Monday Night Football closes Week 7 with Dallas visiting Philadelphia in a meeting between two struggling NFC East rivals. Both teams are 2-4, but the Eagles have the bigger problem: Jalen Hurts is out for the season and Tanner McKee will make his second consecutive start.
Dallas has lost two straight, yet the Cowboys have moved from 1.5-point underdogs on the early look-ahead line to around 4.5-point favourites. That is a sizeable adjustment. I lean towards Philadelphia with the points, but the stronger betting angle is the total.
Check out our Cowboys vs Eagles preview and NFL tips below!
NFL Week 7 · Monday Night Football
Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles
Lincoln Financial Field · Philadelphia · Monday 26 October (US time)
| Best Bet |
Odds |
Bookmaker |
| Under 44.5 total points |
$1.88 (1.5 units) |
Dabble |
| George Pickens 70+ receiving yards |
$2.05 (1 unit) |
Neds |
| Makai Lemon over 42.5 receiving yards |
$1.86 (1.25 units) |
Dabble |
| Darius Cooper anytime touchdown |
$6.00 (0.25 units) |
Dabble |
Cowboys vs Eagles: Recent Form
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles lost 25-14 at home to Carolina last week, their fourth consecutive defeat. McKee completed 26 of 45 passes for 215 yards and a touchdown, but Philadelphia managed only 222 total yards, including 35 on the ground. DeVonta Smith provided a rare bright spot with seven catches for 75 yards and a touchdown.
The offensive line remains depleted following Lane Johnson’s retirement and Cam Jurgens’ departure, leaving McKee with little margin for error. Philadelphia ranks near the bottom of the league in both total offence and rushing production. Saquon Barkley, listed as questionable but reportedly expected to play after missing two games with a hamstring injury, could be crucial against a Dallas defence allowing nearly 150 rushing yards per game. A productive running game would also make play-action more credible and take some pressure off McKee.
Dallas Cowboys
Dallas followed its loss to Tampa Bay with a 23-13 defeat at Green Bay. Dak Prescott attempted 54 passes for 258 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. CeeDee Lamb had nine catches for 70 yards, while George Pickens added 73 yards on 11 targets.
The Cowboys still have the stronger collection of offensive weapons, but they have scored just 29 points across their past two games. The imbalance against Green Bay was striking: Prescott threw 54 passes while Javonte Williams managed only 41 yards on 11 carries. Dallas would surely prefer a more controlled approach this week. Against a Philadelphia offence struggling to sustain drives, they may not need to take many risks to win.
Betting Analysis
Spread: Eagles +4.5 (Lean only)
The market has swung approximately six points from Philadelphia -1.5 to Dallas -4.5. Hurts deserves a significant adjustment, but that is a steep downgrade for a divisional home underdog, particularly if Barkley returns. These rivals split their two meetings last season, with neither game decided by more than four points. History alone is not a reason to back Philadelphia, but it reinforces the appeal of taking more than a field goal in a potentially low-scoring matchup.
The Eagles’ clearest path is to lean on Barkley, use play-action and ask McKee to make quick, manageable throws rather than carry the offence. The concern is whether their battered line can execute that plan. After the Carolina performance, there is too much uncertainty to make the Eagles an official bet. At +4.5, it is a lean rather than a recommendation.
Total Points: Under 44.5
The total has fallen from around 48.5 to 44.5, so the best of the number is gone. Even so, the under remains my preferred play. Philadelphia produced only 222 yards and 14 points against Carolina, with McKee unable to create much downfield. Hurts’ absence also removes an important rushing and red-zone threat, making long, sustained drives more important if the Eagles are going to score.
Barkley’s potential return could improve the Eagles’ efficiency, but a run-heavy approach would also help shorten the game and limit possessions. Dallas, meanwhile, has gone under in consecutive matches and has little incentive to force a shootout if it gets ahead. There is a risk that the Cowboys’ struggling run defence gives up some easy scores, which is why the four-point drop in the total matters. At 44.5 there is less margin for error, so this is a 1.5-unit play rather than a maximum-confidence selection.
Our Best Bet
Under 44.5 Total Points
$1.88 (1.5 units)
Player Props
George Pickens — 70+ Receiving Yards
Pickens has cleared 70 yards in four straight games, posting 82, 75, 130 and 73 yards. He has drawn 38 targets across that stretch, an average of 9.5 per game, including 11 against Green Bay. Dallas continue to involve both Pickens and CeeDee Lamb heavily, and Pickens does not need a touchdown to reward us here. That workload makes the 70-yard milestone attractive even if the Cowboys score only in the low 20s. The $2.05 price is part of the appeal.
Player Prop
George Pickens 70+ Receiving Yards
$2.05 (1 unit)
Makai Lemon — Over 42.5 Receiving Yards
Lemon managed only 19 yards last week, but his playing time and route participation remained encouraging: he ran a route on almost 90% of Philadelphia’s passing plays. He has also drawn at least six targets in each of his past three games. Dallas has struggled to contain slot receivers, making this a better matchup than last week’s box score suggests. DeVonta Smith’s availability is the complication. If Smith sits, Lemon may see more opportunity, but the market could move before kickoff.
Player Prop
Makai Lemon Over 42.5 Receiving Yards
$1.86 (1.25 units)
Darius Cooper — Anytime Touchdown
This is a speculative, small-stake selection rather than a core bet. Cooper has four touchdowns from only 15 targets this season, a conversion rate unlikely to last. However, three of those scores came across the two games Smith missed, including a two-touchdown outing against the Rams. If Smith is absent or limited, Cooper could again be involved near the goal line. At $6.00 we only need one scoring opportunity to make the price interesting, but the low target volume keeps the stake at 0.25 units.
Small Play
Darius Cooper Anytime Touchdown
$6.00 (0.25 units)
Cowboys vs Eagles Prediction
Dallas deserves favouritism, but laying 4.5 points on the road is a bigger ask than the matchup first suggests. The Cowboys have more weapons and the healthier quarterback situation, while Philadelphia should still be competitive if it can establish the run and avoid obvious passing downs. I expect the Eagles to simplify the offence for McKee, especially if Barkley plays, while Dallas prioritises ending its losing streak over piling on points. That points towards a tight, fairly ugly divisional game rather than a shootout.
Prediction: Dallas Cowboys 21, Philadelphia Eagles 17
Odds are indicative and subject to change. 18+ Gamble Responsibly.
