Eagles and Cowboys Clash Monday

Philadelphia is set to host Dallas on Monday night as both squads sit at 2-4 with serious questions about their seasons. The NFC East remains weak enough that a turnaround is possible, yet the upcoming matchup features two teams desperate for a win. The Eagles are on a four-game skid, while the Cowboys have their own offensive and defensive issues to address in this critical divisional showdown.

Looking back at the last two weeks reveals a historic slump for the division. Every team in the NFC East played twice and not a single team won a game. This marks the first occurrence of such a dry spell since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. The New York Giants currently hold the division lead at 3-2-1, but the Cowboys and Eagles are only two games back.

For Philadelphia, the offensive struggles extend well beyond the quarterback position. The team has managed only 58 points across its four losses. Star quarterback Jalen Hurts is on injured reserve due to blood clots and is expected to miss the rest of the year. That responsibility now falls to Tanner McKee, who had just two days of first-team practice before his first meaningful start last week. McKee said he feels he has a good preparation process and plans to meet with the coaching staff more often rather than preparing alone. He now has a full week to work with first-year offensive coordinator Sean Mannion.

The Eagles also face a running back crisis. Saquon Barkley has missed more than two games with a hamstring injury, though he could return. His backups Will Shipley and Tank Bigsby are also hurt. Carson Steele, signed from the practice squad, hurt his shoulder against Carolina. Dameon Pierce was the only option to carry the ball in that game, rushing for 35 yards. Dallas allows 4.7 yards per carry this season, which could present an opportunity for McKee to build confidence.

Dallas brings its own set of challenges to the field. The defense ranks 30th in the league under first-year coordinator Christian Parker. Offensively, the Cowboys scored only 29 points in their last two losses, including a 23-13 defeat to Green Bay last week. They have now scored fewer than 20 points in consecutive Dak Prescott starts for the first time since 2019. Owner Jerry Jones stated at the NFL's annual fall meeting on Wednesday that he does not expect more coaching changes. He described the recent hiring of defensive assistant Mike Pettine as strategic and unique.

Individual milestones are on the line for several players. Javonte Williams is the second Cowboys player with seven rushing touchdowns through the first six games, behind Emmitt Smith. CeeDee Lamb has 48 receptions, third in the NFL and a franchise record through six games. Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert needs one catch to move into third place on the franchise's career receptions list.

Dallas is favored by 4 points in the betting markets. The Cowboys are 3-3 against the spread, while the Eagles are 1-5. Dallas leads the all-time series 72-58 and won the last meeting 24-21 on Nov. 23, 2025. Kickoff is at 7:15 p.m. CST on ESPN. The Eagles next play at Washington on Nov. 1 and then host the Giants to finish a divisional stretch that will determine if their season can be salvaged.

The outcome of this game will likely shape the rest of the season for both clubs. A win for either side would provide momentum, but a loss could further complicate their playoff hopes. With so much at stake, this Monday night contest is poised to be a pivotal moment for the NFC East.