IRVING, Texas – DeMarco Murray enters Thursday's annual Thanksgiving Day game averaging 5.1 yards per carry and an NFL best 1,354 rushing yards in what has been a career year so far.
Murray is part of an offensive juggernaut that's scored at least 30 points in six of its eight wins. Popular opinion is that all starts with the offensive line.
However, Eagles' defensive lineman Bennie Logan doesn't share that view.
"To be honest with you, [I'm] tired of hearing about it," he said Monday to the Philadelphia Magazine.
In fact, Logan, a second-year nose tackle says the Eagles have played better,
"Their O-Line, the only thing they did was add one guy," Logan said, referring to first-round pick Zack Martin. "So it's not like this year they're so special. They've got to line up and play us. Are we looking forward to it? It's not a challenge for us or anything. It's just the next game. And it's on Thanksgiving Day."
Down in Dallas, Logan's comments didn't exactly draw the Cowboys' offside.
"It is what it is. I'm not worried about it," said center Travis Frederick. "I think there's probably several different motivations behind it…I get motivated for every game. It doesn't really matter what the opponent is saying."
Logan has raised a few eyebrows not only with these recent comments, but also with his play. He leads the league in tackles (38) by a nose tackle and is part of an Eagles defense that allows just 3.9 yards per carry.
"You know I'm not a really big bulletin-board guy," Frederick said. "To me, if you can't get motivated for a game, this is your job, this is what you do, and this is what I love so I'm motivated to play."
Bulletin-board material or not, the Cowboys offensive line is on a roll right now blocking for Murray and Tony Romo. That was on clear display Sunday night against the Giants where they held up the Giants pass rush for over eight seconds, allowing Romo to hook up with Dez Bryant for the game-winning touchdown.
This special unit plays together as one, something Frederick said is one reason why the group has played so well this year.
"The group aspect of it, "Frederick said. "The time we spend together and the way were so cohesive."
Murray has been the beneficiary of a fantastic offensive line so how does he respond to Logan's feeble attempt at bulletin board material?
"Let's find out Thursday."
Even on a short week, it appears that kickoff can't get here quick enough to see both team's strengths go head to head in a battle for first place in the NFC East.
