Week 3 of the 2021 NFL regular season will be punctuated by an exciting matchup between bitter NFC East rivals, Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. The two are tied atop the division standings with identical 1-1 records, so on the line Monday night in this game is an early solo lead for the NFC East’s No. 1 spot.
The line has ticked down since its opening in favor of Dallas (1-1 SU; 2-0 ATS) as 3.5-point favorites over Philadelphia (1-1 SU; 1-1 ATS) to a line now only reflecting a full field goal demand.
All bettors need to be cognizant that Dallas has dominated their NFC East rival over the last five years. In fact, since 2016, Dallas has been 4-1 SU and ATS against Philadelphia, playing at AT&T Stadium.
The Eagles played a good game against San Francisco last week and even with the gimme touchdown they got from the Forty-Niners, they only generated 11 total points. Dallas has options on offense that this Eagles team has not yet seen this season.
Dak Prescott will make his first start at home since a gruesome leg injury that ended his season in Week 5 last year. He’s hoping Dallas builds on an impressive win in LA over the Chargers. Prescott didn’t put up 400+ yards passing like he did in Week 1 against the Bucs, but he was solid. The most encouraging news was the rediscovery of the run game. Zeke Elliott and Tony Pollard combined to rush for 180 yards and a pair of scores. Having that balance can only help take pressure off Prescott, considering receiver Amari Cooper will be playing with broken ribs, while Michael Gallup is already on IR with a calf injury.
The NFC East is an unpredictable division. All preconceived notions have been known to go out of the window, and nothing is ever as it seems. So, don’t be surprised if this game delivers a few surprises or if it goes against the grain.
Underscoring Dallas’ odds is home-field advantage and momentum. However, the Eagles are notorious dangerous floaters with a tradition of embracing the underdog status to great effect. As a result, Mike McCarthy’s Cowboys can’t take anything for granted in this pivotal divisional showdown.
Prediction: Dallas Cowboys -3.5