Eagles at Cowboys: Preview, prediction, odds and pick

We’re getting ready to see the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. Which team will prevail in this contest?

The team with the best record in the NFL these days has already won one more game than it did all of last season. The 2016 NFC East champions are without two of their top offensive stars and have already lost one more game than they did a year ago.

Welcome to the first meeting of the season between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys. The former owns the best record in the NFL with an 8-1 mark. Jason Garrett’s squad was manhandled last week in Atlanta as they dealt with the absence of running back Ezekiel Elliott. More importantly, perennial Pro Bowl left tackle Tyron Smith was out as well. Hence quarterback Dak Prescott was sacked a total of eight times in the 27-7 setback.

So can the Cowboys cool off a Philly team that is 3-0 within the division this season and also owns a 3-1 road record in ’17?

Odds

Line: Eagles (-3.5)

Over/Under: 48

The defending NFC East champions (via OddsShark) are home underdogs to an Eagles’ team that is 5-2 in its last seven trips to Arlington. And that over/under at 48 points in very interesting.

More fansided.com: NFL power rankings, Week 10: Vikings surging, Bills failing

Things have changed dramatically for both the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys from a year ago at this time. The Birds were slumping after a 3-0 start while Garrett’s club was in the midst of a team-record 11-game winning streak. But now the shorthanded Cowboys have to deal with a club playing as well as any other in the league. The Cowboys’ pass rush would have to come up with a big-time effort in order to cool off Pederson’s squad. But it’s the Philadelphia ground attack that will actually be the difference here.

Pick: Eagles 31, Cowboys 26