The Philadelphia Eagles (7-7) are playing another must-win contest, this time for the division against the Dallas Cowboys (7-7) at Lincoln Financial Field.
The game offers some interesting matchups, dynamics and surprising stats for both teams.
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1. Eagles defense dominant at home
When the Eagles are on the road, their defense looks like something out of the old Big-12 conference. They don’t travel well and apparently miss the home cooking.
In seven away games, the Eagles have held opponents to 29 points per game on the road. That figure drops dramatically to 17.9 and the Birds have allowed 11 fewer touchdowns at home as well.
2. Carson Wentz among best at turning 3rd down into a 1st
Wentz (PHI) has thrown for first downs on 46.8% of his pass attempts on 3rd down this season — 5th best of 27 qualified NFL QBs; while the League Avg: 40.3%
Passing First Down % 3rd Down this season
NFL Quarterbacks Player Passing First Down % Passing First Downs / Pass Attempts
1st Jimmy Garoppolo (SF) 50.0% 58 / 116
2nd Deshaun Watson (HOU) 48.7% 56 / 115
2nd Kirk Cousins (MIN) 48.7% 55 / 113
4th Derek Carr (OAK) 48.0% 59 / 123
5th Carson Wentz (PHI) 46.8% 66 / 141
23rd Kyle Allen (CAR) 37.6% 41 / 109
24th Tom Brady (NE) 37.3% 53 / 142
25th Andy Dalton (CIN) 35.8% 43 / 120
26th Kyler Murray (ARI) 35.4% 46 / 130
27th Gardner Minshew (JAC) 30.8% 33 / 107
3. Dallas struggles against Eagles strengths at TE
The Cowboys are currently ranked 22nd in defensive DVOA and with the Eagles struggling at wide receiver, Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert will be front and center on Sunday and it’s appropriate. The Cowboys rank 29th in defensive DVOA against tight ends, while the Eagles had multiple tight ends on the field for 75.3 percent of the time, meaning 12 personnel will remain supreme on Sunday for Philadelphia.
Ertz is second in catches among tight ends this season and he’s tied for third in yardage.
Eagles TEs have averaged 18.8 targets per game since week 12 — highest in NFL, while the Cowboys have allowed 6.2 receptions per game to TEs since week 12 — tied for fourth-highest in NFL.
4. Eagles must continue to convert on 3rd downs
The Eagles have a third-down conversion rate of 47.0% this season — 2nd best in NFL; League Avg: 39.0%
Philadelphia Eagles Third Down Conversion Rate Overall
NFL Offenses Rank Third Down Conversion Rate
Last Week 1st 68.8%
2019 Season 2nd 47.0%
2018 Season 13th 40.5%
Since 2018 7th 43.7%
Since 2017 5th 43.0%
Since 2016 9th 41.0%
5. Slow down Amari
Cooper had five catches for 105 yards in a blowout win over the Eagles in October. The Eagles have allowed 10 different 100-yard receiving performances so far this season, 14 pass plays of 40-plus yards, and are tied for second-most yards given up in the league.
6. Miles in charge on 3rd down
Sanders is the Eagles’ most explosive player on any down, but he’s been extremely important on third downs.
Sanders (PHI) has averaged 9.8 yards from scrimmage per touch (186 yards / 19 touches) on 3rd down this season — the best of 35 qualified NFL RBs, while the League Avg: 5.4
Yards From Scrimmage Per Touch 3rd Down this season
NFL Running Backs Player Yards From Scrimmage Per Touch Yards From Scrimmage / Touches
1st Miles Sanders (PHI) 9.8 186 / 19
2nd Duke Johnson (HOU) 8.2 164 / 20
3rd Austin Ekeler (LAC) 8.0 200 / 25
4th James White (NE) 7.9 301 / 38
5th J.D. McKissic (DET) 7.4 133 / 18
31st David Montgomery (CHI) 2.8 50 / 18
32nd Joe Mixon (CIN) 2.7 49 /18
33rd Marlon Mack (IND) 2.5 37 / 15
34th Sony Michel (NE) 2.1 34 / 16
35th Frank Gore (BUF) 1.5 29 / 19
