Tale of the tape

Week 10: Dallas Cowboys At Philadelphia Eagles

Cowboys

Eagles

Tony Romo is perhaps the most difficult to figure quarterback in the NFL. When he is on his game, he throws one of the most accurate passers in the game and he throws a soft, catchable ball in the perfect position for his receivers. He also buys time with his elusiveness. However, when he is under pressure, he may panic and throw crucial interceptions.	Quarterback	The Eagles are in a dreadful position and much of it is on Michael Vick. The biggest issue appears to be his inability to read defenses and alter his play calls. He often gets overwhelmed by blitzing defenses and he gets splattered as a result of some of the tough hits he takes. Vick is a great athlete with a strong arm, but he turns the ball over too often.
The lack of a running game has hurt the Cowboys this season. DeMarco Murray has missed the last three games with a foot injury and there is a chance he can return for this game, but he must pass a series of tests for that to happen. Felix Jones is a poor substitute for him. Wide receiver Miles Austin and tight end Jason Witten are more dependable options than Dez Bryant, whose mistakes often punish Romo and head coach Jason Garrett.	Offense	There is no shortage of offensive weapons on the Eagles. However, when your offensive line can’t hold off the pass rush, it’s very difficult to use those weapons. While Vick gets much of the blame, the offensive line has been poor. Running back LeSean McCoy is still a dangerous threat as a runner and receiver while DeSean Jackson is a game-changing receiver.
The Cowboys have played solid defense throughout the season. They rank fifth in yards allowed and they are particularly tough against the pass, giving up 205.5 yards per game. While Sean Lee leads the team in tackles with 58, it’s DeMarcus Ware who must be accounted for on every play. He has nine sacks and 37 tackles.	Defense	The Eagles have plenty of weapons on defense, but they have not played up to their capabilities to this point in the season. Jason Babin is a solid pass rusher, but he should have more than 3.5 sacks at this point in the year. Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha is one of the league’s better cover corners, but he only has one interception this year.
Dallas has gotten solid production from placekicker Dan Bailey, as he has made 15-of-18 FG attempts. However, he’s just 1-of-3 from 50 yards and beyond. Former Buffalo Bill Brian Moorman has been steady punting the ball, dropping 10 of his 15 punts inside the 20.	Special Teams	The Eagles have plenty of speed in their return game, but they have yet to break a punt or kickoff return for anything longer than 31 yards. Placekicker Alex Henery has made 14-of-15 FG attempts, but he has yet to attempt a three-pointer from 50 yards or longer.

We'll just call it a tie

Both teams are quickly reaching the critical phase of the season. The loser of this game is going to have a difficult time making any kind of playoff run. Both coaches seem to be in a lot of trouble and the loser could head the list of coaches on the hot seat.

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