Who will win, Eagles or Cowboys? Predictions from ESPN, Sports Illustrated … – NJ.com

After so much preseason hype that the parade down Broad street was close to being planned, the Eagles laid an egg in Week 1, losing to the Atlanta Falcons 26-24. 

Now they get a chance to make a better impression, but this test will come against a better opponent, as the NFC East rival Dallas Cowboys come to town. 

There is plenty on the line for the Eagles, who are trying to avoid not only falling to 0-2, but with with a loss to the Cowboys, they will essentially be three games behind in the division just two weeks in. 

So will they get the job done?

Here is a roundup of predictions:

NJ.com:

Eliot Shorr-Parks: The Eagles have two major question marks on the team with their secondary and kicker Cody Parkey. Defensive coordinator Billy Davis has yet to show he can make adjustments from week-to-week, as the secondary has struggled since he took over in 2013. Parkey, dating back to last season, has made only four of his last seven field goals. Throw in the fact that quarterback Sam Bradford hasn’t played — let alone win — a lot of big NFL games, and this game is far from a sure thing. 

So why will the Eagles win? Really, this comes down to Cowboys missing Dez Bryant. If he was in the lineup, it would be hard to pick the Eagles. But he isn’t. So the Eagles get the job done. Barely. Eagles 21, Cowboys 20. 

Mark Eckel: I thought the Eagles were a little better than the Cowboys when both teams were at full strength. Well, the Eagles are as healthy as they can be and Dallas is missing its top playmaker on offense (Dez Bryant), it’s best defensive back (Orlando Scandrick) and its rookie pass rusher (Randy Gregory). If the Eagles, at home, can’t win this one than they are not as good as we all thought they were. They are. And they will win. Comfortably. Eagles 27, Cowboys 17

Matt Lombardo: The Eagles are catching the Cowboys at exactly the right time. No Dez Bryant. No Greg Hardy. No Randy Gregory and as you might have heard DeMarco Murray now wears midnight green. This game will be closer than many think, but the Eagles’ tempo winds up wearing down the Cowboys defense late in the game. Eagles win 27-23. 

ESPN:

Of the 13 experts polled, 10 picked the Eagles, including Ron Jaworski, Merrill Hoge and Chris Carter. 

Sports Illustrated: (via Don Banks)

No Dez Bryant for a while, and DeMarco Murray now plays for the Eagles—no one in Dallas envisioned this situation the last time the Cowboys visited Philadelphia, for that big 38–27 win in Week 15 which basically won the NFC East for Jerry’s team. But that’s the reality of things in 2015, and that means advantage, Eagles. Philly couldn’t quite close the deal on that almost-comeback-win in Atlanta on Monday night, but Chip Kelly’s team showed how quickly it can rally once Sam Bradford starts getting in a groove. Dallas will put up a decent fight, but the Eagles know winning this game will start charting their path to a division title.

CBS Sports:

Of the eight experts polled, seven picked the Eagles, including Pete Prisco. 

Yahoo! Sports:

Cowboys (+5) at Eagles: So, if we assume the Eagles get three points for home-field advantage, we’re saying the Eagles are two points better than the Cowboys? No. And Dez Bryant being out shouldn’t move the line by two or three points either.

THE NO-HUDDLE SHOW, Ep. 7: How worried should you be after Eagles’ Week 1 loss?

The Eagles’ 26-24 loss to the Falcons may have been unexpected (and ugly at times), so we discuss what you should and shouldn’t be concerned about after one game. Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or Stitcher.

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