Eagles face Cowboys with 24.1 percent blitz rate against sputtering Dallas offense

The Philadelphia Eagles will host the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night with a defensive blitz rate of just 24.1 percent, a statistic that stands in stark contrast to the heavy pressure the Cowboys have faced recently. This low pressure frequency is central to the tactical matchup between two teams that have lost back-to-back games. The contest is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET at Lincoln Financial Field, with the Cowboys listed as 4.5 point favorites by DraftKings Sportsbook.

Philadelphia enters the game after dropping four straight contests, a streak that followed a 2-0 start to the season. The roster has suffered heavily from injuries. Quarterback Jalen Hurts is out with blood clots in his calf and lungs. Wide receivers DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks are also sidelined. Running back Saquon Barkley, guard Landon Dickerson, defensive end Jonathan Greenard, and safety Jalyx Hunt are all listed as questionable.

Dallas has also struggled, losing its last two games against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Green Bay Packers. The Cowboys scored 30 or more points in each of their previous three games but combined for only 29 points in those final two losses. Their offensive line was overwhelmed by blitzes, and quarterback Dak Prescott went 20 for 38 for 194 yards and no touchdowns when facing extra rushers in those contests.

Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s unit in Philadelphia has not typically relied on such aggressive rushing. According to Tru Media data, the Eagles have blitzed on only 24.1 percent of dropbacks this season, the fourth-lowest rate in the NFL. By comparison, the Buccaneers and Packers blitzed on 38.8 percent of Prescott’s dropbacks in Weeks 5 and 6. Fangio’s defense has blitzed at that high rate only once since his tenure began, making a major strategic shift unlikely.

However, the Eagles’ pass defense has shown vulnerabilities. They rank 20th in opponents’ expected points added per dropback. While they force opponents to complete only 60.4 percent of passes at 7.0 yards per attempt, they have allowed eight touchdown passes against just three interceptions. The secondary, featuring Quinyon Mitchell, Riq Woolen, and Cooper DeJean, has often been left to cover receivers for extended periods because the front line generates pressure on only 32.9 percent of dropbacks.

The Eagles’ offensive outlook is uncertain due to the injury list. Backup quarterback Tanner McKee started the previous game, dropping back to throw 48 times. Without Hurts’ running ability, the Eagles are expected to rely more heavily on the passing game. Their top targets in that scenario would be tight ends Makai Lemon and Darius Cooper, along with Dallas Goedert. McKee is 16 for 45 for 179 yards and no touchdowns in his career when under duress.

The running game presents a different challenge. The Cowboys have allowed opponents to average 4.7 yards per carry this season, with every opponent besides the Texans and Packers gaining at least 165 rushing yards. Conversely, the Eagles allow only 4.0 yards per carry. If Barkley returns from his hamstring injury, the Eagles could attempt to control the clock, though he has averaged only 3.7 yards per carry this season.

The Cowboys will look to exploit the Eagles’ offensive line, which is missing key starters. Defensive end Joey Porter Jr. is expected to target the gaps left by the injury-plagued unit. The game determines which team can end its two-game losing streak first.

Fans can watch the game on ESPN and ABC, or stream it on Fubo. The over/under for total points is set at 43.5. The outcome will hinge on whether Dallas can maintain its passing rhythm without heavy blitzes, and whether Philadelphia can generate enough pressure to disrupt McKee.