The biggest Cowboys vs Eagles mismatch that no one is talking about and why it’s so important for Dallas
The Cowboys need to overcome this mismatch. And if they do, it will be huge for their 2025 chances.
The Dallas Cowboys know bringing down the reigning Super Bowl champion isn’t easy. And yet, that’s what they’re setting out to do on Thursday night when they play the division rival Philadelphia Eagles.
A lot has been said about the game already. The Eagles have a great rushing offense fueled by a top-tier offensive line, quarterback Jalen Hurts, and star running back Saquon Barkley. Meanwhile, the Cowboys’ passing offense is expected to be elite because of the addition of George Pickens. People have talked about the Micah Parsons-less defense and the Eagles’ weakness in the secondary.
But I believe people aren’t talking enough about what could be the biggest mismatch on paper: Cowboys’ offensive play-caller Brian Schottenheimer and Eagles’ defensive play-caller Vic Fangio.
Can Schottenheimer win what appears to be a big coaching mismatch?
It’s almost impossible to answer this question for an obvious reason. We don’t know what Schottenheimer’s play-calling will look like in 2025. We’ve seen him call plays at previous stops, but every team is different, and the art of coaching lies in adapting to your roster. Not to mention, this is the first time he’s calling his offense. No one else’s.
What we do know is that Fangio is renowned as one of the top defensive masterminds in the game. History shows he’s up on the scoreboard against Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. Through the years, he’s adapted to Prescott, too, relying on different coverages than earlier in the quarterback’s career.
To Schottenheimer’s advantage, this is the most talented wide receiver group Prescott has ever had. CeeDee Lamb is one of the best receivers in the NFL, and Pickens could be the No. 1 target for many other teams. Fangio hasn’t faced Prescott in such a position.
Additionally, though Schottenheimer and Fangio have squared off in the past, it’s been a long time since it’s Schotty’s show. He’ll have the surprise factor on his side as long as he does his job. The Cowboys’ head coach has maintained the team didn’t show much from the scheme in the preseason.
In training camp, the Cowboys used pre-snap motion at a high rate. They moved Pickens and Lamb around, and Prescott took deep shots. Let’s see what translates to September ball.
Schottenheimer beating Fangio would go a long way
Though you never want to overreact to a Week 1 game, if Schottenheimer beats Fangio in a chess match, it should get Cowboys Nation excited. After all, the first-year head coach is one of the biggest unknowns since he hasn’t had a high-profile job in a long time.
If he proves he can go toe-to-toe with one of the league’s best, perhaps it’s time to buy some stock in the Cowboys offense and the team’s win total.
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