Eagles and Cowboys meet on Monday with both rosters missing key players

The Philadelphia Eagles host the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night, Oct. 26, in a Week 7 matchup that features two teams currently on skids and missing key personnel. Both squads are seeking to halt a recent slide, but the Eagles face a thinner lineup as they prepare to defend Lincoln Financial Field.

Philadelphia began the season with two straight wins before losing four consecutive games. The Eagles are without quarterback Jalen Hurts, who is recovering from blood clots in his calf and lungs. The injury report also lists wide receivers DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks, along with safety Nolan Smith, as out for the contest. Running back Saquon Barkley, center Landon Dickerson, guard Jonathan Greenard, and defensive end Jalyx Hunt are all listed as questionable.

Dallas has lost its last two games after scoring over 30 points in each of the previous three contests. The Cowboys combined for just 29 points against the Buccaneers and Packers. Their offense struggled against heavy blitzes, with quarterback Dak Prescott completing 20 of 38 passes for 194 yards and no touchdowns when facing extra rushers in those games. The team managed only 98 combined rushing yards in that stretch, despite the return of guard Tyler Smith.

The defensive approach of the Eagles differs from the teams that beat Dallas recently. According to Tru Media data, the Buccaneers and Packers blitzed on 38.8% of Prescott's dropbacks in Weeks 5 and 6. The Eagles have blitzed on just 24.1% of dropbacks, a rate that ranks fourth-lowest in the NFL. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has rarely deployed such a high blitz rate since taking over the position.

The Eagles' defense has allowed opponents to complete 60.4% of passes for an average of 7.0 yards per attempt. However, the unit has given up eight touchdown passes while recording only three interceptions. The defense has also been aided by 14 drops by opposing receivers, which is the second-highest total in the league. The Eagles have generated a sack, hit, or hurry on only 32.9% of opponent dropbacks, leaving quarterbacks with extra time in the pocket.

The game is scheduled to begin at 8:15 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN and ABC. DraftKings Sportsbook lists the Cowboys as 4.5-point favorites with a total line of 43.5. The Eagles' backup quarterback, Tanner McKee, is expected to throw the ball frequently, as the team cannot utilize the quarterback run game as effectively without Hurts. McKee has completed 16 of 45 career passes for 179 yards and no touchdowns when under pressure.

The Cowboys allow opponents to average 4.7 yards per carry, while the Eagles have given up only 4.0 yards per carry to opponents this season. If Barkley plays, the Eagles may attempt to establish a rushing attack to control the clock, though their offensive line has struggled to protect McKee. The Cowboys will likely look to exploit the Eagles' pass rush issues with targets like CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens.