The Dallas Cowboys have struggled lately, losing back-to-back games, including a road loss to the Green Bay Packers last week, to fall to 2-4. However, the Philadelphia Eagles have also been struggling, losing four straight after starting 2-0, including a home loss to the Carolina Panthers last week, to fall to 2-4 as well.
Despite their losing records, both teams still have playoff hopes because the NFC East is so weak this season, with the 4-2-1 New York Giants leading the division. Now, attention turns to Monday Night Football, as the teams meet on Monday, October 26, in a key divisional matchup.
After an embarrassing home loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 5, the Cowboys’ struggles continued with a 23-13 loss to the Packers. The offense managed only 13 points, below their 25.2-point average, and committed two costly turnovers when Dak Prescott threw interceptions inside Green Bay’s 30-yard line. The team was held scoreless in the first half for the first time since 2021 and struggled to convert third downs, going 5-for-13.
The defense also struggled despite some improvement, allowing the Packers 23 points. They recorded their first interception of the season but struggled to get off the field, allowing the Packers to convert 11 of 18 third downs, including one fourth-down attempt. They remain one of the league’s worst defenses, allowing the third-most yards and the most rushing yards per game.
The Eagles’ losing streak extended to four as they fell 25-14 to the Panthers without Jalen Hurts. In Hurts’ absence, the offense managed 14 points as backup quarterback Tanner McKee threw a touchdown on 215 yards, with DeVonta Smith leading the wide receiver corps with 75 yards on seven receptions and a touchdown. The defense had its moments despite the loss, holding the Panthers to 10 first-half points, sacking Bryce Young three times, and limiting seven of 17 third-down conversions.
Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles Monday Night Football Preview
Game: Dallas Cowboys (2-4) @ Philadelphia Eagles (2-4)
History: 75-59, Dallas Cowboys
Last Meeting: 24-21, Dallas Cowboys (2025)
Time: 8:15 p.m. (EST)
Location: Lincoln Financial Field | Philadelphia, PA
TV: ESPN, ABC, and ESPN2
Radio: 105.3 The Fan| 94 WIP Sportsradio | 97.3 ESPN | SiriusXM 192, 193, XM App
Odds: Cowboys -4.5 | O/U: 44.5
This will be the 135th meeting between the two divisional opponents and the 66th in Philadelphia. This will also be the 34th time the two teams meet in a primetime matchup, the most-played primetime matchup in NFL history, with the Cowboys holding a 17-15 edge. However, the Eagles have won their last four home games against the Cowboys, with their last loss coming in 2022. The last time both teams met in Philadelphia was in 2025, when the Eagles defeated the Cowboys 24-20 on their Super Bowl banner night.
Dallas Cowboys Focus On Turning Things Around After Recent Struggles
The Cowboys had a disappointing start to the season, losing four of their first six games. Back-to-back defeats have intensified criticism, and head coach Brian Schottenheimer is also under scrutiny as Dallas looks to get its season back on track. In their last two losses, the Cowboys have looked unprepared, with their offense struggling to put points on the board and their defense continuing to struggle to get stops.
After averaging 30.5 points in the first four weeks, the offense has scored 29 points and committed five turnovers in the last two weeks. A major reason for these recent struggles has been its inability to handle the blitz and sustain the run. The running game has totaled 98 yards on 28 combined attempts in the last two games, putting additional pressure on Prescott to make big plays through the air.
Along with its struggling offense, the defense continues to struggle to get off the field, allowing the Buccaneers and Packers to convert more than 50% of third downs. They rank 25th in points allowed per game (26.5) and allowed seven 15-plus-yard plays against the Packers, as defensive coordinator Christian Parker continues to struggle to get the best out of his unit. Heading into Monday Night Football, Schottenheimer took responsibility for the Cowboys’ recent struggles during his press conference on Friday.
“Some of it is deserved. You know, we got to play better. I got to coach better,” Schottenheimer said. “I know what a great coach I am. I know what this team is capable of, and that’s what I focus on.”
Despite the recent struggles, the Cowboys still haven’t panicked as they sit a game and a half behind the first-place Giants in the NFC East heading into Monday Night Football. This team has shown flashes of its potential, as it was one of the NFL’s best offenses before its struggles over the last two weeks. The defense has improved slightly: after allowing 28 points per game in the first four weeks, it held opponents to 23.5 in the last two games. It all comes down to whether this team can finally put it together ahead of an important stretch that starts with Monday Night Football. Prescott acknowledged the urgency, emphasizing that the team needs to turn its focus into wins.
“We can only say we’ve got a lot of games in front of us for so long. We’ve got to go win,” Prescott said. “You want to give yourself a chance to be a winning team, to be a playoff team. You got to win as many games as you can, and when you drop two games in particular games that we didn’t expect to drop, it makes it much harder. Urgent to get it done now.”
Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb also reinforced Prescott’s belief ahead of Monday Night Football, saying that everything is still in front of them. The urgency begins on Monday Night Football, Dallas’s third consecutive prime-time matchup as it looks for its first win of the season under the bright lights. To get a much-needed win this week and gain ground in the NFC East, the Cowboys must establish a better tempo early and avoid the mistakes that hurt them in their last two games. A Monday Night Football loss would only increase pressure on Schottenheimer and the coaching staff, potentially setting the stage for significant changes in Dallas before November’s trade deadline.
Philadelphia Eagles Preparing For Life Without Jalen Hurts
Like the Cowboys, the Eagles have underachieved this season, losing four straight games after starting 2-0. A big reason for this stretch has been the injury bug; the team has been short-handed on both sides of the ball since Week 3, and ahead of Monday Night Football, the Eagles had to start preparing for life withou Hurts, as he will be out for the season due to blood clots found in his lungs.
In their first game without Hurts last week, the Eagles’ offense struggled to find its rhythm, scoring just 14 points in a loss to the Panthers. These offensive struggles have been a theme for Philadelphia this season, with the team averaging 17.7 points per game, tied for fourth-worst in the NFL. In Tanner McKee’s first start, he had to carry the load as the running game struggled, forcing him to throw 45 times. He finished the game with 217 yards and a touchdown.
Along with the offensive struggles, the defense failed to force a turnover for the fourth time this season, tying for the second-fewest takeaways. They have allowed 363.8 yards per game, the sixth-worst in the NFL, but have been middle of the pack in all other defensive categories. Because of the struggles and injuries, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said he is focused on making adjustments ahead of Monday Night Football.
“Every part of it can be adjusted. Whether that’s schemes, whether that’s schedule, whether that’s practice, everything can be adjusted,” Sirianni said. “Our core values don’t change. The NFL is a marathon.”
McKee was put in a tough spot before the Panthers game when he learned on Thursday that he would start at quarterback. This left him little time to get first reps in practice and build chemistry with his teammates. Now, he faces a huge challenge, as the Eagles’ top two wide receivers, Smith and Dontayvion Wicks, will miss Monday Night Football with injuries. Despite that, he is focused on turning this season around and applying what he’s learned from Hurts throughout his career.
“How to lead a room. How to voice your opinions. “He’s been an incredible role model, teammate, example, leader. I can’t say enough positive things about [Hurts],” McKee said. “I want the guys to trust me. I want the guys to know that when I go in there, they have full confidence that the offense is going to run smoothly. We know we’re going to figure it out. We know, but we need to have an urgency to make those things happen.”
After his first start, McKee said that he knows what he needs to improve on ahead of Monday Night Football. Despite missing Smith and Wicks, the Eagles’ running game will be much improved with starting running back Saquon Barkley expected to return from injury for this game. Last week, the Eagles rushed for 35 yards on 13 attempts and played with their fourth-string running back after their top three running backs were hurt. With the wide receiver room depleted, Barkley will be key to the Eagles’ win against Dallas as he faces the league’s worst run defense.
Despite a four-game losing streak and the loss of their starting quarterback for the rest of the season, Philadelphia isn’t giving up on this season, as they sit 1.5 games back of the Giants for first in the NFC East ahead of Monday Night Football. McKee showed flashes of brilliance in his first start with the Eagles, and the defense still has plenty of talent despite the struggles. At the same time, Barkley’s return should help Philadelphia sustain drives and keep Dallas’s offense off the field as much as possible. Monday Night Football gives the Eagles a chance to end their losing streak, regain momentum in the playoff race, and put all the pieces together.
Prediction
Cowboys 27, Eagles 21
Main Image: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
