NFL NEWS
Cowboys-Eagles Lives Up To The Hype
Published by MoonDog on September 16, 2008
In what was easily the most entertaining game of the young NFL season the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles put on a show Monday night, a far cry from the typical NFC East slugfests we’ve come to know over the years. In a game that literally came down to the wire, the Cowboys hung on and defeated the Eagles 41-37 in Dallas.
Neither team looked very good defensively, with the respective offenses marching up and down the field in the first half at a break neck pace. While the scoring output was lower in the second half, it was nevertheless just as exciting.
This was a game that quickly became a high-scoring affair, with a combined 54 first half points including two long touchdown passes by Donovan McNabb and Tony Romo. To add even more exictement, the Eagles scored on a botched snap that Romo mishandled early in the second quarter, giving Philadelphia an early 20-14 lead.
The Eagles set the tone quickly on their first possession, marching 44 yards on nine plays to set up a 34-yard field goal by David Akers giving Philadelphia an early 3-0 lead. Dallas came right back on their first possession, needing only 2:24 to retake the lead.
Dallas Cowboys WR Terrell Owens Celebrates a TD vs The Eagles
The Cowboys drove 86 yards in 6 plays capped off by Terrell Owens’ 72-yard touchdown reception from Romo. With the catch, Owens took over second place for most career touchdown receptions, passing Cris Carter with 131.
Philadelphia answered the Cowboys big play with a 10-play, 43-yard drive that ended with another field goal from Akers. From that point things really started to get wild.
On the ensuing kickoff, Dallas’ Felix Jones broke through the middle of the Eagles cover team, easily avoided Akers and raced to the end zone for a 98-yard kickoff return giving the Cowboys a 14-6 lead. Jones’ return was the first for a touchdown in five season for the Cowboys.
After Dallas forced the Eagles to punt on their next possession, the Cowboys took over on their 27. On the first play from scrimmage Romo was hurried into making a poor throw that was picked off by Asante Samuel and returned to the Cowboy 6.
The Eagles only needed one play to score, cutting the Cowboys lead to 14-13.
On the ensuing kickoff, Dallas’ Isiah Stanback mishandled the ball and was tackled at the Cowboy 4. On the first play from scrimmage, Romo lined up in the shotgun and on the center snap, lost of control of the ball three times.
Dallas Cowboys RB Felix Jones Scores on a 98-yard Kickoff Return
Philadelphia’s Chris Gocong recovered the fumble in the end zone and just like that, the Eagles had taken a 20-14 lead with 14:41 remaining before halftime.
On the ensuing kickoff, Jones had another good kickoff return, taking it to the Dallas 44. The Cowboys put together an 8-play, 56-yard drive that ended with Owens catching a 4-yard touchdown pass from Romo.
In what was becoming a shootout, the Eagles scored on their next possession, marching 73 yards in five plays to take a 27-21 lead with 7:38 left before half. The Eagles had apparently scored on the fourth play of the drive when McNabb connected with rookie wideout DeSean Jackson.
Initially it was ruled a touchdown but the replay showed Jackson flipping the ball behind him before he broke the plane of the end zone. None of the Cowboys picked up the ball and by rule, the play was called dead and the ball was placed at the Cowboys 1-yard line.
Each team finished the first half with field goals, with Akers connecting on a 22-yarder with 0:45 left and Dallas’ Nick Folk making a 51-yarder with 0:03 remaining to cut the Eagles lead to 30-24.
Dallas got the only touchdown of the 3rd quarter, using a 9-play, 64-yard drive capped off by Romo’s third touchdown pass of the night, a 17-yarder to Marion Barber to give the Cowboys a 31-30 lead with 5:08 remaining.
The Eagles would answer on their next possession, with Brian Westbrook scoring from 1-yard out. His touchdown capped off an 11-play, 70-yard drive that gave Philadelphia a 37-31 lead with 14:17 left.
With it appearing likely the team with the ball last would win the game, Dallas scored on their next possession, using an 8-play, 40-yard drive capped off by Folk’s second field goal to cut Philadelphia’s lead to 37-34 with 10:29 to go.
Dallas Cowboys RB Marion Barber Scores The Go Ahead TD Against The Eagles
A crucial mistake on the Eagles next possession would prove to be the key play of the game. On the second play from scrimmage, McNabb went to hand off to Westbrook but momentarily pulled the ball away only to attempt the hand off again.
Westbrook never had possession of the ball and Dallas recovered at their 34. That set up the game-clinching drive by Dallas as they drove down the field on a 7-play, 63-yard drive that ended with Marion Barber scoring his second touchdown from 1-yard out.
Philadelphia would get two more chances to win the game in the final 4:35, but couldn’t muster any offense. The game ended with the Eagles attempting a hook and ladder play on 4th down but Westbrook was knocked out of bounds well short of the first down.
It was a tough loss for the Eagles, having played so well despite not having both starting wide receivers for the game. McNabb completed 25-of-37 passes for 281 yards and one touchdown. After the game, McNabb took the loss in stride.
“These were two great teams going at it,” McNabb said. “There are a lot of positives we can take from this game. But that’s not important right now. What we need to do is focus on working on the negatives. That’s going to make us a better team.”
Romo finished 21-of-30 for 312 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Owens had three receptions for 89 yards and two TDs. Tight end Jason Witten caught seven passes for 110 yards.
Dallas improved to 2-0 and is tied with the New York Giants atop the NFC East Division.
NOTES:
Cowboys safety Roy Williams fractured his right forearm while making a special teams tackle. He could miss at least three games.
Williams was hurt when he and Keith Davis combined to hit Eagles return man Quintin Demps during a kickoff.
Jason Witten played through a separated shoulder that forced him to the locker room in the first half.
“Little shoulder pops out and that’s nothing,” Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens said. “It just shows you how tough the guy is.”
Neither team ran the ball very well, with Philadelphia gaining 78 yards on 23 carries while the Cowboys only managed 68 yards on 24 carries.
Dallas continued to have problems with penalties, getting flagged 10 times for 108 yards. The Cowboys were penalized 11 times in their season opener against the Browns.
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CK0712 on Tue, 16th Sep 2008 05:16
WHAT a great played games by both teams, man oh man!!
talk about the edge of the seat the whole time……now that’s football babeeeeee