Two underachieving 7-7 teams will square off at Lincoln Financial Field for the dubious prize of the NFC East Championship. The Dallas Cowboys have a roster that should have double digits in wins by now but instead has settled for losses to such teams as the Jets, the Packers and the Vikings. Even so, they played their most complete game of the season last week, rolling to a 44-21 home win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
Philadelphia has trailed in each of their last two games, falling behind the Giants and Redskins before mounting comebacks, needing overtime to edge the Giants two weeks ago and then roaring back for a ten-point in Washington last week. The winner of this game takes the division; the loser has a meaningless Week 17 ahead of a long off-season. Which team will prevail? Check out our preview before you lock in your sports betting on Sunday’s game.
Cowboys vs Philadelphia 2019 NFL Week 16 Odds, Game Preview & Betting Pick
LIVE: Head coach Jason Garrett’s press conference from @thestarinfrisco as #DALvsPHI prep continues. https://t.co/S7ISYw4gai
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) December 19, 2019
- When: Sunday, December 22, 2019, 4:25 pm ET
- Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
- TV: FOX
- Radio: KRLD 105.3 FM The Fan Dallas / WIP 94.1 FM Philadelphia
- Live Stream: NFL Game Pass
- NFL Week 16 Odds: Dallas -2.5 / O/U 46.5
Why should you bet on Dallas?
The Cowboys surprised a number of sports betting prognosticators (including me) with their domination of the Rams last week. Both Tony Pollard and Ezekiel Elliott carried the ball for more than 100 yards each, just dismantling the Rams’ front seven. Dak Prescott was able to let the running game guide the offensive rhythm, but he also went 15 for 23 for 212 yards and a pair of scores. Dallas went into the fourth period up 31-7, so the final score doesn’t really show the difference between the two squads in this game.
Philadelphia has keyed on the run lately, but Dallas bottled up the Los Angeles ground game, holding them to 22 yards of rushing. The defense and the running game will be key for Dallas, as Prescott was limited in practice with a shoulder injury, which could influence his production in Sunday, particularly when he has to scramble. With Dak Prescott at the helm, Dallas has won four in a row against the Eagles, who have a number of injuries along their offensive line and in their wide receiving corps. Once again, this is a game that Dallas should win, but…
Why should you put your money on Philadelphia?
Carson Wentz has spent a lot of 2018 and 2019 looking much less impressive than the quarterback he was in his first two seasons, before he went down with a torn ACL. However, he found his old rhythm against Washington last week, going 30 for 43 for 266 yards and three touchdowns. Tailback Miles Sanders was terrific as well, carrying the ball 19 times for 122 yards and a touchdown — and also catching a pass for another score. The Eagles controlled the ball for almost 37 minutes of the game.
Another contributor for the Eagles is tailback Boston Scott, who looks like a new version of Darren Sproles, a rumbling force carrying the ball. The emergence of Greg Ward Jr, formerly known as the quarterback for the University of Houston, as a wide receiving threat due to the Eagles’ many injuries at that position, is another positive. If you like the Eagles here, you recognize that their mental strength may just be higher than that of Dallas at this point.
Final Score Prediction
If you look at rosters and trends, you have to bet on Dallas in this game. If you consider how Philadelphia has performed in the clutch the past few seasons and compare that to how Dallas has done in crucial situations, then you’re more likely leaning more toward the Eagles. I don’t have a lot of faith in Dallas to produce when they absolutely have to, and Doug Pederson has shown much more skill in game planning and management than Jason Garrett has for Dallas. I predict a final score of Philadelphia 23, Dallas 20.
