NFL Betting XBOX 360 Simulation Cowboys vs Eagles
by Mike Rose
Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles 4:15 ET FOX
Weather: mostly cloudy in the morning, then becoming partly sunny with a 30% chance of showers with highs in the lower 50s.
Week 17 of the NFL football betting season continues Sunday afternoon in a huge NFC East sports betting showdown when the Dallas Cowboys (9-6, 7-8 ATS) invade Lincoln Financial Field to match wits with the Philadelphia Eagles (8-6-1, 9-6 ATS); kick-off is slated for 4:15 ET and the game can be seen nationally on FOX.
It’s do or die for both the Cowboys and Eagles in this spot. If Dallas wins, they’re in. If not, they’ll be sent home with their tails in between their legs with only the opening of their brand new stadium to look forward to next season. If Philadelphia loses, they’re done. If they manage to secure the win, they’ll also need both Chicago to lose at Houston and for Oakland to go into Tampa Bay and pick up just their third road victory of the season. A tall order indeed, but anything is possible come Week 17.
The Cowboys looked primed and ready to secure their bid to the second season last Saturday night at home against the Baltimore Ravens. That said; the football gambling gods held a different idea of what was to occur in the final game played at historic Texas Stadium. The Cowboys got out to a quick 7-0 lead at the start of the 1st quarter, but it was all downhill form there. Baltimore grabbed a 9-7 lead right before the break, and Dallas was never able to overcome the two-point lead. They cut the lead back to two on a pair of occasions in the 4th quarter, but the Ravens answered with a pair of lengthy TD runs to pull away and secure the road win and cover. The loss dropped the Cowboys to 9-6 SU and 7-8 ATS coming into this week’s battle with the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Eagles took the field in Washington knowing a win would greatly improve its chances of securing a spot in the upcoming post-season. However, knowing a win would help and actually going out and getting it became two different entities after the Eagles fell by a 10-3 final count as 4.5-point road favorites. Now the Eagles find themselves in do or die mode and have nobody to blame but themselves. The Eagles were outstatted in all the important categories, which included red zone efficiency where Donovan McNabb and the Eagles failed to score any points on two occasions. They also lost the turnover battle fumbling the ball once and forcing zero Washington turnovers. The Eagles need a ton of help from other teams just to advance this weekend, but their 5-2 SU and ATS mark at home should have them confident at the very least in winning this game.
These NFC East rivals have alternated SU wins the L/4 times they’ve met, but the Eagles have covered ATS in each of the L/2 meetings. They last met back in Week 2 in a crazy Monday Night NFL betting affair that saw the Cowboys outscore the Eagles 41-37. The Eagles managed to stay within the seven-point spread, and the 78 combined points easily surpassed the 47-point closing ‘total’. The underdog has been rabid in this series cashing NFL bettors tickets’ in 7 of the L/8 overall meetings.
1st Quarter:
The Eagles took the opening kick, but K Nick Folk sent it through the endzone for a touchback. QB Donovan McNabb came out slinging as his first pass was good for 13-yards to WR Reggie Brown, and he followed it up with a 20-yard pass and catch to rookie WR DeSean Jackson. After RB Brian Westbrook rattled off a 7-yard gain, the Eagles moved the chains after TE LJ Smith hauled in a 9-yard catch. Philly entered Dallas’ red zone after another 5-ysard rush, but McNabb’s next two passes fell incomplete and the Eagles were forced to kick the field goal. K David Akers was true from 28-yards and the Eagles landed on the scoreboard first.
RB’s Marion Barber and Tashard Choice got the Eagles out to their own 40 on a couple of running plays, and then QB Tony Romo went to work. He hooked up with WR Patrick Crayton for 9-yards on his first pass from scrimmage, and followed it up with another 9-yard pass and catch to WR Roy Williams to move the chains. On 3rd and 1 from Philly’s 18-yard line, OC Jason Garrett decided to go play-action, but Romo’s pass was just out of reach for TE Jason Witten. HC Wade Phillips called upon K Folk, and he calmly split the uprights on the 35-yard attempt to tie the game at three apiece. Both Philadelphia and the Cowboys failed to attain a 1st down on each of their next possessions.
DALLAS 3 PHILADELPHIA 3
2nd QUARTER
Dallas earned the first turnover of the game when FS Ken Hamlin hauled in a deflected pass and returned it to the Cowboys 46-yard line. The Cowboys did absolutely nothing with the field position as the Eagles defense stepped up to force the three and out.
Philly scored the first touchdown of the game when RB Westbrook scampered into the endzone from 14-yards out. QB McNabb completed all six if his passes throughout the drive. Nothing else happened the remainder of the half and the Eagles went into the locker room with a seven-point lead.
DALLAS 3 PHILADELPHIA 10
3rd Quarter
After a 5-yard rush by RB Barber, Romo connected with WR Roy Williams for a 13-yard gain. The Cowboys then rode the legs of Barber all the way down to Philly’s 48-yard line then Romo and Witten hooked up for 15-yards. After another 5-yard gain by Barber, “The Linc” got their chance to boo WR Terrell Owens after he hauled in a Romo offering and scampered 20-yards down the sideline. Once tackled, he gave his infamous Eagles flying routine to a chorus of hecklers in the stands. On 1st and goal from the Eagles 10-yard line, Romo hit WR Crayton for seven and Barber sealed the deal by plunging into the endzone from 3-yards out to knot the score up at 10’s.
The defenses stood tall for the remainder of the quarter keeping both offenses off the scoreboard.
DALLAS 10 PHILADELPHIA 10
4TH QUARTER
After Philly’s defense stopped the Cowboys on their own 33, DeSean Jackson was called upon to return the punt. Philly fans erupted as the rookie mesmerized the crowd with his quick moves and blinding speed as he returned the punt 62-yards to the house for the go ahead score. Dallas had less than four minutes to tie it up or its season was over….
And score they did as the Cowboys wasted no time in getting down the field for the tying TD. Romo slung the ball all over the field; 22 yards to T.O., 17 yards to Roy Williams, another 15 yarder to TE Witten. Where was this offense the entire game? TO hauled the game tying score in on a two-yard reception on a fade in the back left corner of the endzone. Eagles fans pelted him with snowballs, but the former Philly WR kept doing his bird dance while getting bombarded….
DALLAS 17 PHILADELPHIA 17
OVERTIME
The extra session lasted all but 43 seconds. Dallas won the toss and looked to steal the road win. However, Romo’s first two passes fell incomplete, and the third was picked off by CB Asante Samuel and returned to the Cowboys 14-yard line. K David Akers calmly converted the 31-yarder to send the underachieving Cowboys home for the playoffs…
FINAL SCORE: DALLAS 17 PHILADELPHIA 20
This game simulation calls for an outright Philadelphia victory and for the combined score to go under the ‘total’. You can get Philadelphia (+1.5) -110 and the under 42.5 –110 at BetUS.com right now!!!
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Final | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DALLAS | 3 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
| PHILADELPHIA | 3 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 20 |
QB Tony Romo: 19/37 189 yards 1 TD 1 INT
QB Donovan McNabb: 22/34 272 yards 0 TD 1 INT
RB Marion Barber: 18 carries for 45 yards 1 TD Long of 8
RB Brian Westbrook: 24 carries for 130 yards 1 TD Long of 14
WR Terrell Owens: 7 receptions for 78 yards 1 TD Long of 22
WR Reggie Brown: 5 receptions for 91 yards 0 TD Long of 54
| DAL | PHI | |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL OFFENSE | 240 | 409 |
| RUSHING YARDS | 51 | 137 |
| PASSING YARDS | 189 | 272 |
| 1ST DOWNS | 10 | 20 |
| TOTAL YARDS | 317 | 464 |
| TURNOVERS | 1 | 1 |
| 3RD DOWN CONV | 4/14 28% | 7/17 41% |
| PENALTIES | 5-35 | 4-40 |
| TIME OF POSSESSION | 28:45 | 32:35 |
