Game 16: Cowboys vs. Eagles

The Cowboys control their own destiny. If they win, they make the playoffs. If they lose, well, they don't. It is that simple, if you call beating the Eagles in their casa simple. It is simple if you look at the Cowboys coach as being unmotivated and lazy. You could call it simple is you're viewing a team that has a losing record after the month of November going back into the 90s. Seriously, they are a train going up a large hill without any steam. And their season is going to be defined by the final regular season game. NO PRESSURE!!!

Quarterback Comparison

Name	QB Rating	Comp-Att	Comp %	Yards	TD-Int	Fumbles
Tony Romo	94.8	255-411	62.0%	3,265	26-13	10
Donovan McNabb	85.3	333-550	60.5%	3,741	21-11	7

Romo is the better quarterback, statistically speaking. McNabb generally steps up his game some against the Cowboys. Not really sure as to why that normally happens...

Rushing Comparison

Name	Carries	Yards	TDs	Catches	Yards	TDs
Marion Barber	235	872	7	50	397	2
Brian Westbrook	220	886	9	52	390	5

Westbrook is the better between the two. And really, that is simply a better between the two that is by a margin of a hair. The Cowboys have the better runningbacks... since the Cowboys have Choice available.

Receiving Comparison

Name	Catches	Yards	TDs	Fumbles
Terrell Owens	63	949	10	1
Jason Witten	74	902	4	0
Patrick Crayton	36	516	4	1
DeSean Jackson	60	866	2	1
Hank Baskett	33	440	3	1
Jason Avant	32	377	2	0

This is easy. Cowboys have the better receivers... hands down. It really is a "no-brainer" on this.

Defense Comparison

Name	Tackles	Sacks	Ints-TD	Deflections
DeMarcus Ware	80	20.0	0-0	2
Bradie James	110	7.0	0-0	4
Terence Newman	34	0.0	4-0	9
Stewart Bradley	106	1.0	1-0	5
Trent Cole	77	9.0	0-0	1
Asante Samuel	35	0.0	4-1	23

Jay Ratliff has an additional 7.5 sacks and Greg Ellis adds another 8.0 sacks. Mike Jenkins has an interception returned for a TD... Darren Howard also has 9.0 sacks for the Eagles. Quintin Mikell has three interceptions this season, and Juqua Parker has one interception that was also for a TD. Parker also has five sacks. Forecast: The Cowboys are needing the win to make the playoffs. They will be seeded either fifth or sixth, I would guess, since the division winners without a bye will be possessing home-field. So, the likelihood of the Cowboys playing again in Texas Stadium is virtually shot. The Cowboys do need some dignity. And that is what a win could provide. A little swagger or so, to get the playoff juices going. And taking a win and going 2-0 against the Eagles this year would do just that. So... Cowboys win? Eagles Spoil? What will it be? Well, the Cowboys are the better team. But they have been the better team several times this year and underperformed. Still, I believe that the Cowboys will be a different team come Sunday... and win it 20-17.

Home Field