Cowboys Need to Take Advantage of Eagles Trash Secondary and Let Amari Cooper Loose
By Jerry Trotta
Dak Prescott's shoulder injury has pundits around the NFL professing that the Cowboys should replicate their "Feed Zeke" blueprint -- which led them to a 44-21 thumping of the Rams last Sunday -- for their Week 16 showdown against the Eagles.
Are they not aware of Philadelphia's porous secondary that allowed a washed up Eli Manning to carve them up for 200 yards and two touchdowns in Week 14?
We're not saying that Dallas should completely abandon the run game, but Amari Cooper has utterly dominated the Eagles since arriving in Big D, and the Cowboys should absolutely let him feast.
Cowboys are 3-0 vs Eagles w/ Amari Cooper. His average in those games: 7 rec, 133 yds, TD
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) December 21, 2019
Should they try to get him going early on Sunday?
Amari: Depends on what I do with those targets, “but I’d say it’s a pretty good idea to get me going early.” https://t.co/YU71OP4OeY
The last time Dallas and Philly played with an NFC East crown on the line, Cooper erupted for 10 receptions for 217 yards and three touchdowns. In the Cowboys' 37-10 drubbing of the Eagles earlier this season, Cooper hauled in five receptions for 106 yards, numbers that could have been even more imposing if the game were closer.
Should Jason Garrett and Kellen Moore ask Dak to carry Dallas in this showdown? Absolutely not. Ezekiel Elliott ran as good as ever against Los Angeles last week and they still should feed him 20+ times.
Amari Cooper has shredded the Eagles since joining the Cowboys as he has 21 catches for 398 yards and 3 TDs.
— Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) December 19, 2019
Don't get too excited thought as the Eagles secondary has shut down some dominant WRs over the last three weeks. Just kidding, they're terrible. pic.twitter.com/VPxePdtI24
However, failing to let Cooper go to work against the Eagles' laughable secondary could be an unforgivable, likely season-ending blunder.