Dallas Cowboys (9-6) at Philadelphia Eagles (8-6-1)
(Sunday, FOX, 4:15 PM ET)
Another division battle-royale between old foes fighting for their NFC playoff lives.
On top of that, if the game is anything like the fireworks that erupted the last time the teams met, on a Monday night
in Week 2, it could well be an offensive shootout again.
There were 54 first-half points (a MNF record); seven lead changes; and the most total points (78 in Dallas'
41-37 victory) in the 98-game series between the two rivals.
But that was then and this is now.
Both the Cowboys and Eagles come off deflating losses after big victories and, in the Eagles' case,
a three-game winning streak when the Eagles lost to the Redskins, 10-3 and the Ravens defeated the Cowboys, 33-24 in what may be the final game at
Texas Stadium.
But both teams have quarterbacks who can ignite their offense and teams when it counts.
Their QBs rank No. 1 (Dallas' TONY ROMO) and No. 7 (Philadelphia's DONOVAN MC NABB) in fourth-quarter passer rating.
Between them, they have thrown only one interception (Romo) in the quarter.
Dallas Cowboys 55-43 Series Advantage
The Cowboys and Eagles have played each other 98 times, with Dallas
holding a 55-43 advantage. Dallas lost the first three games of the
series before logging win streaks of 11 games and nine games over
the course of the next 18 years. There have been three playoff
games - two Divisional Playoff Games (1992 and 1995) and an
NFC Championship Game (1980) between the Cowboys and Eagles.
Earlier this season (NFL 2008 Week 2 9/15/2008), the Cowboys defeated the Eagles at Texas Stadium,
41-37. Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo threw for 312 yards & 3 touchdowns, including 2 TD strikes to wide receiver Terrell Owens.
Last year (11/4/2007) in Philadelphia, the Cowboys defeated the Eagles rather easily, 38-17. Tony Romo was the dominate
force in that game as he threw for 324 yards & 3 touchdowns as the Cowboys improved to 7-1 for 1st time since 1995.
NFL 2008 Week 16: Baltimore Ravens 33, Dallas Cowboys 24
The Dallas Cowboys suffered a 33-24 loss against the Baltimore
Ravens in the final game at Texas Stadium.
The Cowboys grabbed the lead when rookie Tashard Choice scored on a two-yard rush.
The Ravens provided the rest of the scoring in the first half behind three Matt Stover
field goals (26, 29, 37 yards) while the Baltimore defense shut out the Dallas offense
to take a 9-7 lead into halftime.
The Ravens extended their lead to 16-7 in the third quarter when Joe Flacco found Derrick
Mason for a 13-yard touchdown pass. The Cowboys and Ravens would then trade field goals to
start things off in the fourth quarter to bring the score to 19-10. Dallas
then edged closer (19-17) when Tony Romo hit Terrell Owens for a seven-yard touchdown pass.
On the Ravens next possession, Willis McGahee exploded for a 77-yard TD run for a Ravens 26-17 lead.
The Cowboys responded with a scoring drive on the ensuing series on Romo’s second touchdown of the day to
Jason Witten for a 21-yard TD with 1:36 remaining.
However, for the second consecutive drive, Le’Ron McClain was able to break free for a long touchdown
run. McClain's 82-yard touchdown run increased the Ravens lead to 33-24.
The Cowboys last offensive effort fell short with the team turning over the ball on downs to end the game.
NFL 2008 Week 16: Washington Redskins 10, Philadelphia Eagles 3
The Philadelphia Eagles fell to the Washington Redskins 10-3
on the road.
Donovan McNabb led the Eagles with 230 yards on 26-of-46 passes with no touchdowns and no interceptions. Brian
Westbrook combined for 116 total yards (45 rushing; 71 receiving) to lead the team in both rushing and receiving
yardage.
After a scoreless first quarter, Washington got on the board first with a 33-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead
into halftime.
A McNabb fumble on Philadelphia’s first offensive possession of the second half led to a Redskins touchdown
on the next series when Clinton Portis plowed ahead five plays later for a 10-0 Washington lead.
On the next possession, David Akers was able to provide three points for Philadelphia on a 22-yarder to make
the score 10-3.
Neither team would score for the remainder of the game and the Redskins defense was able to hold the Eagles
in check to earn the 10-3 victory.
Dallas Cowboys (9-6)
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With a win over the Eagles, the Cowboys can clinch an NFC playoff berth.
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5 Cowboys have been selected to the NFC Pro Bowl Squad this season: G LEONARD DAVIS (2nd), C ANDRE GURODE (3rd), DT JAY RATLIFF (1st), LB DE MARCUS WARE (3rd) & TE JASON WITTEN (5th)
QB TONY ROMO completed 20 of 25 (80.0 pct.) for 324 yards with 3 touchdowns vs. 1 INT for 141.7 rating in his only
start at Philadelphia. The Cowboys are 19-3 when Romo starts & has 100.0+ rating When RB MARION BARBER has
11+ carries, team is 26-4 (.867). Has 37 touchdowns (31 rush, 6 rec.) in past 45. Had 2 touchdowns in last meeting. Rookie running back TASHARD CHOICE has 424 scrimmage yards (141.3 per game) & 2 touchdowns in past 3 Dallas Cowboys wide receiver TERRELL OWENS had 10 catches for 174 yards & 1 TD in last game at Philadelphia TERRELL OWENS with 10 touchdown catches, needs 51 receiving yards to reach the
1,000-yard / 10-touchdown plateau in a season for the eighth time in his career, tying him for second all-time
(MARVIN HARRISON). TE Witten aims for 3rd in row vs. Philadelphia with 100+ yards LB Ware leads NFL with 20.0 sacks. Has 34.0 sacks in past 29. Has sack in 25 of past 29. Aims for 6th in row
vs. Philadelphia with sack. LB GREG ELLIS has 20.0 sacks in past 28. LB BRADIE JAMES has 7.0 sacks in past 9.
CB TERENCE NEWMAN has 4 interceptions in past 6
Philadelphia Eagles (8-6-1)
QB DONOVAN MC NABB needs 135 yards to surpass the Eagles single-season passing record which he set in 2004 (3,875 yards).
McNabb has won 10 of past 15 starts vs. the Dallas Cowboys. In his starts (min. 10+ att.) with 100.0+ rating (including
playoff games), the Eagles are 39-1 (.975) RB BRIAN WESTBROOK has 516 scrimmage yards (129.0 per game) & 6 touchdowns (3 rush, 3 rec.) in past 4. Westbrook is
the only NFL player since 2004 with 4,000+ rushing (4,865) & 3,000+ receiving (3,179) yards. In last home meeting,
Westbrook had career-high 14 receptions (90 yards) WR DE SEAN JACKSON leads NFC rookies with 60 catches for
866 yards. Had 6 catches for 110 yards in last meeting. Can be 1st rookie WR to lead club in catches since 1942 -
The Eagles had 2 players named to the NFC Pro Bowl squad: S BRIAN DAWKINS (7th) & CB ASANTE SAMUEL (2nd).
Dawkins has played in most games in Eagles franchise history (182). Samuel has 20 interceptions since 2006, most in NFL. DE TRENT COLE has 21.5 sacks in
past 31. CB LITO SHEPPARD has 8 interceptions in past 9 vs. the Dallas Cowboys., including 2 INT-TDs (101 & 102 yards).
PREDICTION: Dallas Cowboys 34, Philadelphia Eagles 14
So far in 2008, Tony Romo has thrown for 300-or-more yards six times and has a knack for coming up big against the
Eagles. Furthermore, Romo is quite the road warrior with a 14-4 record for his career. His four road losses have come at Washington
(11/5/06 and 12/30/07), Arizona (10/12/08) and Pittsburgh (12/7/08).
Last week against the Ravens, Romo was less than stellar as he completed 24-of-45 passes for 252 yards with
two touchdowns and two interceptions. Plus Marion Barber was still dealing with his lingering toe injury. Barber
was limited in the game and did not start. He finished the contest with two carries for no yardage while also
catching one pass for seven yards.
Despite Romo's below-average performance and Barber's limited playing time, last week's loss falls squarely on the
shoulders of the Cowboys defense. Willis McGahee's 77-yard and Le’Ron McClain's 82-yard touchdown runs were exciting, but,
at the same time, a product of the Cowboy's defense breaking down.
The Cowboys ought to recover from last week with a 34-14 victory.
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NFL 2008 WEEK 17 SCHEDULE (DECEMBER 28)
(All times local)
St. Louis at Atlanta, 1:00 PM
Cleveland at Pittsburgh, 1:00 PM
New England at Buffalo, 1:00 PM
Oakland at Tampa Bay, 1:00 PM
Kansas City at Cincinnati, 1:00 PM
Seattle at Arizona, 4:15 PM
Detroit at Green Bay, 1:00 PM
Jacksonville at Baltimore, 4:15 PM
Chicago at Houston, 1:00 PM
Miami at N.Y. Jets, 4:15 PM
Tennessee at Indianapolis, 1:00 PM
Dallas at Philadelphia, 4:15 PM
N.Y. Giants at Minnesota, 1:00 PM
Washington at San Francisco, 4:15 PM
Carolina at New Orleans, 1:00 PM
Denver at San Diego, 5:15 PM (NBC)
NFL 2008 WEEK 16 RESULTS (DECEMBER 18, 20-22)
(Home team in CAPS)
Indianapolis 31, JACKSONVILLE 24 (Thursday)
Baltimore 33, DALLAS 24 (Saturday)
San Diego 41, TAMPA BAY 24
TENNESSEE 31, Pittsburgh 14
Buffalo 30, DENVER 23
OAKLAND 27, Houston 16
SEATTLE 13, N.Y. Jets 3
Atlanta 24, MINNESOTA 17
Cincinnati 14, CLEVELAND 0
WASHINGTON 10, Philadelphia 3
New Orleans 42, DETROIT 7
Miami 38, KANSAS CITY 31
NEW ENGLAND 47, Arizona 7
San Francisco 17, ST. LOUIS 16
N.Y. GIANTS 34, Carolina 28 (OT)
CHICAGO 20, Green Bay 17 (OT) (Monday)
NFL 2008 WEEK 15 RESULTS – DECEMBER 11, 14-15
(Home Team in Caps)
CHICAGO BEARS 27, New Orleans Saints 24 (OT)
N.Y. JETS 31, Buffalo Bills 27
Seattle Seahawks 23, ST. LOUIS RAMS 20
Minnesota Vikings 35, ARIZONA CARDINALS 14
ATLANTA FALCONS 13, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10 (OT)
Pittsburgh Steelers 13, BALTIMORE RAVENS 9
CINCINNATI BENGALS 20, Washington Redskins 13
CAROLINA PANTHERS 30, Denver Broncos 10
HOUSTON TEXANS 13, Tennessee Titans 12
New England Patriots 49, OAKLAND RAIDERS 26
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 31, Detroit Lions 21
DALLAS COWBOYS 20, N.Y. Giants 8
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 20, Green Bay Packers 16
San Diego Chargers 22, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 21
MIAMI DOLPHINS 14, San Francisco 49ers 9
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 30, Cleveland Browns 10
NFL 2008 WEEK 14 RESULTS - DECEMBER 4, 7 - 8
(Home team in CAPS)
SAN DIEGO 34, Oakland 7
Miami 16, BUFFALO 3 (Toronto)
DENVER 24, Kansas City 17
SAN FRANCISCO 24, N.Y. Jets 14
CHICAGO 23, Jacksonville 10
New England 24, SEATTLE 21
Minnesota 20, DETROIT 16
ARIZONA 34, St. Louis 10
Houston 24, GREEN BAY 21
PITTSBURGH 20, Dallas 13
INDIANAPOLIS 35, Cincinnati 3
BALTIMORE 24, Washington 10
NEW ORLEANS 29, Atlanta 25
Philadelphia 20, N.Y. GIANTS 14
TENNESSEE 28, Cleveland 9
CAROLINA 38, Tampa Bay 23
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