The Eagles have won 4 of their last five games to ascend to the top of the NFC East (they are tied with the Giants).  So this is a big game for the Eagles.  The Cowboys are 3-1 under new head coach Jason Garrett.  This should be a good game and here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Eagles have the ball:  The Eagles are going to come out passing in this game.  The Cowboys are allowing 254.1 yards passing per game so far this year and they don’t have much of a pass rush outside of DeMarcus Ware.  Desean Jackson, Jason Avant, Jeremy Maclin and Lesean McCoy are going to cause matchup problems all night long for the Cowboys’ secondary.  Lesean McCoy and Michael Vick will attack the Cowboys’ front seven on the ground to keep the defense honest.

When the Cowboys have the ball:  The Cowboys are likely going to come out running the ball with Felix Jones & Tashard Choice in an attempt to control the clock.  The Eagles are giving up 103.0 yards rushing per game and 4.1 yards per carry so the Cowboys could have some success on the ground if they stick with it.  The passing game will likely be of the shorter variety due to the Eagles’ pass rush.  That means the Eagles are going to have to make sure they are sound tacklers against Miles Austin, Roy Williams and Jason Witten.

PREDICTION:  COWBOYS 34, EAGLES 31

The Eagles need to rebound from a tough loss to the Bears in Chicago last week as they are again tied with the Giants at the top of the NFC East.  The Texans are suddenly back in the race in their division with a win last week over the Titans so this is going to be a tough game tonight.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Eagles have the ball:  The Texans give up 286.2 yards passing per game so far this year and opposing QBs have a 102.8 rating against them.  That sets up for a big game by Michael Vick and his cohorts (Jeremy Maclin, Jason Avant and Desean Jackson).  Lesean McCoy is also going to have a key role in this game both running and catching balls out of the backfield for the Eagles.

When the Texans have the ball:  The Texans are going to try to control the clock in this game to protect their awful D.  That means the Eagles need to key on stopping RB Arian Foster who already has 1,700 yards combined rushing & receiving and he also has 13 TDs.  The Eagles then need to get pressure on Matt Schaub or Andre Johnson could have a big game.

PREDICTION:  EAGLES 37, TEXANS 31

Both of these teams are hot but they go about things in different ways.  The Eagles have won three games in a row by a combined score of 112-69.  The Eagles have been winning with offense.  The Bears have also won three games in a row by a combined 65-32 as they are winning with defense.  Something has to give in this game.  Here is  a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Eagles have the ball:  The Bears are going to be coming after Michael Vick with Julius Peppers.  The Bears will likely try to contain Vick in the pocket where he’s just not as good.  The Eagles will need to mix things up to be effective against the Bears’ D which is pretty stout.  Lesean McCoy and Michael Vick are going to find rushing yards hard to get against a Bears’ D that is allowing only 78.0 yards rushing per game and 3.5 yards per carry.  The Eagles hope that they give Vick enough time to try to go down the field to Desean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin against a Bears’ D that is allowing 212.4 yards passing per game.  The Bears have only given up 6 TD passes while picking off 15 of them this year.

When the Bears have the ball:  The Bears have been mixing things up well on offense the last few weeks as they have been sticking with the running game even if it’s not working to keep the opposing D honest.  They will likely do that again with Matt Forte and Chester Taylor running the ball against a Eagles’ D that is allowing only 99.7 yards rushing per game but 4.0 yards per carry.  The Bears’ O-Line has allowed 37 sacks this year and the Eagles’ love to blitz as they already have 26 sacks.  The Eagles also have 19 interceptions but CB Asante Samuel won’t be playing in this game due to injury and he has 7 INTs.  Jay Cutler will have to be careful with the ball but the Eagles are allowing 213.6 yards passing so there are plays to be made in the air.

PREDICTION:  BEARS 20, EAGLES 17

The Eagles have won two games in a row but they are only 2-2 at home this year.  The Giants have won three games in a row on the road in which they have outscored their opponents 116-52!  So this isn’t going to be easy for the Eagles.  Here’s a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Eagles have the ball:  The Eagles need to mix things up in this game because the Giants’ D is pretty darn good.  Lesean McCoy will likely be busy against a Giants’ D that is allowing only 83.3 yards rushing and 3.5 yards per carry.  The Eagles must stay balanced or the Giants are going to bring the house after Michael Vick.  Vick will need to buy time with his feet in the pocket and it’s not going to be easy against a Giants’ D that already has 25 sacks this year.  The Giants also have a solid pass defense as they are only allowing 186.9 yards passing per game.  The Eagles might not have time to throw deep so Desean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin and Jason Avant might have to take some hits this week.

When the Giants have the ball:  The Giants might just tighten up the chinstraps and give the ball to Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs in an attempt to control the clock which is something they’re really good at.  The Eagles’ front seven had better be up for that challenge.  For all the hype the Eagles receivers get, Hakeem Nicks has more TDs than any of them (9) so he’s the guy the Eagles need to shut down. 

PREDICTION:  GIANTS 30, EAGLES 23

The Eagles have won 3 of their last 4 games and they are looking to avenge a earlier loss 17-12 to the Redskins in Philly.  The Redskins are coming of a bye after losing 37-25 to the Lions in Detroit the week before.  Here is a look at the matchups in Round #2 of the McNabb Bowl:

When the Eagles have the ball:  The Eagles are healthy now on offense and they are clicking on all cylinders.  Michael Vick will be aiming at a Redskins’ secondary that is giving up 280.9 yards passing per game this year.  Desean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Lesean McCoy and Brent Celek will likely be very heavily involved in the passing game for the Eagles this weekend.  The Eagles won’t forget to run the ball either as Lesean McCoy and Michael Vick will be targeting a Redskins’ D that is allowing 112.4 yards rushing per game and 4.6 yards per carry.

When the Redskins have the ball:  When Donovan McNabb is a little down that’s when he’s the most dangerous and I think that is the case right now.  Still, the Eagles played well against him the first time around so I don’t see them changing the defense too much from the first time these two teams played.  Ryan Torain and maybe Clinton Portis will try to give the Redskins a balanced attack.

PREDICTION:  EAGLES 27, REDSKINS 17

The Eagles had a bye week to get healthy and ready for the Colts.  The Colts have won three games in a row but they have not played their best football on the road.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Eagles have the ball:  I see the Eagles playing a lot of Sandlot type of football in this game.  The Eagles will send receivers deep and Vick will either take a shot to Jeremy Maclin or Desean Jackson or he will take off running.  The Colts are allowing 133.1 yards rushing per game and 4.9 yards per carry so Lesean McCoy and Michael Vick will likely team up for a lot of yards in this game.  Jeremy Maclin and Desean Jackson will handle the deep stuff with Brent Celek and Jason Avant doing the dirty work.

When the Colts have the ball:  The Eagles are going to blitz Peyton Manning which most teams don’t do.  If they can get to him they can rattle him just like the Texans did when they beat the Colts in the season opener.  If they don’t get to Manning though it could turn out to be a long day with him targeting Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon and Jacob Tamme.  Donald Brown is going to start for the Colts at RB and he doesn’t scare the Eagles too much.

PREDICTION:  EAGLES 34, COLTS 27

This game will be a very interesting contrast in styles as the Eagles love to throw the ball while the Titans are a running team.  The Eagles are road warriors as they are 3-0 on the year away from home.  The Titans are only 1-2 at home this year as they also seem to like to play on the road better than at home.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Eagles have the ball:  The Eagles might decide to mix in the running game a little more this week as Eagles’ QBs have been sacked 20 times this year while the Titans already have 24 sacks!  This means that the Eagles will also likely shorten up the passing game trying to get the ball to Jason Avant, Brent Celek and Lesean McCoy.  That doesn’t mean that the Eagles won’t throw deep because Jeremy Maclin is one of the fastest players in the NFL.  To take a shot deep it will likely be off playaction.  Plays will be there to be made through the air as the Titans are still allowing 231 yards passing per game despite all of the sacks.

When the Titans have the ball:  Kerry Collins is likely to start this Sunday against the Eagles due to Vince Young’s knee injury last Monday Night.  The Titans are going to run the ball with Chris Johnson and Javon Ringer against a Eagles’ D that is allowing 115.7 yards rushing and 4.2 yards per carry so far this year.  The Eagles will be blitzing Kerry Collins a lot as he tends to make mistakes in the face of a good pass rush.  The Titans don’t have a lot of threats in the passing game as they are only averaging 157.2  yards passing per game.

PREDICTION:  EAGLES 30, TITANS 23

The Falcons have won four games in a row including road wins at New Orleans and at Cleveland.  The Eagles are 3-0 on the road but they are 0-2 at home this year.  Here is a closer look at the matchups in this game:

When the Eagles have the ball:  The Eagles always come out throwing the ball and they will again this Sunday.  Kevin Kolb will have to get rid of the ball quickly as Eagles’ QBs have been sacked 18 times already this year and he will have to be careful because the Falcons already have 10 INTs this year.  With the passing game likely to be of the shorter variety, Brent Celek, Lesean McCoy and Jason Avant will likely get more targets than usual.  Don’t worry though, Eagles’ fans, they will still take a few deep shots to Desean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin.  The Eagles will also make sure that Lesean McCoy gets his touches against a Falcons’ D that is allowing 4.2 yards per carry this year.

When the Falcons have the ball:  The Falcons are going to come out running the ball with Michael Turner against a Eagles’ D that is allowing 125.8 yards rushing and 4.3 yards per carry.  Turner is extremely hard to bring down because he’s short but thick so the Eagles got to make sure tackles on him.  The Eagles are going to send the house after Matt Ryan to try to force him into making some mistakes with the ball.  That will be easier said than done as he’s usually pretty smart as to where to go with the football.  The Eagles better keeps tabs on Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez the whole game as they have caught 61 of the 109 passes completed this year by the Falcons.

PREDICTION:  FALCONS 30, EAGLES 24

The Eagles have travelled well this year as they are 2-0 on the road and they have outscored their opponents 63-35.  The 49ers are 0-1 at home having lost 25-22 to the Saints.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Eagles have the ball:  Kevin Kolb is getting the start at QB for the Eagles this weekend and Lesean McCoy is gimpy with a fractured rib.  This could make years semi-hard to come by against the Niners.  McCoy will likely meet up with Patrick Willis a few times so I don’t see him finishing this game.  Mike Bell will also likely get a lot of action at RB tomorrow for the Eagles.  If the O-Line gives Kevn Kolb time to throw he will have success against the Niners’ secondary.  Eagles’ QBs have been sacked 15 times already this year so the Niners will be bringing heat on Kolb.  I look for Brent Celek to have a big game for the Eagles this week as Kolb is one of his best friends.  But, Jeremy Maclin and Desean Jackson will also get their fair share of looks tomorrow.

When the 49ers have the ball:  The 49ers are likely going to give Frank Gore a ton of touches both in the running and passing game against the Eagles.  The Eagles are allowing 138.8 yards rushing per game and 4.4 yards per carry so Gore should find some running room.  With the Eagles likely coming after Alex Smith from the get go (they have 13 sacks already) the Niners will likely keep the passing game of the short variety.  That means Vernon Davis & Frank Gore will get most of the looks. 

PREDICTION:  EAGLES 20, 49ERS 10

The hype for this game will be off the charts as Donovan McNabb returns to Philly to deal with the convict (Michael Vick) on the other sideline.  Here is a look at the match-ups in this game:

When the Eagles have the ball:  The Redskins are giving up 325.7 yards passing per game this year so I look for the Eagles to attempt to air it out to Desean Jackson & Jeremy Maclin.  The O-Line will have to protect Michael Vick well in this game as the Redskins have a solid pass rush.  Running the ball will be a tough task in this game as LBs London Fletcher and Rocky McIntosh lead a Redskins’ D allowing only 98.0 yards rushing and 3.5 yards per carry.

When the Redskins have the ball:  The Redskins will likely run the ball more than usual with Clinton Portis & Ryan Torain so the Eagles’ front seven better tighten up the chinstraps.  The Redskins don’t want the Eagles blitzing all of the time so look for them to throw more on first down than usual.  TE Chris Cooley and WR Santana Moss are the only two receivers the Eagles have to concern themselves with on the Redskins.  With only two decent receivers it will make things really tough on Donovan McNabb’s thoughts of revenge.

PREDICTION:  EAGLES 23, REDSKINS 21