A season that began with so much Super Bowl hype for America’s Team comes down to a do-or-die road game against the Philadelphia Eagles today. If the Cowboys (9-6) win, they’re in the playoffs.
All that talk about inner turmoil and the daily drama that surrounded a midseason collapse would be erased if the Cowboys advance. Of course, it won’t go away completely until they win another Super Bowl or even their first playoff game in 12 years, but that’s another story.
“It’s a must game for us,” Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens said. “We can’t really worry about how we got here. We’re here and we’ve just got to win. There’s no excuses to be made. Our season rides on this game.”
The Eagles (8-6-1) also could be playing for an NFC wild-card spot. By kickoff, Philadelphia will know its chances. The Eagles need losses by Tampa Bay and either Chicago or Minnesota in the early games to stay alive. Otherwise, they’re out.
If so, the players and their fiercely passionate fans would love to send the hated Cowboys home, too.
“No matter if we are out of the playoffs or not, I still have a strong dislike for Dallas,” Eagles running back Brian Westbrook said. “I still am going to go out there and fight like we have an opportunity to get into the playoffs.”
The Cowboys nearly blew a chance to control their destiny by losing to Baltimore 33-24 in the final game at Texas Stadium last Saturday night.
But then everything fell in Dallas’ favor the following day, including Washington’s 10-3 win over Philadelphia when receiver Reggie Brown was stopped at the 1-yard line to end the game. Had the Eagles beaten the Redskins, they wouldn’t need any outside help this week.
“There’s nothing we can do at this point,” Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb said. “The only thing we can do is go out and play well against the Cowboys and see what happens after that. That’s the way it’s been all year - if it’s an inch here or a pass here or whatever it may be, just a little short. We don’t want it to end that way this year, so hopefully it won’t.”
The Eagles always have played well late in the season under coach Andy Reid. They’re 51-21-3 in November and December since 2000, including 10-3 in the final month the last three seasons. Philadelphia has won five straight December games against Dallas.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys have struggled in late-season games with Tony Romo as their starting QB. Romo is 5-7 in December and 22-4 in other months.
“We just haven’t won as much,” Romo said. “There are always little things you can pick out. Good teams you play against, maybe? There’s no reason. Whatever reason, we haven’t won. This year I think it’s pretty easy to indicate that we played against pretty good opponents. Years past, I’m not sure.”
Dallas has survived a brutal December that began with a tough loss at Pittsburgh. A crucial win over the Giants was followed by the distressing loss to the Ravens.
“If we go on to win this game, and are able to beat the Giants and Philly in December, that’s a pretty big step,” Romo said. “All we can do is control how we prepare this week and what kind of team steps out on that field this Sunday. I have a funny feeling we’re going to play good football this weekend.”
These teams played one of the most entertaining games of the year back in Week 2 on a Monday night. The Cowboys outdueled the Eagles 41-37 in a good, old-fashioned shootout that featured seven lead changes, 717 total yards and some wacky plays.
A fumbled handoff between McNabb and Westbrook led to Dallas scoring the go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
“The bad exchange has nothing to do with this game,” Westbrook said. “We played a good game against those guys the first time.”
So much has happened since Owens was kicked off the Eagles and landed with the Cowboys that his return to Philly isn’t much of a subplot anymore. Besides, T.O. hears boos from his own fans nowadays.
“When I left there, I know there were some fans that knew what was really going on and still loved me there,” he said. “And there were some that were really disappointed about the way things panned out and I’m not there. Same with me being here. I got some boos in the last game or so, so that’s just part of football.”
