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said he’s still considering whether to play or rest his starters, but it seems like a good bet fans will get another glimpse of backup quarterback Gardner Minshew (who once told a crazy story about his time in college involving a hammer and a bottle of whiskey).

Even if you don’t see a lot of Jalen Hurts on the field, you’ll hear a lot from him before the game. The young Eagles quarterback sat down for interviews with two Hall of Fame quarterbacks that will air Saturday afternoon — one with ESPN’s Steve Young that will air during NFL Countdown, and one with Kurt Warner for NFL GameDay on the NFL Network. Both pregame shows start at 3 p.m.

As for the playoffs, the Eagles most likely opponent will be Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but there are scenarios where Philadelphia could end up facing the Cardinals, Rams, or even the Cowboys in the opening week of the playoffs.

Here’s the full NFC playoff picture heading into Week 18:

Seed
No. 1
Team
x-Green Bay Packers
Record
13-3
Seed
No. 2
Team
y-Los Angeles Rams
Record
12-4
Seed
No. 3
Team
x-Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Record
12-4
Seed
No. 4
Team
x-Dallas Cowboys
Record
11-5
Seed
Wild card
Team
y-Arizona Cardinals
Record
11-5
Seed
Wild card
Team
San Francisco 49ers
Record
9-7
Seed
Wild card
Team
y-Philadelphia Eagles
Record
9-7
Seed
In the hunt
Team
New Orleans Saints
Record
8-8
Seed
Team
x- Clinched division
Record
Seed
Team
y- Clinched playoff spot
Record

Here’s everything you need to know to watch and stream Eagles-Cowboys on Saturday night:

Cowboys (11-5) at Eagles (9-7): NFL Week 18

  1. When: Saturday, Jan. 8

  2. Where: Lincoln Financial Field

  3. Time: 8:15 p.m. kickoff

  4. TV: 6ABC and ESPN (Steve Levy, Bob Griese, Louis Riddick, Lisa Salters)

  5. Radio: 94.1 WIP (Merrill Reese, Mike Quick, Howard Eskin)

  6. Spanish radio: La Mega, 105.7 FM (Rickie Ricardo, Oscar Budejen)

  7. Streaming: ESPN app (requires authentication), fuboTV (free 7-day trial), YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV Stream, Sling TV (all require a subscription)

  8. Mobile: Eagles app, NFL Mobile app, Yahoo Sports app (free on smartphones and tablets within the Philadelphia market)

  9. Referee: Ron Torbert

Five interesting (ish) notes about Eagles-Cowboys

  1. The Eagles are just 41 yards away surpassing the franchise rushing record of 2,607 yards, set in 1949 (a 12-game season).

  2. Philadelphia hasn’t beaten a team this season that currently has a winning record, but this is the first Eagles team in franchise history to make the playoffs after a 2-5 start.

  3. The Eagles four defensive touchdowns lead the NFL, and Philadelphia’s overall defense is ranked seventh in the league entering Week 18.

  4. The Cowboys could sweep the Eagles for the third time since 2011, which is coincidentally the last time the Eagles swept the Cowboys.

  5. The Cowboys are 5-0 against the NFC East this season, and can go undefeated in the division for the third time in its franchise history (1969, 1989). The Cowboys are 24-6 against the NFC East with Dak Prescott at quarterback — his last divisional lost came against the Eagles in 2019.

Other games airing in Philadelphia on Sunday

Phillies fans will hear a familiar voice Sunday. NBC Sports Philadelphia announcer Tom McCarthy will step in to call Panthers-Buccanneers on CBS in place of Jim Nantz, who is out due to COVID-19 protocols.

  1. Steelers-Ravens, 1 p.m., CBS3 (Ian Eagle, Charles Davis, Evan Washburn)

  2. Washington-Giants, 1 p.m., Fox29 (Chris Myers, Daryl Johnston, Jen Hale)

  3. Panthers-Buccaneers, 4:25 p.m., CBS3 (Tom McCarthy, Tony Romo, Tracy Wolfson)

  4. 49ers-Rams, 4:25 p.m., Fox29 (Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews, Tom Rinaldi)

  5. Chargers-Raiders, 8:20 p.m, NBC10 (Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya)

Eagles reading list prior to kickoff

  1. When it comes to Eagles general manager Howie Roseman, Mike Sielski thinks he had a good year, while Marcus Hayes doesn’t think it’s quite time to celebrate.

  2. Despite taking the Eagles to the playoffs in his first season, don’t bet on the Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni to be the NFL coach of the year.

  3. The Eagles activated center Jason Kelce from the COVID-19 list on Friday, but it’s not clear if the starters will get much playing time Saturday.

  4. Former Eagles players remember the honor of being named to the All-Madden team. “It was better than finding out you had made the Pro Bowl,” said former running back Vai Sikahema.

Pregame shows and other media coverage

As with every Eagles game, staff writers Jeff McLane, EJ Smith, and Josh Tolentino will be covering the action live on Twitter, which you can follow live on GameDay Central. Notes and observations about the game will be at Inquirer.com/Eagles. Don’t forget to subscribe to The Inquirer Sports Daily Newsletter.

Pregame shows elsewhere

  1. NBC Sports Philadelphia airs Birds Huddle (Taryn Hatcher, Brad Feinberg, Barrett Brooks, John Clark) at 6:30 p.m. on NBC Sport Philadelphia+ (due to the Sharks-Flyers game), followed by Eagles Pregame Live (Michael Barkann, Seth Joyner, Ray Didinger, Barrett Brooks) at noon. Eagles Postgame Live will air following the game.

  2. ESPN’s NFL Countdown (Sam Ponder, Suzy Kolber, Randy Moss, Tedy Bruschi, Matt Hasselbeck, Rex Ryan, Booger McFarland, Steve Young) airs at 3 p.m.

  3. NFL Network’s pregame show NFL GameDay (Rich Eisen, Steve Mariucci, Kurt Warner, Michael Irvin) starts at 3 p.m.

Eagles 2021 NFL schedule

  1. Week 1, Sept. 12: Eagles 32, Falcons 6

  2. Week 2, Sept. 19: 49ers 17, Eagles 11

  3. Week 3, Sept 27: Cowboys 41, Eagles 21

  4. Week 4, Oct. 3: Chiefs 42, Eagles 30

  5. Week 5, Oct. 10: Eagles 21, Panthers 18

  6. Week 6, Oct. 14: Buccaneers 28, Eagles 22

  7. Week 7, Oct. 24: Raiders 33, Eagles 22

  8. Week 8, Oct. 31: Eagles 44, Lions 6

  9. Week 9, Nov. 7: Chargers 27, Eagles 24

  10. Week 10, Nov. 14: Eagles 30, Broncos 13

  11. Week 11, Nov. 21: Eagles 40, Saints 29

  12. Week 12, Nov. 28: Giants 13, Eagles 7

  13. Week 13, Dec. 5: Eagles 33, Jets 18

  14. Week 14: Bye week

  15. Week 15, Dec. 21: Eagles 27, Washington 17

  16. Week 16, Dec. 26: Eagles 34, Giants 10

  17. Week 17, Jan. 2: Eagles 27, Washington 17

  18. Week 18, Jan. 8: Cowboys at Eagles, 8:15 p.m., ESPN/ABC