PHILADELPHIA − For all of the talk about the rivalry between the Eagles and Cowboys, the two teams have rarely played each other with so much at stake this early in the season.
Going back 20 seasons, it’s only the second time that both teams have had one loss or fewer through the first five weeks of the season. That came in 2014 when both teams were 4-1.
This time, the Eagles are 5-0 and the Cowboys are 4-1. In all, the NFC East has a 14-6 record (the Giants are also 4-1, while Washington is 1-4). It’s the best record for the division as a whole through five games in those 20 years.
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The Eagles aren’t looking at it that way. After the Eagles beat the Arizona Cardinals 20-17 on Sunday, quarterback Jalen Hurts said he didn’t want to hear about being 5-0.
As Eagles coach Nick Sirianni noted, “This isn’t Jalen’s first rodeo being 5-0.”
In fact, Hurts was 5-0 in each of his four college seasons − three at Alabama and one at Oklahoma. That applies to other Eagles like DeVonta Smith, who was Hurts’ teammate at Alabama, among others.
“He understands the next game is the most important one,” Sirianni said. “That’s exactly what we preach as coaches … ‘Hey, does 5-0 feel good? Yeah? You want 6-0 to happen? Then you better do everything to ramp up for it.'”
The Eagles, of course, have several players who haven’t been a part of the Eagles-Cowboys rivalry. That includes wide receiver A.J. Brown, who spent his first three NFL seasons with the Tennessee Titans.
But Brown has picked up on it quickly.
“It’s definitely serious,” he said. “The fans, definitely, they’re passionate fans who don’t like the Cowboys … I’m learning.”
Brown’s concern is with Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs, who led the NFL with 11 interceptions last season. And the Eagles’ offensive line will be concerned with linebacker Micah Parsons, tied for the NFL lead with 6 sacks. The Cowboys are second in the NFL with 20 sacks.
Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said he’s preparing quarterback Cooper Rush to start a fifth straight game in place of Dak Prescott, who had surgery on his thumb. Rush has won all four of his previous starts, mostly behind a running game led by Ezekiel Elliott (305 yards) and Tony Pollard (238).
“We’ve just got to play some big boy ball this week,” Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham said.
McCarthy is worried about an Eagles offense, led by Hurts, that ranks second in the NFL averaging 419 yards per game, and an Eagles defense that leads the NFL with 11 takeaways.
But McCarthy has something else on his mind regarding the Eagles and their fans.
“Looking forward to the bus ride into the stadium, that’s always unique,” he said with a laugh, and mentioning their familiarity with the one-finger salute. “They love their team, and they don’t like the opponent.”
That part, no doubt, will never change.
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.
