If the Philadelphia Eagles flipped on the Dallas Cowboys’ game against the Arizona Cardinals on Monday night, they probably would have felt comfortable where they were in the standings. The Cardinals made light work of the Cowboys in a 27-17 victory, and the loss dropped Dallas to 3-5-1, three games behind the Eagles for first place in the NFC East.
With such a large margin in the standings with nine games to go, it would be easy for the Eagles to think of the Cowboys as an afterthought as they turned off their TV on Monday night. But Dallas may have reminded Philadelphia not to look ahead after acquiring defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and linebacker Logan Wilson ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline.
Cowboys Send Message to Eagles After Loading Up at Trade Deadline
The Cowboys struck a deal early on Tuesday morning when they added Wilson from the Cincinnati Bengals. Wilson could bring a high reward as a player who has recorded over 100 total tackles in each of the past four seasons and is one year removed from posting a 90.0 run defense grade, according to Pro Football Focus.
A few hours later, Dallas doubled down, acquiring Williams from the New York Jets. Williams also bolsters the Cowboys’ defensive line with a player who ranks ninth among interior defenders with a 79.5 overall grade this season and first with a 90.8 run defense grade, via Pro Football Focus. These additions bring reinforcements to a defense that ranks 31st in scoring at 30.8 points per game and 29th with 143.0 rushing yards per game.
But that doesn’t mean as much to Eagles fans as what it could mean in the NFC East race. The Eagles could extend their lead to 3.5 games with a win over the Green Bay Packers on Monday night. But they also face five opponents with a winning record in their final nine games. If Philadelphia slips up down this stretch, it could allow the Cowboys to close the gap, making the Nov. 23 matchup even more important.
It’s also notable that Dallas shored up its run defense with these moves, which is not a coincidence. Philadelphia found its stride on the ground with 276 rushing yards in a 38-20 win over the New York Giants before the bye. Adding two players to the middle of the defense could be a good way to attack guard Landon Dickerson and Cam Jurgens, who both battled through injuries in the first half.
The Eagles may have thought the Cowboys would wave the white flag after Monday’s loss, but these trades confirm that’s not the case. With Jerry Jones continuing to forge ahead and the Eagles adding reinforcements of their own at the deadline, it’s clear the battle for the division isn’t over, and the Eagles need to respond accordingly.