Philadelphia at Dallas (01/09/2010)

In another of the three NFL Wildcard games that's also a rematch of games played the final weekend, the Philadelphia Eagles once again at Cowboys Stadium, after lsoing 0-24 in a game that cost them the NFC East title. Although the Cowboys totally dominated throughout, one has to wonder if the Eagles were taking the game seriously or not - doing their best impression of a team resting its starters only they weren't. Which begs the question, Are the Cowboys really that good or are the Eagles really just laying low in waiting for the playoffs?

Trends between these two aren't quite as clear cut as they are between many other teams - showing all that this series has been hard fought and extremely contentious between these two. Dallas has won and covered the last two times out against Philly and has won three of their last four straight-up against them, suggesting recent success that could be the start of a meaningful streak. Over the long term, however, The Eagles have been in the money five out of the last eight times against the Cowboys, a trend if you're looking for one.

One important issue if you're looking at surface, the Cowboys are 8-2 straight-up on artificial turf
- like there is at new Cowboys stadium - while the Eagles are 9-4 on grass (or painted dirt) and only 2-1 on turf. Dallas is only 3-3 on grass this season themselves straight-up, making the track seem really important in this series. The Cowboys are considerably better on the turf, an advantage they earned with last weekend's big win against the Eagles that could sure help them here.
unimpressive 1-3 against the number - definitely not setting the world on fire there. The Eagles haven't been motivated much by being an underdog of three points or less this season winning only once in four tries, however keep in mind that they're 7-0 ATS in their last seven tries when being a 3.5 - 10 point underdog, that they're 5-0 ATS in their last five playoff games as an underdog, are 5-1 ATS in their last six playoff road games, and that they are an incredible 35-17 ATS in their last 52 games as a road underdog, some very impressive numbers that tilt the trends the Eagles direction.

Although some numbers cut the Cowboy's direction - they're 5-2 ATS in last seven as home favorite, 12-5 ATS in their last 17 against NFC, and 4-1 in their last five games on turf - others really cut the other way - Dallas is 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games in January, 5-11 ATS in their last 16 games against the NFC East, 1-4 ATS in their last five playoff games as a favorite, and are only 1-5 ATS in their last six playoff games overall - which really clouds the decision to pick Dallas as a favorite and give away any points. As if those weren't enough facts to help nudge you the Eagles direction, then consider these gems that are about to follow before putting your money down on either.

The Eagles are 10-4 ATS in the last 14 meetings that took place in Dallas against the Cowboys - an impressive trend that has meaning here. Another statistic that should be printed in bold and highlighted is that the road team in this series is 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings, which says a lot about these divisional opponents who know each other so well that the home-field advantage is, in essence, no longer a factor. Finally, the fact that the underdog in the series is 8-3 ATS in the last 11 meetings between these two tilts the scale even a little more towards the Eagles - another in a long laundry list of trends that point their direction.

Although Dallas has no doubt looked good and driven up hopes everywhere in the process this season, there's a reason that the numbers point the way they do. Between these two teams, the Eagles not only are more playoff experienced - having come up with big wins there time and time again - they're poised and ready to strike as well after giving Dallas some false confidence in last Sunday's meaningless contest. Although my heart will be with the Cowboys, my money will be on the more proven Eagles - Take Philly and the four points being given.