The Cowboys prevailed last night because of the offense and special teams.  Tony Romo had a solid game completing 21 of 30 passes for 312 yards with 3 TD passes and 1 interception.  He also lost a fumble in the endzone that was recovered by linebacker Chris Gocong for a Eagles’ TD.  Marion Barber had a solid game as he carried the ball 18 times for 63 yards (3.5 ypc) with a 1-yard TD run.  He also caught 4 passes for 51 yards (12.8 avg) including a 17-yard TD grab.  Felix Jones only had 10 yards rushing on 3 carries (3.3 ypc) last night but he was awesome returning kickoffs.  Jones returned 6 kickoffs for 247 yards (41.2 avg) last night including one kickoff that he returned 98 yards for a TD!  TE Jason Witten led the Cowboys’ in receiving last night with 110 yards on 7 grabs (15.7 avg).  Terrell Owens dominated his old team last night as he caught 3 passes for 89 yards (29.7 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  The Cowboys finished up with 68 yards rushing on 24 carries (2.8 ypc) and they also completed 21 of 30 passes for 312 yards.

The Cowboys’ Defense played well against the running game but not the passing game.  Safeties Pat Watkins and Ken Hamlin each had 7 tackles apiece in this game.  Linebacker Zach Thomas also pitched in with 7 tackles last night.  The Eagles finished up with 78 yards on 23 carries (3.4 ypc) and they also completed 25 of 37 passes for 259 yards.  The Cowboys are now 2-0 on the season with this win.

These two teams split the series last year with the Cowboys outscoring the Eagles 44-27.  Both teams are coming off of impressive wins with the Eagles winning 38-3 over the Rams and the Cowboys pounding the Browns 28-10 in Cleveland.  The Eagles rolled up 522 yards last week but they weren’t playing a defense near the caliber of the Cowboys’ unit.  The Eagles will keep Brian Westbrook busy as the Cowboys appeared vulnerable against the run allowing 5.1 yards per carry.  Zach Thomas will likely have the job of chasing Westbrook all over the place and if that’s the case the Eagles have an edge there.  The Eagles will likely use a lot of 3-WR sets with Hank Baskett, DeSean Jackson and Greg Lewis who all went over 100 yards receiving against the Rams last week which will put a lot of pressure on the Cowboys’ corners.  Roy Williams better also come to play because L.J. Smith will likely get his fair share of passes.  If Donovan McNabb has time to throw the Cowboys’ defense could be in big trouble.

The Cowboys will likely run the football to open up the passing game.  Marion Barber and Felix Jones could get a lot of action against the Eagles this week despite the fact that they only allowed 36 yards rushing (2.4 ypc) last week against the Rams.  WR Terrell Owens always has his old team circled on the calendar but the Eagles have three really good corners and they don’t want to get beat by T.O.  With that in mind TE Jason Witten and WR Patrick Crayton could have big games just like they did last week against the Browns.

PREDICTION:  DALLAS COWBOYS 30, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 27

The Cowboys have signed 28-year old QB Brooks Bollinger to a 1-year contract to serve as the #3 QB behind Tony Romo and Brad Johnson.  Bollinger played in 5 games (1 start) for the Vikings last season and he completed 33 of 50 passes (66%) for 391 yards with 1 TD pass and 1 interception (88.0 QB Rating).  He also carried the football 5 times for 18 yards (3.6 ypc) last season.  This was a good move for the Cowboys who signed him on Monday before other teams found out how badly their QBs were hurt.  Bollinger has now played in 19 games (10 starts) in his NFL career and he has completed 201 of 343 passes (58.6%) for 2,155 yards with 8 TD passes and 8 interceptions (75.2 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 41 times for 155 yards (3.8 ypc) in his career.

The Cowboys dominated the Cleveland Browns on Sunday afternoon.  Tony Romo completed 24 of 32 passes for 320 yards with 1 TD pass and 1 interception as the Cowboys’ O-Line was giving him all day to throw the ball.  Marion Barber was having an outstanding game before he left with injured ribs.  Barber carried the ball 16 times for 80 yards (5.0 ypc) with 2 TD runs in this game.  He also added 3 catches for 21 yards.  First round pick Felix Jones relieved Barber and he scored on his first NFL carry (11-yard TD).  Fellow rookie RB Tashard Choice finished up the game for the Cowboys’ carrying the ball 5 times for 26 yards (5.2 ypc).  Jason Witten (6 rec, 96 yards), Patrick Crayton (6 rec, 82 yards) and Terrell Owens (5 rec, 87 yards, TD) all had outstanding games for the Cowboys against the Browns.  The Cowboys had possession of the football for an amazing 37:29 of this football game.  They finished up with 167 yards rushing on 31 carries (5.4 ypc) and they also completed 24 of 32 passes for 320 yards.

DeMarcus Ware (5 tackles, sack), Ken Hamlin (5 tackles) and Zach Thomas (5 tackles) led the way for the Cowboys on defense against the Browns.  The Browns finished up with 91 yards rushing on 18 carries (5.1 ypc) and they also completed 11 of 24 passes for 114 yards.  This was a great all around effort for the Cowboys who will challenge the equally impressive Eagles on Monday Night Football this week.

The Dallas Cowboys better be careful in this football game as the Cleveland Browns have a 7-game home winning streak.  The Cowboys would probably prefer to run the football to set up the passing game but that may be hard against a vastly improved front 7 of the Browns’ defense.  Still, Marion Barber and Felix Jones will get their carries and they will have to deal with DE Corey Williams and NT Shaun Rogers.  Inside linebackers Andra Davis and D’Qwell Jackson are also enforcers in the middle of the Browns’ defense.  The Browns’ secondary could have issues at CB as Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald will have to deal with WRs Terrell Owens and Patrick Crayton all day long.  Both of the Browns’ CBs have talent but they are both inexperienced as they are each in their sophomore year in the NFL.  The best matchup of this football game with be All-World TE Jason Witten against rising safeties Brodney Pool and Sean Jones.

The Browns would also like to run the ball first but that might be hard to do with Jamal Lewis a little gimpy.  If he can go he will be challenged by inside linebackers Zach Thomas and Bradie James.  The Browns’ have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL and they should be able to give Derek Anderson enough time to get the ball downfield to Braylon Edwards, Donte’ Stallworth and Kellen Winslow.  Adam Jones will get his first start in two years and the Browns might be looking to pick on him. 

PREDICTION:  CLEVELAND BROWNS 37, DALLAS COWBOYS 34