The Philadelphia Eagles finally woke up in the second half of their 31-9 win over the Green Bay Packers on Monday night, but fans who nodded off while watching the ahem, 'drama', unfold, might have missed a key fourth quarter development.
Already missing star running back Brian Westbrook (knee) as well as cornerbacks Lito Sheppard (ankle) and Roderick Hood (heel) from the lineup, the Eagles lost both their starting receivers late in Monday night's game.
Reggie Brown suffered a shoulder injury early in the fourth quarter when he collided with Packers cornerback Ahmad Carroll after making a key 23-yard reception. Brown left the field for x-rays and returned to the bench after being diagnosed with a sprained shoulder.
And big-play wideout Donté Stallworth suffered a setback in his battle to return from a hamstring injury, and also left the game in the fourth quarter. Stallworth had missed Philadelphia's Week 3 win over San Francisco with the hamstring injury.
The injuries to both Brown and Stallworth will be fully evaluated on Tuesday, and expect the Dallas Cowboys to be watching closely for news out of Philly on those two pass-catchers in particular.
The injuries to both Brown and Stallworth will be fully evaluated on Tuesday, and expect the Dallas Cowboys to be watching closely for news out of Philly on those two pass-catchers in particular.
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Terrell amakes his return to Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday as the Cowboys (2-1, 2-1 ATS) will battle the Eagles (3-1, 3-1 ATS) for early-season NFC East supremacy. And while McNabb might be missing his favored targets if none of Westbrook, Stallworth or Brown are declared fit to play, receiver Greg Lewis showed against the Packers that he can be counted upon to make some big catches. Lewis pulled in touchdown receptions of 45 and 30 yards in the third quarter to light a fire under the lethargic Eagles' offense and provide the winning margin.
The Cowboys will provide a much stiffer challenge for McNabb and the Eagles however. Dallas rolled into Philadelphia last November as 3-point road dogs and won outright 21-20. Prior to that result, the Eagles had won four straight head-to-head battles against Dallas in Philadelphia, including three covers as the home chalk going back to September 2001.
After surprising some observers with a decent performance (five catches for 88 yards) on Sunday in the Cowboys’ romp over Tennessee, the always-controversial Owens can be expected to take center stage as he makes his return to Philadelphia in what promises to be a media circus. Owens played four games against the Eagles when he was with San Francisco, and racked up 21 receptions in those four games for 300 yards and three touchdowns.
And after Owens’ well-documented criticism of McNabb and the Eagles last season which led to his suspension and ultimate departure from Philadelphia, McNabb will be licking his chops to stick it to T.O. and the rest of the Cowboys. As much as he’d like to manage that feat single-handedly, McNabb will need some help from the likes of Westbrook, Stallworth and Brown.
Watch the developments carefully out of both camps this week before placing your wagers.
