Cowboys vs. Eagles, Week 9: Dak Prescott, Jalen Hurts will be on the spot Sunday

Through the first eight weeks of the season, it’s clear the NFC East race is going to come down to two teams — the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. The Eagles (7-1) lead the Cowboys (5-2) entering their Sunday matchup in Philadelphia (4:25 p.m. ET).

Last season, the teams split their series (and the Eagles won the division).

After a lopsided loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 5, the Cowboys have won back-to-back games. The Eagles have also won two in a row after losing their only game of the season in Week 6 at the New York Jets.

We asked The Athletic’s Jon Machota and Saad Yousuf their thoughts on the game between the division rivals.

1. Where do the Cowboys appear to have the biggest advantage against the Eagles?

Machota: It’s probably their ability on defense to take the ball away. The Cowboys led the NFL in takeaways the last two seasons, and they’re among the league leaders again this year. The Eagles should give them opportunities Sunday. They’ve turned the ball over 13 times in eight games with 11 coming via quarterback Jalen Hurts, who has thrown eight interceptions and lost three fumbles. To win this game, Dallas must win the turnover battle. The Cowboys are plus-6 in turnover differential this season, tied for fourth best in the NFL. They have lost the turnover battle 5-1 in their two losses. They have won it 12-2 in their five wins.

Yousuf: It’s hard to look at this matchup and point to a decisive advantage for the Cowboys, but one area where they could have an advantage this week is their pass rush against Hurts. The Eagles have a good offensive line and that is the first layer the Dallas pass rush has to deal with, but Hurts is clearly dealing with a knee injury. The Eagles quarterback is at his best when he’s able to use his mobility to extend plays and create offense. If Micah Parsons and company can bottle him up in the pocket, his physical limitations could prove advantageous for the Cowboys.

2. Where does it look like the Eagles have the biggest advantage?

Machota: Their rush defense versus the Cowboys’ running game. Dallas hasn’t been able to get it going on the ground this year, averaging only 3.9 yards per carry. It’s difficult to believe they will get on track against the NFL’s best. Philadelphia is holding its opponents to only 65.6 yards per game on the ground, while allowing only three rushing touchdowns in eight games. Dak Prescott threw 35 times in the Cowboys’ win over the Eagles in their most recent meeting, Week 16 at AT&T Stadium. He’s probably going to need a similar effort for Dallas to win Sunday.

Yousuf: I’ll flip the matchup and say the Cowboys’ rush defense against the Eagles’ running game. Understanding Hurts is limited with his knee injury takes some spice away from the Eagles’ rushing attack, but D’Andre Swift is still a capable runner, and the conceptual threat of Hurts’ legs still exists. The Cowboys’ rush defense has been mediocre for a while, and the weapons Philadelphia has in the passing game limits how much help Dallas can provide in the box. The best way to combat this for the Cowboys is to get off to a good start and play from ahead.

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3. Last season, the Eagles won when Dak Prescott didn’t play and the Cowboys won when Jalen Hurts didn’t play. How much of this game will come down to QB performance?

Machota: It will be a huge factor. But it’ll probably be a little more important for Dallas. I can see the Eagles winning even if Hurts doesn’t play great. I can’t see the Cowboys winning unless Prescott plays great. Prescott had one of the worst games of his career in the Week 5 loss at San Francisco when there was a similar buildup entering that game. He has bounced back the last two games, and he’s very familiar with the Eagles. He doesn’t have to win it on his own, but the Cowboys need Prescott to play well through the air and with his legs.

Yousuf: In a showdown like this, quarterback performance will be under the spotlight and, for the Cowboys, we’ve seen all season how the team flows based on both sides of the equation. When Prescott shows up, the Cowboys are able to control the tempo and game flow. When the Cowboys defense is able to disrupt the opposing team’s quarterback, it’s been able to turn the entire game in Dallas’ favor. Prescott also has an easier time playing the way the team needs him to when his defense can fluster the opposing quarterback, so it’s all connected for the team’s success.

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4. Other top NFC teams were active at the trade deadline, including the Eagles. Do you think the Cowboys made the right call by not making a deal?

Machota: I don’t. I was surprised they didn’t make any moves to improve their roster before the trade deadline. I understand they like their young depth, but adding a notable veteran on the offensive line, defensive line, linebacker, cornerback, running back or even wide receiver could have been something that made the difference come January. It remains to be seen if it will come back to haunt them, but it was disappointing to see the other top NFC teams make moves while the Cowboys did not.

Yousuf: To be clear, I think making an addition to the roster at the trade deadline would have been the wise move for the Cowboys regardless of what other NFC contenders did around them. The Cowboys have weaknesses on their roster and depth concerns at other positions. However, I don’t think it’s smart for a team that drafts as well as the Cowboys do to make a move just for the sake of doing so. If they felt like there wasn’t good value on the market, that’s something they’ll have to live with, but it’s possible they look at the free-agent options (such as Ndamukong Suh) and feel like they provide a comparable boost without having to lose draft picks.

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Prediction?

Machota: Eagles 27, Cowboys 24. I think this one lives up to the hype. I predict the Eagles will pull out to an early lead but the Cowboys will claw back in it and have a chance late. But I’m going with the home team in both of the Cowboys versus Eagles matchups this season. Dallas will have a chance to get a stop late in the fourth quarter but will come up short on a tush-push play that allows Philadelphia to run out the clock. The Eagles will run that play three times Sunday and convert all three times.

Yousuf: Eagles 28, Cowboys 24. This one should come down to the wire, with Prescott and the Cowboys offense getting the ball late in the game, needing a touchdown to win and their drive stalling in the red zone. Obviously, the Cowboys want to win this game, but it’s important that they put forth a quality effort, unlike their game against the 49ers. If they lay an egg in this game, the next three weeks will be an afterthought because of a cupcake schedule before the season-ending run of tough games.

(Photo of Dak Prescott and Jalen Hurts: Michael Leff / Getty Images and George Walker / Icon Sportswire / Getty Images)

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