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OPPONENT PREVIEW - PHILDELPHIA
Eagles Will Bring Pressure
by Mike Rabun
The last regular-season game in the first season for Cowboys Stadium will take place on the third day of the next year. And it ought to be a dandy.
Dallas had much to play for in the concluding game of the 2008 campaign and the Philadelphia Eagles, in front of their always passionate and non-forgiving supporters, left the Cowboys quite humbled.
Now the two teams will meet at season's end once more, this time on Dallas' turf, and again there should be much riding on the outcome.
Deadline nuisances keep us from knowing just what the consequences of a win or loss might be, but at the very least the Cowboys will have a chance to sweep the season series from the Eagles for only the second time in the current century.
The Eagles' personality in recent years has been that of a team that plays pressure defense and tries to slug it out on offense. So it might be surprising to learn that only one team in the NFL this season (New Orleans) has scored more points than has Philadelphia.
Barring some misfortune during last week's hosting of the Denver Broncos, Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb will start for the 148th time when he makes his debut in the new stadium. He is the definition of a warhorse.
McNabb has the third-highest winning percentage among active NFL quarterbacks who have played 100 games. He is one of four quarterbacks in NFL history with 30,000 passing yards, 200 touchdown passes, 3,000 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns, joining John Elway, Fran Tarkenton and Steve Young.
He is fast reaching legendary status and, by the by, was sidelined just two games this year despite fracturing a couple of ribs.
McNabb has become more dangerous this year because he has emerging star DeSean Jackson to help him out. Jackson can and has scored from just about everywhere on the field.
Unfortunately, not helping McNabb out much this year is the veteran Brian Westbrook, who has been sidelined most of the season after suffering yet another concussion. He was expected back in time to face the Cowboys, but regardless, his replacement in the backfield has been more than sufficient. Rookie LeSean McCoy rushed for 54 yards while adding another 61 yards receiving the last time these two teams met.
On defense, the Eagles look like they have for years. Under late defensive coordinator Jim Johnson, Philadelphia was in a constant attack mode. New coordinator Sean McDermott, who studied under Johnson for a decade, has not changed a thing.
Against San Francisco two weeks ago, Philadelphia tormented the 49ers with three sacks and three interceptions while limiting them to an average gain of 3.8 yards per pass. It will be up to Dallas to make the Eagles pay when they bring the pressure.
The Cowboys have yet to win what might be called a truly big game in their new digs. New York spoiled the stadium's official unveiling and San Diego won a vital late-season clash. Dallas needs to alter that trend, and this would be a nice time to do it.
The second game the Cowboys ever played in Texas Stadium was against Philadelphia. Dallas emerged with a 20-7 triumph in that contest, one of 13 straight home victories over the Eagles.
KEY MATCHUP
Eagles RT Winston Justice vs. Cowboys LB Anthony Spencer
Justice was thought to be the odd man out when the Eagles signed Stacy Andrews away from Cincinnati to play right tackle. However, when Andrews was slow to recover from offseason knee surgery, Justice was the only option and he took ownership of the position. Andrews remains on the sidelines and Justice has been signed to a multi-year contract extension. At 6-6, 320, Justice is tough on the drive blocks and against physical bull-rushing linemen. His biggest challenge comes from speedy pass rushers, like Spencer, when he can get tangled up with his footwork. Spencer has been coming on in the second half of the season. With DeMarcus Ware often drawing double teams on the other side, Spencer could have a big day if he can use his speed to get past Justice.
Commanders UPDATE
By Sam Iannuzzi
Eagles coach Andy Reid, who recently signed a contract extension that will keep him in Philadelphia until 2013, has more playoff victories (10) than any coach in team history. This is the eighth time the Eagles have made the playoffs since Reid took over as head coach in 1999.
Philadelphia tight end Brent Celek is having a breakout season. Celek, the Eagles fifth-round draft pick in 2007, leads the team in receptions. The effort earned Celek a six-year contract extension that he signed on Dec. 1.
Veteran Brian Westbrook has been sidelined for most of the season with a concussion so the Eagles have relied on rookie running back LeSean McCoy, a second-round draft pick out of the University of Pittsburgh, to do the bulk of the rushing. McCoy has already topped 600 yards for the season, setting the team's rookie rushing record previously held by Correll Buckhalter, who had 586 yards in 2001.
Veteran receiver Kevin Curtis has not been able to stay healthy since having a career year with 77 receptions for 1,110 yards and six touchdowns in 2007. Curtis returned to action against San Francisco after missing most of this season with knee and abdominal injuries. The Eagles kept Curtis on the active roster in hopes he could eventually contribute. The move paid off when rookie Jeremy Maclin was forced to the sidelines with a foot injury.
San Francisco's Frank Gore rushed 16 times for 107 yards in the loss to the Eagles. Gore became the first running back in 24 games to gain over 100 yards rushing against Philly.
With two games remaining, Eagle defensive end Trent Cole needed one sack to tie his career high of 12.5. Cole had nine last season after having a career year in 2007 that led to his first Pro Bowl selection.
Kicker David Akers and quarterback Donovan McNabb are the only Eagle players who have been present for all 11 seasons under Reid.
FOCUS on DESEAN JACKSON
Six wide receivers and two tight ends got the call on NFL draft day 2008 before University of California wideout DeSean Jackson heard his name announced by the Philadelphia Eagles at pick No. 49. However, none of those pass catchers—Donny Avery, Devin Thomas, Jordy Nelson, James Hardy, Eddie Royal, Jerome Simpson, John Carlson, Fred Davis—is having the impact that the dynamic Jackson is for the Eagles.
Rookie skill players usually don't get much playing time under head coach Andy Reid, especially young receivers. But injuries forced the Eagles to move Jackson along ahead of schedule and all he did was respond with a team rookie record of 912 receiving yards to top the mark (869) set by tight end Keith Jackson (no relation) in 1988. He also set Philadelphia's rookie record for receptions with 62.
In addition to becoming one of the most explosive receivers in the game, Jackson has also established himself as the best punt returner. Entering the final two games of the 2009 season, Jackson led all punt returners with a 17.3-yard per return average, including touchdown runs of 85 and 72 yards. Combined with a 68-yard return for a touchdown as a rookie, Jackson is the first player in club history to have three career punt returns for touchdowns.
Jackson got off to an unprecedented start this season when he became the first player in NFL history to record touchdowns of 60-plus yards in the first three games of a season. He had eight touchdowns of 50-plus yards through 14 games to tie the NFL record held by Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch (1951) and Devin Hester (2007).
Jackson is also showing signs of maturity after earning a reputation for showboating at the expense of his team. That and his small (5-9, 170-pound) frame kept clubs from picking him higher in the draft. But, controlled exuberance has been the norm for him this season.
SERIES HISTORY
COWBOYS VS EAGLES
This marks the fourth time Dallas and Philadelphia have met in the regular-season finale. The Eagles have won two of the previous three contests, 44-6, in Philly last season and 23-7 at Texas Stadium in 1988. The Cowboys prevailed, 35-27, in 1980 behind four touchdown passes from Danny White ... Philadelphia clinched a playoff berth with a Week 15, 27-13, win over San Francisco ... With a victory, Dallas can also complete its first season-series sweep of the Eagles since 2005 ... The Eagles and Cowboys have met just three times in postseason play with Dallas holding a 2-1 record. The Cowboys beat the Eagles in the first round of the playoffs following the 1992 and '95 seasons on their way to Super Bowl championships each time.
Eagles Will Bring Pressure
by Mike Rabun
The last regular-season game in the first season for Cowboys Stadium will take place on the third day of the next year. And it ought to be a dandy.
Dallas had much to play for in the concluding game of the 2008 campaign and the Philadelphia Eagles, in front of their always passionate and non-forgiving supporters, left the Cowboys quite humbled.
Now the two teams will meet at season's end once more, this time on Dallas' turf, and again there should be much riding on the outcome.
Deadline nuisances keep us from knowing just what the consequences of a win or loss might be, but at the very least the Cowboys will have a chance to sweep the season series from the Eagles for only the second time in the current century.
The Eagles' personality in recent years has been that of a team that plays pressure defense and tries to slug it out on offense. So it might be surprising to learn that only one team in the NFL this season (New Orleans) has scored more points than has Philadelphia.
Barring some misfortune during last week's hosting of the Denver Broncos, Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb will start for the 148th time when he makes his debut in the new stadium. He is the definition of a warhorse.
McNabb has the third-highest winning percentage among active NFL quarterbacks who have played 100 games. He is one of four quarterbacks in NFL history with 30,000 passing yards, 200 touchdown passes, 3,000 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns, joining John Elway, Fran Tarkenton and Steve Young.
He is fast reaching legendary status and, by the by, was sidelined just two games this year despite fracturing a couple of ribs.
McNabb has become more dangerous this year because he has emerging star DeSean Jackson to help him out. Jackson can and has scored from just about everywhere on the field.
Unfortunately, not helping McNabb out much this year is the veteran Brian Westbrook, who has been sidelined most of the season after suffering yet another concussion. He was expected back in time to face the Cowboys, but regardless, his replacement in the backfield has been more than sufficient. Rookie LeSean McCoy rushed for 54 yards while adding another 61 yards receiving the last time these two teams met.
On defense, the Eagles look like they have for years. Under late defensive coordinator Jim Johnson, Philadelphia was in a constant attack mode. New coordinator Sean McDermott, who studied under Johnson for a decade, has not changed a thing.
Against San Francisco two weeks ago, Philadelphia tormented the 49ers with three sacks and three interceptions while limiting them to an average gain of 3.8 yards per pass. It will be up to Dallas to make the Eagles pay when they bring the pressure.
The Cowboys have yet to win what might be called a truly big game in their new digs. New York spoiled the stadium's official unveiling and San Diego won a vital late-season clash. Dallas needs to alter that trend, and this would be a nice time to do it.
The second game the Cowboys ever played in Texas Stadium was against Philadelphia. Dallas emerged with a 20-7 triumph in that contest, one of 13 straight home victories over the Eagles.
KEY MATCHUP
Eagles RT Winston Justice vs. Cowboys LB Anthony Spencer
Justice was thought to be the odd man out when the Eagles signed Stacy Andrews away from Cincinnati to play right tackle. However, when Andrews was slow to recover from offseason knee surgery, Justice was the only option and he took ownership of the position. Andrews remains on the sidelines and Justice has been signed to a multi-year contract extension. At 6-6, 320, Justice is tough on the drive blocks and against physical bull-rushing linemen. His biggest challenge comes from speedy pass rushers, like Spencer, when he can get tangled up with his footwork. Spencer has been coming on in the second half of the season. With DeMarcus Ware often drawing double teams on the other side, Spencer could have a big day if he can use his speed to get past Justice.
Commanders UPDATE
By Sam Iannuzzi
Eagles coach Andy Reid, who recently signed a contract extension that will keep him in Philadelphia until 2013, has more playoff victories (10) than any coach in team history. This is the eighth time the Eagles have made the playoffs since Reid took over as head coach in 1999.
Philadelphia tight end Brent Celek is having a breakout season. Celek, the Eagles fifth-round draft pick in 2007, leads the team in receptions. The effort earned Celek a six-year contract extension that he signed on Dec. 1.
Veteran Brian Westbrook has been sidelined for most of the season with a concussion so the Eagles have relied on rookie running back LeSean McCoy, a second-round draft pick out of the University of Pittsburgh, to do the bulk of the rushing. McCoy has already topped 600 yards for the season, setting the team's rookie rushing record previously held by Correll Buckhalter, who had 586 yards in 2001.
Veteran receiver Kevin Curtis has not been able to stay healthy since having a career year with 77 receptions for 1,110 yards and six touchdowns in 2007. Curtis returned to action against San Francisco after missing most of this season with knee and abdominal injuries. The Eagles kept Curtis on the active roster in hopes he could eventually contribute. The move paid off when rookie Jeremy Maclin was forced to the sidelines with a foot injury.
San Francisco's Frank Gore rushed 16 times for 107 yards in the loss to the Eagles. Gore became the first running back in 24 games to gain over 100 yards rushing against Philly.
With two games remaining, Eagle defensive end Trent Cole needed one sack to tie his career high of 12.5. Cole had nine last season after having a career year in 2007 that led to his first Pro Bowl selection.
Kicker David Akers and quarterback Donovan McNabb are the only Eagle players who have been present for all 11 seasons under Reid.
FOCUS on DESEAN JACKSON
Six wide receivers and two tight ends got the call on NFL draft day 2008 before University of California wideout DeSean Jackson heard his name announced by the Philadelphia Eagles at pick No. 49. However, none of those pass catchers—Donny Avery, Devin Thomas, Jordy Nelson, James Hardy, Eddie Royal, Jerome Simpson, John Carlson, Fred Davis—is having the impact that the dynamic Jackson is for the Eagles.
Rookie skill players usually don't get much playing time under head coach Andy Reid, especially young receivers. But injuries forced the Eagles to move Jackson along ahead of schedule and all he did was respond with a team rookie record of 912 receiving yards to top the mark (869) set by tight end Keith Jackson (no relation) in 1988. He also set Philadelphia's rookie record for receptions with 62.
In addition to becoming one of the most explosive receivers in the game, Jackson has also established himself as the best punt returner. Entering the final two games of the 2009 season, Jackson led all punt returners with a 17.3-yard per return average, including touchdown runs of 85 and 72 yards. Combined with a 68-yard return for a touchdown as a rookie, Jackson is the first player in club history to have three career punt returns for touchdowns.
Jackson got off to an unprecedented start this season when he became the first player in NFL history to record touchdowns of 60-plus yards in the first three games of a season. He had eight touchdowns of 50-plus yards through 14 games to tie the NFL record held by Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch (1951) and Devin Hester (2007).
Jackson is also showing signs of maturity after earning a reputation for showboating at the expense of his team. That and his small (5-9, 170-pound) frame kept clubs from picking him higher in the draft. But, controlled exuberance has been the norm for him this season.
SERIES HISTORY
COWBOYS VS EAGLES
This marks the fourth time Dallas and Philadelphia have met in the regular-season finale. The Eagles have won two of the previous three contests, 44-6, in Philly last season and 23-7 at Texas Stadium in 1988. The Cowboys prevailed, 35-27, in 1980 behind four touchdown passes from Danny White ... Philadelphia clinched a playoff berth with a Week 15, 27-13, win over San Francisco ... With a victory, Dallas can also complete its first season-series sweep of the Eagles since 2005 ... The Eagles and Cowboys have met just three times in postseason play with Dallas holding a 2-1 record. The Cowboys beat the Eagles in the first round of the playoffs following the 1992 and '95 seasons on their way to Super Bowl championships each time.