A battle between the NFC's top titans saw the only remaining undefeated team in the NFL leave week nine with their first loss. The Los Angeles Rams visited the Mercedes-Benz Superdome to take on the New Orleans Saints. Both vying for the number one seed in the NFC and both top the list of Super Bowl LIII odds, according to the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook.
Looking like a blow-out in the first half, the Saints led 35-17. Drew Brees and the New Orleans offense was lights out. Touchdown after touchdown, big play after big play. The Saints were rolling. Alvin Kamara, for as great as Brees performed, may have been the player of the game.
Kamara totaled 116 yards for three touchdowns. He was simply unstoppable as he ran his way to the third spot among non-quarterback touchdown leaders. Saints' wide-out Michael Thomas also had a game to remember, catching 12 passes for 211 yards and a touchdown. The Saints' offense outplayed the number one ranked offense in the NFL, according to ESPN.com.
New Orleans defense also showed on Sunday shutting down Rams' running back and MVP candidate Todd Gurley. Gurley, albeit, still reached the end zone but was held under 80 yards for the first time since week two.
The Saints played the complete game on Sunday but the Rams gave New Orleans a run for their money.
Los Angeles marched back in the second half shutting out the Saints in the third quarter and almost squeaked out a victory in New Orleans. The Rams scored 17 straight points and tied the game early in the fourth quarter. A Michael Thomas touchdown in the waning minutes ended LA's hopes of leaving week nine with a victory.
Two Super Bowl contenders met last week in New Orleans. This week the reigning Super Bowl champion Eagles host the Dallas Cowboys in a game that could push Philadelphia to the top of the NFC East standings.
DALLAS COWBOYS vs. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
The Philadelphia Eagles come into week 10 off a bye week and with a new roster acquisition in the form of Golden Tate. The Eagles also enter week 10 with an identity crisis.
Who are the 2018 Philadelphia Eagles? An NFC East superpower? A middle of the road Wild Card team? Week 10 will be the determining factor in the Eagles' future.
The Eagles sit one game behind the Washington Redskins and could regain sole possession of first place with a win and Redskins loss. The Redskins lost three key players on Sunday, there is no better time for the Eagles to make their move.
Coming off a bye week, the Eagles have had two weeks to prepare for the Cowboys. Carson Wentz and the newly acquired Golden Tate have had an entire week to gain chemistry while a banged-up defense has had time to rest.
A week eight win over Jacksonville in London got the Eagles back on track after blowing a lead to Carolina at home in week seven. The offense looked more efficient, scoring a touchdown in three of the four quarters.
Offensive efficiency is the key to beating the fourth-ranked defense of the Cowboys. An injury to all-pro offensive lineman Lane Johnson could perturb quarterback Carson Wentz in the pocket opening up holes for the Dallas pass rush to take advantage.
Golden Tate should be Wentz' safety net when the pocket collapses. Quick slants and short passes to Tate over the middle will be Wentz' best friend this Sunday. Expect a big game from the former Lions' wide-out.
Their opponent needs a win even more desperately. The Dallas Cowboys, similar to the Eagles, have been inconsistent. A record of 3-5 is telling of Dallas' season but the play of Dak Prescott paints a more vivid picture.
Prescott places as one of the worst quarterbacks in the league with a 62.9 completion percentage, which is sixth worst in the league, according to NFL.com. The Cowboys' quarterback also averages the least amount of yards per game. Prescott has been the main reason for the Cowboys stagnant season.
Owner Jerry Jones disagrees and and offered his support for the young quarterback, “Listen, Dak is the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys,” Jones told 105.3 The Fan. “He’s young, and he’s going to get extended.”
Jones must have been watching Prescott's rookie highlight reel rather than his 2018 play because Prescott is not the same player.
A savior for Dallas could be Amari Cooper, as he adds a breathe of fresh air to an offense stuck in the mud. That breathe of fresh air did not come last week against Tennessee.
Cooper can be an explosive play-maker for the Cowboys and showed that with a quick touchdown in the first quarter versus the Titans. Cooper then disappeared the rest of the game totaling five catching for less than 60 yards.
The defenses on Sunday are a tale of two cities. The Cowboys rank fourth in the NFL, according to NFL.com. The Cowboys have quietly executed among the league's elite when it comes to prohibiting opposing offenses from reaching the end-zone. The Cowboys hold opponents to 18.9 points per game and even rank in the top five in yards allowed per game and yards per play.
Losing linebacker Sean Lee to injury will have minimal effect as Dallas has one of the NFL's best front sevens. The Cowboys' secondary has also been phenomenal, holding opposing quarterback to 217 yards and just over one touchdown per game. Dallas' defense knows how to keep their offense in the game, unfortunately, another close loss looms for America's team.
Verdict:
The Philadelphia offense is noticeably superior to Dallas' but the Eagles' defense will be the determining factor in the outcome of Sunday's match-up.
Dak Prescott's struggles have been magnified over the past two weeks and the Eagles' will surely key in on the 25-year old quarterback. The trickle down from Prescott's poor play effects Dallas' running game as well.
Ezekiel Elliot is in the midst of another pro-bowl types season and has been one of the most consistent pieces of the Dallas offense. This Sunday, Zeke's running lanes will be closed due to the number ranked rush defense of the Eagles. The last time the Cowboys played a top three rushing defense, Elliot was held to 2.2 yards per carry.
The Eagles enter week 10 in a "must-win" scenario and off a bye week where they have had two weeks to prepare, will do just that.
The two team's defenses are among the league's best meaning Sunday could be a fight to win the fourth quarter. Philadelphia's offense moves the ball on a more consistent basis and has a shiny new toy to show off and there is no better time than against a bitter division rival.
The Cowboys defense will preserve the game as long as they can but Prescott's inability to move the ball will hamper any chance of a Cowboys win.
After Sunday, Dallas may want to think about possible changes to the coaching staff and moving on from the one year wonder that is Dak Prescott.
FINAL SCORE: Eagles 26, Cowboys 21
Week 10 Predictions:
Panthers vs. Steelers: Steelers 28, Panthers 24 (Thursday Night)
Redskins vs. Buccaneers: Buccaneers 26, Redskins 24
Cardinals vs. Chiefs: Chiefs 36. Cardinals 17
Bills vs. Jets: Jets 16, Bills 6
Jaguars vs. Colts: Colts 26, Jaguars 17
Lions vs. Bears: Bears 27, Lions 23
Saints vs. Bengals: Saints 32, Bengals 26
Patriots vs. Titans: Patriots 30, Titans: 17
Falcons vs. Browns: Falcons 29, Browns 20
Chargers vs. Raiders: Chargers 29, Raiders 10
Seahawks vs. Rams: Rams 36, Seahawks 23
Dolphins vs. Packers: Packers 27, Dolphins 13
Giants vs. 49ers: Giants 23, 49ers 19
CURRENT RECORD: 85-46-2
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