Dallas Cowboys Gain Advantages From Eagles Injuries

The Dallas Cowboys enter Sunday night’s battle against the rival Philadelphia Eagles with their healthiest starting lineup to date.

The last time they were this close to able-bodied came on opening weekend.

However, let’s not forget the season began without defensive line starters Demarcus Lawrence and Maliek Collins.

The 5-1 Cowboys played with fire and determination while withstanding injuries.

Sunday’s return of star players Dez Bryant and Orlando Scandrick will add rocket fuel to the already blazing playoff fire.

Just as Dallas gains fresh legs coming off the bye, the Eagles absorb three key player losses that provide mismatch opportunities.

Since his 4-game suspension ended on October 3rd, Demarcus Lawrence has played two games and notched an extra bye week of practice.

The Cowboys’ returning sack leader (8) has labored nearly a month to regain form.

His first two games back saw Lawrence’s play time on a short pitch count.

Nearly a month after his arrival, D-Law is now ready for a full workload.

Before beginning a 10-game suspension two games ago, right tackle Lane Johnson (4th overall pick) had started 48 of 48 games for Philadelphia.

Since then 5th round rookie Halapoulivaati Vaitai has taken his place.

In the first game after the switch the Eagles OL allowed 5 sacks to the Redskins.

Things improved last week while surrendering no sacks against the Vikings.

Dallas is no sack juggernaut, but the one player who can wreak havoc on an inexperienced, mid-round rookie is Lawrence.

Expect the Cowboys’ best pass rusher to often bring heat from the left side.

Sunday night marks the return of the Cowboys top slot corner Orlando Scandrick.

His arrival will not erase the solid play of rookie slot corner Anthony Brown.

Instead having both available will allow Dallas to play more dime defense and cash on Brown relieving the lesser coverage of J.J. Wilcox.

The Cowboys will gain a slot corner as the Eagles lose their best slot defender.

Philadelphia’s Ron Brooks ruptured has quad last week and is out for the season.

Filling his slot role will be talented safety Malcolm Jenkins.

While receiver Cole Beasley will challenge any comer, Jenkins is not the weak spot.

The shuffle will bring Jaylen Watkins off the bench to handle Jenkins’ safety spot.

Watkins has played in 14 games the last three years, starting none.

With Jenkins occupied, Dallas will force Watkins into a mismatch covering TE Jason Witten that should help move the chains.

With Eagles’ nose tackle Bennie Logan (strained groin) likely out again this week, the Cowboys dodge a bullet from an old nemesis.

After struggling with the Giants disruptive tackles, it’s a relief to avoid facing half of Philadelphia’s vaunted interior.

Logan and Fletcher Cox have manned the Eagles’ middle since 2013 and given the Cowboys interior line fits in the process.

Back-up NT Beau Allen (6’3, 333) is bigger and played well against the Vikings, but he’s nothing like the explosive force of Logan.

Allen only has 3 starts in 3 seasons, while Logan has 43 over the last 4 seasons..

The switch is a welcome step down in run and pass blocking for All-Pro center Travis Frederick and resurgent left guard Ronald Leary.

Dallas will now focus more on pounding star rookie RB Ezekiel Elliott to the left side and exploiting Logan’s sizable absence.