NFL odds: Eagles are underdogs against Cowboys in Dallas

It’s such a shame we didn’t see a Philadelphia Eagles win combined with a Dallas Cowboys loss in Week 2. The juice levels would have been. off the charts for a 2-0 Eagles team descending south to face a 0-2 Cowboys team.

Instead, both teams are 1-1 heading into a Monday night football game of Week 3. Obviously another important game with the winner potentially taking first place in the NFC East.

The Birds have just suffered a frustrating loss in which they failed to capitalize on the best opportunities to secure a victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts both showed growing pains. (Or, at least, that’s what one would hope to rank them.) The vibes changed badly after Jalen Reagor’s touchless capture on Sunday afternoon.

The Cowboys are moving in a more positive direction, for their own good. After securing a “moral victory” over the defending Super Bowl champions in Week 1, they edged out a good Los Angeles Chargers team on the road in Week 2. Outstanding performance from Tony Pollard (16 hits for 140 yards and a touchdown) and rookie linebacker-turned-rusher Micah Parsons (seven presses, a league-high) helped the Cowboys secure their first victory.

Given recent events and the higher expectations for Dallas heading into 2021, no one will be surprised to see Dallas in favor on Monday night. The Cowboys are the 3.5-point favorites against the Eagles, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. That’s half a point more than the standard home favorite line.

For what it’s worth, the Cowboys don’t have the best history as a home favorites under head coach Mike McCarthy. Take a look yourself:

For context, only two teams – the Chiefs and the Jets – have been worse against the spread since the start of 2020. And only four other teams are winless against the spread as home favorites: the 49ers (0-3 ), Giants (0-1), Jets (0-1) and Jaguars (0-1). Thus, the Cowboys lead the league in the favorite home losses to ATS.

Of course, all of that data comes from last year, when the Cowboys were largely without Dak Prescott for most of the season. Getting it back is a big deal. AT&T Stadium should be pretty excited for their first game there since getting injured. Not to mention the added energy that comes with a nationally televised game against a hated division rival.

I would be lying if I said I felt amazing for the Eagles in this place. Sirianni and Hurts are not yet proven entities that you can simply rely on. Graham and Brooks’ injuries could hurt the Eagles where they’re supposed to be strongest: in the trenches. Dallas may have turned a corner with its Week 2 win.

I think Philly will keep that close, which makes points tempting in this scenario. But I think the Eagles are going to lose this game.

What you say?

RELATED CONTENT: RJ Ochoa of Blogging The Boys and I previewed this Eagles-Cowboys match further in the final episode of the Mixtape NFC East.