Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA
Sunday, January 2, 2011, 4:15 pm EST, TV: FOX
Opening Line: Eagles -2.5
Current Line: Eagles -3
Opening Total: 42
Current Total: 43
Money Line: Eagles -155 / Cowboys +135
The Philadelphia Eagles (10-5) blew a chance at the #2 seed and a bye in the playoffs with a stunning loss to Minnesota earlier in the week and are expected to rest key players when they host the Dallas Cowboys (5-10) on Sunday. The only real positive for the NFC East champion Eagles (-3) is that quarterback Michael Vick will get the opportunity to recover from a severe leg bruise he suffered on the second play of Tuesday’s 24-14 home loss to the Vikings.
Vick’s final numbers may have looked decent (263 passing yards, one passing touchdown and one rushing touchdown), but his performance against Minnesota was easily his worst of the year. Ironically, it came right after he was named the NFC starter for the Pro Bowl. While he has certainly been electrifying at times, Philadelphia’s postseason chances no doubt will come down to Vick, who also threw an interception, had a few more passes dropped by the Vikings, fumbled twice and was sacked six times.
Former starter Kevin Kolb is expected to replace Vick and will likely be back under center against the Cowboys for the first time since the team was crushed at Tennessee in Week 7, 37-19. Other Eagles expected to rest due to injuries include another pair who made the Pro Bowl in cornerback Asante Samuel (knee) and wide receiver DeSean Jackson (foot).
This game could be very important to the future of Dallas head coach Jason Garrett, who is 4-3 since taking over for Wade Phillips. Garrett might be forced to start third-string quarterback Stephen McGee due to an abdominal injury Jon Kitna sustained in a 27-26 loss at Arizona last week. Kitna threw two interceptions for touchdowns in the first quarter against the Cardinals before he was relieved by second-year player McGee, who completed 11 of 17 passes for 111 yards with one touchdown and no picks.
McGee’s 37-yard scoring pass to wide receiver Miles Austin with 1:41 left in the game should have given the Cowboys a 27-24 lead, but kicker David Buehler missed the extra point which enabled Arizona to kick the game-winning field goal with five seconds remaining. Buehler has struggled throughout the season, and Dallas finally brought in some competition in Kris Brown, who could handle field goals and extra points and leave Buehler as a kickoff specialist.
The Cowboys have won three of the last four meetings with Philadelphia, although all three of those wins took place last year, including one in the playoffs. They are 4-0 against the spread in those games, and the OVER is 4-2 in the last six meetings. The OVER has also cashed in a remarkable 12 straight games for Dallas with the last UNDER taking place in Week 3.
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