If Week 5 was a big matchup for the Dallas Cowboys, then what on earth would you classify Week 6 as? The Cowboys have continued to roll right along through the four games since their Week 1 loss to the Buccaneers and Dak Prescott's injury. In their latest installment they took it to the defending Super Bowl champs in the Rams.
But it does not get easier this Sunday. Dallas now has the only remaining undefeated team waiting for them on Sunday Night Football in Philadelphia in the division rival Eagles. The Eagles held on to beat the Cardinals on the road last week and will no doubt be looking to pick up their sixth straight win this time.
More than enough storylines to sort through before these two go at it. You know the drill, here are 5 storylines for the Cowboys and Eagles ahead of Week 6 at Lincoln Financial Field.
Cowboys:
- As Cowboys Nation eagerly awaits the return of quarterback Dak Prescott, owner/GM Jerry Jones talked with 105.3 The Fan during his weekly appearance and said the team's only concern now is Prescott's ability to grip the ball and "spin it." Jones also said they will have a better idea of where Prescott is when he practices on Wednesday. Should Prescott not be ready to go against the Eagles, it'll be undefeated Cooper Rush under center again.
- Sticking on the injury front, Micah Parsons suffered an injury to his left groin in Sunday's 22-10 win over the Rams but muscles through it in the second half to finish the game. The Cowboys and head coach Mike McCarthy seemed to be encouraged by where Parsons is, and it appears he'll be on track to make his first career trip to Philadelphia. Parsons picked up two more sacks on Sunday despite the injury to tie the NFL lead and forced a fumble.
- Cowboys' fans can rejoice in running back Tony Pollard's performance on Sunday against the Rams. Pollard broke off his longest run of the season in that game for a 57-yard touchdown while rushing for 86 yards on just eight carries. Ezekiel Elliott got in on the fun too with 78 yards, but they will have their work cut out for them against a tough Eagles' run defense.
- No, your eyes don't deceive you. The Cowboys' defense has been that good. So good in fact that they are the only team in the NFL this season that have allowed just a single touchdown in each game they have played this season. They rank third in points allowed per game and second in sacks with 20 behind the 49ers. Parsons' leads the way with six of those as mentioned above but keep an eye out for Dorance Armstrong. He has four on the year including one last week and the blocked punt.
- For all of the talk surrounding Cooper Rush and his more than admirable job in filling in for Prescott, perhaps the most important stat is that he has yet to throw an interception in 118 passing attempts. We'll see if he can keep it up against an Eagles' defense that has forced six so far.
Eagles:
- They're 5-0 for the first time since 2004, so the Eagles deserve their flowers after the first month of the season. They dispatched the Cardinals on the road last week after holding on after Arizona missed what would have been a game-tying field goal to send it to overtime. Quarterback Jalen Hurts was solid again, passing for 239 yards and running for another 61 yards with two touchdowns. Tight end Dallas Goedert and wide receiver Da'Vonta Smith has strong performances as well.
- Make no mistake about it, the Eagles high-flying (pun intended) offense is all about the running game. While yes, they have Smith and offseason addition AJ Brown from the Titans, Hurts and Miles Sanders are what makes Philadelphia go when they have the ball. They rank in the top five of both total rushing yards and yards per game this season. In contrast, the Cowboys rank in the bottom third of rushing yards allowed per game.
- But don't sleep on the Eagles defense either. Anchored up front by veterans Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham and in the back end by Darius Slay and CJ Gardner-Johnson, the Eagles have been one of the best defenses in the NFL this season by allowing just under 300 yards a game nearly 18 points a game.
- The Eagles also boast one of the best offensive lines in the game as well with Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson holding down center and right tackle, respectively. However, Kelce along with left tackle Jordan Mailata and guards Lander Dickerson and Isaac Seumalo are all nursing various injuries. With a strong running attack and the Cowboys' ferocious pass rush coming to town, the Eagles will need those guys to be ready to go for Sunday.
- Jalen Hurts was known for his running ability in college at Alabama and Oklahoma before entering the NFL, but this season Hurts has made big strides in the passing game. He's passed for nearly 1,400 yards with a 68% completion percentage while averaging 8.5 yards a completion, proof that the Eagles have pushed the ball down the field more this season.
