Sep 11, 2008 - 3:56 PM
6 shoutsPHILADELPHIA (1-0) AT DALLAS (1-0), 8:30pm EDT
IRVING, Texas (Ticker) -- The odds-on favorite to win the NFC faces an early test Monday night, as the Dallas Cowboys host the Philadelphia Eagles in the first of two meetings that likely will go a long way toward deciding the NFC East.
The Cowboys, the conference's presumptive favorite despite losing to the New York Giants in the second round of last season's playoffs, cruised in their opener, manhandling the Cleveland Browns in a 28-10 triumph.
However, just as impressive were the Eagles, who blew out the St. Louis Rams, 38-3.
Philadelphia been a trendy pick to make some noise in the NFC after missing the playoffs two of the last three seasons, and those sentiments swelled on Sunday after the Eagles' potent offensive showing.
Donovan McNabb threw for 361 yards and three touchdowns despite a supposedly bare receiving corps that was depleted by the absence of Reggie Brown, who is nursing a strained left hamstring.
Dallas and Philadelphia split their two meetings last season, with each game encapsulating the clubs' respective seasons.
When the Cowboys were the hottest team in the conference, they had no trouble with the Eagles. In an easy 38-17 victory in Dallas on November 4, Tony Romo threw for 324 yards and three touchdowns, completing 80 percent of his passes as the Cowboys were in the midst of a seven-game winning streak.
But when the two teams met again, the Cowboys began to hit the skids. The Eagles' ugly 10-6 triumph in Philadelphia snapped that winning streak for the NFC East champions, who dropped three of their last four games, including a playoff defeat to the New York Giants.
For the Eagles, that victory represented a sudden upswing for their season. After being mired in mediocrity for the length of the season, the Dallas victory sparked a three-game winning streak as they closed a disappointing season at a respectable 8-8.
Philadelphia is expected to challenge the Cowboys and Giants for the NFC East title - giving added weight to this week's Monday night showdown, which will be the last regular-season game between the team at Texas Stadium. The Cowboys' new stadium will open in 2009.
For the Cowboys, the only bad news in their season-opening victory over the Browns was that Pro Bowl running back Marion Barber left the game in the third quarter with bruised ribs. While he is expected to start against the Eagles, the Cowboys have the benefit of giving extra carries to his backup, Felix Jones.
The rookie from Arkansas, Dallas' top pick in this year's draft, scored a touchdown on his first carry on Sunday and rushed for 62 yards on nine carries overall.
From the Bleachers
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PHILADELPHIA: 37
DALLAS: 41
Final
Sep 15 11:55 PM -
NFL
TD DAL
MARION BARBER III 1 YD RUN
(NICHOLAS FOLK KICK)
PHILADELPHIA 37
DALLAS 41 4:35 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Sep 15 11:34 PM -
Eagles 37, Cowboys 34 4th Quarter - 10:21
alamowx
Too bad I'm at work and forgot to DVR it...have to catch the highlights!
Sep 15 11:28 PM -
NFL
FG DAL
NICHOLAS FOLK 47 YD
PHILADELPHIA 37
DALLAS 34 10:29 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Sep 15 11:20 PM -
NFL
TD PHI
BRIAN WESTBROOK 1 YD RUN
(DAVID AKERS KICK)
PHILADELPHIA 37
DALLAS 31 14:17 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Sep 15 11:09 PM -
PHILADELPHIA: 30
DALLAS: 31
End of 3rd
Sep 15 11:05 PM -
NFL
TD DAL
MARION BARBER III 17 YD PASS FROM TONY ROMO
(NICHOLAS FOLK KICK)
PHILADELPHIA 30
DALLAS 31 5:08 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Sep 15 10:52 PM -
Eagles 30, Cowboys 24 Halftime
mark
after the first half this already gets my vote for game of the year.
Sep 15 10:19 PM -
PHILADELPHIA: 30
DALLAS: 24
Halftime
Sep 15 10:18 PM -
NFL
FG DAL
NICHOLAS FOLK 51 YD
PHILADELPHIA 30
DALLAS 24 0:03 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Sep 15 10:17 PM -
NFL
FG PHI
DAVID AKERS 22 YD
PHILADELPHIA 30
DALLAS 21 0:45 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Sep 15 10:12 PM -
NFL
TD PHI
BRIAN WESTBROOK 1 YD RUN
(DAVID AKERS KICK)
PHILADELPHIA 27
DALLAS 21 7:38 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Sep 15 9:52 PM -
NFL
TD DAL
TERRELL OWENS 4 YD PASS FROM TONY ROMO
(NICHOLAS FOLK KICK)
PHILADELPHIA 20
DALLAS 21 10:02 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Sep 15 9:41 PM -
NFL
TD PHI
CHRIS GOCONG RECOVERED FUMBLE IN END ZONE
(DAVID AKERS KICK)
PHILADELPHIA 20
DALLAS 14 14:41 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Sep 15 9:30 PM -
NFL
TD PHI
BRIAN WESTBROOK 6 YD PASS FROM DONOVAN MCNABB
(DAVID AKERS KICK)
PHILADELPHIA 13
DALLAS 14 14:55 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Sep 15 9:25 PM -
PHILADELPHIA: 6
DALLAS: 14
End of 1st
Sep 15 9:20 PM -
NFL
TD DAL
FELIX JONES 98 YD KICKOFF RETURN
(NICHOLAS FOLK KICK)
PHILADELPHIA 6
DALLAS 14 2:45 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Sep 15 9:12 PM -
NFL
FG PHI
DAVID AKERS 44 YD
PHILADELPHIA 6
DALLAS 7 3:02 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Sep 15 9:09 PM -
NFL
TD DAL
TERRELL OWENS 72 YD PASS FROM TONY ROMO
(NICHOLAS FOLK KICK)
PHILADELPHIA 3
DALLAS 7 7:46 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Sep 15 8:57 PM -
NFL
FG PHI
DAVID AKERS 34 YD
PHILADELPHIA 3
DALLAS 0 10:44 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Sep 15 8:48 PM -
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