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Full Game Recap: Cowboys 34, Eagles 14
Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - It took over 13 years, but the Cowboys finally snapped their playoff skid, and accomplished the task by dominating division rival Philadelphia for a second straight week.
Tony Romo connected on 23-of-35 passes for 244 yards and a pair of scores in a 34-14 NFC wild card round rout of the Eagles, marking a result that shed postseason trends for both teams.
The Cowboys hadn’t won a playoff game since Dec. 28, 1996, a 40-15 wild card triumph over Minnesota. Six straight postseason losses followed, but with Saturday’s victory the Cowboys gave head coach Wade Phillips his first career playoff win. He had been 0-4 with Dallas, Buffalo and Denver.
Felix Jones rumbled for 148 yards and a score for the third-seeded Cowboys (12-5), who earned a meeting with Brett Favre and the Vikings at the Metrodome next Sunday. Miles Austin added seven receptions for 82 yards and a TD.
Dallas throttled the Eagles, 24-0, last Sunday in Arlington to win the NFC East, and the Cowboys followed up that effort with more impressive defense in the first playoff game at their new stadium, much to the delight of owner Jerry Jones.
The Cowboys held the ball for nearly 40 minutes and forced the Eagles into a litany of mistakes.
Donovan McNabb finished 19-of-37 for 230 yards with a TD and one interception for the Eagles (11-6), who were a No. 6 seed a year ago when they advanced to the NFC championship game before losing to Arizona. Same seed this year, but much different result.
It was the first playoff-opening loss for Eagles head coach Andy Reid. He had been 7-0 in such situations during his first 10 seasons as Philadelphia’s coach, although the Eagles have never won the Super Bowl.
Big play maker DeSean Jackson was limited to three catches for 14 yards and a TD for the Eagles, while Jeremy Malian had seven grabs for 146 yards and a score. Maclin’s scoring catch came from Michael Vick.
Since 1970, 19 teams have gone 2-0 against an opponent in the regular season and then faced that club in the playoffs. It’s resulted in 13 sweeps, including this season between these teams.
- Via Sports Network.
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