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Cowboys edge Eagles on late TD

Jan 3, 2011 - 1:43 AM Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Stephen McGee's four-yard touchdown pass to Jason Witten with 55 seconds remaining lifted the Dallas Cowboys over the Philadelphia Eagles, 14-13, in a meaningless Week 17 matchup from Lincoln Financial Field.

McGee, making his first career start, completed 11-of-27 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown to finish off a disappointing season for the Cowboys (6-10), who ended the year 5-3 under interim head coach Jason Garrett after Wade Phillips was fired. It was reported early in the day that Garrett will remain as the head coach next year.

"I think the most important thing for us to do in this ball game was just hang in there," Garrett said. "I thought our defense did an outstanding job throughout the ball game."

Already locked in as the No. 3 seed in the conference, the NFC East- champion Eagles (10-6) rested most of their starters. Philadelphia will host the sixth-seeded Packers in the opening round of the playoffs in a 4:30 p.m. (et) start next Sunday.

The Packers, who beat the Bears, 10-3, on Sunday to get into the postseason, defeated Philly in Week 1.

"We look forward to the challenge," Eagles head coach Andy Reid said. "I think they've got a good football team, we've got a good football team. It should be a heck of a game."

With Michael Vick resting a quad injury, Kevin Kolb connected on 18-of-36 passes for 162 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions.

Jerome Harrison rushed for 99 yards on 21 carries. Rookie Chad Hall caught six passes for 84 yards and a touchdown.

Trailing by six, 13-7, Dallas got the ball at its own 46 with 2:54 to play. Faced with a 4th-and-inches from the Philly 45, Chris Gronkowski rumbled up the middle for one yard. Witten caught a 33-yard pass two plays later to put the ball at the 11-yard line. Then on 3rd-and-3 from the four, Witten caught a pass from McGee to put Dallas ahead 14-13 with 55 ticks to go.

Terence Newman picked off Kolb to seal the victory on 4th-and-19 from the Philly 11.

Philadelphia controlled the field-position battle in the first quarter, and forced Dallas to punt from its own 10 late in the period. A 13-yard return by Hall set up the Eagles at the Cowboys' 39-yard line with 2 1/2 minutes remaining.

Jason Avant caught a 21-yard pass on the second play to get Philly in the red zone. Hall hauled in a 10-yard pass on 3rd-and-8 prior to catching a four-yard touchdown with 14:53 to go until half.

The next Eagles possession resulted in a Kolb fumble. Anthony Spencer stripped the ball from Kolb and DeMarcus Ware picked up the ball and raced 17 yards the other way for a 7-7 game.

Philly was driving early in the third quarter, but Newman picked off Kolb at the 10-yard line. Dallas got to the 35-yard line of the Eagles, but failed to convert a 4th-and-4.

Following a pair of punts, Philadelphia took over at its own 40. Harrison's 36-yard run helped set up a 43-yard David Akers field goal with 14:24 to play in the game.

Dallas got the ball to the 34 of the Eagles before David Buehler missed a 52- yard field goal.

Hall then caught a 48-yard pass on the first play of the ensuing possession. Philly settled for a 22-yard Akers field goal and 13-7 lead with 7:01 to play.

Game Notes

The Cowboys hold a 56-44 advantage in their all-time regular-season series with the Eagles. Dallas and Philly split the season series with each team winning on the road...Eagles guard Max Jean-Gilles left the game with a left ankle injury...Dallas quarterback Jon Kitna strained his oblique last week...Philadelphia set a franchise record for points scored in a season with 439. The previous mark was 429, set by last year's club...Ware had three sacks.