Flying Like an Eagle

Playing in Philadelphia or Filthy as I affectionately refer to the city because of their savage and crude fans has been a nightmare to say the least for the Dallas Cowboys. Having won there only once since 1998, Dallas was supposedly in for a battle Sunday night in front of a packed Lincoln Financial Field. Incidentally it was Green Is Universal night on NBC, which entailed Bob Costas and company turning off the lights and using candles during the halftime and post game show yet cutting to Matt Lauer in the Arctic with a fully lit background and igloo.  

The Cowboys took the environmental theme a bit more seriously than NBC as they turned out the lights on the Eagles and their fans. The game was more of a massacre as the Cowboys dominated the Eagles 38-17 and essentially ended the game and the Eagles season in the third quarter. The Philly crowd started leaving en masse and the stadium looked like an empty morgue throughout the fourth quarter. Dallas is now 7-1 and leading the NFC East while Philly falls to 3-5 and the cellar of the division. 

The Cowboys made it clear from the first play of the game that this wouldn’t be a game for very long. On the first play from scrimmage, Donovan McNabb was sacked by both DeMarcus Ware and Marcus Spears. Spears knocked the ball out and Bradie James recovered the ball. Six plays later, the Cowboys were up 7-0 on a 2-yard TD run by Julius Jones.  The Eagles responded with a 75-yard TD drive but it would be all Dallas after that as they would score 21 straight points and put the game out of reach. The Cowboys were dominant in every category over the Eagles. Tony Romo, coming off the signing of his six-year, $67.5 million contract, showed again that he is the best QB in the NFC finishing with 324 yards completing 20 of 25 passes along with 3 TDs and 1 INT for a QB rating of 141.7. Donovan McNabb finished with 264 yards on 27 of 46 passing with 1 TD, 2 picks, one fumble lost and three sacks.  

Baby Drop, no doubt chomping at the bit to stick it to the Filthy crowd and avenge his initial failed return last season, finished with 10 catches for 174 yards and the game ending 45 yard TD in the third quarter followed up by his old, classless “eagle” dance in the end zone. Yes, I am a Cowboys fan and I don’t care that he wears the uniform. Baby Drop is still classless and his actions on the field are reprehensible and embarrassing. Brain Westbrook, despite having decent numbers (65 yards rushing and 1 TD, 90 yards receiving) was held in check and was never allowed to be a factor. Seven of his fourteen catches came in the fourth quarter with the game already decided.  Twenty nine of his 65 rushing yards came after the Cowboys took a three touchdown lead early in the second half. Jason Witten caught three passes for 77 yards and a TD including a standout 53- yard gain, without his helmet after he took a bruising shot from two Eagles defenders in the fourth quarter.  

The Cowboys offensive line had their way with the Eagles defensive front all night to the point where some of the Eagles showed the class of their fans by taking cheap shots as they grew more and more frustrated. The run game was solid with Julius Jones and Marion Barber combining for 113 rushing yards and a TD apiece. Jones took a cheap shot helmet to helmet hit from coward LaJuan Ramsey in the third quarter that drew a 15-yard penalty and almost certainly a substantial fine in the days to come. The Cowboys were not done in by stupid penalties either as they only had 3 for 35 yards. 

The defense had their best day of the season as they set the tone from the very first play on that they were going to pressure McNabb and force him into bad throws. The one mistake Romo made, a poor throw that got picked off by Lito Sheppard late in the second quarter, was remedied by the defense when safety Ken Hamlin picked off McNabb three plays later and ended whatever hopes the Eagles had of being competitive. The Cowboys would take a 21-7 halftime lead on a 5 yard TD run by Barber. Anthony Henry, in his first game back after missing three games with a high ankle sprain, picked off McNabb last in the fourth with the game already decided.  

John Madden who apparently is a Patriots apologist and was choking on his own bile and phlegm subtly accused the Cowboys of running up the score in the fourth with his “if this were New England they’d be accused of running up the score” remark. Excuse me John but Brad Johnson was in the game and the Cowboys were running the ball not throwing it. If this were New England, the Cowboys would’ve left Romo in the game and continued to throw. It appears Madden might be becoming more of a ridiculous, pathetic bit then he already has in the past.  

Filthy fans are no doubt going to be seething as they should be about WHY Andy Reid had McNabb and Brian Westbrook in during the last 9 minutes of a blowout game that they were clearly out of. That would’ve been an ideal opportunity to see what rookie QB Kevin Kolb had but would’ve almost certainly ignited a QB controversy. Reid’s mindset given his family problems will certainly be brought up as well. He seemed to be a million miles away on the sidelines and the look of a heartbroken man was clearly evident on his face. This was an Eagles team unlike any other I had seen since Andy Reid took over. They were non-aggressive, non-threatening and had no confidence. This is likely the end of the Donovan McNabb era in Philly as he doesn’t have the mobility he once had and the injuries he has suffered over the years appear to have taken their toll on him.  

This was the best and most complete game I’ve seen the Dallas Cowboys play all year. The defense is getting healthy with the return of corner Anthony Henry and the improving play of the secondary. The Cowboys will see what if anything they can get out of nose tackle Tank Johnson as he will return from his eight game suspension next week against the Giants. Safety Ken Hamlin has been able to strengthen the safety position and minimize Roy Williams’s weaknesses.  The offensive line has played extremely well and along with Romo’s playmaking ability has only allowed 11 sacks in their first 8 games. At 7-1, they stand tied with Green Bay for the best record in the NFC and can essentially wrap up the NFC East with a win over the resurgent Giants this Sunday. The defense can still get better but the offense is clearly among the league’s elite, has an established identity and pecking order and one of the five best QBs in the game. The NFC is now the Cowboys’ conference to lose.