The Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles meet Thursday in NFL action at Lincoln Financial Field. Here’s a Eagles vs Cowboys Prediction. This article will include a Eagles vs Cowboys Pick.
Dallas Cowboys Betting Preview
The Dallas Cowboys won seven games last year, missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2020 season. The Brian Schottenheimer era now begins.
The Cowboys’ offense will live and die off the health of Dak Prescott. While he’s still capable of being a respectable quarterback, he’s played an average of 12 games since the 2020 season. The addition of George Pickens takes pressure off of CeeDee Lamb, and you’d expect a bounce back season from tight end Jake Ferguson. The Cowboys lacked any rushing attack last season, and we’ll see what the additions of Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders produce. There are playmakers on this Cowboys offense, but Prescott needs to be on the field for things to happen.
Defensively, we’ll see what this unit looks like without Micah Parsons, as he was just traded to the Packers. The additions of Payton Turner and Dante Fowler do bolster the defensive front, but Parsons was the playmaker who made things work. The health of DeMarvion Overshown and Trevon Diggs are concerns as well.
The Cowboys have talent, but there are a lot of question marks with this roster, and that’s before we get to a new coaching staff.
Philadelphia Eagles Betting Preview
The Philadelphia Eagles are coming off a Super Bowl title, their second since the 2017 season. The Eagles are in the fifth year under coach Nick Sirianni and are considered title contenders yet again.
Kevin Patullo is the Eagles offensive coordinator, which means the Eagles have their fourth different OC in the last four years. That can be a concern, but the Eagles once again have arguably the best offensive line in the league, and playmakers such as quarterback Jalen Hurts, running back Saquon Barkley, and wide receivers AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith. The Eagles were top-10 last season in points and yards, and there’s no reason to believe this talent can’t put up similar numbers.
Defensively, the Eagles said goodbye to a lot of talent such as Darius Slay, Brandon Graham, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and Josh Sweat. Zack Baun is still one of the best linebackers in the league, while Cooper DeJean is coming off a fabulous year at cornerback. Jalen Carter has 10.5 sacks in two years, and Quinyon Mitchell flashed as a rookie last year. The Eagles shouldn’t be a liability defensively, but there are questions with a bit of roster turnover.
The Eagles have made the Super Bowl in three of the last eight seasons, becoming one of the staples in the NFL over the last decade.
Why the Philadelphia Eagles will win
- The Eagles have won each of their last 10 games at Lincoln Financial Field.
- The Cowboys have lost five of their last six games at Lincoln Financial Field.
- The favorites have covered the spread in each of the last eight games between the Cowboys and Eagles.
- The Cowboys have failed to cover the spread in five of their last six games at Lincoln Financial Field.
- The Eagles have won the first quarter in seven of their last eight games.
- The Eagles have won the first half in each of their last 11 games.
- The Eagles have scored the first touchdown in each of their last nine games.
Why the Dallas Cowboys will win
- The Cowboys have won each of their last nine September games against NFC East opponents.
- The Cowboys have covered the spread in each of their last six road openers against NFC East opponents.
- The Eagles have failed to cover the spread in eight of their last nine September games at Lincoln Financial Field.
- The Cowboys have won the first quarter in each of their last three road openers as underdogs against NFC East opponents.
- The Cowboys have won the first half in each of their last nine September games against NFC East opponents.
Philadelphia Eagles Player Prop Facts
- Saquon Barkley has scored two or more touchdowns in three of his last four appearances against NFC East opponents.
- Jalen Hurts has recorded 20+ completions in three of the Eagles’ last four Week 1 games.
- Saquon Barkley has recorded 118+ rushing yards in each of his last eight appearances against NFC opponents.
- Saquon Barkley has recorded 126+ rushing and receiving yards in eight of his nine previous regular season appearances with his team as a favorite against NFC East opponents.
- Jalen Hurts has recorded 221+ passing yards in four of his last five regular season home appearances.
- Dallas Goedert has recorded 38+ receiving yards in each of his last six home appearances against NFC opponents.
- Jalen Hurts has scored a touchdown in each of his last four regular season home appearances.
- Saquon Barkley ranked 1st in the NFL in rushing yards (2005) last season.
Dallas Cowboys Player Prop Facts
- Jalen Tolbert has scored a touchdown in each of the Cowboys’ last four road games.
- Dak Prescott has recorded 295+ passing yards in three of his last four appearances against the Eagles.
- George Pickens has recorded 74+ receiving yards in each of his last four appearances with his team as a road underdog.
- Dak Prescott has recorded 26+ completions in four of the Cowboys’ last five Thursday road games.
- George Pickens has recorded 65+ rushing and receiving yards in each of his last six appearances with his team as a road underdog.
- Miles Sanders has recorded 53+ rushing yards in each of his last five September appearances at Lincoln Financial Field.
- KaVontae Turpin ranked 1st in the NFL in kick return yards (904) last season.
Eagles vs Cowboys Prediction
This is a lot of points to lay in a season opener, and I do think the line shift is an overreaction to the Parsons trade. The Cowboys aren’t going to be that bad. The Eagles are also 3-9-1 ATS in their last 13 games when favorites of 7 or more points.
However, the favorite is 8-1-1 ATS in the last 10 games between the Cowboys and Eagles. The Eagles have more of an identity entering the season and absolutely blew the doors off the Cowboys last season, outscoring them 75-13 in two meetings. You can argue the Cowboys are worse this year with their best defensive player no longer on the roster. Again, thick line, but I’ll lean toward the Eagles in a comfortable home win.