PLAYER NOTES
–DT Tim Jernigan wasn’t able to play against Washington due to back spasms. Head coach Doug Pederson is hopeful that Jernigan will play Sunday.
–LT Jason Peters, who got rolled up on late in the game Monday night, should be OK to play against the Cowboys. Also day-to-day are linebacker Jordan Hicks and cornerback Avonte Maddox, both of whom have missed two straight games with injuries.
–CB Jalen Mills, who has missed four straight games with a foot injury, is further away from returning than Hicks and Maddox, head coach Doug Pederson said.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: RB Darren Sproles. The 35-year-old running back decided to return this season after suffering an injury early last year that ended his season because he did not want to end his career like that. But he was injured in the season opener on Sept. 6, and is now unsure if he will retire at season’s end, like he announced he would last summer. If he returns or not may depend on how he finishes this season. Sproles returned to the lineup against the Redskins and contributed a 14-yard touchdown run and had 22 yards on four carries with another 19 yards on three punt returns. His role could increase against the Cowboys.
“He’s such a class act, and a great leader on this football team,” said head coach Doug Pederson. “Obviously, it’s unfortunate his situation and the injuries that have set him back. But for him to come out (Monday) and do the things he was able to do, and then the guys – I do believe the guys really wanted to get him a touchdown at some point, you know?”
Added quarterback Carson Wentz: “Having Darren back is awesome; he’s a little spark for us offensively. I was extremely stoked to see him back in the end zone. It seems like it’s been a while since he’s been out – it’s been a while since him and I got to play together. So having him back in the huddle, having him make some plays like he did definitely gives the offense a little motivation, a little spark. It was great to see him in.”
GAME PLAN: The Saints did a good job of pressuring Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott last week, sacking him seven times. Yes, New Orleans lost, but the Cowboys scored just 13 points in the win. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz has been hesitant to blitz the past couple of games because of a secondary that is undermanned, so he has relied on his front four to get to the quarterback.
“In the back end we’ve had a different cast almost every week,” said Schwartz. “As soon as you start getting a feel as a play-caller, and think OK, this is what we can execute and this is what’s good for our matchups, you have another injury and the next week it’s a little bit different. Then you sort of start over again trying to find that.
“That’s sort of where we are right now. I think the other part that goes into that is our D-line has done a good job of pressuring and they’ve done a good job of getting pressure without blitzing. When you can do that, it really doesn’t make a lot of sense to subject your secondary to more one-on-ones and a heavier load when those guys could.”
Certainly pressuring Prescott will help, but the ever-present threat of Ezekiel Elliott must be contained, too. Elliott shredded the Eagles in the first meeting with 187 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns. The Eagles must figure out a way to contain Elliott, much the way New Orleans did when they held him to 75 yards on 23 carries, though Elliott still dinged the Saints in the pass game with six catches for 60 yards.
“They are not very complicated in the run game and they don’t need to be,” said Schwartz. “Just sort of hand him the ball, and even if there is an extra guy, he can run through them or make them miss.
“He has also really increased his load as his career has gone on in the passing game also. He is a dangerous screen runner. You have to account for him. He’s obviously one of the best backs in the league. If we’re going to come out with a win, we’re going to have to get him stopped.”
Offensively, the Eagles seem to be clicking lately, with an offensive line that is getting healthier each week and playing its best football of the season. Being able to run the ball against a strong Cowboys defensive front will the key to a win, with Carson Wentz making enough plays to keep Dallas off balance.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–Eagles CBs Sidney Jones and Rasul Douglas vs. Cowboys WR Amari Cooper. These weren’t the starting corners the Eagles began the season with, but Ronald Darby (out for year with knee injury) and Jalen Mills (likely to miss fourth straight game with foot injury) are out. Jones, though, returned to the lineup after missing four of the previous five games with a hamstring injury and played 100 percent of the defensive snaps against the Redskins. Cooper, of course, wasn’t with the Cowboys until being acquired for a first-round draft pick at the trade deadline. He has made a big impact on the offense. Twenty-three of his 30 catches with Dallas have gone for first downs.
–Eagles OL vs. Cowboys LBs Leighton Vander Esch and Jaylon Smith. Vander Esch leads the Cowboys with 128 tackles, second-highest ever by a Dallas rookie, and Smith is second with 105. The Eagles offensive line is getting healthy again and playing more consistently. The unit may have played its best game of the season on Monday night. Center Jason Kelce certainly had his best game of the season.
