After a emotional win vs. the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday Night, in a game to honour Marshawn Kneeland, the Dallas Cowboys will face another test vs the Division Leaders, the Philadelphia Eagles, on Sunday afternoon at AT&T stadium in Arlington, to keep their playoff hopes alive.

The Eagles keep winning and sit atop the NFC east, but their lead is puzzling as they are not firing on all cylinders, as their offense has been stagnant and there are rumblings in the locker room of dissent.

Quarterback Jalen Hurts has been avoiding mistakes, but is not firing on all cylinders. Wideout A.J. Brown is complaining and is having his worse year yet statistically.

Perhaps more importantly, Saquon Barkley, so dominant in Philadelphia’s Super Bowl-winning campaign, is averaging two yards per carry fewer than he did in 2024.

They have been dominating on defense and pickung up the offense in games to win the close ones.

They will need a repeat performance against the Cowboys who have the second most points scored per game at 29.6 and reigning comeback player of the year in Dak Prescott.

Dallas convincing win vs the Raiders, 33-16 on Monday night, was further evidence of the dangerous connection Prescott has forged with George Pickens, CeeDee Lamb, and tight end Jake Ferguson.

And at running back, Javonte Williams has enjoyed a comeback of epic proportions. He is already within touching distance of the career-best mark he set during his rookie season in 2021.

Dallas defense is their achilles heal, but they have righted the ship in the acquisition of Quinten Williams, the star defensive lineman in a trade from the New York Jets, and this was evident in the win vs. the Raiders. The return of Agent Demarvion Overshown, has energized the defense.

The stage is set for a bitter divisional clash between two bitter foes. Round 2 will be much bigger, better and louder on Sunday Afternoon in Arlington.

Here are some keys to the game to watchout for :

Barkley vs the Cowboys’ run defense: The worst-kept secret in the NFL is that the Eagles’ offense runs through Barkley. Dallas has allowed 4.6 yards per carry, ranking 27th in the league.

• Lamb, Pickens, and Ferguson vs Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, and the rest of the Eagles’ secondary: This is two strengths going head-to-head.
• Cowboys’ secondary limiting big passing plays: Despite their recent improvements, Dallas’ defense still ranks 31st in giving up explosive plays.