{"id":477198,"date":"2026-10-26T15:00:12","date_gmt":"2026-10-26T15:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/477198\/"},"modified":"2026-10-26T15:00:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T15:00:12","slug":"5-dallas-cowboys-facing-make-or-break-game-in-week-7-vs-eagles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/477198\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Dallas Cowboys Facing Make-or-Break Game in Week 7 vs. Eagles"},"content":{"rendered":"<p id=\"inline-text-0\" class=\"mt-[18px] md:mt-0 mb-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"9u\">The Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles will both be looking to end their respective losing streaks <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nfl\/cowboys\/onsi\/dallas-cowboys-philadelphia-eagles-nfl-week-7-betting-odds-preview\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">when they square off<\/a> on Monday night at Lincoln Financial Field.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-1\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"9z\">The Cowboys and Eagles both sit at 2-4 and are looking up at the New York Giants in the NFC East. Dallas is a loser of two straight, while the Eagles haven&#8217;t won a game since September after dropping each of their last four.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-2\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"a4\">While the Cowboys are under immense pressure as a team to win this game against a banged-up Eagles squad, there are three players and two coaches who are specifically under the most pressure for the Cowboys.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-3\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"a9\">Here&#8217;s who makes up that group.<\/p>\n<p>Jake Ferguson<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/01m5w52mf9623xbmrjh1.jpg\" alt=\"Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson.\" title=\"Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson.\" width=\"360\" height=\"360\" class=\"undefined w-full w-full blur-[5px]\" q:id=\"aq\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson (87) runs the ball against the Green Bay Packers during the second half at Lambeau Field.  Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-6\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"aw\">One of the biggest changes the Cowboys made in Week 6 was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nfl\/cowboys\/onsi\/cowboys-week-6-stock-report-joey-porter-jr-caleb-downs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">starting Brevyn Spann-Ford<\/a> over Ferguson, and the former outproduced the latter in the passing game, also.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-7\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"b1\">Ferguson, who is in the dog house for a fumble, drops and poor blocking, did out-snap Spann-Ford, but he also played a season-low percentage of snaps.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-8\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"b6\">If Ferguson doesn&#8217;t snap out of his woes this season, he could continue to see a diminished role. The process of digging out of the hole he&#8217;s in starts on Monday night.<\/p>\n<p>Donovan Ezeiruaku<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/01m5w51veacspt4nff89.jpg\" alt=\"Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker Donovan Ezeiruaku.\" title=\"Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker Donovan Ezeiruaku.\" width=\"360\" height=\"360\" class=\"undefined w-full w-full blur-[5px]\" q:id=\"bn\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker Donovan Ezeiruaku (6) during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-11\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"bt\">Like Ferguson, Ezeiruaku also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nfl\/cowboys\/onsi\/biggest-takeaways-cowboys-debacle-packers-week-6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">lost his starting role<\/a>, with rookie Malachi Lawrence getting the nod over him in Week 6.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-12\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"by\">Ezeiruaku responded by doing almost nothing. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/nfl\/games\/2026\/6\/dallas-cowboys\/defense\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Pro Football Focus<\/a>, he had one pressure and one tackle.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-13\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"c3\">With the trade deadline looming and the Cowboys looking like a good bet to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nfl\/cowboys\/onsi\/nfl-insiders-link-cowboys-to-super-bowl-edge-at-trade-deadline\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">make a move for an edge rusher<\/a> given the lackluster production from the room as a whole, Ezeiruaku better get his act together or else he could be an afterthought if Dallas does indeed acquire the edge rusher everyone expects them to.<\/p>\n<p>DaRon Bland<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/01m5w5142rm8yarpwzbj.jpg\" alt=\"Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland.\" title=\"Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland.\" width=\"360\" height=\"360\" class=\"undefined w-full w-full blur-[5px]\" q:id=\"ck\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland (26) breaks up a pass intended for Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden (0) during the second half at Lambeau Field.  Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-16\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"cq\">Every week is a make-or-break week for the struggling veteran cornerback, but that&#8217;s especially true this week.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-17\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"cv\">The long-awaited return of Cobie Durant, who was the team&#8217;s best cornerback during the offseason, will happen this week after he was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nfl\/cowboys\/onsi\/cowboys-eagles-final-injury-report-great-news-george-pickens-demarvion-overshown\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">removed from the injury report<\/a> on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-18\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"d0\">With Joey Porter Jr. also likely to be a full go after having his snaps limited over his first two games, space for Bland to see the field is running out. If he continues to be a liability again on Monday and Durant shines, that could be all she wrote for Bland&#8217;s starting job.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-19\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"d5\">To be clear, we believe Bland should already be on the outside looking in when it comes to playing time, but the Cowboys have shown zero indication they are on the same page.<\/p>\n<p>Christian Parker<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/01m5w507h6pnrdjpc40p.jpg\" alt=\"Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker.\" title=\"Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker.\" width=\"360\" height=\"360\" class=\"undefined w-full w-full blur-[5px]\" q:id=\"dm\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker at training camp at River Ridge Playing Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-22\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"ds\">Everything sets up for the Cowboys&#8217; defense to bounce back in Week 6, and that&#8217;s exactly the kind of showing Parker needs.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-23\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"dx\">The Eagles <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nfl\/cowboys\/onsi\/cowboys-struggling-secondary-catches-break-with-eagles-injury-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">won&#8217;t have Jalen Hurts, DeVonta Smith<\/a> or Dontayvion Wicks and instead will be depending on Tanner McKee, Marquise Brown, Darius Cooper and rookie Makai Lemon to lead their passing attack.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-24\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"e2\">It goes without saying that the Cowboys should be able to shut that trio down, but we know better than to expect anything from Parker and Co. That said, if the Eagles&#8217; offense so much as gives the Cowboys&#8217; defense a run for its money on Monday night, the calls for Parker&#8217;s job will only grow louder.<\/p>\n<p>Brian Schottenheimer<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/01m5w4y2qpv6rfdq2ppz.jpg\" alt=\"Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer.\" title=\"Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer.\" width=\"360\" height=\"360\" class=\"undefined w-full w-full blur-[5px]\" q:id=\"ej\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-27\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"ep\">Not only have the Cowboys been extremely disappointing as a whole, their offense, which was supposed to be a strength, has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nfl\/cowboys\/onsi\/ryan-flournoy-reveals-plan-reignite-dallas-cowboys-struggling-offense\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">struggled badly the last few games<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-28\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"eu\">There have been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nfl\/cowboys\/onsi\/cowboys-legend-assessment-dallas-defense-culture-problem\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">questions about effort in Dallas<\/a>, and that points to a bad culture, which falls on the shoulders of Schottenheimer.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-29\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"ez\">Calls for his firing have grown louder and louder as the Cowboys have sunk deeper and deeper into the depths of despair. Another putrid outing and a loss to a depleted Eagles team might just be enough to get Schottenheimer canned.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-30\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"f4\">Teams don&#8217;t like to call games must-win, but this one feels like that for Schottenheimer.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-31\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"f9\">\u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nfl\/cowboys\/newsletter\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Sign up for the Cowboys Daily Digest newsletter<\/a> for more free coverage from<a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nfl\/cowboys\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> Dallas Cowboys on SI<\/a> \u2014<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.minutemediacdn.com\/platform\/google_discover_icon.svg\" class=\"shrink-0\"\/>Add us as a preferred source on Google<a aria-label=\"Follow si.com on Google News\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=si.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" preventdefault:click=\"\" class=\"flex h-[30px] w-[30px] shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-full bg-primary font-group-large text-sm font-medium text-white transition-colors hover:bg-secondary focus:bg-secondary md:w-auto md:gap-2.5 md:px-4 md:py-[5px]\" on:click=\"q-yMiJ8o4X.js#s_lDqay9E5m5g[0]\" q:id=\"ff\">Follow<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles will both be looking to end their respective losing streaks when they&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":477199,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[102,104,103],"class_list":["post-477198","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-dallas","tag-dallas","tag-dallas-headlines","tag-dallas-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/477198","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=477198"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/477198\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/477199"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=477198"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=477198"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=477198"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}