Hot Dallas Cowboys get their wish: A showdown with the Eagles for first place in NFC East
When the Dallas Cowboys left Philadelphia late on Nov. 5 following a 28-23 loss to Eagles, they pointed the Dec. 10 rematch at AT&T Stadium.
For the game to matter, the Cowboys had to take care of their own business first and also hope for a little help from the outside.
The Cowboys (9-3) certainly held up their end of the bargain, winning four straight games, capped by the 41-35 victory against the Seattle Seahawks last Thursday.
And while sitting at home, the Cowboys got a gift courtesy of the San Francisco 49ers, who beat the Eagles 42-19 on Sunday.
The Cowboys can move into a tie atop the division with a win.
And they are heading into the game with all the momentum.
Not only have the Cowboys won four straight games, but they have won six of their last seven games.
And they get the Eagles at AT&T Stadium, where the Cowboys have won 14 straight game at home, including a 6-0 mark in 2023. The have won five straight games against the Eagles at home.
And the Cowboys will be rested with a 10-day break since the Seahawks game, while the Eagles are coming off a physical and humiliating defeat to the 49ers.
After spending Sunday watching the Eagles-49ers in their recliners, the Cowboys can’t wait for the rematch.
“I’m excited for it, I really am with the way that we are playing, our understanding of how that game went the last time and that we get to get that bunch here at home,” Prescott said. “There are a lot of things to be excited about and most importantly is us taking another step in getting to where we want to be.”
Dallas begins a five-game stretch to the end of the season that represents their final trimester.
They opened with a 4-2 mark in first trimester before going 5-1 in the one that just ended with the Seattle game.
They got here focusing on themselves, coinciding with Prescott playing the best football of his career and becoming one of the front runners for the NFL MVP award.
And they plan to carry that same attitude into the final five games.
It starts with the Eagles, but the Cowboys also have their eyes on the big picture.
The Cowboys play at the Buffalo Bills and at the Miami Dolphins, at home against the Detroit Lions before ending the season at the Washington Commanders.
The Cowboys are focused on getting into the playoffs and playing their best football when it matters most in January with the full understanding they may have to face Philadelphia again to reach their ultimate goal getting to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1995.
“The focus of running our own race is why we didn’t drop a game,” Prescott said. “We just stayed focused on what we could control. We didn’t try to put our emotions in hoping [the Eagles] won or lost. We’ve got a lot going on. We have to stay focused on running our own race and understand that we will get these guys again. This probably won’t be the last time that we get them this season.
“At the end of the day, it’s about continuing to strive and continuing to get better. We know that getting this win next week and continuing this home winning streak is more important than anything. It’s two great teams, division rivals, and to get to where we both want to go, we are probably going to have to see one another again.”
Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy was brought in 2020 to end the team’s 28-year Super Bowl drought. He had a similar mindset as Prescott regarding the upcoming stretch and the Eagles game.
“We want to get to this 10 win,” McCarthy said. “We understand where [the Eagles] are. Get to this 10th win. I really do like to stretch that we’re getting ready to be on. When you look at the teams that were getting ready to line up against, obviously Philadelphia is all that matters right now. This is an excellent opportunity for us to play in playoff type games without playoff consequences and I think it serves very well.
“December football is something that I personally have always enjoyed it. I think it’s a great indication of where you are as a team and what you need to also do to get into playoffs and be ready for the playoffs. We are looking forward to it.
“It the Cowboys and Eagles. I don’t think you need to say anything more than that.”
