Deadspin | Week 7 MNF: Cowboys-Eagles Preview, Prop Picks, Prediction

The Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles have been two of probably the most disappointing groups through the early levels of the 2026 NFL season, however each have an opportunity to stay within the thick of the NFC East race with a victory on Monday night time.

The Cowboys take a 2-4 report and a two-game dropping streak into Lincoln Financial Field. However, it is the Eagles who face a a lot steeper hill to climb at dwelling after one of the vital miserable months in latest franchise historical past.

Philadelphia was 2-0 after they performed on Monday night time 4 weeks in the past. A loss to Chicago began a four-game dropping streak that additionally noticed quarterback and captain Jalen Hurts misplaced for the season, together with a slew of different accidents and adjustments to the offense. Tanner McKee will make his second straight begin underneath heart.

ODDS AND TRENDS

The Cowboys are a consensus 4.5-point favourite on the street. They opened as 6-point favorites at BetMGM, the place the road has shifted with Dallas attracting 65% of the whole bets and 75% of the cash wagered on the unfold.

The moneyline has seen extra evenly break up motion, with the Cowboys (+180) backed by 51% of the whole bets and Philadelphia (-220) drawing 61% of the cash wagered.

The public is anticipating a comparatively low-scoring recreation, with the whole factors line shifting from 45 to 44. The Over has attracted 54% of the bets whereas the Under has drawn 53% of the cash.

PROP PICKS

–Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb Anytime TD Scorer (+125 at BetMGM): This has been the most well-liked play amongst Anytime TD scorers on the sportsbook. Lamb has 4 touchdowns however has not reached the top zone in half of Dallas’ six video games to date. However, three of the 4 have come within the Cowboys’ first two video games towards NFC East rivals.

–Eagles WR Hollywood Brown 12+ Receiving Yards (-111 at DraftKings): With WRs DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks each out, somebody goes to need to catch passes. TE Dallas Goedert figures to be a focus of the passing assault, however who’s going to step up among the many receiving corps? Brown has appeared in just one recreation this season and didn’t have a goal towards Tennessee in Week 2, however the veteran offers probably the most skilled possibility for McKee to show to.

KEY STAT

The groups break up the season sequence in 2025, with the video games determined by a mixed seven factors. Dallas has not received in Philadelphia since a 51-26 blowout in Week 18 of the 2021 season.

McKEE TO THE RESCUE?

Despite all of the doom and gloom surrounding Hurts’ season-ending analysis of deep vein thrombosis, All-Pro proper sort out Lane Johnson’s retirement, the commerce of heart Cam Jurgens to Baltimore and working again Saquon Barkley’s hamstring harm, Philadelphia has a path to the playoffs if McKee can dwell as much as his coaches’ expectations.

“I think he’s really sharp mentally. He’s accurate. He gets the ball out of his hands quickly,” offensive coordinator Sean Mannion stated Wednesday. “I think he does all the things that you ask at the quarterback in terms of his pre-snap operation and being able to use his cadence, being able to handle things at the line of scrimmage if you need adjustments.

“So, I believe he is robust in quite a lot of these areas, and I believe it opens up some issues for us offensively.”

Before McKee’s Week 6 start against Carolina, the 2023 sixth-round draft pick’s two previous starts came against depleted Week 18 lineups in the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

He completed only 57.8% of his passes (26 of 45) against the Panthers for 215 yards with one touchdown and was sacked three times in the 25-14 home loss.

“I believe I obtained fast with my ft a few occasions in the beginning of the sport, making an attempt to get the ball out, being a bit of rushed,” McKee said Thursday. “And so I believe simply trusting my footwork, trusting my reads, getting by progressions will in the end profit me a ton.”

The anticipated return of Barkley, who missed the last two games and most of Week 4, should take pressure off McKee and boost an offense that ranks 30th at an average of 255.5 yards per game in Mannion’s first season as the play-caller. But it may have to wait another week as he’s listed as questionable after fully practicing for the first time this week on Saturday.

COWBOYS SEEK OFFENSIVE SURGE

The Cowboys are coming off back-to-back losses to Tampa Bay and Green Bay in which the offense had more combined turnovers (five) than touchdowns (four).

Quarterback Dak Prescott has thrown a total of four touchdown passes in the four games since he threw four in a Week 2 win against Washington. He has a history of success against Philadelphia, however. Prescott is 10-5 with 3,944 yards, 26 TDs and nine interceptions in his career against the Eagles.

“We know we’re higher than what we now have proven these previous couple weeks,” said wide receiver Ryan Flournoy, whose 23 catches are third on the team behind Lamb (48) and George Pickens (33). “That’s why I really feel like we’re not off course. We’re having the correct conversations, the robust conversations.”

Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer isn’t waiting around for changes to happen.

“Am I pissed off and pissed off? You’re rattling proper I’m,” Schottenheimer said Thursday. “But I’m gonna roll my sleeves up and I’m gonna go to work. And I’m gonna resolve it.”

INJURY REPORT

EAGLES: Smith (hamstring) and Wicks (ankle), linebacker Nolan Smith (concussion) and defensive back Michael Carter II (abdomen) will all miss the Dallas matchup. Tight ends Grant Calcaterra (back) and Eli Stowers (quad), guard Landon Dickerson (knee/pectoral), outside linebackers Jonathan Greenard (ankle) and Jalyx Hunt (knee/ankle) and cornerback Jakorian Bennett (knee) are all listed as questionable on the Eagles’ lengthy injury report.

COWBOYS: Dallas is getting a couple of key pieces of its defense back, with linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and cornerback Cobie Durant set to return with no status designations. Linebacker Dee Winters (calf), receiver/returner KaVontae Turpin (ribs) and offensive tackle Drew Shelton (hamstring) are all out, while outside linebacker Marist Liufau (forearm) and safety P.J. Locke (foot) are questionable.

PREDICTION

The Eagles’ offense has been decimated by injuries at quarterback and wide receiver, while the offensive line is already down multiple starters. It’s far too much to overcome as long as Dallas protects the ball better than it has in consecutive defeats entering Monday night. –Cowboys 27, Eagles 16

–Field Level Media