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Cowboys can clinch at Eagles' expense

Dec 23, 2008 - 4:54 PM Dallas (9-6) at Philadelphia (8-6-1), 4:15 pm EST

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- In less than 24 hours, the Dallas Cowboys saw their playoff hopes go from flickering to burning brightly again.

The Cowboys can secure a postseason berth with a win at NFC East rival Philadelphia on Sunday.

An unlikely turn of events kept Dallas in control of its destiny despite a surprising 33-24 home loss to the Baltimore Ravens last weekend in the final regular-season game at Texas Stadium.

But less than 24 hours later, the Cowboys were rejuvenated after their two main rivals - Tampa Bay and Philadelphia - for the wild card slot lost.

"We've got a tough one on the road next week," Dallas wide receiver Roy Williams said. "Right now we'll see what happens - see if we're in or see if we're out. We're definitely out if we don't win, I can tell you that."

Philadelphia could not capitalize on the Cowboys' defeat, producing a season-low point total in a 10-3 loss to the Washington Redskins.

Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb finished 26-of-46 for 230 yards as the team saw its three-game winning streak come to an end.

Philadelphia an outside shot at the NFC's final wild card but that would require a victory over the Cowboys and losses by Tampa Bay and Chicago.

"Obviously, everybody wants to get to the playoffs and we still have that opportunity," Philadelphia coach Andy Reid said. "We have a good football team coming in here with Dallas, and it's important that we knock this film out today, be very critical of ourselves, make sure we study it and analyze it, and then come back Wednesday ready to go.

"I would expect that with the character that we have on this football team, that they would do that."

Dallas finally got untracked in the fourth quarter against the Ravens, but following a pair of long scoring drives, Baltimore answered with 77- and 82-yard touchdown runs to repel the comeback attempt.

"Obviously I've never seen anything like that at the end of a game," Dallas coach Wade Phillips said. "We kept fighting back but to have two long runs, when you normally don't give up a long run."

Tony Romo had another inconsistent effort, throwing for 252 yards with two TDs and two interceptions for the Cowboys, who are looking to reverse a dubious trend. The team has failed to post a winning record after November in 11 straight seasons - the longest active streak in the NFL.

In the teams' first meeting this season, the Cowboys won a 41-37 shootout at Dallas in Week Two.