Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys Preview

By Darrell Laurant | Saturday, October 08, 2005 | ( 0 )

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You can read all you want about Donovan McNabb, Terrell Owens, Jevon Kearse, Drew Bledsoe and Keyshawn Johnson.

This meeting of two longtime NFC East rivals will actually revolve around people like Flozell Adams, Larry Allen, Jon Runyan and Ira Thomas. In other words, the offensive lines.

Adams, Allen and their Dallas Cowboys linemates will have to somehow keep the blitz-happy Philadelphia Eagles off QB Bledsoe, a strong-armed veteran who will never be confused with Michael Vick when he has to tuck and run. If they can't, Dallas coach Bill Parcells could see a Catch 22 situation develop -- the running backs will have to stay home to block Jevon Kearse, Jeremiah Trotter and friends. This will take them out of the offense, and make the Cowboys have to throw even more, thus drawing more pressure.

Meanwhile, the "probable" listing for Eagles QB McNabb on the injury update seems to get longer every week. This week, he's battling not only a sports hernia, but an injured chest and tender shin. This means that Philadelphia trench warriors like Thomas and Runyan will be motivated to protect their star like the Secret Service.

Last week, McNabb was so incapacitated by his aches and pains that he only threw for 359 yards and three touchdowns in a 37-31 come-from-behind victory over Kansas City. Still, he has been robbed of his usual mobility, which may make him a Bledsoe-like sitting Eagle for hungry Cowboys rushers like Greg Ellis and LaRoi Glover.

Owens, McNabb's favorite receiver, was hurt in a 12-7 victory over Dallas last year when Cowboys' DB Roy Williams took him down with a horse-collar tackle -- the kind now outlawed by the league. This year, however, he has been as productive as ever.

The Dallas Cowboys have yet to score in the first quarter this season, for whatever that means. Bledsoe needs more help from RB Julius Jones and WR Johnson, but the Philadelphia Eagles have one of the best secondaries in football in Lito Sheppard, Sheldon Brown, Michael Lewis and Brian Dawkins.

Philadelphia has won eight of the last nine contests between the two teams. Game time is at 4:15, EDT in Texas Stadium.

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