Eagles vs. Cowboys: The pick

Last week I asked what was more likely, me predicting correctly 2 weeks in a row, or the Giants losing three in a row.

It was a Karmic mismatch, of course. The poor Giants never had a chance after I picked them. Sorry, Eli.

This week, having been painfully reminded of how good the Eagles can be, I'm back with the home team. Despite the fact that defensive coordinator Sean McDermott all but admitted he was worried yesterday, faced with a confident Tony Romo, behind a solid offensive line, commanding weapons such as Marion Barber, Felix Jones, Miles Austin and Jason Witten. McDermott might have to start a rookie strongside linebacker, if Chris Gocong's hamstring and quad injuries keep him out. McDermott did not seem to be relishing the opportunity to unleash Moise Fokou on the unsuspecting Cowboys.

Of course, McDermott, clever fellow that he is, was probably sandbagging, hoping to lure me into picking Dallas, thus assuring an Eagles victory. Well, I saw through his little trap. No sale.

I am not a big believer in the Dallas defense, I don't care if DeMarcus Ware is the best defensive player in the league, as Brent Celek asserted yesterday. A healthy Brian Westbrook, Celek, DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, a little Shady McCoy, who knows, maybe even a hint of Michael Vick - the Birds have weapons, too, and their o-line is getting healthier and more confident.

Wait a minute, I just thought of another reason to pick Dallas - if the Eagles win, they'll be 6-2 at the midway point, in first place in the NFC East, and my midseason assessment next week will be reasonably easy and straightforward. If they lose, though, at 5-3 I'll be forced into one of those glass-half-empty equivocations that everybody just loves to read. Which outcome is more likely? Ah, geez. Better turn this in before I change my mind.

Prediction: Eagles 28, Cowboys 23.

- Les Bowen