Cowboys vs Eagles Week 18: history, weather, key players, and projection

The Dallas Cowboys head to Philadelphia for a Week 18 matchup that has a bit of a different feel than many of us would have expected prior to the beginning of the season. This game looked like one that could potentially decide the division and determine both teams’ postseason fate.

In a turn of events, both teams have already clinched their playoff spots. The Cowboys won the NFC East with relative ease and the Philadelphia Eagles clinched a Wild Card spot with their win against Washington last week.

In the scope of the 2021 season, this game certainly doesn’t pack the punch as some of the others, but nonetheless, there are some things to talk about and look for as we head into the final week of the regular season.

Cowboys vs Eagles: Matchup History

All-Time Record: 71-54 (3-1 postseason), both in favor of Dallas

NFC East Division Titles: Cowboys 21, Eagles 11

Most Recent Result: Dallas Cowboys 41, Philadelphia Eagles 21 on September 27, 2021

The final week of the season does have some fun history of the Cowboys and Eagles meeting. In 2008 it saw the teams meet up in a “win-and-in” game that the Eagles won 44-6. In 2010 the teams met with the NFC East title on the line and saw the Cowboys take it home. In 2013 they met for the NFC East title again and the Eagles again won due to Tony Romo being injured.

In 2017, the Cowboys were already in the playoffs and rested some starters. What felt like a meaningless game beforehand, turned into a lifelong memory as Cowboys fans saw Tony Romo throw the final touchdown of his career against the rival Eagles.

These two teams met very early in the 2021 season in a Monday Night Football game that the Cowboys dominated for four quarters. The Cowboys’ offense was in a great rhythm, the defense shut down the Eagles, and Trevon Diggs arrived with a pick-six.

That meeting carried a lot of weight. It was an early-season divisional matchup in primetime. And while this next game is a late-season divisional matchup in primetime (thanks for the flex scheduling, NFL), it sings a different tune.

As I discussed, the Cowboys are nearly locked into the four-seed in the NFC and Philadelphia can’t really help themselves with a win alone. Each team needs quite a bit of help to move up in the seeding. There is even a case to be made for the Cowboys and Eagles to rest some key guys in preparation for the playoffs. Regardless of who plays, let’s take a look at what to expect on Saturday for weather, players to look for, and a personal projection.