Welcome Back, Football Season: Just In Time For Dallas

It's hard to say which way this battle will go tonight. We have two potent offenses, led by all star veteran quarterbacks, featuring explosive players like DeSean Jackson, Felix Jones, Miles Austin, Jeremy Maclin, Jason Witten, and LeSean McCoy. And we have two defenses capable of giving quarterbacks fits, with two quarterbacks prone to getting rattled; one who couldn't hit the broad side of a barn some Sundays, the other becoming an interception-heaving trainwreck.

Either way, you know it's gonna be fun. Keys to the game, after the jump.

DeMarcus Ware

Bill Belichick once called him one of the best players in the league. No argument here. The scary thing is, he's just starting to get hot. All five of his sacks have come in their last three games.

The Eagles have never had much luck stopping Ware, allowing 6.5 sacks in seven meetings. Of course, those came largely at the expense of dependable Tra Thomas. Now Jason Peters is the man charged with protecting McNabb's blindside, and he's been shaky to say the least. When the Cowboys played the Bills in 2007, Peters' first All Pro season, Ware compiled 1.5 sacks and batted a pass for a key interception.

The Cowboys will move Ware around, so Winston Justice should get a crack at him as well. Justice has been remarkably reliable this season, however those snaps will be a true test of his growth.

This is one spot the Eagles really miss Westbrook, who will miss the game after all. He's excellent in protection, while McCoy is still very raw. How they combat the pass rush tonight will heavily influence the success of the offense.

Miles Austin

So this guy sort of blew up the world. In their last three games, Austin has 21 catches for 482 yards and 5 touchdowns. Seattle held him to a modest 5 grabs, 61 yards, and 1 TD last week, but he's suddenly become a big play waiting to happen.

The secondary is obviously an area of strength for the Birds, but Dallas still has the capability to light up the scoreboard with all those playmakers, like the 41 points they hung in Week 2 last year. Tony Romo's ability to keep plays alive allows a speedy receiver like Austin time to freelance, and the presence of Jason Witten and Felix Jones creates matchup problems that make focusing on any one man difficult.

If nothing else, the Eagles need to prevent Austin from going deep. They will attempt to stretch the field, which will create openings underneath and allow the Cowboys to drive, but it will be a far bigger disaster if they are able to strike for a quick six.

Tony Romo, or Tony Interception?

Speaking of Romo, he's having himself another fine first half of a season. In fact, for the first time in his career, he's gone three games without throwing a single pick. I couldn't believe it myself, folks.

Historically though, Romo has struggled against the Eagles. He's thrown 8 interceptions in five games, not to mention coughed up another 5 fumbles. Shutting down this dynamic offense is no simple task, but put pressure on the quarterback and he'll make mistakes. Hilarious mistakes.

This sounds like a job for Trent Cole. We'll take this opportunity to once again verbally fellate Cole, who has been absolutely ferocious this season. Meanwhile, Dallas left tackle Flozell Adams looks like a player in decline who has resorted to tripping opponents as they run past. If they are able to take advantage of the aging lineman, it could be another long night for Tony Romo, and another fun romp for the Birds.

Comments

[Liam]

So 2 screens by Dallas, and neither worked, guess the Dallas game plan to avoid the blitz may not work so well

[enrico]

Maclin's gotta catch that ball over the middle.

[Zack]

@enrico

truth...those are the ints that you wish were tacked onto a WRs stat sheet

[Zack]

defense looks a little confused or something so far...

[BadMotherFutley]

D continues to be unable to get off the field on 3rd and long.

[enrico]

Dallas adjusted to the blitz fairly well with those quick WR screens.

[MikeG]

Alex Smith looks as bad as his predecessor who wore 82

[Zack]

Seeing a #82 with the name Smith on the back of his jersey missing a catch really is not a surprise

[Liam]

I'm never going to be able to understand how quarterbacks mess throws like that up. Don't need to put a ton of zip on the ball, just get the ball to the receiver

[Matt P.]

Quick, someone walk a country blonde down the sideline in plain view of Tony Romo.

[Zack]

I still never understand why McNabb does not throw those away....he does this stupid stuff all the time

Just throw it away and don't lose 2 yards

[BadMotherFutley]

Well, this is just going swimmingly so far.

Eagles are behind by 1 score, so I hope McNabb's next 50 dropbacks go better than his first 6.

[Greg]

If you throw it away and the linemen are downfield blocking it is a penalty.

[MarkH]

It's always hot and cold with this team.

[Liam]

WOW. Incredible catch by Avant. Dude is money on third down

[Zack]

bummer on that play...Herreman's night got pretty tough

[J-D]

Way to turn it into a 46 yard field goal asshole. Throw the fucking ball away.

[Zack]

the way the line is playing...this game looks eerily similar to the Raiders game

hopefully Peters can come back in

[bryan]

Interesting. They showed how you the performing offensive players are. Maybe time to spend the next draft on 3 OLs? Yeah, it'll mess stuff up for a year or so, but get a young line with a young offensive team? Good build for 5 some years. Or some LBs. Eagles have been weak in LB the last decade. I hear PSU has some good ones.

Come on offense, get you doo doo together! You are way was better than this!!!

And I just saw Felix was dropped? Do they someone in the works? I hope so!

Go EAGLES

[Zack]

@bryan

what?

[asd]

RUN ON FIRST DOWN

[Liam]

Ugh... I know they want to keep the clock going or make dallas use a timeout, but at it would've been nice to get 7 on the board before half

[Zack]

well...it's just one of those offensive games so far...

Hopefully they can turn it around the second half

[Zack]

defensive players keep running into each other

[BadMotherFutley]

Gotta get better on 3rd down on both sides of the ball in the 2nd half.

[Zack]

god damn

[BadMotherFutley]

What a garbage call on the runback

[Zack]

no way...did he do a captain morgan pose?

Celek is the fucking man

[BadMotherFutley]

How many stupid celebration penalties are they going to take this year? It's a horrible rule, but it's pretty clear-cut.

Very nice all around drive though.

And after the Manning play last year, this better not come back.

[Liam]

Love that after what could've been a killer penalty they push the cowboys defense all over the field and easily score. Anybody catch what Avant did that deserved the 15 yard penalty?

[Zack]

@Liam he lifted Celek's leg up to do the captain morgan pose

[Zack]

man...when did sheldon brown start being able to catch?

[Paul]

Wow, how many bullshit penalties can the refs call on the eagles tonight?

[Zack]

so many stupid penalties on returns of some sort

[mattindc]

Fuck these referees

[Liam]

Fouko is just chilling the team with absolutely unnecessary stupid penalties. Both plays had no influence on the big returns on those plays, he needs to stop making bonehead plays

[Matt P.]

Vick plays develop like they're being run in sand.

[Paul]

Does Joe Paterno choose what they're going to do on the wildcat plays? I swear 75% of the wildcat plays are runs between the tackles.

[BadMotherFutley]

@Matt P.

On the bright side, it took so long to get the regular offense back on the field, they had to burn a timeout in the 3rd quarter of a 3 point game.

[BadMotherFutley]

And now Reid is going to burn a 2nd with a typically futile challenge.

[Zack]

Can we just give up on the Wildcat? The plays are such a waste. No one is scared of Mike Vick.

That spot was pretty bad

[BadMotherFutley]

@Zack

The spot was right. Defender didn't touch McCoy until after he was down. You only get forward progress at the point of contact. If you go backwards on your own, you lose that yardage.

[Zack]

@BMF

After seeing it again, you are absolutely right. Stupid challenge regardless. They just used 2 timeouts in 2 plays in the 3rd quarter in a game that they only lead by 3.

Awesome

[Zack]

incredible 3 plays right there

how did McNabb not snap it when he was off?

[Paul]

Can someone tell Wade Phillips to not fist pump after the other fucked up? It's not like him or anyone on his team did anything. When Wade Phillips actually is a good coach he can celebrate a play on the field, otherwise he is just a fat sack of shit who can drown in his own vomit for all I care.

[Paul]

Can these announcers please shut the fuck up about Miles Austin? Four good games in a career doesn't make you the best fucking receiver in the league.

[Zack]

trent cole is quite awesome

[Paul]

Just put Maclin on the bench if he is going to do stupid shit all night.

[BadMotherFutley]

Way to give the momentum right back.

[Zack]

@Paul was a stupid tackle...because he was already down

but that throw by McNabb was way underthrown

[Paul]

I'm not mad at Maclin on the pick, but that is twice he has fucked up and given the Cowboys great field position.

[BadMotherFutley]

They seem intent on shooting themselves in the foot this game.

[Zack]

cannot believe the number of penalties

...actually i can. The Eagles have to be one of the most penalized teams in the league

[Liam]

McCoy has to learn to run forward and get what you can certain plays. He should've had the first on second down, and now they didnt get it on third... Gotta get this 4th

[Liam]

These refs are TERRIBLE

[BadMotherFutley]

HORRIBLE spot.

[Matt B.]

did they Umps from baseball follow us to the NFL....AWFUL!

[Zack]

that spot was incredibly bad...they put the ball at the exact same spot it was originally

[Paul]

That has to be the worst spot I've seen in a while. McNabb obviously got over the line there and the refs are too busy hoping the Cowboys win the game to realize it. I hope the refs come home to their families to find them all dead of Carbon Monoxide poisoning.

[Johnny Nas]

WOW @ Paul

[Trevor McFur]

I think the spot was further back than the start of the play.

[MikeG]

Terrible spot by the refs.

[BadMotherFutley]

BULL SHIT

[MarkH]

What an abortion of a review there.

[MarkH]

What an abortion of a review there.

[Beardface]

Oh my God... Why even have replay if you can't use it right. Bullshit like that is why MLB should never use it.

Fucking ridiculous. Game is officially rigged. The spot of that ball could not have been more clear and they fuck it up twice.

[chris]

thats just absolutely brutal

[Liam]

I don't understand how you don't overturn that. If you can't overturn something as clear as that you shouldn't be anywhere near a football field

[Liam]

Do the refs get an assist on that td?

[Zack]

so now the Eagles are down by 7...with 0 timeouts

[Paul]

That never happens if the refs dont fucking blow a call. Not only do I hope their families die, I hope they're raped in the parking lot after the game. Fuck this shit.

[Beardface]

Fuck this rigged ass motherfucking game. Fuck the NFL.

I'm done with sports for a while. Too much political bullshit involved. Too many behind the scenes wheeling and dealing where the teams that have the money to spend seem to always get the calls. Fuck this, I'm done.

[Phils Phan]

Man, Wade Philips is a goofy looking bastard.

[Tom]

Literally the worst officiating I have ever seen

[Paul]

That was a great play by Austin, but the announcers need to get his dick out of their mouths. He has had literally a good quarter of a season. He isn't Jerry Rice or even TO, so stop fucking talking like he is. Add these announcers to the death list.

[Art]

Wah, wah, wah, it's the refs fault we let Austin go 50 yards.

[Paul]

Lets see them fuck this spot up.

[Tom]

@art: it's the ref's fucking fault that they had the fucking chance. pardon my fucking french but, fuck.

[Zack]

What happened to Gocong?

and where has Macho Harris been?

[Paul]

Way to run straight past the run on that blitz.

[Zack]

how many times have we seen this ending to a game?

[BigMiles]

I'm not normally one to cry sour grapes but this game is all going to come down to that one challenged call. That's pretty tough to take.

Also, Al Michaels just called Marion Barber the Mariano Rivera of football. Besides the fact that this makes no sense, it makes me want to burn down Michaels's house for bringing up his name.

[Paul]

There goes the game because they forgot to cover Witten. Awesome the eagles get absolutely fucked on that spot, then forget to cover Miles Austin. Pathetic they only scored 16 points on a mediocre Dallas defense.

[Liam]

Why are they playing off the receivers on 3rd and short? Why must the coaches have lapses in common sense when it matters most?

[mattindc]

Well this has been the most frustrating fucking experience of my life (which is truly saying something coming from an Eagles fan)

[Speederice]

Al Michaels is a douchebag for making that Mariano Rivera reference knowing full well that's going to sting in Philly.

[BadMotherFutley]

On that first challenge, how many times have we seen something like that? Why isn't there a coach in charge of telling Reid to put the fucking flag back in his pocket?

[Phils Phan]

Well, this was a shitty week for Philadelphia sports.

[Zack]

This is one of the worst sports weeks I can remember.

What was with all of the people on defense? I honestly don't even remember seeing some of those people playing before

[asd]

I've been a big supporter of Andy and Donovan over the years, but the bottom line is they show up for the regular moments, and even the big moments (last year divisional round against the Giants, last week against the Giants, the NFC champ game agaisnt the Falcons) BUT in the BIG BIG moments (last year against the Cards, this week against the Cowboys, the Superbowl) they fail.

We're never winning the superbowl with either of them. It sucks b/c they win a bunch but never when you absolutely want them to.

When does spring training start? I already the miss the only team that delivers in this town.

[Gaze]

What good did that field goal do? Down by 7, what difference does 3 points make. It's still a touchdown game.

[Joe]

This is all on Andy and Don. No streaking-down-the-sideline throws. Plenty of dirtballs. Poor timeout management. Lack of urgency.

Andy Reid is right up there with Art Shell when it comes to game management. You can do a fantastic job in the video room or on the practice field, but if you can't adjust and have your shit together on game day, you aren't going to win. Plain and simple.

As far as Donovan goes...that's what you get. He's shows flashes of brilliance one week and then rockets a bunch of balls at the hashmarks the next.