by Sports Xchange

--QB Tony Romo can improve his streaks of interception-free games and games with a rating of at least 100.0 to four.

--WR Roy Williams could get out of his funk against the Eagles. In three games against the Eagles -- two with Detroit - he caught 20 passes for 343 yards and three touchdowns. He had his only career 200-yard game (204) at Philadelphia (9/23/07) when he was with the Lions.

--TE Jason Witten has had a history of big games against the Eagles. In 11 games against Philadelphia, he has caught 63 passes for 792 yards and three scores. He has three career 100-yard games vs. the Eagles.

--CB Mike Mickens' departure from the practice squad to the Tampa Bay active roster accentuates the demise of the Cowboys' rookie class. Three draft picks are on injured reserve. Linebackers Jason Williams and Victor Butler and safety Mike Hamlin barely play. Two draft picks are on other teams. The only major contributor for the Cowboys is kicker David Buehler.

GAME PLAN: The Cowboys, first and foremost, must limit the big plays by the Eagles explosive offense and force them to drive the field. The Eagles live by the big play. They are the only team in the league to not have a drive of five minutes or longer this season. Offensively, the Cowboys must protect the ball, keep the blitzing Eagles defense honest by running, then take shots down the field when the Eagles gamble too much.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Cowboys QB Tony Romo vs. Eagles blitzing defense. In the 44-6 loss to the Eagles in last year's season-finale, Romo was repeatedly hounded by the Eagles' blitzing defense. He even admitted after the game that the team's blitz protection schemes were exposed against the Eagles. Romo and the Cowboys have handled the blitz pretty well so far this season. But the true test comes Sunday against the Eagles, who will bring relentless pressure.

Eagles WR DeSean Jackson vs. Cowboys secondary. Jackson is the man to stop for the Eagles. Jackson has six touchdowns of at least 50 yards to stake a claim as the most dangerous receiver in the NFL. The Cowboys will likely have Terence Newman follow him all over of the field. But he will not be alone. Newman will have help over the top.

INJURY IMPACT: KR Allen Rossum is out at least two weeks with a strained hamstring. He will likely be released when he returns to health.

--RB Marion Barber is getting closer to health after suffering a strained groin in Week 2.

"He's got a little more juice," coach Wade Phillips said. "It's an injury that you lose strength. It's not something where you're going to get injured again. He lost some power in one leg. He could play and I thought he had his best game last week. He looked good today. I think more and more we'll see the Marion Barber that we know and love."