Can Dallas Cowboys SAVE Their Season with win over Philadelphia Eagles? | Big NFC East Test

Summary

Locked On Cowboys/Eagles Crossover: Can Dallas SAVE Their Season with a Win Over Philadelphia?

Date: November 20, 2025
Hosts: Marcus Mosher (Locked On Cowboys), Louie DeBiase (Locked On Eagles)
Theme: What’s at stake for the Cowboys as they face the Eagles? Can a Dallas win keep playoff hopes alive? What key matchups will decide this pivotal NFC East test?

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Episode Overview

In this spirited crossover edition, Marcus Mosher and Louie DeBiase break down the critical Week 12 Cowboys vs. Eagles showdown. Both franchises face major internal and external pressures as they jockey for NFC East dominance, playoff life, and answers to lingering roster questions. The hosts examine the mood in each city, assess the evolution of both squads, and debate the matchups and strategies likely to decide the outcome.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Eagles: “The Most Unhappy 8-2 Team Ever?”

[03:05] Louie DeBiase:

• Philadelphia is winning but can’t escape a cloud of discontent, largely stemming from offensive struggles—especially in the passing game with star WR A.J. Brown at the heart of some drama.
• There’s pressure due to the high expectations: “This seems like the most unhappy 8-2 team that we’ve ever seen.”
• The defense—one of the NFL’s youngest—has consistently rescued the offense, which adds to the frustration given the investment on the O side.
• Louie notes the standards from star-heavy SEC backgrounds and a notorious Philly media/fan culture.

Memorable Moment:

• Louie recalls 2023’s locker room drama, suggesting lingering emotional residue is shaping today’s perceptions.
  “An inside source said it was the most miserable 10-1 team of all time. I just think it’s a team that has really high expectations and they strive for perfection…” (03:05)

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2. Eagles’ Collapse: 2023 Hangover or New Chapter?

[06:22] Marcus Mosher & Louie DeBiase:

• Marcus floats the idea of an Eagles collapse—“Is this feeling a repeat of 2023?”
• Louie pushes back, crediting last year’s hard lessons and recent four-game win streak. He argues, “If they were going to collapse, it would have already happened.”
• Injuries and drama—such as Lane Johnson’s absence and A.J. Brown’s social media antics—add tension, but Louie says this roster/defense is too strong for a unraveling.

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3. Cowboys: Playing for Now, Building for Tomorrow

[07:30] Marcus Mosher:

• Most Dallas fans are pessimistic on the postseason, but a win keeps hope alive (5-5-1).
• The Quinn Williams trade injected talent (and a spark) into a deficient defense—he notched 5 QB hits in his Dallas debut.
• Mosher: “The reason the Cowboys made the Quinn and Williams trade isn’t for the 2025 season. It’s for 2026 and beyond...”

Key Quote:

• “You just want to see them be a more functional and competent defense.” (07:30)

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4. Cowboys’ Offensive Firepower: Lamb & Pickens

[09:58] Marcus Mosher:

• The Dak Prescott–CD Lamb–George Pickens dynamic is “really clicking.”
• Can Dallas capitalize on the Eagles’ secondary with its revamped attack? Pickens had a modest first matchup, but his emergence alongside Lamb could be decisive.

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5. Matchups to Watch

[12:21 / 13:57]

- Uniforms & Environment

• Kelly Green jerseys for Philly in Dallas—uniform nostalgia and “a playoff-like” atmosphere expected.

- Trench Warfare: Dallas Defensive Front vs. Philly O-Line

[14:00] Louie DeBiase:

• The Eagles’ usually dominant O-line has been battered and inconsistent, especially with injuries to Lane Johnson and Cam Jurgens battling back issues.
• The interior (Tyler Steen, Jurgens, Dickerson) faces a surging Dallas interior led by Quinn Williams, Osa Odighizuwa, and Kenny Clark.
• Louie: “They can’t let [Quinn] dictate terms or else the passing game is going to have to carry them, and we know that’s just not been a thing they can rely on this year.” (14:51)

- Cowboys O-Line vs. Eagles Pass Rush

[15:03] Marcus Mosher / [15:58] Louie DeBiase:

• Eagles’ post-trade deadline defense now boasts both Jalen Carter and Jalen Phillips.
• The Cowboys must hold up vs. a revamped pass rush that can win with four men, freeing up creative back-end coverage.

- Skill Player Chess Match

• Will Eagles’ Quinyon Mitchell shadow George Pickens or CD Lamb? Or will Philly stick with a sides-based alignment, relying on new CB depth and flexibility?
• On Dallas’ side, secondary injuries mean a new cast must handle Philly’s elite receivers (AJ Brown & DeVonta Smith).
  “It’s fascinating how different their secondary looks now compared to what we saw in Week One.” (19:01)

- Eagles WR Usage Dilemma

[19:43] Louie DeBiase:

• DeVonta Smith is in All-Pro form, but the Eagles sometimes force-feed a banged-up A.J. Brown at the cost of Smith’s opportunities.
• Louie argues the passing attack needs to flow through Smith more, especially as Brown’s knee/hamstring and public comments muddy the waters.
  • “They have to find that balance… DeVonta Smith to me is the better separator right now, he’s the better receiver and they really need to get this intermediate passing game going.” (22:02)

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6. Keys to Victory

[24:40] Louie DeBiase / [25:31] Marcus Mosher:

Eagles

• Must “win with four on the defensive line” to keep seven in coverage and limit explosive Dallas plays.
• If forced to blitz, the defense becomes vulnerable.
• Run game must get on track and control tempo, especially with O-line injuries.

Cowboys

• Early game script is crucial: “You cannot get behind on this Philadelphia team because they can be suffocating,” says Marcus (25:31).
  • Jumping ahead forces Philly out of their comfort zone and opens up the Cowboys’ pressure looks.
• Contain first down runs, force Philly into obvious passing situations.

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7. Prediction Vibe & Closing Thoughts

[28:43] Both Hosts:

• Both expect a tight contest.
  • “I definitely expect this to be a one-possession game… it’s going to come down to the fourth quarter,” Louie says (28:43).
• Stakes are highest for Dallas—a loss likely ends hope for meaningful games in December.

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Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Louie DeBiase: “It’s a team that has really high expectations and they strive for pretty much perfection. And if they don’t get that, they’re kind of miserable.” (03:05)
• Marcus Mosher: “For the most part, I think, a loss season. I don’t think most Cowboy fans believe they have a chance to make the postseason… but if you win this game… at least you give yourself a chance.” (05:33)
• Louie DeBiase: “If [the Eagles] were going to collapse, it would have already happened.” (06:22)
• Marcus Mosher: “You still have two first round picks in 2026. You’re going to have cap space. You had to get some semblance of stability on that side of the ball and I think Quinn Williams helps you do that.” (08:50)
• Louie DeBiase: “I think the matchups are going to be awesome, especially… the Cowboys offense against the Eagles defense.” (09:58)
• Marcus Mosher: “I expect Brian Schottenheimer and the Cowboys to be highly aggressive early in this game trying to jump out to that lead.” (25:31)
• Louie DeBiase: “The Eagles offense… they need to get the run game going. They can’t allow Dallas to force them to throw the football at a high value.” (26:37)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Eagles’ mindset & drama: 03:05–04:19
• Is Philly headed for another collapse?: 05:33–07:30
• Cowboys’ playoff hopes, Quinn Williams impact: 07:30–09:58
• Receivers/secondary matchups & philosophies: 15:03–22:28
• Keys to victory: 24:40–28:43
• Predictions & stakes: 28:43–End

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Tone & Takeaways

The mood is intense, realistic, and analytical — with each host leaning into the anxieties of their fanbases. The Cowboys face a must-win, potentially season-saving scenario. The Eagles, despite their record, dwell in a peculiar state of unease and pressure to fulfill championship ambitions. Both teams field units (Cowboys’ D-line; Eagles’ pass rush) that are rounding into form for a playoff push, setting up an unpredictable, high-stakes NFC East classic.

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For fans who missed the episode:
Expect a tactical chess match with both teams’ fortunes on the line, new faces in key roles, and a deep undercurrent of urgency for both franchises.

Transcript

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[Marcus Moser]

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[Louie DeBiase]

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[Louie DeBiase]

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[Marcus Moser]

The Philadelphia Eagles have a chance to end the Cowboys season in Week 12, but it won't be easy. We'll get to that next.

[Locked On Network Announcer]

You are locked on NFL crossover, part of the Lockedon Podcast network. Your team every day.

[Marcus Moser]

Welcome back to this crossover edition of the Loton Cowboys and Loton Eagles podcast, part of the Locked On Podcast network. Your team every day. We are now the number one sports podcast network and crossover Thursday is presented by Prize Picks. Download the Price Fix app today. Use promo code Latin NFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first five dollar lineup. Welcome back. I am your host Marcus Moser from Laton Cowboys. That's Louis Dibiase from Laton Eagles. And we've got a packed show for you guys today. We're going to talk about matchups to watch in this Cowboys Eagles matchup. We're going to talk about some keys to victory at the end of the show. But Louie, let's talk about some big storylines because both teams have them, of course. These are two of the premier franchises in the NFL. Let's start with the Eagles. What is going on? This seems like the most unhappy 8 and 2 team that we've ever seen.

[Louie DeBiase]

Yeah, I think that's just how life is in Philadelphia, covering this football team because it was the same for a lot of last season. At one point, they had won eight or nine straight games and all the Jalen Hurts AJ Brown drama had spiked up after the Panthers win. The same thing happened in 2023. An inside source said that it was the most miserable 101 team of all time. I just think it's a team that has really high expectations and they strive for pretty much perfection. And if they don't get that, they're kind of miserable. All these guys are from Alabama and Georgia and it feels like that. So I think definitely there's some reasons to be frustrated, especially on the offensive side of the football. But at 8 and 2, all the quality wins they have, there's also a lot to feel good about with this football team, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

[Marcus Moser]

I thought it was. I mean, I live in Pennsylvania, so I get it. Like the weather's starting to turn. People are.

[Louie DeBiase]

People are getting crazy. More miserable.

[Marcus Moser]

Yeah, I thought that was part of it. But there does seem to be some general unhappiness. And I wonder if it's just because, yes, they are winning these games, but maybe they're not winning them by as much as they feel like they could have or should have. And that's why you're getting some of the frustration, especially on offense. It doesn't seem. Doesn't seem like the defense is really frustrated at all. It's really only one side of the ball.

[Louie DeBiase]

No, honestly, it's really just one area of the offense, too, because it feels like it's the passing game. A.J. brown specifically. We know all the drama that's been surrounding him and the Eagles so far this year. But yeah, I think the head coach and the defense are really bought into this. Don't turn the ball over win because of your defense mentality. And it has worked. It's worked the last two years. But I think you look at guys like A.J. brown, Devontae Smith, maybe even Jalen hurts to a degree. It's kind of back and forth about how he feels about this current philosophy that they've adopted on offense. But I think those guys think that they can put teams away much easier than they have. And I agree with that. All the money is invested in the offense. All the prime veteran stars are on that side of the ball. So the fact that the youngest defense in the league has to consistently bail out that unit, even though it has worked, is frustrating. And they know they can do better and they're going to have to at some point. Like, yeah, the defense can carry you, but the offense can't score two touchdowns in two weeks like they've done against Green Bay and Detroit. So I think just they know the expectations are higher and they're not meeting those, especially throwing the football. But the run game too, like the passing game has to be more consistent because the run game this year has not been there like it was last season.

[Marcus Moser]

Playing good defense and not turning the ball over. That sounds like the other team that we're used to seeing in Pennsylvania that plays that style. It's not the most enjoyable brand, but from a Cowboys perspective, this is for the most part, I think, a loss season. I don't think most Cowboy fans believe they have a chance to make the postseason or anything like that. But there are, there is a subsection of Cowboy fans that feel like that an Eagles collapse is imminent. And if you win this game against Philadelphia in week 12, you get to 5, 5 and 1 and at least you give yourself a chance going into Thanksgiving. I, I don't know how much I buy that, but is there any part of you that feels like this reminds you of the 2020, was it three season? 2023, yeah, 2023, where they started out so well and kind of had that late season collapse.

[Louie DeBiase]

Yeah, they were 10 and 1. Then they lost two straight to San Francisco in Dallas. Embarrassing game in Jerry World for the Eagles. And then, yeah, they lost I think six of their last seven, including the wild card against Tampa Bay. I don't though, because if they were going to collapse, it would have already happened. It would have happened during that two game losing streaks, I think against Denver and then getting embarrassed by the Giants on Thursday Night Football. All the AJ Brown drama sparks on social media, the back and forth on that front. If they didn't collapse there and they ended up ripping off four straight games after that, including two primetime games against teams you're competing for the one seed with in the nfc, Green Bay and Detroit, then I Don't know when it would come. I think last year really helped them learn from that collapse. In 2023 they were 2 and 2. It felt like it was happening all over again and, and then they went on a 10 game win streak. So I mean, yes, the offense is very concerning right now and I could see them getting upset by a team like Dallas or a comedown game eventually on this schedule. But I, I just, I think this team has learned from that collapse and I don't, I don't think this like epic losing streak is coming up anytime soon. I think the roster is just. And the defense is playing too well for that.

[Marcus Moser]

Well, and let's talk about the Cowboys side of things because there's really two big storylines going in Dallas and we'll start on defense. Right. The addition of Quinn and Williams has had already in one game a huge impact. Fantastic. He had five QB hits the most of his career. I think for the Cowboys it's just about building and getting better on defense. Again, all, all of this in mind. I don't think they're going to make the playoffs, but we just want to see them be a more functional and competent defense. And what you saw against the Raiders was a step in the right direction. Now they can do that. This week against Philadelphia, I think Cowboy fans would really get excited. So can they win their matchup with Lane Johnson out in this game? Can the Cowboys defensive line have some success? I don't know, but it's going to be fascinating to watch.

[Louie DeBiase]

The Cowboys are in a really interesting spot because that was such an aggressive trade by Jerry Jones and it did look like it panned out, at least for the first game. But yeah, you look at the playoff landscape, it's just unfortunate for the Cowboys perspective that they're in the NFC instead of the afc. Marcus, because I think they, if they beat the Eagles and you're at what, 5, 5 and 1 and the other conference, you're dancing still. But the NFC is so stacked right now from top to bottom that yeah, it does feel like kind of a loss season right now from a standings perspective. But this win would at least give them a chance down the stretch. So they're in a. It feels like they're trying still, but like mathematically can they pull it off?

[Marcus Moser]

Yeah. And we should say maybe for the. The lot done. Eagle listeners that don't know the reason the Cowboys made the Quinn and Williams trade isn't for the 2025 season. It's for 2026 and beyond. They had so many needs on defense that needed to be addressed, that sending out a 2027 first round pick solves one of those. You still have two first round picks in 2026. You're going to have cap space. You had to get some semblance of stability on that side of the ball and I think Quinn and Williams helps you do that. And now this is the first big test going up against this interior line of Philadelphia and if he can have a big game, if also Dicky Zula can dominate like he did against the Raiders, I think he'd feel pretty good about the direction of the defense moving forward. The other part of this Louie is George Pickens who continues to be dominant for Dallas. Now that CD Lamb and Pickens are both on the field together, the offense is really clicking. In the first matchup, Pickens had a decent game. He had a couple big penalties. I think he had three catches in that one. In this matchup with Philadelphia secondary, can they take advantage? Can they make plays down the field? I can't wait to see what happens.

[Louie DeBiase]

Yeah, the matchups are going to be awesome, especially I think the Cowboys offense against the Eagles defense. Those have been the strengths of both team. Dallas has won or been in a lot of high scoring games this year, whereas the Eagles again, unfortunately they shouldn't have to. But the defense said to win them a lot of matchups. So I think that's the side of this game that I'm most excited to dive into.

[Marcus Moser]

And I don't know if the Cowboys are better on offense than Green Bay or Detroit, but Dak Prescott has played really well against Philadelphia. Yeah, and I think that's what you're hoping at home. Not having to play outdoors like Jared Goff did last week and not being able to throw the ball beyond what, 5 yards. That might have been nice. We'll see if the Cowboys offense can continue with their positive momentum. Let's talk about some matchups to watch for this Sunday afternoon game between the Cowboys and Eagles. We will get to that next.

[Louie DeBiase]

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[Marcus Moser]

Welcome back to this crossover edition of the Locon Cowboys and Lots on Eagles Podcast. We'd like to thank you for making us the number one sports podcast network. All right, Lou, let's talk about some matchups we want to watch. First of all, this is going to be an amazing uniform matchup. That's, that's the number one. We got the Kelly greens for the Eagles, the Cowboys white. It's going to look amazing.

[Louie DeBiase]

Kelly green in Jerry world is going to bring you right back to the 90s. The Eagles have not worn their Kelly green look on the road, so this is going to be a cool one for sure. They tend to play really well in those jerseys. They're five and oh, the last three years wearing Kelly Green. They average over 30 points a game. I'm not a uniform stats kind of guy, but it's hard to, it's hard to deny the facts. So I feel good about that part of this game.

[Marcus Moser]

Well, let's talk about some matches, but really quick. I do think the environment's going to be fun just because the Cowboys did come off a Monday night win. Yeah, I think it's going to be loud. I think it's going to be a, an amped up crowd which is kind of crazy for four, five and one team. It's going to feel like a playoff game for the Cowboys like we mentioned at the top of the show because if you lose this game you go to 46 of 1. With Kansas City in Detroit coming up, your season's kind of over. So I expect there to be a lot of energy in this one.

[Louie DeBiase]

No, I agree. And again, for the Eagles, it's huge. They need this game to get a stranglehold on that one seed in the conference they could wrap up. There's a scenario where they wrap up the NFC east by Black Friday against Chicago. So this one's really important for the Eagles too. Again, they don't want to hear the win at all costs kind of mentality, but in this conference, just getting wins is huge because it's stacked for, you know, five, six teams are battling for that top spot still.

[Marcus Moser]

All right, what's the number one matchup that you are looking forward to seeing on Sunday?

[Louie DeBiase]

You kind of hinted at it earlier, but for me, considering the Eagles offensive line has been uncharacteristically inconsistent this year. Quinn and Williams, that interior of Dallas's defensive line going up against Tyler Steen, Cam Jurgens, Landon Dickerson, I don't want to say they've been inconsistent this year from a performance perspective, but they've been so injured that it's led to them not being able to lean on what normally is the strength of this offense, which is the run game. Lane Johnson, as you mentioned earlier, place on injured reserve with a Liz Frank injury, might be back in time for the playoffs hopefully because he's outside of Jalen hurts if take away the quarterback. If you remove Lane Johnson or a player from the Eagles and it makes more of an impact on the win loss column, it's Lane Johnson over anybody. So they really need the interior of this offensive line to not struggle. But Cam Juergens especially has not had a great year. I think a lot of it's that back injury he suffered in the NFC title. He, he got surgery on the summer. So that Quinn and Williams game was really impressive. They can't let him dictate terms or else the passing game is going to have to carry them. And we know that's just not been a thing they can rely on this year.

[Marcus Moser]

One of the things that we saw from Dallas on Monday night is more three defensive tackle looks with OSA De Gazua, Kenny Clark and Quinn and Williams all on the field and they had a ton of success. So I wouldn't be surprised against Jalen Hurts where you want to try to keep him in the pocket as much as possible. I wouldn't be surprised if that's what the Cowboys do here. I want to go to the other side of the ball. I want to talk about the Cowboys offense against this Philadelphia pass rush because when the Cowboys played Philadelphia in Week one, they did a Great job of protecting Dak Prescott, but Jalen Phillips is on this team now. Nolan Smith is completely healthy. Jalen Carter did not play in that game. He was ejected before week one before. Before the first play of the game. Can the Cowboys hold up against this Eagles pass rush? They're completely healthy on the offensive line right now. They're coming off a good game against the Raiders. If the Cowboys can protect Dak, I do think there's going to be guys open.

[Louie DeBiase]

Yeah.

[Marcus Moser]

Easier said than done.

[Louie DeBiase]

The Eagles finally can win with a four man pass rush this year. In that first Cowboys game. That was not the case without Jalen Carter before the trade deadline, adding Jalen Phillips, that really wasn't the case. Jalen Phillips has been just the completely game changer on this side of the ball. I mentioned. It's very similar in 2017 when they traded for Jay Ajayi. Like it was that final piece to complete the roster. It was the one hole they had to fill before the playoff run. Jalen Phillips, in two games with the Eagles has 12 pressures, had a big sack against the Lions. He allows Jalen Hunt now to play more of that third role, which fits him better in the edge rotation. Nolan Smith, like you mentioned, is back. And then their interior defensive tackles have been so good the last two weeks. Moro Ijoma, of course, Jalen Carter and even Jordan Davis. Those three have really been wrecking ball games. So that's a big time game changer for this defense that early on had to rely on the blitz a lot to get to the quarterback. Now they can drop back seven and it makes things a lot easier and allows Vic Fangio, I think, to be more creative with coverage against Dallas. Like you said earlier, normally Dak Prescott, he has success against the Seagulls team on defense.

[Marcus Moser]

I want to talk about the receivers for deck, CD Lamb. The last time these two teams played, seven catches for 110 yards in one of the worst games I've ever seen him play. Now that's kind of just the standard that CD Has. He had about four drops, I think three officially. One of one. One of which, you know, potentially could have won them the game late.

[Louie DeBiase]

Probably would have. Yeah.

[Marcus Moser]

Yeah, probably would have. I'm curious to see what Philadelphia does to match up against these receivers. Do they put Quinon Mitchell on George Pickens and then use Dory Jackson and some safety help to try to slow CD down? How do you anticipate Vic Fangio trying to match up with these receivers?

[Louie DeBiase]

So this year, unlike last year, they've had Quinya Mitchell, traveling with certain receivers, but a lot of the time it's been against an offense that really has like one alpha receiver, right? Not a star, a wide receiver, two or a tight end. He's played last year because they had Darius slay and Cooper DeJean. He only played on the left side. This year he's been playing all over the field. But against Dallas, now they have, and they did in the first game. But especially now with how Pickens has been playing, they have two legit star receivers. So do you have Quinion, Shadow Pickens? Do you have him shadow CD Lamb? I'm not so sure. I think they might just have Mitchell, DeJean and Jackson playing on one side and they really rely on that the rest of the way. That's kind of what they did against the Detroit Lions who also have a lot of weapons like St Brown and Jameson Williams. So I don't know. I mean I personally like the idea of having Mitchell just take on CD Lam, but CD plays inside and out. They have Cooper De Jean in there, so I don't know if they'll have someone specifically on a receiver. I think it's going to be each guy has one side and it's also been because they can rely on a Dory Jackson more. He's had a really strong back to back performances against Green Bay and Detroit since they traded for two cornerbacks before the deadline. So I think they have more flexibility now where Quinyan doesn't have to move all over the formation.

[Marcus Moser]

I want to go to the Eagles receivers really quickly because I know the stats aren't always there, but we know how dangerous those two guys can be. Yeah, in the Cowboys secondary just looks completely different than it did in Week one where you had Trayvon Diggs, Kyre Elam. Elam was essentially a healthy scratch last week. He was active, did not play a snap. Kaylin Carson, who was not eligible to play in Week 1, he was a starting cornerback. Savon Revel, his first game since tearing his ACL back in last September at ECU, played a significant amount of snaps. I don't know how the Cowboys are going to plan on matching up with these receivers, but it's fascinating how different their secondary looks now compared to what we saw in Week one.

[Louie DeBiase]

For me, I specifically pointed to Devontae Smith in this matchup. They could not remove him from the game plan like they did against the Lions. And I get it. They needed to make A.J. brown happy. They needed to get him more involved, which I agreed with. They needed to find Better ways to scheme him open. But they force fed him. I think they took it too far where there were times he wasn't even open. He wasn't creating any sort of separation unless he was pushing off. And yet he still got 11 targets in that game. Devonte Smith has been having an all pro season. For him to barely get any targets in the second, third and fourth quarter is just inexcusable. So for me they have to find that balance. And A.J. brown right now I'm not sure if he's healthy. I mean I was watching the tape back against the Lions. That hamstring injury that he's been dealing with all year and he had to have his knee drained a couple times during the playoff run last year. You can see it like I don't want to say the effort wasn't there at times, although it looked like that. I think it's more of the injury. But devontae Smith I think has to carry you in the passing game. They cannot go away from him in this matchup.

[Marcus Moser]

Well, and that was going to be my question because yeah, A.J. brown, it can still be effective because he's so physically imposing.

[Louie DeBiase]

Right.

[Marcus Moser]

But you watch like 2023 AJ Brown, it just doesn't look like the same athlete. It shouldn't be surprising because you mentioned his knee getting drained. He had some issues back when he was at Tennessee. You just wonder like, yeah, would Philadelphia be better changing this offense to be more devonte Smith oriented?

[Louie DeBiase]

I think so.

[Marcus Moser]

Well, I mean I think a good example of this is like last year was Seattle when they had Jackson, Smith and Jigba and DK Metcalf. Metcalf was the number one receiver to start the year. As the season went on, they started to go away from that. They transitioned to jsn. And then look at what JSN is doing this year. I wonder if devonte Smith couldn't do a similar type of thing.

[Louie DeBiase]

I think he absolutely could. I think he's been showing that this year in a very run heavy offense that has another alpha dog at receiver, a tight end that's having a career year. Dallas Goddard has seven touchdowns already this season. Yeah, the fact that devonte was top seven receiving yards a week ago with all of that around him says a lot. I think if he did ever get put in that JSN kind of situation, he would have top five numbers. Like I think he's equally as good as I think he could put up. CD Lamb, Justin Jefferson, AJ Brown numbers. But AJ has been very publicly negative about his role this year and squeaky.

[Marcus Moser]

Wheel gets to green.

[Louie DeBiase]

Yeah, and the Eagles are trying to make him happy, but I think they had to learn their lesson last week about not taking it too far. I think there's a middle ground between their approach last week and then the previous seven to eight games. But devonte Smith to me is the better separator right now. He's the better receiver and they really need to get this intermediate passing game going. And I think Smith right now is the more reliable player, so we'll see if that happens. But A.J. brown's still on this football team and as long as he is, they're going to try to get him the football.

[Marcus Moser]

All right, let's talk about some keys to victory for both the Eagles and the Cowboys going into this NFC east matchup. We will get to that next. This episode is brought to you by FanDuel. The NBA is back and there's not a better place to get in on the action than FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. Even if you miss the start of the game or if you just want to ride the hot hand, FanDuel has live bets on everything from who will score the next basket basket to fourth quarter comebacks. Plus you can even combine your live bets into a same game parlay for a shot at a bigger payout. It keeps every game exciting, especially when your team is making that late game push. I love that we have basketball and football all going on at the same time. We've got football on the weekends and then you can turn your attention to the basketball games all week long. It makes for an incredible sports season. And and right now FanDuel has an incredible offer. They are giving new customers $300 in bonus bets when your first $5 bet wins. So head over to FanDuel.com to sign up and play your game with FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA.

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[Marcus Moser]

Is that guy with the binoculars watching us.

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[Marcus Moser]

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[Marcus Moser]

Welcome back to this crossover edition of the Lockdown Cowboys and Locked On Eagles podcast. For your second listen, check out the Lockdown NFL Podcast. Two shows every single day. One in the morning with Tyler Roland. One in the afternoon with Tony Wiggins available wherever you get your podcast. All right, let's talk about some keys to victory. What do the Eagles need to do on Sunday to get a W?

[Louie DeBiase]

I think the number one thing is they need to win with four on the defensive line because the Dallas Cowboys have a really good passing attack. The CD Lamb, George Pickens, one two punch has maybe been the best in football this year or it's definitely been up there. Quinya, Mitchell, Cooper, De Jean, they held Amon Ross, St. Brown to the worst catch percentage any receiver has had in a single game this year. How they were able to do that, of course both of them are kind of having all pro seasons at cornerback, but seven dropping back makes it a lot easier when they don't need to rely on their blitzing linebackers. Nakobe Dean, Jihad Campbell, Zach Bond, having to get downhill, get after the quarterback, it makes things easier in coverage. So for me, if they can continue to wreck ball games with just getting there four guys on the defensive line, Marcus, I think that's the key because Dak Prescott in that passing attack, like that's their strength. And if they can throw on you, this is going to be a game.

[Marcus Moser]

And that's why I wouldn't be surprised if we see more six and seven man protections for Dallas. Like even if it means taking guys out of the passing game. Give Dak time because eventually one of those guys is going to get open or you can take a shot down the field on a 50, 50 ball. So I, I love that call for the Cowboys. I think that the most important thing is the game script. You cannot get behind on this Philadelphia team because they can be suffocating, right? They get a, you know, a touchdown lead, a double digit score lead and then they can just tee off and then they can, you know, use their offense to run clock and have these seven eight minute drives where it's 15 plays and there's three tush pushes and you just don't get the ball back. And it shortens these games. When the Cowboys have had success this year, Louie, it's been jumping up to a 147 lead, 177 and now you can blitz. You don't have to worry about stopping the run as much. I think at home against this Philadelphia team, I expect Brian Schottenheimer and the Cowboys to be highly aggressive early in this game trying to jump out to that lead.

[Louie DeBiase]

Yeah. And I think the Eagles offense like another key to victory. They need to get the run game going. Like they can't allow Dallas to force them to throw the football at A high value because again the Eagles offense historically with Jalen Hurts it's had, they've had some monster games, especially when it really matters most. I mean both Super Bowls they've been in, in the last four years, Jalen Hurts threw them nearly to one championship and definitely got them another ring. But it's inconsistent like Jalen Hurts, that is who he is. Especially with a bad play caller. I think straight up and Kevin Petullo. The run game needs to be the high volume, consistent part of that unit. It has not been this year and there's a lot of different factors for why but especially now that Lane Johnson's not playing in this game. How do you help make it easier for backup offensive linemen? I think it's easier for them to run block than it is to pass protect. So get that run game going early. Kind of like you're mentioning with Dallas. Get a lead control, time of possession. Especially with the way you play conservative turnover free football right now. I think that's the way to get this going. Play more under center. That'll allow the play action passing game eventually to open up. We'll see. The run game has been, it's crazy how inconsistent it's been when last year they maybe had the best running season in the history of the NFL. But they got to find a way to get that going because even with all the passing weapons this team has, I just don't think that'll ever be the thing that can carry them on offense.

[Marcus Moser]

And for Dallas it's about stopping those first down runs because I think the way to beat Philadelphia is get to get them in second and 10, third and nine where they have to be a drop back passing.

[Louie DeBiase]

That's their Achilles heel. Yeah, yeah.

[Marcus Moser]

And it's not to say that they can't do it because they're, they're going to hit some big plays in the passing game. But if you can get out of those third and shorts, fourth and shorts where you can run the tush, push and convert, that's how the Cowboys can stay in this game and that's how they, you know, they stayed in the first game in week one. So Lou, it's going to be a fun game. I, I, I don't anticipate. We're not going to do productions. We're going to save it for our Friday show. I don't anticipate a blowout. I think these two teams when they're both fairly healthy, we haven't had many games where Dak and Jalen Hurts are both playing but generally they're pretty close games and I would expect the same here.

[Louie DeBiase]

I was going to say, I mean with these two starters in the game, it's going to be close. The Eagles haven't really blown out anybody this year outside of the Giants before the bye week. That's not their brand of football right now on the road. Like you said, Dallas needs this game to save their season with their tough schedule coming up. Yeah, I definitely expect this to be a one possession game. Probably it's going to come down to the fourth quarter again for sure.

[Marcus Moser]

Should be a lot of fun. All right, that is it for today's show. We want to thank you for making this crossover edition of the lot Done Cowboys and Lotta Eagles Podcast your first listen of the day Check out Louie Show. He does a fantastic job covering the Eagles. You can follow him on Twitter. Louie, what's your Twitter?

[Louie DeBiase]

It's at at dbsi Loe Yeah, there you go.

[Marcus Moser]

I'm at Marcus Moser and and we'll see you guys right back here on Friday.

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[Marcus Moser]

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Thank you for making Locked on your first listen every day. For your second listen, find the All Night Locked on NFL Game Night Before Sunday Night Football begins, get reaction to every game every Sunday all season long. It's local analysis on a national scale. Find NFL game night on Locked on NFL on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts. All part of the Locked on podcast network. Your team every day.