Dec 22, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) warms up earlier than the sport towards the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Peter Casey-Imagn Pictures The Eagles want to clinch the NFC East title whereas finishing a uncommon sweep of the rival Dallas Cowboys on Sunday in Philadelphia.
The Eagles (12-3) might must play with out beginning quarterback Jalen Hurts, who sustained a concussion throughout final weekend’s 36-33 loss at Washington that snapped their team-record 10-game successful streak.
Backup quarterback Kenny Pickett suffered a rib damage towards the Commanders, probably placing Tanner McKee beneath heart Sunday as Philadelphia tries to comb Dallas for the primary time since 2011.
In the meantime, the Cowboys (7-8) are clicking with their very own QB2 on the controls. Cooper Rush has guided Dallas to wins in 4 of the final 5 video games, throwing 9 landing passes and only one interception in that span.
The Cowboys are within the unfamiliar place of taking part in spoiler, lacking the playoffs for the primary time since 2020. Two extra wins would give Dallas its fourth straight successful season beneath fifth-year coach Mike McCarthy.
“It is laborious to win video games on this league. It is positively an finish objective simply to have a successful season,” Cowboys proper guard Brock Hoffman mentioned. “… However positively the place we have been at on this journey, take it week by week, win these final two video games, have a successful season, and it is positively an enormous increase going into subsequent season.”
The Eagles cruised to a 34-6 win over the Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, within the first assembly in Week 10, with Hurts throwing two landing passes and speeding for 2 scores. Rush completed with simply 45 yards on 13-of-23 passing.
The Eagles didn’t apply on Christmas Day, so their damage report Wednesday was an estimation, however the staff mentioned Hurts wouldn’t have practiced and Pickett would have been a restricted participant.
Pickett changed a woozy Hurts within the first quarter towards Washington and completed the drive with a landing cross to A.J. Brown.
“I assumed it was so cool for our guys to have the boldness in (Pickett) to only hop in there and deal with a 3rd down, deal with one other completion, throw a third-down landing within the crimson zone,” Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore mentioned Tuesday. “I assumed that was a extremely cool second.”
A sixth-round pick of Stanford in 2023, McKee has but to look in a regular-season sport.
“I really feel like I’ve at all times been making ready to be the starter and making ready to play, and so my preparation goes to remain the identical,” McKee mentioned Tuesday. “And you realize, I am clearly excited for any alternative that I do get, however we’ll take it day-to-day for these guys.”
Regardless of who performs QB, the Eagles doubtless will lean closely on Saquon Barkley. With a league-leading 1,838 speeding yards, he wants 268 within the final two video games to interrupt Eric Dickerson’s 1984 NFL single-season report of two,105.
Philadelphia’s preliminary damage report Wednesday additionally included linebacker Nakobe Dean (stomach) and working again Will Shipley (concussion) as non-participants. Extensive receiver/return specialist Britain Covey (neck) and defensive finish Bryce Huff (wrist) had been full individuals.
The Cowboys’ first damage report additionally was an estimation. Star wideout CeeDee Lamb (shoulder) and center linebacker Eric Kendricks (calf) highlighted the record of non-participants. Receiver Jalen Tolbert (finger) was restricted, whereas cornerback Jourdan Lewis (elbow) and defensive deal with Mazi Smith (again) had been full individuals.
–Area Degree Media
