Oct 16, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New Jersey Devils right wing Alexander Holtz (10) is pressured by Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Haason Reddick (7) during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Dallas Cowboys: Inside the numbers for Week 16
With both teams already clinching playoff berths and a three-game gap between the two in the NFC East standings, the Dallas Cowboys (10-4) take on the Philadelphia Eagles (13-1) at 3:25 p.m. on Christmas Eve in a game that should have minimal impact on the rest of the regular season. That said, the teams are still rivals, and the fans expect a victory. Here is a look inside the numbers the Eagles will bring into Saturday’s game.
1 – No. 1 is where the Eagles’ defense ranks against the pass this season. Behind the play of linebacker Haason Reddick, defensive tackle Javon Hargrave and defensive ends Josh Sweat and Brandon Graham, the Eagles have used a ferocious pass rush that has produced 55 sacks to lead the NFL. When they aren’t dragging the quarterback to the ground, they are forcing him to hurry the throw. That has led to an NFL-high 15 interceptions, including six from C.J. Gardner-Johnson. It is a combination that has only allowed 172.4 yards passing per game to opponents, including a 181-yard and three-interception game from Cooper Rush in the season’s first meeting between the two teams.
64 – In 170 games, Fletcher Cox has picked up enough sacks to fill out the first-round field of the NCAA College Basketball Tournament. It is good enough for fifth on the Eagles’ all-time sack leaders list, just 60 sacks from tying Reggie White for the team lead with 124. Cox, an 11-year veteran, will have to play another 10-plus seasons to catch White at his current pace of 5.8 sacks per season. Although, Cox already has six sacks through 14 games this season.
93.1 – Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts has the second-highest quarterback rating in team history for a quarterback that has made at least 20 starts. He finds himself sandwiched between the duo of Nick Foles (93.2) and Carson Wentz (89.2), who both won games while leading the Eagles to a win in Super Bowl 52. Hurts currently has a 104.1 QB Rating this season.
127 – The Cowboys and Eagles have met at least twice a year since 1961, with Dallas owning a 72-55-0 record over their NFC East rivals. They have met four times in the playoffs, with the Cowboys winning a Wild Card game 34-14 in 2010 and two NFC Divisional games – 34-10 in 1993 and 30-11 in 1996. The Cowboys’ only playoff loss to the Eagles came in the 1981 NFC Championship Game, 20-7.
130 – The Eagles have had some of the NFL’s most decorated kickers in its prestigious history, including Matt Bahr (1993), Mark Moseley (1970), Gary Anderson (1995-96), Tony Franklin (1979-83), and Tom Dempsey (1971-74). However, there are two kickers that have produced far and away more than any of those mentioned before – David Akers and Jake Elliott. While Akers (1999-2010) owns nearly all the records, Elliott (2017-current) has the highest field goal percentage in team history at 83.9%, making 130 of 155 attempts.
1,110 – Eagles running back Miles Sanders has eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career. He is also the first Philadelphia runner to break that barrier since LeSean McCoy rushed for 1,319 in 2014. Sanders is just the 10th running back in Eagles history to put up a 1,000-yard season. He joins McCoy (2010, 2011, 2013, 2014), Wilbert Montgomery (1978, 1979, 1981), Ricky Watters (1995, 1996, 1997), Brian Westbrook (2006, 2007), Duce Staley (1998, 1999, 2002), Steve Van Buren (1947, 1949) Earnest Jackson (1985) and former Cowboy Herschel Walker (1992).
