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Eagles batter Cowboys, claim final wild card

Dec 29, 2008 - 4:28 AM By Vince DiGregorio PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Prior to the game, the Philadelphia Eagles were given a second chance to control their playoff destiny and they took full advantage as their opponent self-destructed.

Donovan McNabb threw two touchdown passes and ran for another as the Eagles scored 41 unanswered points to secure the final playoff spot in the NFC and end the Dallas Cowboys' season with a 44-6 victory at Lincoln Financial Field.

Philadelphia (9-6-1) appeared to have squandered its chance to make the postseason after a 10-3 loss at Washington last week. As a result, the Eagles came into Sunday's contest needing a victory over the Cowboys, an Oakland win at Tampa Bay and a loss by either Chicago or Minnesota in their games.

Just before kickoff, the Eagles received good news when they learned that Oakland won and Chicago lost, putting them in a win-and-in situation.

"I'm very proud of our guys," Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "They very easily could have lost the faith and not prepared themselves right for today."

Reid avoided watching the other games, preferring to let others keep him informed.

"I didn't watch a single snap," Reid said. "Those things rip your heart out when you're watching them. I let other people tell me and I figured the fans would let us know once we got out there.

"I'd also like to thank the Oakland Raiders and the Houston Texans."

Philadelphia then went out and seized control as Dallas eventually unraveled, committing five turnovers, including four fumbles. Two of the fumbles were returned for touchdowns in the third quarter - one for 73 yards by Chris Clemons and a 96-yarder by Joselio Hanson.

"Not much I can say about this one," Dallas coach Wade Phillips said. "It was a disaster from the opening kickoff. The turnovers that haunted us the whole season obviously ended up really hurting us (today)."

Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens finished with six receptions for 103 yards - 42 of which came on a pass thrown by tight end Jason Witten following a lateral - but their offense was repeatedly shut down.

"All I know is, it was one turnover after another," Owens said. "I'm not sure if it was guys trying to do a little too much - trying to get extra yards - but that's the only way I can describe it. The wheels fell off."

McNabb, some of his teammates and Reid had spent the last week answering questions about whether this could possibly be their last game with the team.

"What a perfect time to do it," McNabb said. "When you're playing a rival team like Dallas and things haven't been working well for us and our confidence. To come out here and solidify things at the end of the season and having things work out well for us on the outside, that just shows the resilience of this team.

"We continued to stay together, despite what people may have said about each individual player or coach. We continued to stay hungry."

The Cowboys (9-7) also had their playoff destiny in their hands and needed only to defeat the Eagles, but instead suffered their ninth consecutive loss in a season finale - and sixth straight to Philadelphia in December.

"It's a huge disappointment," Witten said. "There are a lot of expectations, but none higher than what we had for ourselves. When you don't make the playoffs and you finish the season the way we did, there's a lot of evaluating (to be done)."

Philadelphia will open the playoffs at NFC North champion Minnesota next weekend.

"It's an exciting time for us right now, but we can't sit and dwell on this for a long time," McNabb said. "We know we have a tough team ahead of us, a tough task. They have been playing well. ... We know about their run game and their defense. It's going to be a challenge for us, but we're really ready for it and we look forward to getting going."

The teams traded field goals in the first quarter. David Akers connected on a 40-yarder to give Philadelphia a 3-0 lead before Nick Folk answered with a 37-yarder to tie it.

McNabb then scored on a 1-yard sneak and tossed a 4-yard TD strike to Correll Buckhalter to put the Eagles in front, 17-3, with 2:03 left until halftime before the Cowboys started to fall apart.

Tony Romo was intercepted by Sheldon Brown on the ensuing possession, who returned it to the Dallas 42, Adam Jones and Terence Newman committed costly penalties on third down to keep the drive going before McNabb capped it with a 1-yard TD toss to tight end Brent Celek.

"I am disappointed in any player that gets a penalty, especially when it's right before the half and you have a chance to stop them," Phillips said.

Jones then fumbled the ensuing kickoff to give the Eagles possession. Akers came on to boot a 50-yard field goal as time expired to give the Eagles a 27-3 advantage at the half.

"Ten points before the half were big," Phillips said. "It really put us out of reach."

McNabb finished 12-of-21 for 175 yards to help Philadelphia bounce back from last week's 10-3 loss to the Washington Redskins.

"We wanted to come out and defend what happened last week and show it wasn't us," McNabb said. "Today was a total team effort. Things worked out well and we are playing next week."

Romo went 21-of-39 for 183 yards for the Cowboys, who completed another late-season swoon, failing to post a winning record in December for the 12th straight season - the longest active streak in the NFL.

"I wake up tomorrow and keep living," Romo said when asked about dealing with the late-season collapses. "You just keep playing the game. It's all you can do."