Let’s be honest: things don’t look great for the Dallas Cowboys right now.Dallas stands at 3-5 halfway through the season, having already had their bye week.

Nine weeks remain without a break, and the Cowboys trail the Commanders by 3.5 games for first place in the NFC East.

If the playoffs began today, the Cowboys would be watching from home.

They’re 2.5 games behind the Packers, who currently hold the NFC’s seventh seed. Dallas ranks 13th out of the 16 teams in the conference.

Dallas’ next three opponents hold a combined record of 19-7. Two of the three, Washington and Houston, currently lead their divisions.

The third team, Philadelphia, is only a half-game out of the lead in their division.

Adding insult to injury, the Cowboys’ next two games are at AT&T Stadium. Dallas hasn’t won at home since last December.

Two football players in uniform shake hands on the field, with photographers and cameras all around.

Grim hardly begins to describe the Cowboys’ outlook.

But could there still be a glimmer of hope today?

Actually, there might be, because it happened just two years ago.

In the season opener against Tampa Bay in 2022, Dak Prescott injured his thumb and missed the next five games.

Everyone thought the season was lost. Then, Cooper Rush stepped up.

Rush To The Rescue Rush went on to win the next four games before a loss to the Eagles in his final start.

Still, his 4-1 record left Dallas at 4-2 when Prescott returned. Prescott then won eight of the next 11 games, ending the season at 12-5.

While they didn’t win the division, it secured Dallas a playoff spot.

This year, though, Dallas has a much steeper climb.

With only nine games left, they’re two games below .500 and have a bigger gap to close. Plus, injuries have plagued nearly every position.

How Far Can Cooper Rush Take The Cowboys In Prescott’s absence? 1

However, if Rush can rediscover his 2022 form and notch three wins, Dallas’ schedule could ease up.

It would also put the Cowboys back above .500, likely putting them in playoff contention.

How Rush Can Succeed In his four 2022 wins, Rush played a steady, conservative game. His one loss happened, inexplicably, when Kellen Moore changed the strategy.

Moore had Rush trying to play like Tom Brady.

Instead, he looked more like Brady Quinn.

If Mike McCarthy can avoid sideline theatrics and sticks to a run-heavy, short-pass game plan, Rush has a real shot to win.

Cowboys fading away in the NFC East 1

But if they pretend nothing’s changed at quarterback, this month could be rough.

Prediction The Eagles are in good health; the Cowboys are not.

Philadelphia boasts Saquon Barkley; Dallas has Rico Dowdle and (maybe?) Ezekiel Elliott, who doesn’t seem fully committed.

My heart believes the Cowboys will rally around Rush.

My head, seeing this roster, is less optimistic.

Today’s game might get ugly. Nick Sirianni would likely savor a chance to pile on.

See also Are Ezekiel Elliott And Dak Prescott A Package-Deal? Eagles 38, Dallas 13.

Against the Eagles This game marks the 131st meeting between these two teams. Dallas leads the series 74-56.

The Cowboys are 43-24 at home against the Eagles, and they’ve beaten Philadelphia in the last six games at AT&T Stadium.

Dallas won their last encounter, also at AT&T Stadium, 33-13 on Dec. 10th.

The Eagles’ last win in Dallas was a 37-9 blowout on Nov. 19, 2017, when Carson Wentz threw two touchdowns.

Tyrone Crawford, Carson Wentz, Eagles

Jalen Hurts has yet to beat Dallas at AT&T Stadium.

All-Time Week 10 Records Dallas is 33-26-1 all-time in Week 10 games. They lost one game to the 1982 strike and have had three Week 10 byes.

At home in Week 10, the Cowboys hold a 14-11-1 record.

Dallas has won its last two home games in Week 10, defeating Atlanta in 2021 and the Giants last year.

The Cowboys hold a 9-5 record against the Eagles in Week 10 matchups but are 3-4 when those games take place in Texas.

Week 10 All-Time Vs. Opponents GIANTS (7-3) EAGLES (9-5) COMMANDERS (5-2-1) CARDINALS (2-1) RAMS (0-1) 49ERS (0-2) SEAHAWKS (0-0) FALCONS (1-1) PANTHERS (0-0) SAINTS (0-1) BUCCANEERS (0-1) BEARS (0-2) LIONS (1-0) PACKERS (1-2) VIKINGS (0-1) BILLS (4-0) DOLPHINS (0-1) PATRIOTS (1-0) JETS (0-0) TEXANS (0-0) COLTS (0-0) JAGUARS (1-0) TITANS (0-0) RAVENS (0-0) BENGALS (0-0) BROWNS (0-1) STEELERS (1-1) BRONCOS (0-0) CHIEFS (0-0) RAIDERS (0-1) CHARGERS (0-0)