Dallas (7-7) at Philadelphia (7-7)
When: Sunday, December 22nd, 2019
Where: Lincoln Financial Field,
Philadelphia, PA
Time: 4:25 ET | TV: FOX
Opening Odds: Dallas -1/47.5
It’s not often that a game between 7-7 teams would be the NFL game of the week, but that’s what we have this Sunday afternoon in Philadelphia as the Eagles host the Dallas Cowboys. For the most part, the NFC East is up for grabs this week, as a Dallas win would clinch the division title, while and Eagles victory would basically secure it, unless they lost to the lowly New York Giants in Week 17. Dallas has been up and down all season and one of the hardest teams in the league to figure out. They own two, three-game losing streak with impressive wins scattered in-between including a 37-10 mauling of the Eagles in Week 7. The Cowboys snapped a three-game skid last weekend with a 44-21 win over the L.A. Rams in a game that wasn’t as close as the score indicated. Philly, meanwhile, has won two ugly games in a row, rallying in the fourth quarter to defeat the Giants and Washington Redskins. The Cowboys are surprising 3-point road favorites for their rematch with the Eagles, but divisional games have brought out the best in Dallas in recent years, with the Cowboys posting a 16-5 ATS mark in their last 21 games vs. NFC East opponents. Philadelphia has gone just 4-12 ATS in its previous 16 games as a home underdog. If you’re looking to bet the total, we have some conflicting trends. Dallas is 5-2 to the Over in its previous seven games, and has 7-1 to the Over in its past eight games against divisional foes. Philly enters Week 16 on a five-game Under streak at Lincoln Financial Field, and have gone 7-2 to the Under in their last nine games following a victory.
The Cowboys averaged just 16 points per game in their three-game skid before erupting on the Rams last week. Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries in the victory and has had success against a pretty good Philadelphia rush defense. Elliott ran for 111 yards and a score in the Week 7 win while adding six catches for 36 yards. Dak Prescott, who has surprisingly thrown for an NFL second-best 4,334 yards, is dealing with a sprained right shoulder that limited him in practice this week. Prescott recorded a 123.8 QB rating last week – his highest since Week 2 – and threw for 212 yards with two touchdowns and no picks. Star receiver Amari Cooper (71 catches, 1,073 yards, eight TDs) had five receptions for 106 yards in the first meeting with Philadelphia. The Cowboys rank seventh overall (323.6) and eight against the pass (220.0), while allowing 20.6 points per contest.
The key for the Eagles is not turning over the football. Philly is near the bottom of the league in turnover margin at -6, and has committed 19 turnovers in its seven losses compared with just four turnovers in its seven victories. Quarterback Carson Wentz tossed an interception and had two of Philadelphia’s three lost fumbles in the first matchup with Dallas, but has come alive in the past two weeks. Wentz has 591 yards passing and five touchdowns without an interception in the win over the Giants and Redskins while basically having nobody to throw to. Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz has 47 receptions for 544 yards and five touchdowns over his last six weeks and is Wentz’s favorite target. The rushing game has survived injuries as well and ranks 11th in the league at 121.4 yards per game. Miles Sanders had 172 scrimmage yards (122 rushing, 50 receiving) last week. The defense ranks third against the rush, but 18th versus the pass (238.1). Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox had a sack and forced fumble in the previous meeting with the Cowboys.
Carson Wentz is starting to get hot and is carrying this team on his back. Dallas has just three road wins on the year and they came against Detroit (3-10-1), NY Giants (3-11) and Washington (3-11). The Eagles will find a way to slow down Elliott and not turn the ball over, thus producing a victory at home.
Pick: Eagles +2 (More Week 16 Free Picks)
Cowboys are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
Cowboys are 16-5 ATS in their last 21 vs. NFC East.
Cowboys are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game.
Cowboys are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
Cowboys are 21-9-1 ATS in their last 31 games on grass.
Cowboys are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games in Week 16.
Eagles are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games after accumulating more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game.
Eagles are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games following a ATS win.
Eagles are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight up win.
Eagles are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 vs. NFC.
Eagles are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
Eagles are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 home games.
Eagles are 4-12 ATS in their last 16 games as a home underdog.
Eagles are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Eagles are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog.
Eagles are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games on grass.
Eagles are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
Over is 4-0 in Cowboys last 4 games as a road favorite.
Over is 5-0 in Cowboys last 5 vs. NFC.
Over is 7-1 in Cowboys last 8 vs. NFC East.
Under is 5-1 in Cowboys last 6 games in Week 16.
Over is 9-2 in Cowboys last 11 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Cowboys last 5 games as a favorite.
Over is 4-1 in Cowboys last 5 games on grass.
Over is 4-1 in Cowboys last 5 road games.
Under is 13-5 in Cowboys last 18 games in December.
Over is 5-2 in Cowboys last 7 games overall.
Under is 11-5 in Cowboys last 16 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
Under is 5-0 in Eagles last 5 home games.
Under is 6-1 in Eagles last 7 games following a ATS win.
Over is 6-1 in Eagles last 7 games in Week 16.
Under is 5-1 in Eagles last 6 games after accumulating more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Eagles last 5 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Eagles last 5 games as a home underdog.
Under is 4-1 in Eagles last 5 vs. NFC.
Under is 7-2 in Eagles last 9 games following a straight up win.
Under is 16-5 in Eagles last 21 games after accumulating more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game.
Over is 5-2 in Eagles last 7 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
Over is 10-4 in Eagles last 14 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
Over is 5-2 in Eagles last 7 games in December.
Under is 5-2 in Eagles last 7 games on grass.
Under is 51-22 in Eagles last 73 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game.
Road team is 11-5 ATS in their last 16 meetings.
Under is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings in Philadelphia.
Cowboys are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 meetings in Philadelphia.
Favorite is 7-1 ATS in their last 8 meetings.
Cowboys are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 meetings.
