Last week's Sunday Night Football game produced only 12 points over 75 minutes of game time. Two rookie quarterbacks and their efficient offenses should be able to eclipse that mark by the first quarter when the Cowboys and Eagles square off in Week 8.
Dallas hosts the showdown between quarterbacks Dak Prescott and Carson Wentz. The two first-year passers have guided their teams to the league's upper echelon; the Cowboys and Eagles sit at No. 5 and No. 8, respectively, in SB Nation's latest power rankings. The winner of Sunday night's game will make a strong case for inclusion in the top three.
Prescott has developed from fourth-round pick to potential superstar after ascending to the top of Dallas's depth chart. Injuries to Tony Romo and Kellen Moore made him a starter in Week 1. After an opening-day loss to the New York Giants, the Cowboys have rebounded with five straight victories to stand atop the NFC.
The rookie quarterback's ability to protect the ball and drive his offense down the field has helped Dallas forget about Romo and his glitchy back. The Mississippi State product set an NFL record for most passes without an interception to start a career after throwing 176 passes without a pick in the Cowboys' 5-1 start. With a 103.9 passer rating, he's had a better start to 2016 than established passers like Philip Rivers, Ben Roethlisberger, Aaron Rodgers, and Cam Newton.
Wentz, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, hasn't been as consistent, but Philadelphia is trending back upward after a two-game losing streak threatened to derail its season. The rookie passer helped his Eagles carve out a 3-0 record before a slipshod offensive line proved to be the team's biggest weakness. Washington took advantage after right tackle Lane Johnson was suspended for using performance-enhancing drugs in Week 6, hitting Wentz 11 times in a 27-20 win.
The Eagles bounced back hard in a sloppy win over Minnesota. Philadelphia scored more than any other team has against the Vikings, putting up 21 points despite Wentz's worst game as a professional. Instead, the key to that win was a defense that has emerged as one of the league's strongest. The team ranks in the NFL's top five in total defense, scoring defense, and red-zone defense to prop the Eagles up as a bona fide postseason contender.
The biggest problem they face is playing in a division currently rated as the league's toughest. All four of the NFC East's contenders sit at least one game over .500. Seven of Dallas's final 10 opponents currently have winning records. Things get even more difficult for the Eagles -- eight of their last 10 games come against winning teams.
Those factors make Sunday's game a pivotal one in the NFC postseason race. The winner will ascend to the top of the division while the loser will fall back into a pack of contenders that includes teams from Green Bay, Washington, New York, Arizona, and Detroit.
If nothing else, it should provide more trips to the end zone than last week's adventures in special teams.
How to watch
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
Place: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
TV: NBC
Announcers: Cris Collinsworth, Al Michaels, Michele Tafoya
Online Streaming: Sunday Ticket, NBC Sports
Team details
Records: Cowboys 5-1, Eagles 4-2
Game details: Everything you need to know for the game
Last week's results: Dallas had a bye week after handling Green Bay in Week 6. Philadelphia rebounded from two straight losses by toppling previously undefeated Minnesota 21-10.
Odds: Dallas is favored by five points, according to OddsShark.
What's next: The Cowboys will head to Cleveland for a showdown with the winless Browns. The Eagles will visit another NFC East rival when they travel to take on the New York Giants.