Place battleground (protection): Cowboys vs Eagles head-to-head breakdown

Previously we broke down the offense for this week’s upcoming sport for the Dallas Cowboys. Now we dive again into the place battleground, this time how the defensive positions and particular groups stack up towards one another.

DEFENSIVE LINE

We ended the offensive breakdown speaking about how the Cowboys offensive line was an enormous drawback, and staying within the trenches is the place the key issues lay for the Dallas protection. The within of this Cowboys line of defense is leaking so dangerous that opposing groups assault right here immediately realizing it’s a cheat code to victory. Final week towards the Atlanta Falcons, Bijan Robinson had a discipline day and even backup operating Tyler Allgeier received in for a landing.

This line of defense now has to face one of the dominant dashing assaults within the NFL they usually do it from a variety of positions, using totally different gamers. The Eagles offensive line has proven good consistency and managed aggression in run blocking this yr, and that may solely imply a troublesome day for this Cowboys line of defense that ranks third-worst in rush yards allowed per sport. Micah Parsons continues to be questionable however it’s been reported that he needs to be accessible this week.

The Eagles line of defense is permitting 101 rush yards per sport, that’s the fifth-fewest within the league proper now. Within the final three video games their protection has allowed a mean of three.5 yards per carry, that’s the bottom within the NFL over that point.

When it comes to go rush, the Eagles common the seventh-most sacks per sport, however not too long ago the protection has actually stepped up. Within the final three video games they’ve averaged 3.7 sacks per sport which is an impressive fee, and is the second-most in that point. In that the identical time scale the Cowboys offensive line has allowed a mean of three sacks per sport which is fourth-most. The Cowboys offensive line now ranks eighth-worst in complete pressures allowed this season however going of their favor is the very fact the Eagles have the fifth-lowest pressures on protection. Cross rusher Bryce Huff is questionable and Byron Younger has now gone to IR.
Win: Eagles

LINEBACKER

DeMarvion Overshown is the intense mild on this protection and has been electrifying in Parsons’ absence. Towards the Atlanta Falcons he gave the impression to be there on each play and made seven tackles together with three tackles for loss and one quarterback hurry. The Texas Longhorns man-missile has been one thrilling participant that refuses to give up. Eric Kendricks leads the staff in missed tackles this yr with 11. Stopping each Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts within the run sport will probably be key. Any missed tackles will result in large beneficial properties this week.

Nakobe Dean and Zack Baun each lead the staff in tackles with Dean as much as seven tackles for loss. Josh Sweat leads the staff in sacks and ranks seventeenth within the league in sacks. Ben VanSumeren is questionable as he’s in concussion protocol.

Conclusion:
This staff has an important assortment of field defenders and they’re managing to generate sacks by hardly blitzing which depart the linebackers free to roam.
Win: Eagles

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Picture by Mitchell Leff/Getty Photos

DEFENSIVE BACKS

It’s arduous responsible these defensive backs for an excessive amount of, however they nonetheless play their half in a failing protection. The Cowboys are permitting 217 passing yards per sport, that places them in the course of pack. However a few of that may be attributed to the truth that opposing offense’s are operating on them a lot. The 67% completion fee allowed places Dallas Tenth-worst within the league and the 13 receiving touchdowns allowed is fifth-worst. Caelen Carson was getting focused fairly typically final week and hopefully getting DaRon Bland again sooner or later will assist in that regard. Jourdan Lewis has been the staff’s greatest cornerback and with out him issues would look loads worse. Dealing with the specter of each DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown is a troublesome activity, however when the safeties are getting dragged into serving to defend the run that solely makes the duty more durable. That’s the greatest purpose this protection is permitting the sixth-most YAC yards this season.

Because of the arduous work carried out upfront by the Eagles protection the secondary enjoys a number of freedom to assist shut down the go. The staff permits the third-lowest completion fee of simply 60% and has allowed solely eight passing touchdowns which is third-lowest. In addition they have the fifth-lowest passing yard towards them and have carried out properly making the fifth-most go breakups. They may very well be with out Darius Slay this week as he’s questionable, however the depth within the secondary isn’t a priority for Philadelphia. Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell and are each enjoying properly and security Reed Blankenship is enjoying properly and is third on the staff in tackles.

Conclusion:
The Cowboys defensive backs have massive query marks as to what they’re anticipated to do that week. For the Eagles the concept needs to be easy, shut down CeeDee Lamb.
Win: Eagles

SPECIAL TEAMS

Brandon Aubrey stays one of the best kicker within the league. He hasn’t missed an additional level this yr and has two missed discipline objectives to his title (one was a blocked try). On makes an attempt of fifty yards or extra, he’s probably the most correct with 9 comprised of ten makes an attempt.

For Philadelphia, Jake Elliott has but to overlook an additional level. His 76% discipline purpose accuracy places him at thirty second amongst 35 kickers.

KaVontae Turpin ranks second in common kickoff return yards, in punt return he’s fourth. He made a superb kickoff return final week and if he didn’t step out of bounds on one return play, he might have gone all the way in which.

Kenneth Gainwell is the staff’s main kickoff return specialist and ranks twenty second in common return yards. In punt returns, it’s Cooper DeJean who ranks sixteenth in common return yards.
Win: Cowboys