Philadelphia Eagles: Top 3 stories surrounding Week 8’s divisional game

3. The Philadelphia Eagles offense has a chance to put on their best performance.

Philly’s offense has a chance to put up some serious points in this one. Dallas has one of the worst-ranked defenses in the NFL, allowing an average of 34 points per contest. They’re ranked last in points allowed, last in rushing yards allowed, and 18th in passing yards allowed.

Under coach McCarthy and new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, Dallas still tries to runs a 4-3 base defensive scheme. Dallas still has a few playmakers like defensive end Demarcus Lawrence and linebacker Jaylon Smith, but their defense still has more questions than answers, especially in the secondary. Might there be an issue with getting players to buy into this news scheme? It appears that Nolan has been trying to install a hybrid-based scheme despite a lack of OTA’s and a modified training camp, and it appears to have been doomed from the start.

As for the Eagles defense, their front is the key to shutting down the Cowboys offense. Fans can expect to see zone coverage from the ‘Birds’ to help limit any deep shots. Fans can also expect to see linebackers inside the box to help versus any running plays. Malik Jackson’s status is still day-to-day, but Brandon Graham and company should still be able to create some havoc.

The Eagles also need to protect the ball better than they’ve been doing. That starts with Carson Wentz eliminating those high-risk throws. To set this team up for success, Doug Pederson has to have a solid game plan. Advantage: The Eagles

Conclusion: The Eagles are in a prime position to come away with a big win. They should expect Dallas’ best effort because it may appear like the Cowboys’ season is unraveling, but they are still a division rival who has great talent on both sides of the ball. This is a team that can’t be underestimated. From the coaches to the players, everyone needs to play a full 60 minutes of football.