On Pattison Picks: Can Eagles Avoid First Losing Streak Without Jalen Hurts?

The Eagles have a chance to go the entire 2024 regular season without having a losing streak if they defeat the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. 

However, they'll need to bounce back from their first loss since late September without quarterback Jalen Hurts, who will miss the team's Week 17 tilt after sustaining a concussion last Sunday. 

The Cowboys have been decimated by injuries, but to their credit have continued to play very hard for coach Mike McCarthy, who is trying to save his job. While their 7-8 record is unimpressive, the Cowboys have won four of their last five games. They are eliminated from postseason contention, but would probably love nothing more than to stick a fork in the chances of the Eagles winning the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs. 

Can the Eagles rebound from a loss to edge out the feisty Cowboys? Here's what our On Pattison staffers predict. 

Tim Kelly

Score: Eagles 17, Cowboys 14

Game MVP: Zack Baun

As cool of a story as it would be for Kenny Pickett to become a beloved Eagles player given that he grew up for the team, I just don't think he's very good. He was a first-round pick in a historically-bad quarterback class, and the Pittsburgh Steelers moved on after just two years. Once Jalen Hurts came out of the game last Sunday, there was a pretty dramatic dropoff in quarterback play. 

With that said, the Eagles are significantly more talented than the current iteration of the Cowboys. CeeDee Lamb being done for the season is a particularly significant blow considering how thin the Cowboys are on skill-position talent after him. 

Cooper Rush might be better than Pickett, and Micah Parsons is playing at an extremely high level. So I think this game will be close, but the Eagles will wind up winning. 

Anthony SanFilippo

Score: Eagles 26, Cowboys 13

Game MVP: Kenny Pickett

Look, let’s be honest. I’ve been terrible at this all season. The Eagles have exceeded my expectations, but I picked them to win all three times they’ve lost.

So, I have no feel for this squad on a week-to-week basis. It feels like I’m just throwing a dart while blindfolded after doing the Hokey Pokey. So, does it matter what my analysis really is? All I know is that when the schedule came out in April, no one had Kenny Pickett vs. Cooper Rush in this game with the division on the line for the Birds with Dallas playing out the string. But you’d rather be the Eagles than the Cowboys right now (any time, really) because Dallas, as the locals like to say, sucks. So, why not pick Pickett as the unlikely hero of the latest chapter in this storied rivalry? Hell, he can channel his inner Jeff Garcia after a 300-yard passing day with three touchdowns and look into the camera and say, “Happy Holidays, Philadelphia.” He’ll become beloved. Like backup quarterbacks are wont to do in this city. To steal a line from that seminal sports film classic Angels in the Outfield, “It could happen.”

Eric Dickerson Says ‘Absolutely Not’ When Asked if He Wants Saquon Barkley To Break Rushing Recordhttps://t.co/pAHxcvcNAP

— On Pattison (@OnPattison) December 27, 2024

John Foley

Score: Eagles 24, Cowboys 17

Game MVP: Saquon Barkley

It’s never easy to win an NFL game without your starting quarterback. But this Birds team is better equipped to lean on its run game and defense than any Eagles squad in recent memory.

And it’s not like Joe Montana is on the other sideline. Cooper Rush has played well enough for Dallas, but there’s nothing to fear here.

With a full week of practice alongside the starters and a gameplan that will (hopefully) play to his strengths, expect Kenny Pickett to do just enough to secure the win.

Austin Krell 

Score: Eagles 17, Cowboys 10

Game MVP: Saquon Barkley

QB1 out? Double down on RB1. If the Cowboys weren’t completely decimated by injuries, this would be a different story. But, such is life.