Philadelphia Eagles (3-4) at Dallas Cowboys (2-5)
Sunday, 8:25 p.m. ET, at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas – TV: NBC
*TV announcers: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya
*Keys to the game: DeMarco Murray had 13 carries for two yards in the Eagles’ loss to the Cowboys in September. He’s back in Big D for the first time since signing a $40 million contract with the Eagles in free agency and no doubt lathered up for another look at his old teammates in a meaningful division game that could further bury Dallas’ playoff hopes. Murray and QB Sam Bradford still aren’t clicking and offensive line woes can be exposed by Dallas’ active front seven.
Bradford’s accuracy isn’t helped by a drop-prone receiver corps but against a basic zone look from this secondary, he could throw up a huge game as long as his blocking plays nice.
The Cowboys are a field-goal popgun offensively and not a threat to outscore anyone, even at home, making the critical keys third-down success and red-zone efficiency. Coordinator Scott Linehan kept the Eagles off-balance in the opener, but was aided by Philadelphia sitting in off-man coverage outside even when QB Tony Romo went down.
More press coverage to shrink the passing windows for QB Matt Cassel might reap enormous benefits if the risk-averse tendencies coordinator Billy Davis has shown can be overcome.
*Matchup to watch – Cowboys WR Dez Bryant vs. Eagles CB Byron Maxwell: Bryant didn’t look 100 percent recovered from foot surgery with just two catches last week against Maxwell’s former Legion of Boom teammates from Seattle. However, Maxwell gave up nine completions in the first meeting and Bryant has seven touchdowns in his last six games against the Eagles.
*Player spotlight – Murray: In nine games on this field last season, he rushed for 957 yards (106.3 per game) and seven touchdowns.
*Fast facts: The Cowboys won six of their final seven games last season from Nov. 7-Dec. 28. … The Eagles have lost two of their last three post-bye week games by double-digits.
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
Tony Romo can’t get back soon enough. The Cowboys hold on until the end, but the same story — not enough offense at the right time — dooms Dallas to a dismal sixth consecutive loss.
*Our pick: Eagles 25-19.