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Dallas Cowboys’ DeMarco Murray Will Finally Make Philadelphia Eagles Miss DeMeco Ryans

By @papreps

demarco murray, demeco ryans, philadelphia eagles, dallas cowboys,

Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Ever since linebacker DeMeco Ryans went down with a season-ending  injury while trying to intercept a pass against the Houston Texans, the Philadelphia Eagles have been fixing that hole in the middle of their defense with what essentially amounts to duct tape.

So far it has held, but the powerful two legs of the Dallas Cowboys’ DeMarco Murray should change all of that on Thanksgiving Day (4:30 EST, Fox). That should not surprise any Eagles fan, because that was also the day when starting quarterback Nick Foles went down with a broken clavicle. The difference then, as it is now, was that Foles was having a terrible year and Ryans a great one.

Last year, Foles was the unquestioned leader of a high-octane offense because he threw 27 touchdown passes to just two interceptions. This year, Ryans was the same kind of leader on defense. The two-time Pro Bowl middle linebacker called all of the defensive signals and was a premier player who clogged up the opponents’ running game.

Between then and now the Eagles have survived simply because they have not faced a runner of Murray’s pedigree. That will end in just about 24 hours, because they will be facing a guy who has had 100 yards or more in 10 of his last 11 games.

Ryans brought leadership and stability to an Eagles defense that desperately needed both. No defender in the NFL played more snaps in 2013 than Ryans.

The patchwork they placed together simply won’t hold against against a force like Murray. Casey Matthews is only playing with the Eagles because of his past history with head coach Chip Kelly at Oregon, and he is often exposed while playing against better running backs. Because of another injury — this one to Emmanuel Acho — the Eagles could be forced to play first-round bust Marcus Smith at inside linebacker against the Cowboys. Smith has been deactivated for most of the season for a reason.

Eagles fans are about to learn the reason for that, and the lesson will be taught by Murray.

Mike Gibson is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @papreps , “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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