Coverages, edge play, key battles for Cowboys in Wk 12 against Eagles

The Dallas Cowboys face off against the Philadelphia Eagles for their second and final regular season showdown of the 2025 season. The conference leading Eagles claimed victory in the first matchup, winning a tightly fought affair that saw Dallas commit more than a few key mistakes down the stretch.

In this second showdown things look much different than they did in Week 1. The 8-2 Eagles are in firm control of the division and of a playoff spot. As The Athletic's Scoop City pointed out this week, Philadelphia could lose all five of their next games and still have a 93 percent chance of making the postseason this year.

The 4-5-1 Cowboys are in a position that’s polar opposite of the Eagles. Dallas is essentially in a permanent do-or-die status as they are still two wins away from even achieving a winning record, let alone a playoff spot.

Despite being on different sides of the spectrum, this game is shaping up to be a solid matchup. The Cowboys have ramped up in personnel and are finally playing like a contender while the Eagles have been oddly dysfunctional all year in a way that’s not reflected in the win-loss ledger. If the Cowboys can win in a couple key battles, they should be able to win the war of Week 12

Split those safeties

Schematically the Cowboys played things right when both teams faced off in Week 1. Matt Eberflus loves to play split safety zone coverage, and it worked out well brilliantly in the last meeting. For as poorly as the individuals played in coverage, the scheme bottled A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith up to the combined tune of 24 yards.

A prominent criticism of Jalen Hurts this week has been his refusal to sling the ball into the middle of the field (MOF). With a MOF EPA of 0.65/play, the Eagles rank No. 1 in EPA in those profitable targets down the middle. The only problem is Hurts never throws them, currently ranking 31st in MOF targets downfield.

MOF shots can be risky, and they require the quarterback to read different layers of coverage coming from different directions – something Hurts doesn’t like to do - so he typically avoids it, preferring instead to target outside routes like basic gos and hitches. It's the outside which Dallas must defend, daring Hurts to get out of his comfort zone.

Protect the edge

Eagles are top 10 in both outside rushing frequency and in outside rushing EPA, meaning they bounce it outside frequently, and when they do, they usually win. The Cowboys, on the other hand, are ranked 31 against outside run defense. According to Sumer Sports tracking, Dallas’ 0.19 EPA allowed on outside runs ranks second worst in the NFL.

It’s safe to say most of the defensive rushing stats can be thrown out the window with the addition of Quinnen Williams, Logan Wilson and DeMarvion Overshown, so Dallas probably isn’t as bad at defending outside runs today as much as they were yesterday. Even still, the Cowboys edge personnel is largely the same so attention to this matter is heavily recommended.

Win in the red zone

The Eagles offense is an ultra-conservative system that prioritizes ball security. Whether that’s the doing of their maligned gun-shy QB or a planned identity, doesn’t really matter. What matters is the Eagles have no qualms with punting on possessions, provided they can make the most of the opportunities in the red zone. Philadelphia leads the NFL in red zone efficiency this season, punching in 75 percent of their visits for touchdowns. In many ways it makes up for them leading the NFL in three-and-out percentage.

The Cowboys are tasked with keeping those three-and-out numbers high, while also taking a chunk out of those converted red zone trips. It’s here in the red zone the Cowboys defense must be particularly focused on stopping QB scrambles and plays designed for run after the catch. Screens, pick plays and other high percentage passes that lean on WR athleticism are this offense’s MO in the red zone. That, and of course, the controversial “tush push.”

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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Red zone play among battles the Cowboys in Week 12 against the Eagles