its time for predictions...

[General_Failure]

number of beers/cocktails you will drink before kickoff : -2

TO touchdowns: 3

brief game analysis: The Giants game again, but with better receivers, a better QB, and a less talented RB. Other than that, exactly like the Giants game.


final score: Dallas 35, Eagles 2

[Feva]

number of beers/cocktails you will drink before kickoff :  0-3... Gotta work during part of the game.

TO touchdowns: 1

brief game analysis: I think there's a lot to be said about the emotion of the game... as evidenced a few weeks ago in New Orleans.  I think the Eagles can ride the emotional wave to a quick start... hopefully, they break the trend of the last few weeks and keep that going.  Westbrook playing will be HUGE because this offense just doesn't move well without him.  Outside of that... it comes down to the lines... where I feel we have an advantage.  If the line gives McNabb time and he gets comfortable back there... he can pick them apart... as long as LJ/Westbrook/Reggie/Greg come to play.  Defensively, I think they can get to Bledsoe and force some mistakes.  When/If he does... we need to capitalize ie... catching the INT/recovering the fumble... and then score points.

final score: 24-20 Eagles

[General_Failure]

dallas is a top five defense...and a 3-4 defense...both of which to me spell trouble for mcnabb and the offense

Tapeh up the middle would help, but ...

[PhillyPhreak54]

i dont see how the eagle offense scores a lot of points in this game without any wr's

they have scored a lot this year against teams that are all in the bottom five of the nfl

dallas is a top five defense...and a 3-4 defense...both of which to me spell trouble for mcnabb and the offense

theres gonna be lots of three and outs sunday for the birds

If McNabb has time he'll find people. They can't cover everyone and they certainly have some weakspots on that defense. DeMarcus Ware hasn't been able to get consistent pressure. Akin Ayodele, Greg Ellis can be taken advantage of in coverage. As can the rookie FS Pat Watkins and Roy Williams.

Newman is a stud. Anthony Henry can be beaten.

If they blitz McNabb and have success at doing it - it will be bad. But if they blitz him and he makes 'em pay a couple of times and gets Zimmer to call off the pressure, that helps. And if they dont blitz and play back it will allow Donovan to have time to find receivers.

The 3-4 thing is overrated now that they have a center who can control those A gaps. Plus Jason Ferguson stinks.

[MadMarchHare]

There's no way I'll be sober for kickoff.  But the need to see the game keeps me from unconciousness.

TO scores none, but Glenn has a big day.

This game will be brutal.  If the Eagles can't get pressure with just the front four, they'll get annihilated.  I agree with FF, the Birds should stop the run.  McNabb needs a big day.  Hopefully Jackson is better than Fraley with the 3-4.

It's gonna be painfully close (I'll prowl around my living room the entire game), but the homer in me says they'll win.  When Brown went down holding his shoulder, I was on the other side.  Lito and (hopefully) Westbrook playing ices it.   27-24 Eagles.

[ice grillin you]

how many times in his non TO career has mcnabb had a huge game against a very good/great defense in a big spot

granted they havent exactly played many tough defenses over the years as the nfc has been brutal...but when they have it often turns up bad

carolina
giants
tampa
new england
pittsburgh

and i missing a game where he blew up against a high quality defense...maybe...but you get the point...

its not all mcnabb as he has had horrid receivers but thats what he basically has this game...which is why the absence of stallworth is gigantic...i think dallas can body up on the eagles pretty easily this game...

god i hope im really really wrong and mcnabb for once comes out in a gigantic pressure packed game and makes a statement because if he does and they can get stallworth back healthy at some point this team could do some things this year

if mcnabb and the offense drop another egg this game then he needs to retire

[MadMarchHare]

Nice hyperbole.  If you believe he should retire after this game, GTFO.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

if mcnabb and the offense drop another egg this game then he needs to retire

That couldn't be much more ridiculous a comment.

[Eaglez]

I think this thread got a little too pessimistic in a hurry. Dallas is a good team, I can't take that away from them. They definitely have more talent this year than in year's past. But, this game is still completely winnable, and this offense has looked pretty darn good for the most part this season.

This game is probably won at the line of scrimmage (like mostly every game is). The pass protection for the Eagles this year has been excellent, and you can just tell that all the o-linemen are getting off the snap together and are really forming a nice pocket for McNabb. If they do give him time on Sunday he does have the knowledge to pick apart a defense. The problem is the # of dropped passes this year has been inexcusable. That needs to change this week. A fast start, coupled with a few great defensive stands, hopefully with a timely turnover in there somewhere, and I think the Eagles can jump on top of the Cowboys. However, that, of course, remains to be seen.

I completely agree with Jay, too. They need to pressure Bledsoe up the middle and get in his jaw all day. Blitzing off the edge does nothing because Bledsoe still has a pretty quick release and he's pretty good at hitting his hot receiver in those situations. The need to come straight up the gut with blitzes and make him feel uncomfortable in the pocket. The dude is a friggin' statue, I'd much rather him try and roll out and make a play than have him sit in the pocket and throw it deep to Glenn. Hell, if you force Bledsoe to roll out he might trip over his own two feet.

So, we need excellent pass protection, and we need great pressure from our DT's and whoever JJ sends through the middle. Hopefully this is a big day for our highly-touted interior linemen. Time for Bunkley, Patterson, Walker, and Ramsey have played particularly well this year -- pretty much all of them have made a big play this year. Hopefully they step it up even more.   

[Diomedes]

number of beers/cocktails you will drink before kickoff - 4
What, no other drugs rate?

TO touchdowns -  1

brief game analysis -   TO is effective, but Glenn stars for the Cowboys passing game.  Witten is contained.  Jones is not, he hurts the Eagles badly.  Westbrook does not play.  Bledsoe has plenty of time to throw.  Cowboys lead early, Reid abandons the run.  McNabb keeps it close, running more than last week, but ultimately wilts.  If the Eagles do win, they won't convince anyone that they particularly deserved it.  An Eagles win likely comes by a lucky play late.

final score - 31-27 Cowboys

this thread will be revisited so be smart

your mother's sopping funhole will be revisited, so be quiet

[Diomedes]

I forgot to say Reid abandons the run early, wastes timeouts, and takes the blame after the loss.

[ice grillin you]

if the eagles score more than twenty points they are not losing this game

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

if the eagles score more than twenty points they are not losing this game

Ha!  Like last year's game against the Cowboys at home?

[ice grillin you]

ha

[rjs246]

Number of drinks - As many as I can get my hands on. So I'll guesstimate 18. Seriously.

Number of TO TDs - 1

Summary - I do not feel good about this game. The fact that it's at home is the only thing that should keep the game close enough to keep hope alive.

Final score - whatever. I've never gotten one of these right and I'm not going to start now.