Cowboys-Eagles: Five things to watch in tonight's rematch
1 Divisional impact
The NFC East lead is on the line for the second time in three weeks between the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles. The Cowboys haven’t won the division since 2009 and would like to get back on top by extending their road record to 7-0. The winner is in great position, too, with only two games left after Sunday.
2 Playoff implications
Not only is the division on the line, but a possible playoff spot is, too. The best way for the Cowboys to reach the playoffs is by winning the division — that’s the only way they control their own destiny. If they lose to the Eagles on Sunday, the Cowboys must win out and hope for other teams to falter the final two weeks. An 11-win season doesn’t guarantee a postseason berth.
3 Tony and the gang
The Cowboys are sick of hearing about their December struggles, and they got off to a good start by blowing out the Chicago Bears on Dec. 4. But if they have any missteps the rest of the way and miss the playoffs once again, the December story isn’t going away for at least another season.
4 Offensive matters
The Cowboys had their worst offensive game of the season against the Eagles on Thanksgiving. Tony Romo was off on several throws. The offensive line didn’t create holes for DeMarco Murray. And it all led to the Cowboys scoring a season-low 10 points. That must change, particularly with extended rest going into the rematch.
5 Time to prepare?
As bad as the offense was on Thanksgiving, the defense wasn’t much better. LeSean McCoy had a big day on the ground, and Mark Sanchez looked like a franchise quarterback. But the Cowboys didn’t have much time to get ready for the Eagles’ up-tempo offense, a luxury they have had this time. They must make the most of it.
This story was originally published December 13, 2014 at 7:15 PM with the headline "Cowboys-Eagles: Five things to watch in tonight's rematch."