Eagle Keys: Keys to the Eagles-Cowboys game
Here are some key matchups that may determine Sunday's game: Jones terrorized the Eagles last season, especially in the last two meetings. In the season finale, he rushed for 91 yards, including a 49-yard touchdown scamper. A week later in the playoffs, the 5-foot-10, 220-pound running back gobbled up 148 yards, ne
Here are some key matchups that may determine Sunday's game:
nolead begins
Cowboys RB Felix Jones vs. Eagles MLB Stewart Bradley
Jones terrorized the Eagles last season, especially in the last two meetings. In the season finale, he rushed for 91 yards, including a 49-yard touchdown scamper. A week later in the playoffs, the 5-foot-10, 220-pound running back gobbled up 148 yards, nearly half of which came on a 73-yard touchdown run. Bradley wasn't around for either game, but based on his play thus far this season it's hard to say how much of a difference he would have made. This could be the linebacker's opportunity to live up to some of the preseason hype over his return.
Eagles C Mike McGlynn vs. Cowboys NT Jay Ratliff
Although his numbers didn't show it - he didn't record a single tackle - Ratliff caused commotion in the last two meetings against the Eagles a year ago. He had the fortune of facing center Nick Cole for most of the time after Jamaal Jackson suffered a knee injury. McGlynn, though, has solidified the position after Jackson endured another season-ending injury in the first game of this season. He had his issues early on against 3-4 defenses, but he blocked the Redskins' Albert Haynesworth into submission the last time the Eagles played an opponent with a similar scheme.
Cowboys DE DeMarcus Ware vs. Eagles LT Jason Peters
Since his return from arthroscopic knee surgery, Peters has been his most consistent since putting on an Eagles uniform a season ago. Each week he's neutralized one of the league's top pass rushers. This Sunday he'll face another stiff challenge in Ware, who already has 91/2 sacks. Ware's predicament is that the Cowboy's other pass rushers have done virtually nothing this season, which means the Eagles can help Peters with an extra blocker.
Eagles CB Joselio Hanson vs. Cowboys WR Miles Austin
With Asante Samuel out, the Eagles will be at a disadvantage against Austin. The Cowboys receiver isn't as dominating as he was a year ago - he leads the team with 56 catches for 804 yards - but he should give the cornerback combo of Joselio Hanson and Trevard Lindley fits. Dallas took a blow when rookie receiver Dez Bryant broke his ankle last week, but 6-3 Roy Williams and the 6-2 Austin should be more than enough for the Eagles' Smurf-like defensive backs to contend with.