IRVING, Texas – If the Cowboys win the toss Sunday at Philadelphia, the odds are good they will defer until the second half.

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They have done so in their last three road games against Atlanta, Carolina and Baltimore.

“We feel like there are a lot of statistics that suggest it’s easier to play defense early in games on the road,” Garrett said at his Friday press conference at Valley Ranch. “There are a few other factors that add to this that I don’t want to get into. But we feel like when certain conditions are right, deferring is a better choice for us. A lot of it has to do with being on the road in that kind of environment.”

Two visiting teams to Cowboys Stadium this season – Chicago and Tampa Bay - have won the toss and elected to defer.

Crowd noise might play a factor in some of it, especially in the third quarter.

At a lot of stadiums crowds are slow to return from the concession stands – especially those in the high-roller seats – and the offense can function a little bit better to start the second half. In the first possessions of the second halves of the games in which they have deferred the Cowboys have punted twice and kicked one field goal.