Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings: NFL Divisional Playoff Preview

Part 2 (see Part 1 for a preview of Saturday's games)

While the Arizona Cardinals and New Orleans Saints may provide the best theatre in the NFL this weekend, the two most balanced teams go head-to-head in Sunday's early game. The Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings have a lot of similarities, with strength on both sides of the ball. And, although each has talent at skill positions, both teams are built the old fashioned way on a foundation of strong interior lines.

In Sunday's game, the big name offensive players will likely grab the spotlight, but the game will be won or lost in the trenches. Of all the great action this weekend, this contest provides the most compelling match-up for NFL traditionalists due to the overall balance of talent and style of play. Here is my take on what to expect:

Dallas (12-5) at Minnesota (12-4) - Sunday, 1 PM ET

Both the Cowboys and Vikings have something to prove in this year's postseason. The former is desperately trying to reverse fortune and re-establish itself as a championship caliber franchise after going 13 years between playoff wins. The Cowboys took one major step forward by breaking that string with a resounding win over the Philadelphia Eagles last Saturday evening, but feel they have the ingredients and momentum to make a Super Bowl run.

For the Vikings, they continue the organization's quest to bring its first Lombardi Trophy to Minneapolis after several flirtations, whiffing on the team's four trips to the Super Bowl. With the addition of ageless Brett Favre to an already talented cast, fans and players alike believe this could be the year that the Vikings finally break through. Sunday may possibly be the biggest hurdle as they host the white-hot Cowboys who are similarly motivated to realize their potential and by the failings of seasons past.

Favre brings veteran leadership and a swagger to the team that was clearly missing for man years. He also brings a proven playmaking ability that has transformed a run oriented offense into the NFL's second highest scoring team. And, with the emergence of its young receivers, the Vikings have many ways to hurt opponents.

Of course, the team still boasts having one of the best running games in football with Pro Bowler Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor operating behind its hefty offensive line. Peterson is a powerful runner with the ability to break a long run anytime he touches the ball, though this occurred much less frequently this season. Taylor provides a good change of pace with his ability to dart through creases and catch the ball circling out of the backfield.

Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin provide Favre with two athletic, playmaking targets not found in this city since the days of Randy Moss and Cris Carter. Rice accumulated 1,312 yards as the team's top receiver, using his speed and length to haul in passes. Harvin provides a pure explosiveness that earned him this year's NFL "Rookie of the Year." Tight end Visanthe Shiancoe is battling injury, but has been a favorite red zone target for Favre all season.

Wade Phillips and the Cowboys will try to counter the Vikings potent offense by attempting to keep pressure on Favre with four pass rushers. Outside linebackers Demarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer will be instrumental to this tactic as they blitz from the edges. If the 'Boys can get in Favre's face with just four rushers, this will allow them to drop seven into coverage as well as allow inside linebackers Bradie James and Keith Brooking to key on stopping Peterson.

It is likely that Dallas will contain Peterson with their 4th ranked run defense, so expect Brad Childress to eventually turn Favre loose. The Vikings tendency is to attempt to establish the run early; therefore, a key to the game will be for the Cowboys to capitalize and take an early lead. Dallas will also be looking to divert Favre's eyes away from his receivers and towards avoiding pass rushers by breaking down the pocket and getting hits on him.

Like their opponent, the Vikings possess a very stout run defense having yielded only 87 yards per game throughout the season. It appears that Marion Barber will be back in the starting line-up after sitting out most of last week's game with an injured knee. He provides a pounding style and is complemented perfectly with the very speedy Felix Jones. Regardless of Barber's health, expect to see Jones on the field for at least 50% of the snaps due to his home run potential.

The Cowboys are much more likely to come out throwing to avoid wasting early possessions against the Vikings tough run defense. Tony Romo is playing with tremendous confidence and has been one of the league's hottest passers over the second half of the year. Offensive Coordinator Jason Garrett will once again try to exploit the post catch capabilities of Miles Austin and Patrick Crayton with bubble screens and slants.

A large part of the offensive game plan will involve Pro Bowler Jason Witten. The Vikings defense has had difficulty covering tight ends all season, so look for Witten to work the seams early and often. Once the passing game is clicking, Dallas will mix in plenty of draws and delays to slow down the Jared Allen-led front four. Garrett and Romo have been particularly effective in adjusting plays according to the weaknesses of the defensive personnel on the field at any given time.

This will be a hard fought game. I expect the Cowboys to take the early lead and use a similar formula that has made them the hottest team in the NFC. Eventually, Miles, Jones and Witten will break off some long gainers. Conversely, Favre may be finding themselves playing catch-up all day, with the relentless Dallas pass rush getting the best of him at the end of the day. With Favre always a press conference away from contemplating retirement, Vikings fans may go home wondering if the Cowboys took away their best shot at that elusive trophy.

Cowboys 28

Vikings 24

NFL Power Rankings Top 15 Divisional Playoffs

Four teams rested and watched Wild Card weekend by virtue of their well earned byes. Accordingly, the head coaches of those teams should not entail any problems with motivation as the victors stated their case as worthy opponents.

In the NFC, the Cowboys surely got the undivided attention of the Vikings players with another domination of the Philadelphia Eagles. The 'Boys followed their season ending masterpiece with an encore performance that may have been even more impressive. With memories of the Vikings and Saints late season failings, Dallas now appears to be the NFC team to beat and have vaulted up in the rankings.

Of course, a week of rest and "home dome advantage" provide an edge to the Vikings as they host the white-hot Cowboys. And, Minnesota was at least able to recover from a 3-game losing streak in December by crushing the disinterested Giants in the regular season finale, so the self doubt swirling in players heads may have been erased.

New Orleans had looked like the team to beat all season, but questions and concerns have emerged after its own 3-game reverse trifecta to close out the season. The NFL's most prolific offense wilted down the stretch and their defense showed some cracks.

Kurt Warner's and the Cardinals' playoff performance has Arizona fans buzzing about a repeat of last year's magical postseason run and Saints coaches feverishly studying game film. This week has the look of another shootout in New Orleans that could take 50 points again to win.

In Green Bay, Aaron Rodgers has made it easy for fans to forget Brett Favre. Rodgers has clearly arrived as a top flight NFL quarterback and although his team heads home for the winter, they made their case as the best team not still in the hunt. In fact, they are better than some of the teams still playing this weekend.

Like the Saints and Vikings, the Colts closed a highly successful regular season with a dismal finish. Head Coach Jim Caldwell elected to pull MVP Peyton Manning and the plug on a chance at perfection in Week 16. Although most players expressed support of their rookie coach, disappointment was plainly apparent. With the decision and a pair of losses, the excitement of chasing a special place in NFL history shifted to questions whether the team could overcome the nemesis Chargers?

After watching the Ravens dismantle "The Team of the Decade" in the first round, memories of previous season's early exits must be running through Colts players minds. Baltimore possesses a scary defense, a strong running game with the emergence of Ray Rice and a solid second year quarterback in Joe Flacco. A turnover here or there and 14 straight victories to start the season might be ancient history.

Although they ended the season with an 11-game winning streak and jumped to the top of our rankings, the Chargers realize that Sunday's game will be "no gimme." The Jets come to town full of Rex Ryan fueled adrenaline and a lock-down corner in Darrelle Revis who has the ability to disrupt an entire game plan. Charles Woodson had a great season, but Revis should have been the "Defensive Player of the Year."

Based on their lackluster playoff performances, the Eagles, Patriots and Bengals all fall in the rankings. The abrupt ending to their seasons and the manner in which it occurred, have all three heading into the off season with many questions to address. Meanwhile, the other first round loser, has "Cheese-Heads" already counting the days to training camp.

1. Chargers (13-3)- Will be challenged by Jets Reves-led D
2. Colts (14-2)- Can players move past disappointment?
3. Cowboys(11-5)-Ho hum, another Philly route, Vikes next?
4. Saints (13-3)-Looking to end losing ways with shootout
5. Packers (11-5)-Best team out of the Super Bowl hunt
6. Vikings (12-4)-Hoping home dome advantage slows 'Boys
7. Ravens (9-7)- Can they repeat performance against Colts?
8. Jets (9-7)- Ryan has them believing in New York with Reves
9. Cardinals (10-6)-Spell "prolific"- W-A-R-N-E-R, need some D
10. Eagles (11-5)-No more "do overs", season's over
11. Patriots (10-6)-What happened to "The Team of the Decade?"
12. Bengals (10-6)- Crashed after a promising start to season
13. Steelers (9-7)- Pulled out another- but too little, too late
14. Texans (9-7)- First winning season, but no postseason
15. Falcons (9-7)- Strong finish to disappointing season

Deconstructing the Eagles Meltdown Against the Cowboys

As far as predictions go- you get some right, you get some wrong and some you get wrong by a mile. I missed by a mile on the Cowboys 34-14 blowout of the Eagles, but so did Philadelphia's coaching staff.

Last night, I was off the mark by a wide margin when I picked the Eagles to reverse fortune of a few days earlier and find a way to beat the Cowboys in their postseason rematch. Part of the rationale was based on an expectation that Andy Reid and his coaching staff would make key adjustments to combat the things that were working well against them- and to find ways to exploit Cowboys alignments and schemes.

That did not happen to any discernible degree. The Cowboys largely continued doing much of the same things that had been successful last Sunday- over and over. Wide receiver screens, draw plays, quick slants, double coverage to take away the vertical game, etc to name a few. After countless hours of film study and six days to think about it, Eagles coaches could not come up with any remedies.

Although Sean McDermott has done an admirable job stepping in as defensive coordinator several months ago, the past two games highlighted how much the team misses the late Jim Johnson. Watching the continuing horror show unfold over the last week, the little voice in my head kept saying that "Jim Johnson would never have allowed this to happen."

Besides the blow of losing their beloved leader both as a person and as a coach, the defensive unit also lost their field general when Brian Dawkins traded in his midnight green for blue and orange. The disastrous end to the season served to highlight a key missing element this season- namely veteran leadership.

McNabb tried to step forward as a more overt leader on the offensive side, but the defensive unit still had a void. Jeremiah Trotter assumed some of this dearth, but being a specialty player and a late addition, it was not the same. Stewart Bradley might have filled some of the void left by Dawkins, but of course, was lost for the season at the outset of training camp.

As far as McNabb goes, he clearly didn't have a good game last evening. He misfired on some throws, sometimes held the ball too long and often seemed tentative.

That aside, the offensive unit's biggest problem stemmed from the tremendous pressure applied by the Cowboys defensive line. And, by doing that with primarily four pass rushers while the Eagles would use a running back and tight end to help protect him, the receivers were usually blanketed.

Its a simple math equation. No matter how talented or elusive your receivers, three in the pattern covered by seven doesn't provide a whole lot of opportunity.

Another offensive anomaly last night was a game plan that almost totally ignored a seasoned veteran of postseason play and one of the best offensive players in team history. Brian Westbrook did not carry the ball one time and looked pretty darned good on the only ball that came his way- a 27-yard catch and run.

This did not look lost on Westbrook either, as he appeared extremely frustrated standing helplessly on the sideline. I can only imagine how pleased the Cowboys players and coaching staff were to see him used to chip block, run an occasional decoy route as a wide receiver or spectate on the sideline. In my book, this was a horrific coaching blunder.

The team's newest weapon, Pro Bowler DeSean Jackson was also largely missing in action. Unfortunately, he was on the field and in the game, but for the third time this season, the Cowboys shut him down in both the passing and return game.

As an aside, I cringed when I saw footage of McNabb playing air guitar and jumping against the Plexiglass tunnel wall before the game. Personally, I don't have a problem with what he did as he was trying to stay loose and it is his personality to clown around, but I knew that it would surely provide more fodder for his detractors.

Watching McNabb last night, I also could not help but to think if the situation was not a little bit of a self fulfilling prophecy. It is difficult to lead a team to a playoff win in the NFL, especially on the road and against a hot, talented team- but this is especially true when someone is being bombarded with negative thoughts and consequences heading into the game.

Like the offensive side, the Eagles defensive unit suffered from a similar math equation. In order to get pressure on Tony Romo, they would often need 6 pass rushers, leaving 5 on 5 in coverage. After a couple early sacks, the Cowboys found a way to buy enough time for Romo to carve them up, even making Roy Williams look like an NFL receiver.

Any notion that the Eagles simply had an off day and were a little flat a week ago was quickly put to rest last night. Make no mistake about it, the Cowboys dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball in both games.

After being viewed as a strength in the off season, the offensive line has presented major challenges from training camp through last night's swan song. Sixty percent of the group on the drawing board were not in the line-up in Dallas. Leader Jamaal Jackson went down to injury a couple weeks ago, Stacy Andrews has been a major bust and Shawn Andrews tacked another year onto his rehab program.

Philadelphia's normal defensive scheme favors speed over size, but it became an even larger differential when injuries forced them to play smaller linebackers on anticipated passing downs. The Cowboys exploited this for two weeks by playing to the weakness of the Eagles defenders on the field. The loss of Bradley set this in motion due to the loss of his ability to play stout run defense and drop in coverage.

In the Palace in Dallas, the Eagles compounded their plight by turning the ball over, losing the battle of field position and racking up penalties. As bad as the season finale performance may have been, last night's showing was even worse.

Speaking of penalties and bad performances, it leads me to a brief rant about Ed Hokuli and his officiating crew. Apparently they decided that the game should be about them or didn't realize they had back pockets to stow their flags, because they littered the field all evening.

In the "winner-takes-all" NFL postseason format, it is ridiculous for referees to indiscriminately throw flags on every marginal infraction. As Madden would say, "Let the players play." It is doubtful that the outcome would have been different due to the physical mismatch, but it would be much preferable to see the players have a chance to let that play out without 228 yards in penalties.

In conclusion, the Dallas Cowboys proved over the past week that they are clearly the superior team. Besides outperforming Philadelphia in every phase of the game, they thoroughly out-coached them as well. This is a bitter pill for the Eagles and their fans as the late season six-game winning streak and demonstrated offensive explosiveness prior to visiting the Palace had generated high hopes of a Super Bowl run.

Once again, its back to the drawing board. And, this time, it looks like the Cowboys are raising the bar a little higher.

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys Playoff Preview

The Philadelphia Eagles arrived in Dallas yesterday for Saturday night's prime time rematch after being dominated by the Cowboys in a battle for the NFC Eastern Division crown. Sunday night's loss afforded coaches and players precious little time to figure out what went wrong and then to formulate a new plan aimed at gaining a different outcome.

Eagles fans hope that Andy Reid and crew are a quick study as just about everything went wrong last weekend. They also hope to see a radically different game plan because more of the same would not seem to have any shot at getting it done.

This is true, but Reid will also bank on getting much better execution from the players. The most glaring tactical errors and likely changes will be on defense where the Eagles turned soft in the previous game. Contrary to the trademark approach of his mentor, the late Jim Johnson, rookie Defensive Coordinator Sean McDermott chose to back off blitzing and press coverage.

Although every Cowboy, football analyst and schooled fan anticipates a major reversal with the Eagles returning to the attacking style that has made them one of the top defensive units in the NFL over the past decade, predictability is okay. This presents the team's best chance at shutting down the potent Cowboys offense. McDermott learned last week that its not about trying to outsmart your opponent, but rather staying true to the personality of your team.

Dallas Quarterback Tony Romo is playing some of the best football of his career, but still has yet to prove himself in the post season. McDermott and Reid know that keeping pressure on him with a full array of stunts and blitzes forces him to get the ball out quickly, creates the opportunity for mistakes, wears him down and potentially preys on that little voice of self doubt.

Last week, Marion Barber and Felix Jones alternated running through gaping holes blown open by their offensive line. And, Jason Witten continuously found wide open spaces in the middle of the field by exploiting seams in zone coverage and getting free breaks off the line. Better execution and intensity, including linebackers better fulfilling their assignments and jamming Witten at the line will be essential.

Once Dallas got the running game and Witten going, it opened things up for Miles Austin. He did the most damage when Asante Samuel tried to jump a route and did not quite get there. McDermott does not want reckless gambling, but creating turnovers is Samuel's forte and the team hopes for him to snare a Romo pass or two tonight. Another key to limiting Austin will be wrapping him up when he has the ball as he is one of the NFL's best at gaining yardage after the catch.

A goose egg in the last meeting suggests substantial changes may be in order for the Eagles offense, but that is not likely. The team lit up the scoreboard over the first 15 weeks, so the focus will be more on fundamentals such as blocking, making proper adjustments and receivers looking balls into their hands.

The Cowboys defense has been one of the best in the NFL at stopping the run, so expect the Eagles to rely heavily on the passing game as usual, but give some more carries to Brian Westbrook. Michael Vick and the Wildcat will likely make their return to give Dallas something else to think about.

Offensive Coordinator Marty Mornhinweg knows the Eagles' bread and butter is its passing game. Like McDermott, he will chose to play the team's strengths versus do something out of character. Look for them to do a better job with their signature screen game, spread the ball around to its talented arsenal of receivers and connect on a couple shots down the field.

Keys to the Game

Cowboys

1. Contain Jackson again
2. Heavy pass rush to limit McNabb's ability to get the ball down field
3. Romo avoids turnovers and keeps composure
4. Win the battle of field position
5. Play away from strengths of Eagles defensive personnel on field
6. Do not lose turnover battle

Eagles

1. Good start
2. Maintain positive body language and attitude
3. Offensive line needs to better protect McNabb
4. Westbrook ignites the running game and screen game
5. Jackson breaks out after being shut down in first 2 games
6. Defense limits Dallas rushing attack
7. Pressure Romo into misfires and to wear him down
8. Jam Witten to disrupt timing and limit production
9. McNabb needs to forget about the added pressure from media

Prediction

The Eagles will return to the style of play on defense that has helped make them a perennial winner over the past decade and the offense will get back on track. Meanwhile, the Cowboys are filled with confidence and will continue to play well. Expect the Eagles to disrupt Romo and pick off a couple passes. Also, the offense will resume rolling up yards and points through a diversified air attack. I am going against the nagging memory of Eagles seasons ending in disappointment and the overwhelming consensus after last week's blowout for one reason. The Eagles have more playmakers on both sides of the ball and this will show through the third time around.

Eagles 27

Cowboys 24

Can the Eagles Possibly Beat the Cowboys on Saturday?

Now that the dust has settled a little after the Eagles embarrassing meltdown in Dallas last Sunday, all the conjecture and unhappiness about what happened can be put aside. The only thing that matters now is forward looking to tomorrow night's big rematch in the "Mega-Stadium that Jerry Built." Simply put, can the Eagles possibly beat the Cowboys after being thoroughly dismantled by them just days earlier?

It will not be easy and would require a dramatic reversal in every phase of the game, but the simple answer is absolutely. The Cowboys are playing their best football of the season and are brimming with pride. The same could have been said about the Eagles prior to their 3 hour body of work last Sunday which suddenly had them defending their honor and trying to restore confidence.

The bottom line is that the Eagles are very much the same team that many expected to level the Cowboys to lock up the NFC East and # 2 seed just a week ago. The only thing that has changed is they had a particularly horrific performance, failing in virtually every phase of the game. And, of course, this affects human psyche on both sides, positively and negatively. This is especially true for Eagles players as they have had to endure the distractions all week due to the media's trumped up friction and implications about Donovan McNabb's and Andy Reid's futures.

It is also the same Eagles offense that racked up the highest scoring total in team history before heading to Dallas, eclipsing the previous mark set last season as well as the 2004 Super Bowl team. It still features the same young group of receivers, including two speed burners, an emerging star tight end and a sure handed possession receiver. This group is still complemented nicely by LeSean McCoy and Leonard Weaver in the backfield.

What has changed on the Eagles offense is the loss of center Jamaal Jackson to injury. However, on the positive side is the presence of Brian Westbrook, who missed most of the season due to multiple injuries. Now that he has had a couple games to shake off the rust, and possibly allay fears about his readiness to return to action, Westbrook may be primed to re-assert himself as a difference maker.

Of course, the unit is still led by veteran McNabb, who has put together his best season since the 2004 Super Bowl year. McNabb drew an inordinate and undeserved amount of criticism after last week's contest, and it remains to be seen how much those distractions might affect his play this week. The fact that he has never lost a first round playoff game in his career should not be discounted, while Tony Romo on the opposite side of the field is looking for his first post season win, period.

Much has been made of the emergence of the Dallas defense in the latter part of the season. Pitching back-to-back shutouts in the last two regular season games will tend to do that. A lot of the accolades are surely deserved, but it needs to be tempered by the fact that the Cowboys played the woeful Redskins followed by an Eagles team whose troubles were often self-inflicted.

The real wild card for this Wild Card team will be the defense. Rookie Defensive Coordinator Sean McDermott was forced to move players around to fill holes and shore up weaknesses in the depleted unit for a good portion of the season. This creativity was probably mostly a good thing, but may have contributed to the breakdowns in Dallas. The cure may well be to get players settled into their more familiar roles to improve on the overall execution.

Another key aspect will be whether their trade mark aggressiveness returns. Last Sunday, McDermott surprisingly pulled back on blitzing and often deployed a soft zone defense. The safer approach allowed Romo to pick them apart and Witten to roam free across the middle. A return of the Eagles normal attacking style with press coverage seems essential for success.

One other element that was highly influential in the previous game's outcome was field position. Dallas largely played on a short field, while Philadelphia was backed up most of the day. The Cowboys kicking specialists provide this advantage, but a key means to combat that will be for DeSean Jackson to get untracked in the punt return game.

So, yes, this is largely the same Eagles team and accordingly it is surely conceivable that the outcome of the game be reversed. There is no denying that the Cowboys have a strong team, but despite the disaster in Dallas, the same is true of the Eagles. Teams don't fake their way to 11-5 in the NFL.

The 'Boys have "home super venue advantage" and the afterglow of their recent masterpiece on their side. On the flip side, the Eagles post season track record over the past dozen years dwarfs that of the Cowboys. Although last week's game felt like a playoff game, the NFL's year-end tournament begins in earnest tomorrow.

When the NBC camera lights go on tomorrow night, it should not take long to gauge the Eagles chances. A slow start could further fuel doubts and likely have the Cowboys players' confidence soaring. Conversely, the reverse scenario would make last Sunday's events a distant memory. In such case, the Eagles could well surprise the enormous number of pundits who have jumped off their bandwagon and directly onto the Cowboys bandwagon.

NFL Power Rankings Top 15 Wild Card Weekend

The regular season ended with some playoff teams peaking while others limped into the post season. Both the Saints and Colts ended what had been perfect seasons with losses, while the Chargers ran the table with 11 straight wins. As a result, the Bolts have moved to the top of our rankings while the other two wonder whether they can turn things around in the playoffs.

The Vikings ended their 3-game losing skein with the dismantling of a disinterested New York Giants team. Along the way, they regained the NFC's #2 seed when Dallas whitewashed an Eagles team that crashed and burned. Accordingly, the Vikings get a week of rest and then a divisional round playoff game in the Metrodome, while the Eagles need to travel back to "Big D" for a "do over."

The Patriots, Cardinals and Bengals all decided to take the safe route with little to gain. Unfortunately the Patriots lost the NFL's leading receiver when Wes Welker tore the ligaments in his knee. The Ravens and Jets took care of business to hold onto their AFC wild card slots.

The teams that are playing the best heading into the playoffs are the Chargers, Packers and Cowboys. As the Cardinals proved last year, though, that is not always the best predictor of post season success. While the Colts and Chargers appear to be the clear favorites in the AFC, it is conceivable that any of the 6 NFC teams could reach the Super Bowl.

1. Chargers (13-3)- Could be team to beat after 11 straight wins
2. Colts (14-2)- Lost momentum and disappointed players
3. Saints (13-3)-Confidence down heading into playoffs
4. Packers (11-5)-Played to win and keep momentum
5. Vikings (12-4)- Giant destruction helps regain #2 seed
6. Cowboys(11-5)-Feeling great as NFC East champs
7. Eagles (11-5)-Total meltdown in Dallas, set for "do over"
8. Patriots (10-6)-Loss of Welker will be very costly
9. Cardinals (10-6)-Starters back might not be enough for Pack
10. Ravens (9-7)- Have ingredients to be scary in playoffs
11. Jets (9-7)- Great defense and good running game
12. Bengals (10-6)- Rolled over in finale, but still strong D
13. Steelers (9-7)- Pulled out another, but too little, too late
14. Texans (9-7)- First winning season, but no post season
15. Falcons (9-7)- Strong finish to disappointing season

Cowboys and Eagles 24, Eagles 0

It wasn't what they had in mind. After a six game winning streak and the Vikings on the downturn, the Eagles flew to Dallas with visions of setting themselves up for a great post season run. A win today against the Cowboys would earn the NFC East crown, a first round bye and a divisional playoff game at home.

It didn't work out that way. Instead, the team failed miserably in every aspect of the game, turning in an utterly embarrassing effort that landed them the 6th and final playoff seed as a consolation prize. The Cowboys played well, but the Eagles assisted them in everyway to give them a 24-0 cake walk.

Where do we start? It is not an exaggeration to say that the Eagles did virtually nothing well on this day. Instead, even the casual observer could delineate a long list of transgressions that started with an ill conceived game plan, played out with horrible execution and ended with what often seemed to be lackluster effort.

The defense got things back sliding by allowing the Cowboys to stroll down the field for an easy score to open the game. Poor tackling, bad coverage, no pressure and missed assignments enabled Marion Barber, Tony Romo, Jason Witten and company on the way to 7-0 lead on the first drive and then pretty much kept that assistance intact throughout the half.

As if the lack of execution was not enough, it was all aided by a senseless, out of character defensive game plan. Sean McDermott and Andy Reid apparently decided the unit's best approach would be reverse psychology as they went away from their trademark blitzing and stunting. Instead, they mostly played a straight up four man rush with soft coverage throughout the first half on their way to a 17-0 deficit.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Eagles problem was not so much about their usual pass heavy game plan, but rather dropped passes, misfired footballs, fumbles, poor blocking and penalties. The young pair of playmaking receivers, DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, seemingly lost the fearless personas that have helped them to early success. They ran wrong routes, let passes slip through their hands and appeared to be looking for someone else to bail them out.

McNabb missed a golden opportunity in the first quarter when he overthrew an open Jackson on a deep post pattern and threw behind a couple receivers, but was mostly victimized by dropped passes and spotty protection. Brent Celek seemed to be his only reliable target, but he too dropped a would be first down pass late in the game.

While the Eagles were battling themselves and facilitating things, Dallas had no problem capitalizing on it all. The line gave Romo time to alternate throwing strikes to Witten, Miles Austin, Patrick Crayton and others on his way to racking up 311 yards passing. On the ground, Barber and Felix Jones took turns running through gaping holes to each gain 91 yards on the day.

In the post game press conference, a red faced Reid was particularly uncomfortable as his team had just failed in every phase of the game for the past few hours and apparently also the days leading up to it. In the biggest game of the season, the team lacked focus, intensity and almost appeared to be playing scared, reminiscent of the Eagles first Super Bowl appearance. Poor play was compounded by poor decisions such as wasting a valuable first half timeout to avoid a delay of game penalty with the ball inside the Cowboys 40. Or, electing to attempt a 53-yard field goal in the third quarter while trailing 17-0 rather than go for it on 4th and 2. You get the idea- it was an ugly loss, through and through.

The Eagles only saving grace is that they get a "do over" next Saturday night in Dallas. Let's hope this time that Reid and his coaching staff "put the players in a position to succeed," and those players perform like the guys who had won the previous six games. As McNabb pointed out after today's game, everybody needs to bring their "A" game for the playoffs as there will be no more "do overs" from here on out.

Eagles, Cowboys- Winner Takes All

Like a year ago, the Eagles end the regular season against the arch rival Dallas Cowboys in a contest with big playoff implications. Unlike a year ago, both teams have already clinched playoff berths and the NFC Eastern Division title is on the line. And, unlike a year ago, this year's game will be in Dallas at the NFL's Taj Mahal.

Philadelphia fans surely recall, while Dallas fans are want to forget, the 44-6 pummeling that gained the Eagles entry into the 2009 playoffs while sending the Cowboys players home to pack and dust off their golf clubs. The Eagles defense keyed the win by forcing Tony Romo into misfiring on passes and making mistakes. By the end of the first half, the home team had run a 27-3 lead and then added two long fumble returns for touchdowns in the 3rd quarter to remove any doubt.

It would be unreasonable to expect anything similar this season, especially considering that the Cowboys are playing their best football of the year and the game is in Dallas. Both teams know what is at stake and adrenaline will be in abundance. The winner grabs the division crown and will host their first playoff game. A win for the Eagles translates into the NFC's #2 seed, a first round bye and a second round game at the Linc. The 'Boys would need some help to earn that same #2 seed if they were to prevail.

In the team's earlier meeting this season, the Cowboys came from behind to win 20-16 and were aided by some bad decisions. The Eagles squandered time outs and Andy Reid made a regrettable choice to kick a field goal late in the game despite trailing by 7 points. Head Umpire Walt Coleman also contributed by not properly spotting a ball after a Reid challenge on 4th down that should have given the Eagles a first down at mid-field late in the game.

The Eagles appear to be a considerably different team since that early November game. Donovan McNabb and the offensive line were still on the mend, and the young offense was just starting to jell. Since then, the offense has complemented its quick strike arsenal with an ability to methodically move the chains on the ground and via a short passing game. And, Brian Westbrook will back in uniform after sitting out the last time around, while McNabb has asserted himself more overtly as a leader.

Interestingly, the Eagles enter the game as the third highest scoring team in the NFL, while the Cowboys have yielded the third lowest number of points. A strong defensive front seven led by Jay Ratliff, Anthony Spencer, Keith Brooking and DeMarcus Ware makes running tough while supplying plenty of pressure on opposing quarterbacks. In the first game, the secondary effectively shut down the Eagles vertical passing game and will look to do the same again.

Romo has weathered heavy criticism about his ability to play well and win in pressure games. In recent weeks, he has transformed many doubters into proponents with possibly the best stretch of games in his career. In the previous five games, Romo has averaged 310 yards while tossing 9 TD's and only 1 interception.

He will be surrounded by hard running Marion Barber and explosive running back Felix Jones. The Eagles rotation of defensive linemen should keep them fresh enough to prevent Barber from doing damage as the game wears on. Jones does present a different challenge with his speed and could exploit the Eagles penchant for arm tackling in space.

One of the main reasons that Romo has flourished is the emergence of Miles "Yeh, baby" Austin as the team's top wide out. Roommate and close friend Jason Witten still remains his favorite target, but Austin provides another dimension with his ability to get down the field for big gains.

Despite Romo's recent success and improved ball protection, Sean McDermott will try to maintain pressure and force him into bad throws. Particular emphasis will be placed on keeping him inside the pocket since Romo is most dangerous on broken plays when he escapes pressure. Expect to see Tracy White, Moise Fokou and an extra defensive back used to take away Witten and force Romo to look for Roy Williams and Patrick Crayton.

Although this game won't be a blowout, the Eagles should make more big plays on both sides of the ball to prevail. It is doubtful that the Cowboys can bottle up DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin and Brent Celek, especially while having to account for Westbrook, LeSean McCoy and Leonard Weaver. Jackson should break free for a quick score, and with the extra attention given him, both Maclin and Celek will also find the end zone. And, despite Romo's strong December, the Eagles aggressive, ball hawking defense will present an entirely different equation, and should win the turnover battle. Look for McNabb to out duel Romo and the Eagles to end the day as NFC East Champs with a firm grasp on the #2 seed.

Eagles 31

Cowboys 27

NFL Power Rankings-Top 15....Week 16

While one team fell from the undefeated ranks, and another continued in its path of perfection, two teams furthered their upward ascension. The San Diego Chargers doubled down, adding two more wins to extend its winning streak to 10. In the NFC, the Eagles ran their streak to 5, clinching a playoff berth along the way.

The New Orleans Saints were soundly defeated by a Dallas Cowboys team motivated to change its recent late season trend of futility. Along the way, they provided a glimmer of hope to other NFC hopefuls by making the Saints look a little less invincible. The win also restored faith amongst its fan base and positioned the Cowboys for a shot at winning the NFC East if they can win out.

Besides the Saints, the Vikings came back to the pack as well after falling badly for the second time in three games. This time they lost to a struggling Panthers team and had problems on both sides of the ball. Additonal warning alarms were sounded when an ongoing tension between Brett Favre and Brad Childress became publicized after the contest. Although both parties claim to have things patched up, the underlying power tug-o-war surely could surface as the team heads into a post season that now seems a little more treacherous.

The rest of the NFC hopefuls include Arizona, Green Bay and the surging New York Giants. With memories of last year's post season run still present in many minds, the Cardinals can not be discounted despite a disappointingly inconsistent season. Although they lost to the Steelers on the final play in possibly the game of the year, the Packers have the ingredients to be a force in the playoffs. And, many are still not writing off the Giants who have looked unstoppable on offense for the 2 1/2 games.

In the AFC, the undefeated Colts appear poised to run the table depenedent upon their level of caution. They surely are keeping their eyes on the Chargers, who have been their nemisis in years past. None of the other AFC teams appear to have the consistency or balance to threaten either team.

1. Colts (14-0)- Poised for undefeated season if regulars play
2. Saints (13-1)-Cowboys needed the game a little more
3. Chargers (12-3)- Two more wins makes 10 straight
4. Vikings (11-3)-Lost 2 of 3 with Favre and Childress feuding
5. Eagles (10-4)-Offense leads team to 5th straight win
6. Packers (9-5)-Looking strong despite Steelers last gasp win
7. Cowboys(9-5)-Confidence soaring after big win in N'Awlins
8. Bengals (9-5)- Last second loss pales to loss of Henry
9. Cardinals (9-5)-Clinched division, but still up and down
10. Giants (8-6)-Offense rolling keeps them as media darlings
11. Patriots (9-5)-Playoff worthy, but have holes
12. Ravens (8-6)- 79-10 past two weeks, is it them or opponent
13. Broncos (8-6)-Hanging on for playoff spot after 6-0 start
14. Dolphins (7-7)- Tough loss, but still in contention
15. Jacksonville (7-7)-Two tough losses could put them out of race

Eagles Waste Valuable Time Against Cowboys

In a game that neither offense could get untracked, some bad decisions ended up costing the Eagles the game and first place in the NFC East. A few of those decisions were on the Eagles and one was on the officiating crew, but all led to Dallas taking control of the game in the 4th quarter and time running out on the Eagles.

The Eagles squandered their time outs in the second half through their own actions and what appeared to be a bad decision by the officials, then compounded it all with a highly questionable decision to kick a late game field goal and hope to get the ball back. First, the Eagles had to burn a timeout when they wasted time shuffling Donovan McNabb back onto the field to replace Mildcat QB Michael Vick, who came in the game to hand off for a 3-yard gain.

Later, Andy Reid unsuccessfully challenged a third down spot on a pass reception by LeSean McCoy that appeared to have little chance of getting overturned. And, he lost his third timeout challenging a 4th down spot that appeared should have been changed to give the Eagles a first down. Unfortunately, Head Umpire Walt Coleman seemed more intent on backing up his crew than getting the call right, and the Eagles lost both the ball and their final timeout.

This proved to be very costly as the Cowboys promptly scored on a 49 yard pass to Miles Austin to take a 20-13 lead. On the ensuing drive, the Eagles moved the ball to the Dallas 33, but after a one yard loss on a sack, they faced a fourth and 11 with 4:36 left in the game. Rather than go for a first down, Reid surprisingly elected to kick a 52-yard field goal that left them still needing a touchdown. They kicked off and never got the ball back.

The Eagles showed none of the explosiveness that they have displayed throughout the season. The Cowboys kept DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin under wraps all night, with the team's only long play being a 45 yard screen pass to McCoy. The other big play was an Ellis Hobbs 96 yard kickoff return for a touchdown to start the second half, but it was nullified by a penalty.

Once again, the Eagles could not attain any consistency on offense and the Wildcat proved to be a detraction. The formation continues to disrupt the Eagles offense, gains a miniscule amount of yardage and last night cost them a valuable time out. Vick shows little in the way of speed, elusiveness or passing ability. It would seem well past the time for the team to acknowledge their error and keep Vick on the sideline as the emergency quarterback.

The Eagles find themselves once again at 5-3 at mid-season. The big play capabilities in all phases of the game tend to make this look like it is underperforming their potential, but perhaps that is an illusion. They now leave the friendly confines of Lincoln Financial Field, playing 4 of the next 5 games on the road against teams with winning records.

Cowboys Visit Eagles for NFC East Showdown

The last time the Cowboys visited the Linc to face the Eagles was last season's finale. Once again the game carries significance with first place in the NFC East on the line. Last season, a playoff spot was at stake and Philadelphia fans witnessed a total dismantling of the Cowboys as the Eagles won 44-6.

Both teams come into today with their offenses clicking and having won 4 of their last 5 games. The Cowboys seemed to lack belief in themselves early in the season, perhaps a hangover from their disastrous season ending game, but now appear to have regained their "mojo." After being dogged by turnovers, Tony Romo is now playing with conviction and new found confidence, particularly with the emergence of wide receiver Miles "Yeh, baby" Austin.

A little intrigue developed this week, however, as fellow receiver Roy Williams has openly chafed at Romo's ability to get him the ball since he views himself as the #1 receiver. The Eagles would feel fortunate if this would cause Romo to look for Williams over Austin as the former has done nothing to distinguish himself as a top receiver since coming to the team last season.

Speaking of receivers, the Eagles are quickly gaining recognition for having one of the best corps in the NFL. At this point, they possess the most explosive group, which matches up well against a Dallas secondary that is a little shy on speed. Donovan McNabb will once again look to make full use of the arsenal of weapons around him. Reports are that Westbrook will sit out again, so look for LeSean McCoy and Leonard Weaver to share running and pass catching duties. McNabb will surely look to take some strikes down the field with DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, while using Brent Celek in the middle to move the chains.

Romo spread the ball around last week, and with Marion Barber, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice all healthy, expect the Cowboys to do the same this week. The Eagles defense has been vulnerable to tight ends, so Jason Witten will likely be a big part of their offense and might easily ring up 100 yards receiving.

Both defenses rely on a strong pass rush to keep pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Accordingly, expect a few turnovers and some drive stopping sacks. Ultimately, though, both teams should be able to move the ball and a high scoring contest seems most likely.

Expect a seesaw game with the Eagles winning the turnover battle to register some easy points. The Cowboys will use a running back by committee approach and Witten to control the ball on methodical drives, while the Eagles will continue to use big plays on both offense and defense. Although the game will be the challenge from the Cowboys they expected last December, at the end of the day, the Eagles will have sole possession of first place in the NFC East.

Eagles 37

Cowboys 31

The Dallas Cowboys Massive Scoreboard Blunder

Yesterday the NFL office ruled on the (shall we say) slightly embarrassing scoreboard conundrum in the Dallas Cowboys' soon to be opened Taj Mahal of stadiums. If you had not been aware, the issue revolves around the world's largest video screens (containing 30 million light bulbs in total) that make up the scoreboard being situated so low above the field that punted footballs bang into the bottom of it. And, it is noteworthy that the massive structure spans 60 yards from 20 yard line to 20 yard line, hanging over the field like a UFO mother ship. Oops!

Interestingly, after review by the NFL Competition Committee, the NFL gave what may amount to a temporary stay. The league has agreed that the Cowboys do not need to raise the scoreboard at this time, but will rather allow them to play special "do-over" ground rules for the 2009 season. Those rules are something along the lines of a backyard conversation you had as a kid: "If a ball hits the tree in left field, it is an automatic home run, but if a ball hits the big bush in right, it is a ground rule double...."

This is not a good combination for the ultra-precise NFL, which mandates everything from proper conduct after touchdowns to which body parts hitting the ground constitute a tackle to the appropriate way to wear socks. Since the season is quickly approaching, it would seem that this ruling was more a function of time and it is likely that the team will need to resolve the situation before next season.

The whole matter seems a little surreal since one would expect that the budget to build a $1.15 billion state-of-the-art football stadium would include enough money to hire top notch engineers and architects. Apparently, not, but the most unusual aspect of the whole affair may have been the reactions displayed by owner Jerry Jones and GM Rich Dalrymple as they watched the Titans punter boot balls that thudded into the bottom of the scoreboard.

As the two stood on the sideline and watched, they smiled with seeming amusement. This was an odd reaction as you would expect their look to be more along the lines of a ghostly, wide-eyed stare and as if they had each just swallowed a football while witnessing their organization's colossal error in planning. It appeared that their conversation went something like this:

Jerry: "Well, dang, look at that Rich. That ball just hit the Dallas Cowboys Mega-Tron."

Rich: "Yeh, and the ball was still going up."

Jerry: "Shoot, look at that, who would have thought a ball would go that high?"

Rich: "Not me, sir, but I think our punter kicks even higher."

Jerry: "Isn't that funny?"

One last thing, lets hope that the engineers calculated the right amount of support to hold up the massive scoreboard structure since they were a little lax with other things.....

See more on this in yesterday's post "I'm Just Saying....."