Banged-Up Eagles Host Slumping Cowboys on Monday Night Football

The Philadelphia Eagles host their division rival, the Dallas Cowboys, on Monday, Oct. 26, in Week 7 of Monday Night Football. Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. ET at Lincoln Financial Field, with the game airing on ESPN and ABC. DraftKings Sportsbook lists Dallas as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 43.5.

Both teams arrive in a rough patch. The Eagles started 2-0 but have dropped four in a row, and their injury list is long. Quarterback Jalen Hurts is out after blood clots were found in his calf and lungs. Receivers DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks will also miss the game, along with Nolan Smith. Saquon Barkley, Landon Dickerson, Jonathan Greenard and Jalyx Hunt are all questionable.

The Cowboys have lost two straight. After scoring 30 or more in each of their previous three games, their offense managed a combined 29 points against Tampa Bay and Green Bay. The defense had already drawn criticism early in the season, leaving questions on the side of the ball that was supposed to be a strength.

Dallas gained more than 300 yards in both recent losses, but the totals hide the problem. Opposing defenses repeatedly sent extra rushers, and the Cowboys had no answer. Dak Prescott, usually strong against the blitz, went 20 of 38 for 194 yards without a touchdown when facing it in those games. The team also ran for just 98 yards combined, even with guard Tyler Smith back in the lineup.

Tampa Bay and Green Bay blitzed Prescott on 38.8% of his dropbacks, according to Tru Media. Philadelphia has blitzed on only 24.1% of dropbacks this season, the fourth-lowest rate in the NFL, and has reached 38% just once since Vic Fangio became defensive coordinator. The Eagles also struggle to pressure the quarterback, getting a sack, hit or hurry on just 32.9% of dropbacks, which could give Prescott time to find CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. Dallas is unlikely to get much from its run game. Javonte Williams has seven rushing touchdowns but averages 3.7 yards per carry, down from 4.8 last season, and Philadelphia allows only 4.0.

On the other side, Tanner McKee will start in place of Hurts. He dropped back 48 times last week, and in his two Week 18 starts he averaged 44 dropbacks, so a pass-heavy approach is likely. Barkley practiced fully on Friday for the first time since his hamstring injury, and he has averaged 5.5 yards per carry in both games he finished healthy this year. Backups Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley are on injured reserve, and the Eagles may be careful with his workload.

The ground game could matter. Each of Dallas' other five opponents has run for at least 165 yards against the Cowboys, who are allowing 4.7 yards per carry. A strong rushing start from Barkley or Dameon Pierce could keep the game from becoming the shootout Dallas prefers. McKee's top targets will be Makai Lemon, Darius Cooper and Dallas Goedert. Cobie Durant is set to return for the Cowboys and could take a starting spot from Daron Bland.

Pressure is the main risk for McKee, who is 16 of 45 for 179 yards without a touchdown in his career when under duress, with a 15.1% sack rate. Dallas does not rush the passer especially well, but Philadelphia's offensive line issues could change that.

CBS Sports' prediction calls for a close finish. The preview argues the Cowboys should not be favored by more than a field goal against anyone given how they have played, but it still picks them to win because of the state of Philadelphia's offense. The projected score is Cowboys 24, Eagles 20.