Nov 11, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) under center Ryan Cook (63) during the first quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. The Cowboys defeated the Eagles 38-23. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE

Steven Mullenax, Editor & Head Writer: The return of DeMarco Murray should mark the  return of a more constant and balanced offense. If not for the overall poor play of the  Eagles in the last few weeks, I would be concerned with the various injuries on the Cowboys’ defensive side of the ball. But Philly is ravaged with inconsistency and injuries as well, so I see this as a blowout win for Dallas in a laugher.  Cowboys 34, Eagles 16.

Jeff Federspiel, Staff Writer: The end of the Andy Reid era is fast approaching in Philadelphia and the Eagles are beginning to close shop, though someone forgot to tell Bryce Brown.  Despite Mr. Brown’s sudden emergence, the injury plagued Cowboys’ defense finds a way to just barely contain this offensive (ha) juggernaut.  Tony Romo throws the ball for 50+ times for the win and Cowboys fans have their hope reignited for the week. Cowboys 27, Eagles 17.

Michael Huff, Staff Writer: Cowboys continue to struggle on offense, but the defense plays well enough to win 17-13.

Todd Toombs, Senior Writer: Looks right now like the Cowboys could get some starters back on the field for this game – center Ryan Cook and running back DeMarco Murray to name just two key ones.  Everything on paper looks like it skews heavily towards a Cowboys win.  Which is precisely the type of game the Cowboys have struggled to win under Garrett.  The Eagles are reeling but still have enough weapons to win if the Cowboys mail it in.  Could this be the beginning of a major run toward the playoffs and a return to the Super Bowl like the Giants (twice) and Packers have pulled off the last few years?  We’ll see.  It starts with this game.  Would be nice to see the Cowboys put together a crushing blowout, but I have it Cowboys 21, Eagles 17.

Jeff Magnia, Staff Writer: This should be a good game between these two teams.  The problem is that Dallas has played poorly against teams with records worse than theirs.  The positive about this is that the Eagles may have a better running game, but their leading scorer in the rushing department has 2 scores for the season.  Cowboys should win this game in an easy matchup if they can get the mindset that the Eagles are 8-3 instead of 3-8.  Dallas wins this game 24-20.

Artie Cappello, Senior Writer: Can most of us agree that the ‘Iggles’ is the most hated team for Cowboys fans? Lets hope that this means that the Cowboys home team cheers will be louder than the visitors cheers for once. While we are at it, I think the Cowboys should practice on the Cowboys Stadium field every week.  We need to do something to re-establish some semblance of a home field advantage. That being said, I don’t think we’ll need it this week. Cowboys 31- Iggles 23.

Brad Austin, Senior Writer: Dallas won the first match-up by 15 points, yet scored all 3 of their season’s non-offensive TD’s in that game.  If you erase Dwayne Harris’ punt return TD and the closing seconds fumble recovery TD by Jason Hatcher, this was a one-point ballgame.  That being said, the Eagles offense is in complete disarray and in even worse shape than the first meeting.  Along with starters missing at QB, RB, C, and both OT’s, Philadelphia is now without top deep threat DeSean Jackson and even their back-up center (replacement has yet to play this year).  Unlike the first go-round, Philadelphia has no chance at the playoffs and Morris Claiborne is out for blood.  Dallas wins, but this team is not capable of domination.  Cowboys 23, Eagles 16.

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The last time the Dallas Cowboys hosted such a downtrodden Eagles team was in Week 16 1998. The Cowboys eked out a 13-9 win with a 7-yard Eric Bjornson rush and two Richie Cunningham field goals.

This is the fourth straight game that the Dallas Cowboys will have faced a rookie quarterback. Never in their franchise history has this been the case.

The last time the Philadelphia Eagles lost 7 games in a row was from Week 15 of 1998 to Week 4 of 1999. They broke their losing streak with a win against the Dallas Cowboys, the same game in which Michael Irvin broke his neck.

The Eagles are 1 of 3 teams the Cowboys have faced in all three rounds of the NFC playoffs.

The last time the Eagles played the Cowboys with their backup quarterback in December was in 2006 when Jeff Garcia spoiled Dallas’ Christmas 23-7.

The Dallas Cowboys are 60-47 all time against the Eagles. In order to even the series, the Eagles would need to win this game and then sweep the Cowboys for the next six years.

The longest Cowboys winning streak in the series was 11 from 12/10/67 to 11/19/72. This is the third-longest winning streak against a division rival with 13 against the Cardinals (12/16/90 to 12/8/96) and 12 against the Giants (10/27/74 to 10/5/80) being longer.

The Philadelphia Eagles are one of three teams against whom the Cowboys have gotten their postseason revenge. The other two are the Packers and Steelers.

Since losing the 2009 Wild Card playoff in Cowboys Stadium, the Philadelphia Eagles are 2-0. No other team has been able to do this in Cowboys history.

The Cowboys and Eagles are 10-10 in the last 20 games. They are also 10-10 with the Giants. Their only advantage is over the Redskins at 12-8.

The Philadelphia Eagles are the only division foe against whom the Cowboys do not own a tie.

The Dallas Cowboys have more penalties at 90 to the Philadelphia Eagles’ 76. However, the Cowboys have three more penalty yards: 645 to 642.

Through 797 games, the Philadelphia Eagles amassed 12 playoff appearances, 5 division titles, 3 NFL Championships, and 1 Super Bowl appearance. Through the Cowboys’ 797 games, they’ve amassed 30 playoff appearances, 21 division titles, 5 Super Bowl wins, and 8 Super Bowl appearances.

No doubt I was riding shotgun on that train.  If asked in August to pick the most important game of the Cowboys’ season, there’s little doubt my choice would be this Sunday’s showdown in Dallas. Defeating the Super Bowl contending Eagles three weeks ago on their home field was assumed to be a monumental task.

So with that predicted Week 10 loss in Philly, it would have been a must for the Cowboys to defend their own turf this week against the most threatening team in the division title race.  Was I ever wrong, and certainly have plenty of company eating crow at the table with me.

HARSH REALITIES OF 2012

• Together they occupy the bottom two spots of the NFC East Division

• Both teams have losing records: Cowboys (5-6) , Eagles (3-8)

• Combined NFL overall record is a miserable (8-14)

• Combined NFC Conference record is an embarrassing (5-12)

• Of their 8 combined wins in 2012, their conquered opponents’ currently have a losing record of (41-47)

Philadelphia is already done for the season, and will be replacing both Head Coach Andy Reid and QB Michael Vick during the 2013 off-season.

Dallas is clinging on to their last shred of playoff hope.  Both Green Bay and Seattle are strongly poised to claim the two NFC wild card spots.

These teams will hold significant tie-breaker advantages if they finish tied at (9-7) along with the Cowboys.

Unfortunately both the Packers and Seahawks have remaining schedules VERY favorable for them closing at (9-7) or above.  Sure many scenarios can still occur and stranger things have happened.

Realistically, Dallas must win their 5 remaining games and lock down (10-6) to have a solid chance at the post-season.

INJURY DEPLETED ROSTERS

EAGLES OFFENSE

On the Eagles side, their offense has been completely shredded.  In the skill positions alone they have lost three crucial starters.

QB Michael Vick and RB LeSean McCoy are nursing serious injuries which have kept them out the last few weeks and will continue to do so this week.

WR DeSean Jackson freshly exits to IR ahead of the rematch with Dallas.  Along the offensive line the Eagles are in complete disarray, with both starting tackles and the starting center stashed away on IR.

COWBOYS OFFENSE

The Cowboys are in a little better shape, but not by much,  RB DeMarco Murray has been MIA for several weeks now and his return is targeted at this game, but the team is still unsure.  WR Miles Austin dealt with a small injury last week but should be back for the Eagles.  WR Kevin Ogletree has been missing the last few weeks (slight play vs. Cleveland), and his return is questionable this week.

The offensive line has been a ragtag bunch the last two weeks.  The Cowboys were missing three starters (two altogether, and one had to play a new position to help cover the holes).  In those two weeks, Dallas has gained a total of 98 rushing yards and surrendered 9 sacks.

COWBOYS DEFENSE

If Dallas is slightly lacking in the devastation department on offense when compared to Philly, they certainly make it up on defense.  Along the defensive line, Dallas has been without star NT Jay Ratliff for several games and could be once again.  Also, starting DE Kenyon Coleman is done for the year.

Slot cornerback Orlando Scandrick will not play again in 2012.  Starting safety Barry Church was lost for the season earlier in the year and his absence is noticeably damaging in the secondary.

Worst of all, Dallas is now without BOTH starting and emerging star inside linebackers Sean Lee and Bruce Carter.  The Cowboys will rotate in two ILB’s who weren’t even on the roster last month.

With Jay Ratliff, Sean Lee, Bruce Carter, and Barry Church all missing, the center of the Cowboys defense is virtually hemorrhaging.

EAGLES DEFENSE

The Eagles defense has not been gutted by injuries anywhere near the state of the Cowboys.  They have had a decent share of guys on the bench nursing injuries in spots, yet relatively have been one of the healthiest defenses in the league.  In contrast to Dallas, very rarely did any starter miss an entire game.

Hats off to Rob Ryan and the Cowboys’ original starters and new replacements on defense.  Dallas has allowed less points, rushing yards, and passing yards than the much healthier Eagles bunch.  When this season is in the books, the team and fans need to realize how impressive of a job that Rob Ryan has actually done in holding this defense together with so many major pieces falling off.

COACHES UNDER HEAVY FIRE

JASON GARRETT

Lately there has been much talk about Jerry Jones giving Jason Garrett a pass this year, instead blaming the Cowboys’ woes on injuries.  Sorry Jerry, that excuse doesn’t fly here.

Injuries did not cause several awful time management and game strategy mistakes that would have been scolded in middle school games.

For example, just last week JG called a QB sneak on 3rd down and inches, problem was that it was really 1st down and 10.  Two key games were lost in the final minutes in direct relation to Garrett’s poor game management decisions.

Back to injuries.  Injuries have not prevented the Cowboys from reasonably sitting at (7-4) right now. The only two key offensive starters who were out before two weeks ago were RB DeMarco Murray and C Phil Costa.  Dallas only lost one of those games. Aside from the center position and the last two games, the o-line has played together most of the season.

The starting receiving corps has been relatively healthy.  Dez Bryant and Miles Austin have started more combined games together this season than any other year in their NFL careers.  And remarkably QB Tony Romo has stayed injury-free throughout the immense onslaught of defenders he has faced.

Certainly the vast number of defensive injuries is no scapegoat.  Rob Ryan commands the 8th best unit in yards surrendered despite all his perished starters.  The defense has played well enough to be (7-4) now.  In Garrett’s first two FULL seasons as the man in charge, he owns a highly unimpressive (13-14) losing record.

If Dallas fails to make the playoffs this year, it’s a no-brainer that JG has to go.  The team has severely lacked intensity in the first half of most games, and they understandably don’t respond to Garrett’s inconsequential attitude towards poor performance.

ANDY REID

Andy Reid has unjustly been in the cross-hairs of Eagles fans for the last few seasons.  He is the current longest-tenured head coach in the NFL.  It only took one devastating season to get some real steam behind the ongoing fire Reid movement.

Now that this very talented Eagles squad has vastly under-performed their Super Bowl contending expectations, it’s a forgone conclusion that Reid will coach the Eagles for the last time in 2012.

Andy Reid is a solid football coach who has done a more than admirable job with the Eagles.  To date he has posted a (129-89) record since joining the team in 1999.

From 2000-2010, he led the Eagles to the playoffs in 9 of 11 seasons.  In 14 years as head coach of the Eagles, this will only be Reid’s 3rd losing season.  That is excellent coaching and enviable results that Cowboys fans would relish these days.

Reid barely missed the playoffs last year with an (8-8) record, and it’s much worse this season currently sitting at (3-8).  While his team has fallen on hard times the last 2 years, so has his personal life.

Reid has dealt with serious substance abuse problems in the past from his two oldest sons.  However, last August it all came to a head when his oldest son was found dead from an accidental heroin overdose.

Not many Cowboys fans have even considered Andy Reid as being a possible great hire if the head coaching spot comes open in the off-season.  My advice is take a good long look at Andy Reid’s results in Philadelphia.

His only legitimate knock is never winning a Super Bowl as head coach of the Eagles.  As I recall, Reid’s 5 Eagles teams that made it deep into the playoffs were axed by a superior opponent most of those seasons.

One would be hard-pressed to find a Dallas Cowboys fan who wouldn’t trade their lone playoff win since 1997, in exchange for 5 trips to the NFC Championship Game (1 Super Bowl appearance) since 1999.

In the unexpectedly underwhelming clash between the wounded bottom feeders of the NFC East….

COWBOYS 23, EAGLES 16