The Dallas Cowboys will head up to the City of Brotherly Love to take on the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Dec. 14. Viewers can watch the Cowboys vs. Eagles match up via live stream - free for subscribers - below.
Although the Cowboys pounded the Eagles 33-10 on Thanksgiving, both teams are still tied atop the NFC East at 9-4. Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo told the Associated Press that he is striking a balance with his workouts in preparation for that game, which are aimed at strengthening his surgically repaired back.
"I think just having a few more days off, and the ability to take the week like we've normally been doing, I expect me and our team to be at our best come Sunday," Romo said.
According to Shawn Lealos of CBS DFW, Dallas can determine its own destiny. To win the NFC East and make the postseason, Dallas has to win their three final games of the season.
However, Lealos also mentioned that if the Eagles win their last three games instead, they win the NFC East for the second year in a row.
"That makes this weekend's Sunday Night Football game between the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles so important for both teams," Lealos wrote. "The team that loses that game also has the chance of missing the playoffs completely, no matter how they finish the season."
Romo told the Associated Press that the Eagles team he will face is quite different compared to past encounters.
"This team is completely different than some of those teams in years past," Romo said. "We're much better up front. We're probably blocking better than we have in some of those other times where it wasn't as clean as it will be now. I think defensively we'll probably get an extra stop or two, special teams will create another play."
Romo added that the Cowboys "need to be the best version of ourselves this game."
Lealos described what could happen to the Cowboys if they lose Sunday's game. If that happens, the best way for the Cowboys to make the playoffs is to be a wild card team.
"The wild card is not an easy task for Dallas," Lealos wrote. "They win the tiebreaker over the Seattle Seahawks and that is important. However, if there is a three-way tie, which includes the Detroit Lions, the Cowboys lose that based on the NFC record tiebreaker and could miss the playoffs with 11 wins."
However, Lealos noted that a loss from the Eagles would be bad for Philadelphia too, given that they already lost to the Seattle Seahawks.
"This means that Philadelphia will lose out in a tiebreaker with the Seahawks and Lions individually, and they will lose the tiebreaker if all three teams finish with the same record as well," Lealos wrote. "If the Seahawks and Lions win two of their last three games, and the Eagles lose to Dallas, the Eagles will miss the playoffs unless the Cowboys collapse in their final two games."
Lealos concluded that both teams have to win Sunday's game. That's because the loser "will face an uphill battle just to make the playoffs."
According to the Associated Press, Dallas coach Jason Garrett took on suggestions that the Cowboys would have to rise to the occasion against Philadelphia.
"We don't really talk much about rising to the occasion," Garrett said. "We talk about being our best."
Sunday's pivotal game will air on NBC at 8:30 p.m. ET. While subscriptions are required for both options, online viewers can stream the game live on NBC Sports Extra and watch it on demand through NFL Game Rewind.
