Monday Night Football: Cowboys vs. Eagles Picks and Preview

Matchup Preview

Both teams walk into Lincoln Financial Field at 2-4. The winner climbs to 3-4 and second place in the NFC East, behind the 4-2-1 Giants. Kickoff is 8:15 PM ET on ESPN/ABC under clear skies, about 60°F with light winds, so weather isn't a factor.

Philadelphia has lost four straight after a 2-0 start, its first four-game skid since 2020. Jalen Hurts is on IR with blood clots, so Tanner McKee makes his second straight start. He'll do it without DeVonta Smith or Dontayvion Wicks, who are both out.

Last week against Carolina, McKee went 26 of 45 for 215 yards and 4.77 yards per attempt in a 25-14 loss. Lane Johnson retired a few games into the season, and the offensive line has been substandard since. Pass rusher Nolan Smith and slot corner Michael Carter II are also out.

Dallas has its own problems. The Cowboys have lost three of four, and their defense ranks last in rushing yards allowed with a league-low 3 takeaways. Still, the offense ranks top 10 in EPA per play, and CB Joey Porter Jr. is back after a full practice.

The Eagles' best path is Saquon Barkley against that run defense. The Cowboys' best path is CeeDee Lamb against a pass defense that ranks 25th in EPA per pass. We expect both to show up, and Dallas has the healthier roster and better quarterback to cover.

The Picks

Pick 1: Saquon Barkley Over 62.5 Rushing Yards (-115) at Bovada. Dallas ranks last in the NFL in rushing yards allowed, and Barkley is trending toward playing after a full practice Saturday. With McKee under center and Smith and Wicks out, Philadelphia has to lean on the run. He's still listed as questionable and hasn't played since Week 4, so make sure you confirm he's active in warmups before you bet.

Pick 2: CeeDee Lamb Over 79.5 Receiving Yards (-115) at BetOnline. Philadelphia ranks 25th in EPA per pass, and Michael Carter II is out of a short-handed secondary. Lamb sees 8 or more targets in nearly every game, so the volume is on your side. BetOnline's 79.5 is the lowest number out there, compared with 82.5 at Bovada and 80.5 at Lucky Rebel.

Pick 3: Cowboys -4 (-110) at BetOnline. Be sure to take -4 here over the -4.5 at Everygame and VoltageBet, since a 4-point Dallas win becomes a push instead of a loss. Philadelphia has lost four straight, is 1-5 ATS, and McKee needed 45 attempts to throw for 215 yards against Carolina. Dallas is 1-6 ATS in its last seven as a favorite, but it's healthier and faces a backup QB missing two starting receivers.

Best Bet

Our best bet is Saquon Barkley Over 62.5 rushing yards at Bovada, because the league's worst run defense faces an offense that has to run.