FRISCO, Texas — Meaningless. That's what some would have you believe this fight between the ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵÏÂÔØÈë¿Ú and Philadelphia Eagles is entering Week 17 but, pay them no mind, because anyone who believes that is either hungover from too much egg nog or they never understood how football and competitive sports work in the first place.
When these two teams line up on Sunday, the Eagles will need a win against the Cowboys in their chase for the No. 1 seed, and the Cowboys crave the ability to lay claim to being the team that kept them from getting it — avoiding a season sweep in the process.
The gauntlet was dropped last week with Micah Parsons' comments, and Grinch season is alive and well for the suddenly villainous Cowboys this holiday season.
So keep both eyes on the following players in white and blue as they lead the charge in what is still a meaningful game … for both sides.
Micah Parsons, LB
He had some … colorful … words to describe his level of hate for the Eagles and their fans, speaking on the rivalry a few days ago, and the blowback from Philly is only going to fuel Parsons that much more as he heads back home to Eastern Pennsylvania this weekend. It is no secret he also wants to play spoiler to their hopes of securing the No. 1 seed, all while aiming for his fourth consecutive double-digit sack season, being just one half-sack away from getting it.
Parsons will then become only the fifth player in NFL history to have achieved that feat, joining the likes of Reggie White and Dwight Freeney in that conversation, and having notched his 50th career sack to add to that rarefied air, the All-Pro said he's only halfway to his goal of 100 sacks and wants more more more. Enter an Eagles team he absolutely loathes.
Jake Ferguson, TE
Jason Witten, ever heard of him? Well, only Ferguson has proven worthy as a successor in the years that have followed the retirement of The Great One. It's been a down season for the Pro Bowler, agreed, but not due to lack of skill or effort — instead due to a quarterback change due to injury and his own round of injuries that have required him to battle in ways he hasn't had to prior to 2024 (i.e., MCL and concussion).
Still, if Ferguson can take the Eagles' defense to the woodshed on Sunday, or even to the back porch, and gain at least 36 receiving yards, he'll join Witten as the only other tight end in Cowboys' history with 50-plus receptions and 500-plus receiving yards in their first three NFL seasons, and that is kind of a big deal.
Rico Dowdle, RB
Another big deal could be the one Dowdle is working on potentially landing in 2025, but put a pin in that because he's still working at the moment. It won't be easy against the Eagles' vaunted defensive front, but if Dowdle can run for at least 97 yards on the ground in Philly, he'll do something that has literally never, ever been done in the history of the legendary Cowboys' franchise.
He'll become the first undrafted player to ever rush for 1,000 yards in a Cowboys' uniform, made even sweeter by the fact it was Dallas that grabbed him as an undrafted player in the first place. It would be an inspiring achievement when not only considering his path to this point, but also seeing as that path included a RB-by-committee approach for the majority of this season. Will Dowdle do the once unthinkable when he lands in Philly? Glue your eyes to him and find out.
Chauncey Golston, DE
Let's turn the page to one of the more unheralded players on this roster, for there are many, but what Golston has been for Mike Zimmer in the face of injury at the defensive end position is nothing short of eye-popping. His motor is unforgiving and he's truly come into his own as he orchestrates what, for him, amounts to a breakout season. He's already notched a career-best four sacks and one in back-to-back games when he took down Baker Mayfield.
If Golston can take down Jalen Hurts/Kenny Pickett for a sack on Sunday, he will become the first Cowboy this season to get at least one sack in three consecutive games. That is, of course, unless Parsons gets one first against the Eagles.
Some friendly competition never hurt anyone, now has it? Well, maybe the opposing team.
Hi, Philly.
