Each week, I dive into the film of the Eagles’ upcoming opponent to get a feel for who they really are. Think of it less as a stats preview and more as an overview of what shows up repeatedly on film, and what the Eagles will be facing.
Sadly, the Cowboys’ passing game is excellent. It’s the one area of their team where they consistently look like a top-tier operation when kept on schedule. Dak Prescott is playing extremely efficient football within structure. He is playing like one of the best quarterbacks in the league right now.
Dallas leans heavily on under-center and shotgun play-action looks to manufacture open windows in the intermediate ranges, especially outside the numbers. Prescott has been outstanding on these designs, and his accuracy on deep play-action shots has been flawless. George Pickens has stepped into the true X-receiver role they’ve lacked for a while.
Pickens is violent after the catch, wins vertically outside the numbers, and often looks like the option the offense leans on the most. Pickens tends to be the preferred target versus press looks, where he can dominate weaker corners at the LOS, while CeeDee Lamb becomes the go-to option versus off coverage, where his route pacing and leverage manipulation shine. Lamb is still elite at running deep crossing routes and routes that break across the middle of the field.
Jake Ferguson is also a central part of the passing game, especially in play action, where he’s targeted a lot. They love releasing him on leak routes and hitting him in the flat. Similar to how the Eagles use Dallas Goedert, at times. Dak trusts Ferguson, and he targets him a lot in the red zone as well as on seam balls down the field.
When everything is timed and the picture is clean, Dallas can pick apart almost any coverage. Dak is outstanding when he is given time to throw.
But as good as they look in rhythm, this offense becomes noticeably less stable when forced out of it. Dak is a climb-the-pocket passer who operates best with clear space in front of him. Once the pocket collapses, he hesitates or holds the ball, creating turnover opportunities or strip-sack chances. Dak is very aggressive and if he feels pressure, he is willing to force it into tight windows, which can create opportunities for turnovers.
Even though the Cowboys’ protection numbers look respectable, the film paints a more exploitable picture — especially for a front four as talented as the Eagles. Dak Prescott doesn’t threaten defenses with his legs the way he used to; he wants to hang in the pocket and finish the concept, even when the picture is muddy. That becomes a problem for Dallas because its passing game relies on more-developed routes, which naturally extend the time Dak holds onto the ball.
The tackles have improved in recent weeks, but both Tyler Guyton at LT and Terence Steele at RT have had real issues in pass protection, particularly against power rushers who can collapse the edge or long-arm them into the lap of the quarterback. Guyton has surrendered some ugly reps on tape.
This is the exact type of offensive line profile that can invite a Jaelan Phillips takeover game, with the Eagles stressing the edges while muddying the pocket with Jalen Carter and Moro Ojomo. And because Dallas often runs vertical routes, defenses can bracket this and force Dak to wait. If the Eagles can deny the first read, force Dak to hold the ball, and condense the pocket, pressure will come even without blitzing.
Dallas’ run game is built around Javonte Williams, who has quietly become one of the most efficient and punishing interior runners in the league. Structurally, the Cowboys major in inside-zone, duo, and power runs, leaning heavily on downhill concepts designed to keep the offense on schedule rather than chase explosives. Williams fits this identity perfectly.
He has rushed between the tackles on 62.6% of his carries, and he’s averaging 5.1 yards per carry on those inside runs. He forces missed tackles at an elite rate, with 20 missed tackles on inside carries, and his combination of contact balance and ability to churn through tight interior gaps is a huge reason Dallas can sustain their offensive structure.
Dallas rarely creates explosive gains on the ground, and virtually all of Williams’ damage comes between the tackles. Teams that compress the interior, win with heavy fronts, and force the Cowboys to bounce runs outside can slow down this run game. If the Eagles’ interior can take on double teams and allow Nakobe Dean and Zack Baun to trigger downhill, it can constrict Dallas’ A/B-gap runs, and the Cowboys’ offensive rhythm will take a hit. But if Williams gets rolling downhill consistently, Dallas can stay in manageable down-and-distance situations that keep the offense alive for four quarters.
Final thoughts
This is a high-functioning passing offense when they’re allowed to play on schedule. Prescott is operating at a high level, Pickens is a legitimate problem outside, and we all know how good Lamb is. The Eagles’ defense should not go into this expecting to suffocate Dallas. Dallas will have stretches of production, and it’s unrealistic to assume they’ll be shut down for four quarters.
The key is disruption, not domination. If the Eagles can force third-and-long, muddy the interior pocket, and make Dak hold the ball, they can steal a possession or two. But this is absolutely a game where the Philadelphia offense must carry their weight, because Dallas will score if allowed to stay in rhythm.
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