NFC East X-Factors: Cowboys QB faces tough test in Week 10

This week, division rivals go head-to-head, while another finds itself a rare favorite on the road in Germany. These players could be the X-factors for each NFC East team.

Cooper Rush (QB) Dallas Cowboys

Rush went 13-25 for 115 yards and a touchdown in relief of Dak Prescott last week, and with Prescott dealing with a hamstring injury that could require surgery, he’ll get the start when Dallas hosts Philadelphia in Week 10. 

Coincidentally, Sunday’s game will be Rush’s first start since facing the Eagles in Week 6 of 2022. He went 18-for-38 for 181 yards and a touchdown that day but also threw three interceptions in a 26-17 loss. Rush led the team to four straight wins prior to that, going 65-for-105 for 775 yards and four touchdowns.

The Cowboys hope for more of the same against Philadelphia’s seventh-ranked secondary and rookie cornerbacks Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell.

Tyrone Tracy Jr. (RB) New York Giants

Expect former Panthers linebacker Brian Burns to make a statement against his old team, but New York’s rookie running back holds the key to victory over Carolina. Tracy Jr. has led the team in rushing in four of the last five games. He would’ve had a clean sweep had quarterback Daniel Jones not led Giants rushers with 56 yards against the Bengals in Week 6.

Devin Singletary operated as the lead back in the team’s first four games but saw 14 carries over the past three contests, compared to 42 attempts for Tracy Jr. No team allows more rush yards per game (159.3) than Carolina, which gave up 197 yards on the ground in a rare victory over the Saints last week.

Tracy Jr. ran for only 66 yards against the Commanders last week but set career marks with 20 carries for 145 yards against Pittsburgh’s fourth-ranked run defense the week prior. Given the state of New York’s 23rd-ranked passing game, he should exceed both marks when the team travels to Germany to face the Panthers. 

Josh Sweat (Edge) Philadelphia Eagles

So far, the seven-year veteran appears to be worth every penny of the one-year, $10M contract extension he signed in the offseason. Sweat has 12 tackles and five sacks in his last five games, with five tackles and two sacks coming against Jacksonville last week.