Les Bowen: Eagles prepare for well-rounded Cowboys offense

The Eagles' defense is ranked 10th in the NFL, but the team is tied with New Orleans for first in takeaways, with 21. In fact, the biggest statistical edge the Birds enjoy over the Cowboys is turnover margin - they are plus-12 and Dallas is minus-1. That's one reason the Eagles are scoring more points per game (29 vs. 28.1) while gaining fewer yards (344.4 vs. 411.1) than the Cowboys.

Turnovers fueled the Eagles' rout in that regular-season finale, in which departed safety Brian Dawkins forced two fumbles that were returned for touchdowns. Dallas lost four fumbles and an interception that day, along with a playoff berth.

"That's the No. 1 thing we want to do - help out the offense and put them in a position to score,'' McDermott said. "The difference this year, primarily, I believe, has been, you're looking at corners that are planting and driving on the football, and attacking the football. That goes across the board to the linebacker position, the safety position, and so on and so forth. It has to start with corners who can cover, which we have, and then it goes right back to our core, which is playing aggressive, nasty football.''

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