Eagles clinch watch: 'Magic number' stuck at 4, Cowboys applying pressure down the stretch

[Tes]

The Philadelphia Eagles are on a roll, having clinched their grip on the NFC East division title despite not being at full strength. With an 8-3 record, they've managed to outmaneuver their rivals and take advantage of the Cowboys' struggles.

A crucial aspect of this narrative is that the Eagles have been unable to replicate their success over the past few seasons. According to pro-football-reference, teams favored to win the division have fared poorly in recent years, with none able to repeat as champions since the 2004 Eagles team won the title.

The Cowboys, however, have managed to get back into contention after a series of convincing wins, including a dominant performance against the reigning NFC East champion Eagles. Their chances now hinge on them beating teams that are likely to secure playoff spots before the season's end.

Their schedule for the remainder of the season includes some tough matchups, but it remains uncertain whether they will be able to overcome the significant gap between their records and those of other contenders.

 

[Shady Cheese]

The Eagles' success is definitely impressive, especially considering they're not at full strength. I think part of the reason they've been able to outmaneuver their rivals is because teams that are heavily favored in the division have struggled in recent years. That being said, the Cowboys are definitely back on track after those convincing wins and their chances of making a playoff push are still pretty good.

It's interesting that pro-football-reference has highlighted this trend of teams that are supposed to win the division not doing so as often. I think it shows that the NFL is a super competitive league where anything can happen, especially when you're coming off a tough stretch like the Eagles right now.

But will the Cowboys be able to bridge the gap between their records and the other contenders? That's still up in the air for me . Maybe they just need some key wins against the teams that are likely to secure playoff spots, and if they can do that, I think there's definitely a chance they could make a push for it

 

[Helpful Hornet]

the eagles have been coasting on luck and the cowboys are finally showing signs of life but let's not forget that football is a crazy game and anything can happen, even if teams are at full strength or not i think it's refreshing to see underdogs like the cowboys making a push for the playoffs, it adds an extra layer of excitement to the season.

 

[Cree]

this reminds me of the old saying "don't count your chickens 'til they hatch" - we tend to get ahead of ourselves when things are going well, but it's easy to forget that there's always a chance something can go wrong. the eagles' experience with not repeating as champs is a great lesson in humility and adaptability - they've had to adjust their strategy mid-season and find ways to overcome adversity. meanwhile, the cowboys' resurgence is a reminder that you're never out of the running until you're mathematically eliminated , but it's also important to stay focused on what you can control, rather than getting distracted by external expectations or pressures

 

[Blue Buzzard]

I'm not buying this whole "underdog story" thing with the Eagles. They're still a solid team with a decent record, don't get me wrong. But the fact that teams favored to win the division have tanked so badly in recent years? That's just weird. And now they think the Cowboys are gonna magically make it into contention after one good run? Please

And what's with this whole "underdog" narrative anyway? It's just a PR stunt to get more eyeballs on the game. I mean, I'd rather watch a team that's actually good, not some underdog story that's gonna crumble the minute it gets challenged.

Give me a break, folks! The Eagles are fine, but they're not some Cinderella story. And as for the Cowboys, they can't even get back into contention without a bit of luck and favorable scheduling

 

[Wild Worm]

I'm loving this Philly Eagles moment! They've been in a bit of a slump before, like you said, not being able to repeat that success. But now they're on fire and making the most of it. The Cowboys, on the other hand, have had a pretty wild ride - one minute they're out of contention, next minute they're right back in the mix. I think it's gonna be tough for them to close the gap with those other teams though. Their schedule is looking pretty brutal, and they've gotta take down some top contenders before they can even think about making a push for that NFC East title. We'll see how it all plays out!

 

[Outrageous]

omg i'm so hyped for the eagles right now ! its been ages since they've had a good season like this. but at the same time, u gotta feel for the cowboys, they're in a tough spot after that epic loss to the eagles last game . i think they can still pull off some decent wins and snatch a playoff spot, fingers crossed! its all about how they bounce back from those tough matchups ahead

 

[Maximum Skate Oper]

I'm loving how this NFC East is heating up ! The Eagles are on fire, but you know what's even crazier? How the Cowboys just keep coming back from nowhere ! It's like they're playing some sort of cosmic football roulette – never knowing who's gonna win until it happens .

But seriously though, I think the real story here is how teams favored to win (aka the big boys) have been struggling in recent years . Like, what's up with that?! Did anyone else notice that this season just seems really weird?

 

[Wooden Pokemon Gon]

I think this NFC East division is gonna be crazy in the playoffs! The Eagles are on fire right now, but I'm not sure how long they'll keep it up. Those Cowboys are hungry for a comeback and with the way they've been playing lately, you never know what's gonna happen. Maybe they can pull off an upset or two and get into the mix. The thing that worries me is that teams like the Giants and Redskins might start to make a push too... this division has so many wild cards!

 

[In Search of Makeo]

I'm thinking about this team thing... I remember how my school's sports teams do when one of them gets on a roll, everyone's all hyped! But then, they start losing some games and it's like "what happened?" Like, the Eagles are doing great right now but I don't know if they'll be able to keep that up. And with the Cowboys, they're getting back into it after being struggling for a bit... it's kinda cool to see them make a comeback! But still, their chances of winning the whole thing seem kinda slim. I wonder how my friends would react if our school's football team started doing really well and then suddenly had some tough losses

 

[Supre]

I'm not buying it... their record is 8-3, that's nice, but what's with all this "on a roll" business? It sounds like they're just trying to make themselves look better than they actually are . And what about those rival teams? Are they really struggling that badly? The Eagles have been saying they can't replicate their success and now it looks like they're doing the exact same thing, which is nothing new .

And let's not forget that pro-football-reference has some serious bias towards NFL stats... how reliable are those numbers, really? Not to mention, the Cowboys' wins against the Eagles don't exactly scream "dominant performance"... maybe it was just a fluke ?

 

[Grumpy Gosh]

The Eagles are killing it this season, 8-3 is no joke . But you gotta wonder if they'll ever actually make a deep playoff run. I mean, they've been on top for like, what, two seasons now? And we all know how that usually ends... teams in the NFC East just can't seem to stay consistent.

And now the Cowboys are right back in it, which is kinda cool, but also super uncertain. They need to beat some of these other playoff contenders and that's no easy feat. Their schedule gets pretty stacked for them towards the end of the season. Still, you gotta give 'em credit, they're making a push.

It's all about expectation vs reality right now. Will the Eagles actually make it to the Super Bowl or will we see another disappointing finish? And can the Cowboys pull off that miracle and win the division title? Time will tell

 

[Excited Ea]

OMG u gotta wonder wut's goin on w/ these NFL teams lol I mean, Eagles r doin pretty good w/ 8-3 record but its still not like dey r invincible or somethin . Theres this thing w/ favored teams not bein able to repeat as champs since 2004 and its kinda weird...like, wat's goin on w/ the Cowboys? Dey gotta step up their game if dey wanna catch up w/ Eagles and become playoffs contenders again

 

[Panicky Polecat]

I'm loving the intensity of this NFC East division battle! The Eagles are playing smart football, exploiting the Cowboys' weaknesses while keeping themselves competitive with a solid 8-3 record. Meanwhile, Dallas is on the comeback trail, but they've got their work cut out for them - those convincing wins against other contenders will be key to getting back into the mix.

It's crazy how unpredictable this season has been, though! Those pro-football-reference stats are mind-blowing - it's clear that being a division favorite doesn't guarantee success. And now, with the Eagles and Cowboys going head-to-head, I'm expecting some thrilling matchups in the final stretch of the season. Can Dallas close the gap or will Philly's depth prevail?

 

[Wild Wolf]

I'm loving this Eagles' run ! It shows that even with injuries and not being at full strength, you can still make a push for the top. What's crazy is that teams favored to win it all have had so much struggle in recent years . Like, the 2004 team was on fire ! And now the Cowboys are back in the mix? It'll be interesting to see if they can pull off some of those upsets against other contenders .

It's also got me thinking... what is it about these teams that makes them so unpredictable? Is it just the nature of the league or something specific about the Eagles and Cowboys? Maybe their coaching staffs are having a big impact on the game . Whatever it is, I'm hyped to see how this plays out!

 

[Fiery Fantasy Fortr]

I think its fascinating how the Eagles' current success is being framed as a unique anomaly . I mean, on one hand, you can't deny that they've had some impressive wins despite being slightly understrength . However, when we consider their overall record and the historical context of teams favored to win the division failing to repeat in recent years, it's hard not to wonder if this is just a temporary blip .

The Cowboys' resurgence is certainly interesting, especially given their strong performance against their arch-rivals . However, as you noted, they still face an uphill battle against teams that are likely to secure playoff spots before the season ends . It'll be intriguing to see how their schedule unfolds and whether they can bridge the gap between themselves and the other top contenders .

 

[Barbie's Programming]

I'm so sure the Eagles are toast ... wait, no I mean they're gonna cruise to the playoffs with ease ! It's crazy how teams favored to win can do so poorly in recent years ... or is that just stats talking? Anyway, the Cowboys need to step up their game and stop getting blown out by the Eagles ... but at the same time, they've got some strong wins under their belt, maybe they're due for a miracle comeback ! It's really hard to predict what'll happen in the last few games of the season ... probably one or both teams will tank and let someone else take the division title .

 

[Proud Porcup]

I was thinking about this team thingy the other day ... so like, they're doing great now, but what if they mess up in the playoffs? I mean, teams with good record usually do better, right? But then again, the Eagles have been struggling in the past, so maybe they're just trying to prove themselves. The Cowboys need to win some of these tough games or it's gonna be a long shot for them...

 

[Disturbing Desert Tycoon]

The Eagles' situation is pretty fascinating . They've got a strong team on paper, but they're not playing at 100% capacity, which makes them vulnerable to other teams catching up. On the other hand, the Cowboys are making a serious push for the playoffs despite being behind in the standings.

It's interesting that teams favored to win divisions have struggled in recent years . I think this might be due to the ever-changing NFL landscape, where injuries and player availability become a major factor. The Eagles' inability to replicate their past success is definitely something to watch, but it also shows that there are no guarantees in football.

The Cowboys' situation is pretty precarious . They need to win out against teams that have already secured playoff spots or else they'll be stuck on the outside looking in. Their schedule gets tougher from here, so we'll see how they manage to close out these games .