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Eagles running back Brian Westbrook, who suffered a concussion two games ago, has been cleared to play -- and will (barring any setbacks) -- against the Dallas Cowboys in their Sunday Night Football matchup this week.

This will be the first time they face each other this season. Their second matchup, in Dallas, will be played on January 3rd in week 17. (Eagles schedule | Cowboys schedule)

The Eagles and Cowboys are tied for first in the NFC East at 5-2 and hold a half-game lead over the Giants, who are 5-3 and on a three-game losing streak.

Westbrook, who sat out last week, says he's ready to "play with reckless abandon" on Sunday.

"I just look at it as a fluke thing," said Westbrook, per Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News. "It was weird, because going into that game, I felt pretty good . . . It's frustrating, but at the same time, I guess the bright side of it, if anything is, it wasn't my knee, wasn't my ankle. I'm concerned about the long-term effects of it, but when you go out there and play football, you have to . . . play worry-free football. You have to go out there and try to play with reckless abandon."

On the season, Westbrook, who has played five games, is second on the team in rushing with 197 yards to rookie LeSean McCoy, who has 294 yards. Although Westbrook is averaging nearly five yards per carry, he's only getting, on average, eight carries per game.

"Veteran players want to keep their jobs, especially when they get a little older, and some of them can be very sensitive about that," [coach Andy] Reid said. "Brian has enough confidence in himself and knows that LeSean is willing to work and willing to listen and be coachable, so Brian shares with him some of his experiences and helps him out. That, from a coaching standpoint, that's invaluable."

The Cowboys rank 13th in the league in rushing yards allowed (105.0 per game) and have allowed only three rushing touchdowns. Only three teams (Vikings, Steelers and Patriots) have allowed fewer rushing TDs.

In fantasy points allowed to running backs, the Cowboys have allowed the 18th most at 18.0 per game.