The season is far from over for the Cowboys. Despite holding a disappointing 3-5 record, the possibility of the playoffs still exists. Granted, Dallas would have to overcome long odds by stringing together upset after upset all without the benefit of their starting quarterback, but crazier things have been seen so they play to win.
Coming back for his Week 10 showdown with the Eagles is All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons. Parsons, out since Week 4 with an ankle injury, will be eased back into action on Sunday. How much of a role he plays is anyone’s guess, but significant snaps are expected.
CeeDee Lamb is also expected to be a major contributor on Sunday. A shoulder injury temporarily knocked him from action last week against the Falcons, but Lamb appears to be ready to go in this NFC East battle.
The Eagles come to town in a quest to keep pace with the Commanders at the top of the division and the Lions at the top of the conference. They went all-in on 2024 and are determined to cash in at a time the NFC seems there for the taking.
With many in Cowboys Nation already focusing on next year, few are expecting a Dallas victory. But upsetting the high-flying Eagles is always a welcomed proposition and if the Cowboys want to play the spoilers in Week 10, they’ll have to win a few key matchups
Mike Zimmer vs Kellen Moore
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Since Moore went to Philadelphia to lead the offense, the Eagles have become a run-heavy unit, calling running plays seven percent over expected in 2024. Moving the QB under center and running on first downs has taken advantage of their strong run blocking and elite running back play.
Saquon Barkley’s 925 rushing yards is second only to Derrick Henry. At 5.89 yards per carry Barkley ranks fourth in the NFL and his success rate is equally as strong, logging 53.5 percent based on PFR tracking and 41.4 percent based on Sumer Sports EPA-based tracking.
Next Gen Stats says the Cowboys are second worst in the NFL in giving up rushing yards over expected. At 38.4 percent most Dallas fans probably think, “that’s it?” At 263 Barkley has amassed the second most yards over expected as a RB. The combination doesn’t bode well for the Cowboys.
It will be up to Zimmer to match tit for tat to stop Moore and his dominant rushing attack. The Cowboys have struggled against the run all season and will need to match personnel to keep up with Philadelphia’s heavy 12 personnel usage. Moore plays 12 personnel on 31.9 percent of his snaps and of those snap he runs the ball 67.5 percent of the time.
All Pro vs All Pro
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Over the years A.J. Brown has established himself as one of the leagues best WRs. The 6-foot-1, 226-pound playmaker has had a fairly quiet season in 2024. He hasn’t logged a single 100-yard game in nearly a month and will be looking to breakout big against Dallas in Week 10.
The Cowboys will, in all likelihood, commit to stopping the run. It means plenty of one-on-one opportunities downfield for Brown and a great excuse to shadow him with Dallas’ top cornerback Trevon Diggs.
Diggs can play either side of the field and at 6-foot-2, 195-pounds, he matches up well against someone like Brown. Diggs himself has had a mostly down season, the former All Pro has struggled to get turnovers and has often found himself more involved in run stopping than he has been in coverage.
Jalen Hurts is going to have great opportunities to heave the ball downfield and it will likely be up to Diggs to stop it.
Micah Parsons vs Fred Johnson
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Parsons makes his return to the Cowboys without a moment to spare. In this must-win game for Dallas, Parsons will have to hit the ground running serving as an elite and unstoppable pass rusher as well as a disciplined and trustworthy edge against Hurts and the read option.
The Eagles are without Jordan Mailata again this week, pushing the hobbled Johnson into the LT spot for at least one more week. It should be a priority of Zimmer’s to target Johnson in Week 10. The best way to do that is to deploy Parsons from the right side instead of his traditional left.
It’s not just about sacks for Parsons this week. Hurts will see plenty of opportunities to run against the weak Dallas run defense. Even with a sore ankle, Hurts should be able to give the Cowboys fits with his various read option and RPO looks. Stopping it all starts with Parsons.
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Conclusion
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Lamb will likely be bracketed into oblivion by Vic Fangio’s defense. The Cowboys, devoid of weapons outside of Lamb, will have to get creative to put the ball into their playmaker’s hands. Look for a lot of touches to Rico Dowdle on the ground and through the air.
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