Monday Night Football at Lincoln Financial Field, 8:15 p.m. Eastern on ESPN, ABC and Disney+. Cowboys and Eagles. Both 2-4. Both desperate. Neither town will admit the other one exists until kickoff. Cole Garrison speaks for Dallas and never confuses the brand with the results. Ray Donnelly speaks for Philadelphia and watches every snap of blocking twice.
Ray: Cole, I'll keep it simple. Super Bowl LIX. Eagles 40, Chiefs 22. What's the most recent one in Dallas?
Cole: It's been a while. I know. Five Super Bowls, Ray. Five. You have two.
Ray: And you've spent every year since your last one talking about logos and stadiums.
Cole: That's fair. The brand is enormous and the results have been, let's say, humble. I'm the guy who says it out loud. America's Team needs to start winning America's playoff games.
Ray: Meanwhile, our fans once booed Santa Claus, and we're proud of it.
Cole: That's not the flex you think it is.
Ray: It's exactly the flex I think it is. We're honest people, Cole. Loud, honest people.
Cole: Loud, I'll give you. I've sat in that building, and my ears are still ringing.
Last week, Cowboys: At Green Bay, CeeDee Lamb caught nine passes for 70 yards and George Pickens six for 73. The game had 22 penalties, 11 by each team. Brian Schottenheimer said afterward the Cowboys put themselves in a hole and have to work their way out.
Cole: The defense actually held up okay. The offense couldn't finish. Two interceptions in scoring range kills you against a good team, and that's on the quarterback and the coaches. Brand versus results, Ray. The results said 2-4.
Last week, Eagles: Jalen Hurts is on injured reserve with a blood clot in his calf and, according to the AP, will miss at least four games. Saquon Barkley missed his second straight game with a hamstring injury.
Ray: I watched the blocking twice, like always. It wasn't good. Miscommunication, wrong spots, a fumble that wasted a drive we needed. McKee said afterward he has to fix it, and I like that he owned it. But this is a team with Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Zack Baun and Quinyon Mitchell on defense. Get healthy and get organized, and this season is far from finished.
The big storyline: Quarterback availability. Hurts is on IR, Barkley's hamstring is the status to watch, and the first official injury report of the week isn't out yet.
The matchup: Philadelphia runs for just 3.8 yards a carry, while Dallas allows 4.9. If the Eagles can find a running game, McKee gets a lot more comfortable. Dallas protects Prescott well, allowing sacks on only 2.8% of dropbacks, so Vic Fangio's defense will have to win with coverage and disguise. Lamb against Mitchell is the marquee one-on-one. Dallas' defensive front, with Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark and Rashan Gary, gets a chance at an Eagles offense still finding its rhythm.
The numbers: Dallas has scored 151 and allowed 159. Philadelphia has scored 106 and allowed 137.
Cole: Last word, Ray. Philly cheesesteaks are great. I'll admit that on national television.
Ray: Texas brisket is great. I'll admit that too. Now please leave.
Cole: Love you too, Ray.
One of the fiercest grudges in the NFC East, two 2-4 teams, and a Monday night crowd in South Philly that will be heard from Broad Street to the Rio Grande.
My call: Cowboys 23, Eagles 22.