Cowboys vs. Eagles Monday Night Football: 10 Matchups Bryan Broaddus Is Watching | Scout's Eye
This is a fascinating matchup from a scouting perspective because both teams have areas Dallas can attack, but the Cowboys also face some significant defensive challenges.
For me, the biggest questions are whether Dallas can protect Dak Prescott, whether the Cowboys can handle Philadelphia's physicality up front, and whether Dallas can force Tanner McKee to beat them through the air.
Both teams enter this game at 2–4, and neither can afford to let the season slip any further. There are personnel advantages Dallas can exploit, but the Cowboys have to execute better than they have over the last two weeks.
Here are the matchups I'll be watching Monday night, with an emphasis on personnel, scheme and the details that could determine the outcome.
1. Can Dallas Identify Philadelphia's Pressure?
Watch how Philadelphia disguises pressure before the snap and attacks the Cowboys' protection rules. This has been a major issue for Dallas over the previous two weeks.
Does Philadelphia show six potential rushers but bring only four? Are the Eagles attacking Cooper Beebe with interior twists? Can Dallas pass off defensive line movement without allowing a free runner? Can Prescott identify the dropping defender when Philadelphia uses simulated pressure?
These are the questions I want answered.
Dallas has to avoid situations where three offensive linemen are blocking two defenders while another rusher comes through untouched. Those are communication problems, not necessarily talent problems.
If the Cowboys can't identify the pressure and get their protection assignments right, Philadelphia will keep attacking those weaknesses.
2. Can the Cowboys Establish a Running Game?
This is about more than rushing yards. Dallas needs to prevent Philadelphia from treating every down like an obvious passing situation.
Watch whether the Cowboys can create movement at the point of attack.
Can Dallas run inside zone against Philadelphia's defensive tackles? Are the Cowboys generating movement on double teams? Can they run away from defensive line penetration? Will Dallas use more gap schemes to create defined running lanes?
If Dallas consistently faces second-and-9 or third-and-8, Philadelphia can dictate the game defensively.
The Cowboys need to make the Eagles respect the run. That will help protect Prescott, create more manageable third downs and limit Philadelphia's opportunities to unleash its pressure packages.
3. CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens vs. Philadelphia's Secondary
This is one matchup where Dallas needs to be aggressive.
I want to see whether the Eagles are comfortable leaving their corners isolated against Dallas' receivers.
CeeDee Lamb working inside against Cooper DeJean. George Pickens attacking outside leverage. Dallas using bunch formations to prevent press coverage. Prescott taking shots against single-high safety looks.
Those are the opportunities the Cowboys need to create.
Dallas needs explosive plays. It cannot expect to consistently put together 12-play drives against this defense.
Lamb's ability to find space inside and Pickens' ability to win outside give Prescott two different ways to attack. The coaching staff needs to move those players around, force Philadelphia to communicate and create matchups that favor Dallas.
The Cowboys have the weapons to make this work. Now they need to use them.
4. Can Dallas Stop Philadelphia's Running Game?
This might be the most important matchup of the night.
Philadelphia wants to control the line of scrimmage and create favorable situations for its quarterback. Watch the Cowboys' ability to handle inside zone, counter and gap schemes, along with split-zone concepts.
Dallas must win first down.
If Philadelphia consistently gains four or five yards on early downs, the Eagles can stay ahead of the chains and dictate what they want to do on second and third down.
That would put additional pressure on a Dallas defense that has struggled to tackle consistently and get opposing offenses off the field.
The Cowboys have to control their gaps, get off blocks and finish plays. They cannot allow the Eagles to establish the physical tone of the game.
5. How Aggressive Should Dallas Be Against Tanner McKee?
Tanner McKee changes the way Philadelphia's offense operates.
With McKee at quarterback, Dallas doesn't have to account for the same level of designed quarterback running that it would against Jalen Hurts. That creates opportunities for the Cowboys to be more aggressive attacking the pocket.
McKee completed 26 of 45 passes for 215 yards and a touchdown against Carolina last week.
Does Christian Parker bring more pressure against McKee? Can Dallas force him to hold the football? Will Philadelphia use quick throws to protect its offensive line? Can Dallas take away McKee's first read and force him to reset?
Those are the questions I'm watching.
McKee is not Hurts. Dallas should be more aggressive attacking the pocket rather than worrying as much about quarterback containment.
The key is getting McKee into third-and-long situations and forcing him to make difficult decisions against disguised coverage.
6. Christian Parker's Familiarity With Philadelphia
This is one of the most interesting coaching storylines.
Christian Parker previously coached Philadelphia's defensive backs and served as its defensive pass-game coordinator before becoming Dallas' defensive coordinator.
That experience gives him familiarity with the Eagles' organization, personnel and preparation, although Philadelphia's offense presents a different challenge with McKee at quarterback.
Watch Dallas' coverage disguises.
Can Parker make the pre-snap picture look inviting to McKee before changing the coverage after the snap? Can the Cowboys force the quarterback to reconsider his initial read or throw into a less favorable window?
The objective should be to make McKee uncomfortable without allowing easy completions underneath.
Parker's familiarity with the Eagles is an interesting advantage, but Dallas still has to execute the plan on the field.
7. Can the Cowboys Finally Tackle Consistently?
Dallas has missed 48 tackles this season, surrendering 345 yards after those missed tackles, according to the figures in my scouting notes.
That's a significant problem against an offense that may rely on quick passes and yards after the catch.
Watch the first defender to the football.
Dallas needs to turn Philadelphia's five-yard completions into five-yard gains rather than 15-yard gains. That requires defenders to take proper angles, maintain leverage and finish the play.
This matters even more against a quarterback making his second consecutive start. The Cowboys cannot allow easy throws to become extended drives simply because they fail to tackle the first receiver who gets the football.
8. How Will Philadelphia Protect Its Injured Offensive Line?
Philadelphia's offensive line has been dealing with injuries, forcing the Eagles to work with different combinations since the Chicago game.
That creates a potential opportunity for Dallas.
Does Parker attack with linebacker pressure through the A-gaps? Can he use overload pressure against the weaker side of the protection? Will the Cowboys use delayed blitzes designed to confuse assignments?
Dallas should make McKee uncomfortable early.
The Cowboys cannot allow him to stand in a clean pocket and distribute the football. They need to challenge the protection, force adjustments and make the Eagles prove they can handle pressure consistently.
At the same time, the defensive front has to remain disciplined. Pressure only helps if the rushers maintain their responsibilities and prevent the quarterback from finding an easy escape.
9. Who Wins the Red-Zone Battle?
Both teams enter this game at 2–4. Neither can afford to waste scoring opportunities.
Dallas has struggled to sustain its running game, while Philadelphia is dealing with significant offensive-line concerns. Those issues make red-zone execution particularly important.
Pay attention to Dallas' play selection inside the 10-yard line.
Can the Cowboys run the football when Philadelphia knows it's coming? Will Prescott have to manufacture touchdowns through the passing game? Can Dallas take advantage of its receiver matchups when the field gets compressed?
Red-zone execution often comes down to winning individual matchups and being decisive with the football.
Dallas has enough offensive talent to score, but it needs to turn promising drives into touchdowns rather than settle for field goals.
10. The Season Is at a Crossroads
Both teams have to feel the urgency of this matchup.
Dallas has the advantage at quarterback, but Philadelphia's defense presents a tougher challenge than the units the Cowboys have faced in recent weeks against Tampa Bay and Green Bay.
The Cowboys need to protect Prescott better and find ways to handle the Eagles' quick passing game. If they can do both, they have a real opportunity to win.
If they can't, they're looking at a three-game losing streak and even more questions about the direction of the season.
Make no mistake about it: Dallas needs to win these next three games if it's serious about making a run at the division.
That starts Monday night.
THE SCOUT'S EYE
For me, this game comes down to three things.
Protect Dak Prescott. Control the line of scrimmage. Make Tanner McKee prove he can beat you.
Dallas has the advantage at quarterback, but that advantage won't matter if Philadelphia's pressure disrupts the offense and the Cowboys can't get off the field defensively.
The Cowboys need to establish the run, give Prescott manageable passing situations and create explosive plays with Lamb and Pickens.
Defensively, Dallas has to tackle better, challenge Philadelphia's protection and force McKee to make decisions under pressure.
The opportunity is there. But the Cowboys have to execute.
If Dallas protects better, controls the game up front and finishes its opportunities, I believe it has a great chance to win.
— Bryan Broaddus
Good analysis, Bryan. Thanks!