PHILADELPHIA- The game had a ominous beginning for Dallas with a kickoff out of bounds and quickly became a Philly nightmare as the Cowboys were crushed under a mountain of turnovers by the Eagles 44-6 at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday. The lopsided win comes as the resurgent Eagles(9-6-1) are peaking for a playoff run and the ushers out the NFL's drama queens Dallas Cowboys(9-7) for what is sure to be a testy off season in Big D. The Cowboys maligned head coach Wade Phillips was at a loss for an explanation after the game regarding his team's poor play with their season hinging on a victory to continue into the playoffs.
"There's not much I can say about this one. It was a disaster from the opening kickoff, from kicking the ball out of bounds, to two 80 or 90-yard plays to start off the second half when we had a chance to get it back to 21-17 or something like that. We had everything to play for. I think that the turnovers that haunted us all season ended up really hurting us in terms of not getting enough turnovers on defense and giving up too many offensively. We got by with it a lot of the year and won a lot of games, but we were minus 1 or 2 in the turnover ratio and that ended up getting us. It obviously wasn't penalties, it was turnovers." (PhiladephiaEagles.com)
Despite the rocky beginning to the game Dallas had opportunities early to get going in a more positive direction but were not able to capitalize on the early miscues by the Eagles, particularly on crucial third downs. After a quarter eating 8:15 drive that resulted in the Cowboys kicking a game tying field goal the Eagles stormed the field and began their first touchdown drive. On third and seven play, Donovan McNabb eludes the massive Dallas rush and finds running back Correll Buckhalter who scampered 59 yards to the Dallas six. Then on 3rd and goal the Cowboys were again unable to stop the Eagles as McNabb finished the drive plowing into the endzone for a quick score. The Cowboys were so inept on offense on the next drive that they looked like a school girl at the dance for the first time. Tony Romo made two very questionable throws in traffic to tight end Jason Witten and wide receiver Terrell Owens on the failed drive. Both plays were poorly designed and executed.
Now a rapidly tiring Cowboys defense had to find a way to stop the Eagles before the game got out of hand. Enter linebacker Bradie James. On a one of the few highlights for the Cowboys he burst through the Philadephia line and sacked Donnovan McNabb forcing an Eagles punt. But his inspired play was not enough to energize the Dallas offense and they stumble again three and out. With 7:22 remaining in the half Philly began a drive from deep within it's own end of the field and appeared all but stopped again when the Dallas defense stumbled again on third down and seven. This time McNabb hit rookie wide receiver Deshawn Stevens on a long pass that went all the way to the Dallas four yard line. Two plays later on third down the Eagles score again to make it 17 - 3 with 2:03 remaining in the half. Things would only get worse for Dallas in the final two minutes.
Romo usually is at his best in the two minute offense so, the when the Dallas drive began to pick up steam one could easily guess the Cowboys would at least drive into position for another field goal if not a game changing touchdown. But with 1:01 remaining in the half the former "Boy wonder" missed on a toss to Roy Williams and was picked off by the Eagles defense. Then before the Eagles can run out the clock oft troubled cornerback Adam Jones is called for a personal foul penalty on another critical third down play which moved the Eagles into Cowboys territory at the 14 yard line. Not to be out done cornerback Terrance Newman is called for an equally boneheaded pass interference penalty in the endzone moving the ball to the Dallas one. McNabb would find his receiver Celeck on a beautifully arced pass in the back of the endzone for a 21 point lead for the Eagles. Then on the ensuing kickoff Adam Jones has the ball ripped from his arms and is recovered by Philly and with five seconds remaining they are able to line up for another field goal and a 27 - 3 lead at halftime.
At this point one had to consider if the Cowboys and Tony Romo had lost their will to win completely. But down 24 points in the final game of their season, facing another horrible December finish, his team having failed to win its season finale in the last seven years, surely Tony and Cowboys would try to write a different ending to this season. This America's team and they are used to being down and finding a way to rescue victory from the jaws of defeat. Tony Romo to his credit tried his best to take charge of his own destiny when he went against his coache's wishes and keeps a drive alive with a quarteback sneak on 4th and inches. Then then once fan of Brett Farve began to reach deep in his bag of playground magic sensing his team's season slipping away. After he escaped the rabid Philly rush he throws a backward pass to Witten who finds an open Terrell Owens for 42 yards and Dallas is in business at the Philly 12 yard line. But the snakebite quarterback fumbles on the next play and Philly returns the ball 73 yards for a touchdown.
On the next drive Dallas again appeared to shake off their horrific start and was again moving in for a respectable score, when inexplicably running back Marion Barber III was stripped of the ball trying to fight for extra yards by Philly star safety Brian Dawkins.
Joselio Hanson was in the right place at the right time and he scooped up the fumbled ball and rumbled 96 yards for another demoralizing touchdown and the score ballooned to 41-3 and Dallas' season was virtually over in the blink of an eye. The Cowboys could only muster a feeble field goal over the final minutes of the stunning defeat and are now faced with numerous questions headed into the 2009 season and the opening of their new stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Eagles will be traveling to Minnesota next week for a wild card playoff game against the Vikings (10-6) who defeated the defending Superbowl champs and #1 seed in this year's playoffs New York Giants 20 -19 earlier on Sunday to win the NFC North Division title. Donovan McNabb and the rest of the Eagles are playing some inspired ball right now and are poised to make a lot of noise in the playoffs. Fly, Eagles, Fly!!!
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- Really Different Staff