Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles: Who's Really 'Got The Monkey on Their Back'?

Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles: Who's Really 'Got The Monkey on Their Back'?

FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys are tied for the second-best record in the NFL with a few teams at 9-3, but in some cases aren't getting their due respect. In the AFC, the Dolphins and Ravens each share a 9-3 record with Dallas - but lead their respective divisions. ... and are lauded for it.

Here in the NFC, the 49ers and Lions are both 9-3 and lead their respective divisions. And good for them. But the Philadelphia Eagles stand at 10-2 and are a game ahead of Dallas for the East lead.

And so ... All five of those teams seem to garner more respect than the Cowboys. Why? Skeptics point to the fact that Dallas has beaten mostly mediocre teams to get to nine wins. 

Dak Prescott (4) / USA Today

And yet ... The Cowboys just beat the Seattle Seahawks, who were 6-5 at the time and are in the hunt for a playoff spot.

But the next four games are against teams that are a combined 34-14, with three of them (Philly, Miami and Detroit) leading their divisions. The other game is against a talented 6-6 Buffalo team that is fighting for its playoff life in the AFC. 

Dallas ends the season with on the road against a reeling Washington team that at 4-8, is currently in last place in the East.

With a win on Sunday, the Cowboys will move into a tie for the lead in the division and will have logged a statement win against a really good team, thus removing the proverbial monkeys from their backs.

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It's also an opportunity for quarterback Dak Prescott to showcase himself and the so-called "Texas Coast Offense'' against a fellow MVP candidate in Eagles signal caller Jalen Hurts. 

But that brings up another "proverbial monkey'': How these teams fare when they play at AT&T Stadium. You know Dallas has won a notable 14 straight at home. But more ... the Cowboys have won five straight here when the "vaunted'' Eagles come to town.

Does that count as a "monkey'' that Philly should wish removed?

Since the last time the Cowboys and Eagles met on Nov. 5 - a 28-23 Philadelphia victory at Lincoln Financial Field - the high-powered Dallas offense has scored 49, 33, 45 and 41 during its four-game winning streak. The team is clicking in all three phases, and a win over the Eagles on Sunday might just force the rest of the league and the skeptics to realize this year's Cowboys are for real.