PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — If you think the Eagles are having a tough year, don't expect any sympathy from Dallas.
The Eagles’ top rival appears to be in turmoil, as the Cowboys prepare to come to town for a Sunday night showdown at the Linc.
While the Eagles are 2-4-1, Dallas is 2-5 and coming off a blowout loss in Washington. There are reports of issues in Dallas between head coach Mike McCarthy and his players. With quarterback Dak Prescott out for the season and backup Andy Daulton recovering from a concussion he suffered on Sunday, it appears the Cowboys are on the verge of a collapse.
However, safety Rodney McLeod isn't taking the Cowboys lightly.
“There’s a lot of history between the two teams,” said McLeod. “You have to just put records aside, and you have to just play ball. Any given Sunday, anything can happen, so we’re going out there preparing for a fight.”
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Just how much fight is left in the Cowboys remains to be seen. The Eagles are only a half-game ahead of Dallas, but a victory on Sunday could send both teams in opposite directions for the foreseeable future.
Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox said they will take the same approach to this game as any other matchup with the Cowboys.
“They’ve won two games and we’ve won two games,” Cox said. “But really in the bigger picture of things, you really can throw the records out of the window, because we know they’re going to bring it. It’s … another division game for us.”
If there’s anything that could motivate the Cowboys and help them break out of their struggles, it’s a chance to get back into first place on national TV against their rivals. Cox believes that whatever issues the Cowboys are facing internally may be forgotten when they take the field at the Linc.
“I’m pretty sure they’ll be pumped up to come here,” he added. “It's Sunday Night Football and a primetime game, divisional game. We’re excited about it as a team, and all we can do is prepare for it and get ready.”
The Eagles are hardly in a position to take anyone lightly. Their record stands at 2-4-1, and it took a late fourth-quarter comeback against the struggling Giants in their last outing to avoid defeat.
The Eagles are also still dealing with a host of injuries. While fans are hoping to see a knockout blow against Dallas, McLeod said they will have to be at their best when they take the field on Sunday.
“It’s going to take us playing 60 minutes of ball in all three phases,” McLeod said. “That’s what it’s going to take to win this game. Despite their injuries, we’re kind of in the same position.”