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Cowboys, Eagles face off in NFC East showdown

Sep 11, 2008 - 7:56 PM PHILADELPHIA (1-0) AT DALLAS (1-0), 8:30pm EDT

IRVING, Texas (Ticker) -- The odds-on favorite to win the NFC faces an early test Monday night, as the Dallas Cowboys host the Philadelphia Eagles in the first of two meetings that likely will go a long way toward deciding the NFC East.

The Cowboys, the conference's presumptive favorite despite losing to the New York Giants in the second round of last season's playoffs, cruised in their opener, manhandling the Cleveland Browns in a 28-10 triumph.

However, just as impressive were the Eagles, who blew out the St. Louis Rams, 38-3.

Philadelphia been a trendy pick to make some noise in the NFC after missing the playoffs two of the last three seasons, and those sentiments swelled on Sunday after the Eagles' potent offensive showing.

Donovan McNabb threw for 361 yards and three touchdowns despite a supposedly bare receiving corps that was depleted by the absence of Reggie Brown, who is nursing a strained left hamstring.

Dallas and Philadelphia split their two meetings last season, with each game encapsulating the clubs' respective seasons.

When the Cowboys were the hottest team in the conference, they had no trouble with the Eagles. In an easy 38-17 victory in Dallas on November 4, Tony Romo threw for 324 yards and three touchdowns, completing 80 percent of his passes as the Cowboys were in the midst of a seven-game winning streak.

But when the two teams met again, the Cowboys began to hit the skids. The Eagles' ugly 10-6 triumph in Philadelphia snapped that winning streak for the NFC East champions, who dropped three of their last four games, including a playoff defeat to the New York Giants.

For the Eagles, that victory represented a sudden upswing for their season. After being mired in mediocrity for the length of the season, the Dallas victory sparked a three-game winning streak as they closed a disappointing season at a respectable 8-8.

Philadelphia is expected to challenge the Cowboys and Giants for the NFC East title - giving added weight to this week's Monday night showdown, which will be the last regular-season game between the team at Texas Stadium. The Cowboys' new stadium will open in 2009.

For the Cowboys, the only bad news in their season-opening victory over the Browns was that Pro Bowl running back Marion Barber left the game in the third quarter with bruised ribs. While he is expected to start against the Eagles, the Cowboys have the benefit of giving extra carries to his backup, Felix Jones.

The rookie from Arkansas, Dallas' top pick in this year's draft, scored a touchdown on his first carry on Sunday and rushed for 62 yards on nine carries overall.