Dallas to face depleted Philadelphia roster in Week 7

The Philadelphia Eagles will host the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field on Monday, October 26, for the Week 7 edition of Monday Night Football. The game is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN and ABC. DraftKings Sportsbook lists the Cowboys as 4.5 point favorites, with the total points line set at 43.5.

Philadelphia enters this matchup with a four-game losing streak after opening the season 2-0. The roster has been decimated by injuries. Jalen Hurts will not play after blood clots were found in his calf and lungs. The team will also miss wide receivers DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks, as well as linebacker Nolan Smith. Running back Saquon Barkley and offensive linemen Landon Dickerson, Jonathan Greenard, and Jalyx Hunt are listed as questionable.

Dallas arrives in Philadelphia after two consecutive losses. The Cowboys scored 29 points against the Buccaneers and Packers in Weeks 5 and 6, a drop from scoring over 30 points in each of their first three games. The offense struggled to contain blitzes, with quarterback Dak Prescott completing 20 of 38 passes for 194 yards and no touchdowns when facing extra rushers in those contests. The team gained only 98 rushing yards in that span, despite the return of guard Tyler Smith.

The Eagles defense has shown mixed results. Per Tru Media, they allow opponents to complete 60.4% of passes at 7.0 yards per attempt. However, they have given up eight touchdown passes while recording only three interceptions. The unit has been aided by 14 opponent drops, the second-most in the league. Defensively, Philadelphia has blitzed on just 24.1% of dropbacks, the fourth-lowest rate in the NFL.

With Hurts out, the Eagles will rely on Tanner McKee, who started two games in the previous season. McKee has been a pass-heavy quarterback, averaging 44 dropbacks in those starts. If Barkley is active, the Eagles may lean on his rushing ability. Barkley averaged 5.5 yards per carry in the two games he completed this season before suffering a hamstring injury. He fully practiced on Friday for the first time since the injury.

The Cowboys have allowed every opponent capable of running the ball to gain at least 165 yards on the ground this season. Opponents have averaged 4.7 yards per carry against Dallas. The Eagles defense has struggled to generate pressure, recording a sack, hit, or hurry on only 32.9% of opponent dropbacks. This lack of pressure has allowed quarterbacks to operate with relative comfort in the pocket.

CBS Sports predicts the Cowboys will win this game 24-20. The analysis notes that Dallas should not be favored by more than a field goal given its current offensive struggles, but the Eagles' depleted offensive lineup makes a Dallas victory likely. The Cowboys' ability to contain the Eagles' passing attack will be a determining factor in the result.