They say the third time’s the charm. The Eagles better hope so; I don’t.


The Eagles will at least score tonight. Probably several times. I still don’t expect them to win. Here’s why. The Cowboys are a better team. I don’t like to say it, but it’s true.


This year’s Eagles are built on the shoulders of a wildly inconsistent quarterback and a defense that simply is not that good, certainly not up to the recent standards of Birds’ defenders.


Donovan McNabb did not have a good game last week. He had lots of company. But he is the leader of the team, and instead spent most of the day moping around, seemingly looking for someone to give the team a spark. After the game he talked about the Eagles youth catching up with them. Actually it was equal parts of that and his inability to hit open receivers.


The Eagles just don’t match up very well with the Cowboys this season. Tony Romo is beating their blitzes. Their running game is keeping the Birds’ defense guessing. And when their gambling corners guess wrong, it too often turns into a touchdown.


On offense, the Cowboys in two games this season have yet to be killed by the speed of DeSean Jackson. And when the Eagles have had a chance at a big play, McNabb has missed the target.


All of which is not to say the Eagles can’t beat the Cowboys tonight. I just don’t think they will.


At that point the finger-pointing can begin in earnest. I expect most of them to be pointing directly at No. 5.


And the Kevin Kolb Era to start not much after that.


Make it Cowboys 29, Eagles 17.

Last Week: I did not think the Eagles were going to beat the Cowboys in Dallas. But I at least expected them to show up. That effort ranks up there with the loss in Oakland as their feeblest of the season.

Season Record: 12-4, Hey, what do you know, I ended up one game better than the Birds. I took no joy in their loss last week. I certainly didn’t expect them to get shut out. And I sincerely hope I’m wrong about tonight.