3 Reasons Eagles Can Win NFC East After Dallas' Thanksgiving Disaster
By Andy Loughmiller
The Dallas Cowboys' Thanksgiving Day loss to the Buffalo Bills means that the NFC East is once again up for grabs. The 5-6 Philadelphia Eagles now have a chance to steal the division late in the season, with a showdown between the two teams still looming. With that in mind, here are three reasons why the Eagles can win the division and punch their ticket to the playoffs.
3. Rushing Defense
The Eagles are statistically the fifth-best defense against the run in the NFL, allowing just 94 rushing yards per game this season. Aside from Dallas, the remaining three opponents on their schedule boast mediocre passing attacks. So, if Philly can stop the run, they shouldn't have any trouble winning out. Of course, a punishing run defense could help suffocate Ezekiel Elliott, too.
2. Favorable Schedule
Compared to Dallas, Philadelphia has a much easier path to winning the remainder of their games in 2019. Apart from the much-anticipated matchup between these two teams in Week 16, the Eagles will face the Dolphins, Redskins, and the Giants twice, whereas the Cowboys will have go against a pair of tough defenses in the Bears and Rams in their next two contests. The Birds' schedule through the last five weeks of the season is far softer than that of the Cowboys.
1. Home Field Advantage vs Cowboys in Week 16
The Cowboys got the better of the Eagles in the first meeting between these two franchises back in Week 7, but that feels like forever ago. Philly will have the home field advantage this time around in what could be a game that decides the postseason fates of both teams. Lincoln Financial Field is going to be filled to the brim with crazy Eagles fans ready to scream their hearts out. Additionally, this means that weather could play a factor, and we all remember how poorly Dallas' offense played against the Patriots in a rainy Week 11 game.