Dallas Cowboys Favored To Beat Philadelphia Eagles In Finale

NFL News - December 29th, 2009 - Written by John

Every so often there comes a scheduling decision that is made months in advance, that it appears to be brilliant foresight. Dallas against Philadelphia always comes with it's own share of importance, but this year the schedule has allowed an all new meaning to the game.

The Cowboys host the Eagles on Sunday in a game that will decide the division after both teams have raced to the finish in recent weeks. If the cards fall just right, the two teams could even meet in the first round of the playoffs, meaning the winner of this week's game would get home-field advantage and a giant leg up.

Dallas is 5-2 at home, and Philadelphia is 6-2.

"You have to take care of this one, and whatever happens after that happens," Andy Reid told the Philadelphia Enquirer. "But you have to take care of business now."

According to the Enquirer, the Eagles were in the same situation in 2001, facing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the end of the year, then again in the first round of the playoffs. But that was when both teams knew their fates, and elected to play their reserves for the majority of the first game. Philadelphia would end up beating the Bucs in the playoffs.

As found at BetUS sportsbook, the Cowboys are favored to win by 3, with an over/under of 47 1/2, according to the Week 17 NFL Betting Odds.

It's the second year in a row the season finale has pitted Philadelphia against Dallas with playoff implications on the line. The Cowboys were shooting to earn the final wild card berth last year and needed to beat it's arch rivals to squeeze in. Instead, it was the Eagles that won, 44-6, in a dismal end to the year for Dallas.

The Cowboys got relative revenge earlier this year in a 20-16 win, but all of that may be nullified with a loss on Sunday.

Dallas had been ravaged by the media early this month for it's inability to win when it mattered, most notably in December. But Tony Romo has quieted most of those critics with three dazzling performances to get his team to double-digit wins for just the second time since 2003. Romo has thrown eight touchdowns and only one pick in the last five games, and has seemingly carried his team from disaster.

Having Miles Austin infused into the offense hasn't hurt either. After starting the season as a reserve, Austin has transformed the Cowboys passing attack into a daunting one with five 100-yard games. In just 11 starts, he has the fifth-most yards in the league (1,230) and has already found the end zone 11 times.

Philadelphia has won six-straight games, including a 30-27 thriller last week against the Denver Broncos where Donovan McNabb threw for 322 yards and three scores. He has topped 300 yards in back-to-back games, and has a touchdown pass in seven of his last eight games.

Brian Celek led all receivers last week with 121 yards and is one of three receivers with over 700 yards through the air. DeSean Jackson leads the team with 1,120 yards and 12 total touchdowns, and Jeremy Maclin is the third with 715 yards.

The only real problem lately has been the running game. No combination of two Eagle running backs total 1,000 yards yet, and LeSean McCoy is the team leader with 633.

Dallas has been suffering the same troubles with no rusher topping 100 yards in any game since Week Two, and Marion Barber's 841 yards leading the team.

Philadelphia has covered the spread in 20 of it's last 28 games against the NFC. The underdog in this series is 8-2 ATS recently.

Dallas has hit the under in seven of it's last eight home games.