Cowboys vs. Eagles Preview, Score and More

Filed under: Cowboys, Eagles, NFC East

These same teams squared off for the NFC East title in last year's finale in Dallas. The Cowboys won that day 24-0 and beat the Eagles 34-14 at home again the next week in the first round of the playoffs.

Those consecutive one-sided defeats helped prompt Philadelphia coach Andy Reid to trade quarterback Donovan McNabb, his 10-year starter, and replace him with the unproven Kevin Kolb. When Kolb was concussed in this year's opener, ex-Atlanta star/convicted felon Michael Vick took over and led the Eagles to their first division crown in four years while becoming the NFC's Pro Bowl starter and setting career highs in passing yards, passing touchdowns and rushing touchdowns.

While the Eagles (10-5) have kept on keeping on, the Cowboys have collapsed. A 1-7 start cost coach Wade Phillips his job despite having won the NFC East in two of his three full seasons in Dallas. Pro Bowl quarterback Tony Romo was lost for the season with a broken collarbone in the fifth defeat.

Jon Kitna, a 38-year-old journeyman, has played much better than could have been expected in Romo's place but he strained an abdominal muscle in the last game and wasn't able to practice on Wednesday and Thursday. That makes it likely that second-year man Stephen McGee, who played well in his debut after Kitna was hurt against Arizona, will make his first start on Sunday for interim coach Jason Garrett (4-3), who might well need to win to keep the job in 2011.

The bigger problem for Dallas has been its defense, which surrendered the second-fewest points in 2009 but the second-most in 2010 despite a virtually intact lineup. The Cowboys have also plummeted from ninth in yards allowed in 2009 to 23rd this year. Philadelphia's DeSean Jackson and LeSean McCoy burned Dallas for big plays of 91 and 56 yards in a 30-27 Eagles road victory three weeks ago.

With no incentive in this game since it will be the No. 3 seed and host a wild-card game next weekend win or lose Sunday, Philadelphia is expected to rest three of its ailing stars: Vick (thigh), Jackson (foot), who leads the NFL in yards per-catch, and cornerback Asante Samuel (knee), who leads the league in interceptions. Jason Avant and Joselio Hanson would start in place of Jackson and Samuel, respectively.

Who: Dallas Cowboys (5-10) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (10-5)

Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia.

When: Sunday, Jan. 2, 4:15 PM EST

TV Coverage: FOX

Players to Watch: McGee, RB Felix Jones, TE Jason Witten, WR Miles Austin, OLB DeMarcus Ware and CB Terence Newman for the Cowboys. Kolb, McCoy, WR Jeremy Maclin, DE Trent Cole, LB Jamar Chaney and CB Dimitri Patterson for the Eagles.

Line: Philadelphia by 7

 

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/12/30/cowboys-vs-eagles-preview-score-and-more/

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