The Eagles face the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football at Lincoln Financial Field in a divisional game that will likely shape the NFC East title race.
Philadelphia is looking to stop their four-game skid without their star quarterback, Jalen Hurts, who is expected to miss the remainder of the season after being diagnosed with blood clots in his lungs.
The Eagles are 2-4; you can’t sugarcoat the record. Losing Jalen Hurts complicates how the team approaches the rest of the season, but the goal remains the same. The team now looks to Tanner McKee to put them in a position to succeed.
The Cowboys also enter at 2–4, have plenty of problems of their own, and are hungry for a win.
The record between these two teams does not matter when a rivalry is as heated as this one. Neither team can afford to drop to 2–5, and this could be a season-defining game for both.
When: Monday Oct. 26th, 7:15PM EST
Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
How: ESPN
The Eagles’ offensive line against the Cowboys’ defensive front is where the game will likely be decided.
Philadelphia has struggled to protect its quarterback all season. Those problems were already concerning with Hurts under center, and without him, the margin for error becomes even smaller.
Tanner McKee will need a clean pocket to run the offense, and he would benefit from a gameplan designed to get the ball out quickly. The Eagles cannot expect their backup quarterback to overcome constant pressure, especially against a divisional opponent looking to exploit that weakness like most other teams they have faced this season.
The Cowboys have struggled defensively so far this season, which could afford the Eagles an opportunity. They will need to incorporate the running game as part of the solution, and hopefully Saquon Barkley is back to help. The Eagles need to consistently make an effort to pick up positive yardage on early downs, even if they struggle to find gains. Philadelphia needs to make every offensive approach about making McKee's job easier.
The Birds need their offensive line to play with discipline and avoid penalties. Negative plays have hindered an already depleted offense, and they need to avoid playing behind the sticks. The unit has a hard enough uphill battle without compounding it with mental and unforced errors. Avoid those mistakes to make McKee’s job a lot easier.
Dallas is a favorable defensive matchup on paper. The Eagles have to take advantage of it.
Philadelphia’s offense has to find an identity without Hurts. McKee needs to operate within the offense's structure, make good decisions, and avoid putting the football in dangerous situations. Letting McKee get into a comfortable rhythm and keeping the offense out of difficult down-and-distance situations will go a long way toward an Eagles win on Monday Night.
The Eagles need to get the running backs involved and exploit Dallas’ defensive weaknesses. This offense has looked far too predictable this season, and the coaching staff needs to make consistent adjustments to sustain drives and put points on the board.
Philadelphia has weapons that can make plays. The challenge is getting them the football in situations where they can succeed.
The Eagles’ defense has been relied on all season to keep them in games, and it will be tasked with the same job this week, and likely for the rest of the season. As a result, the front four needs to generate pressure and force the Cowboys into obvious passing situations by dominating early downs. I expect interior pressure to play a role, led by Jalen Carter, who has been a disruptor for much of the season.
The Eagles' secondary faces tough assignments in defending CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. They will need better tackling, espeically from their safeties. Every week requires disciplined coverage, but when you are facing two premier wideouts on the other side, it becomes even more so. Dak distributes the ball well and will look to take advantage of any miscommunication from the Eagles' backfield.
Philadelphia cannot expect its defense to carry the entire team for four quarters. But if the Eagles can pressure Prescott and limit explosive plays, they can give themselves a chance to win. Complementary football is critical to their chance of winning the game this week. For a team adjusting to life without their QB1, they need the defensive assist to compete.
Tanner McKee and the coaching staff’s ability to adjust in the absence of Jalen Hurts is obviously the biggest storyline entering this game. His health is the priority, and the Eagles now have to figure out how to move forward without their franchise quarterback.
McKee has an opportunity to show what he can do with an extended look, but the circumstances aren’t easy. He is stepping into an offense that has struggled to find consistency, behind an offensive line that hasn’t played to expectations, with a team desperate to end its losing streak.
The coaching staff and offensive minds need a clear plan for how it wants to attack Dallas. We have seen every team attack Philadelphia with a zero blitz, and the team has struggled to defend it. Tanner McKee needs quick, defined reads to distribute the ball to the playmakers. If this part of the offense does not improve, they will struggle early and often.
This is a test for the entire offensive operation, not just the quarterback and the offensive line. The Eagles need to establish the run to protect McKee, and Monday night is a chance to show progress and turn the corner after season-long offensive struggles.
Philadelphia’s game plan needs to make McKee's job easier. Quick throws, a commitment to the running game, and creative play-calling should be priorities. The Eagles cannot afford to make their backup quarterback responsible for creating the entire offense.
Philadelphia must pressure the Cowboys QB to disrupt his timing and force errant throws. If the Birds' defense can generate pressure with four linemen, the back seven can remain disciplined in coverage and force a long day for the Dallas offense.
Quite simply, the Eagles can’t afford to turn the ball over, and they may need to create one on defense to have a chance at winning this game. Philadelphia’s defense needs to capitalize on its opportunities to force a takeaway, which will be especially valuable in a game where points have been difficult to manufacture.
Third-down conversions
Philadelphia’s inability to sustain drives has been one of its biggest problems at the start of 2026. The offense has struggled to stay ahead of the sticks, and that problem gets even harder without Hurts.
Converting third downs allows Philadelphia to control the clock, keep Dallas’ offense on the sideline, and give the defense a chance to stay fresh, which is key to their success for the remainder of the season.
This is a difficult game to predict because Philadelphia has so many questions offensively. Losing Hurts is a significant blow, and there is no guarantee the Eagles can suddenly fix their problems with McKee taking over. But Saquon Barkley could be back, which would inject a big boost into the run game and should help McKee.
Dallas has its own issues, particularly on defense, and the Eagles are playing at home in a rivalry game. Philadelphia doesn’t need an offensive explosion to win this game; they need to respond to the adversity they face, show fight and adaptability, and get a win over a Dallas team to build on.
When will Jalen Hurts return? His timeline to return to football is unknown. The Eagles QB is undergoing treatment for deep vein thrombosis and is unable to partake in contact activities until he's no longer taking blood thinners.
Will Saquon Barkley play against the Cowboys? Barkley has missed the last two weeks with a hamstring injury, however ESPN reported that the team believe a return for Monday's game against Dallas is 'likely'.
What is the Cowboys vs. Eagles all time record? Dallas leads the series 75-59-0.
MORE: Is Nick Sirianni running out of time with the Eagles?
