Sunday afternoon, one of the NFL’s great rivalries adds another chapter to a long and colorful history. The Philadelphia Eagles will host their nemeses the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field with the NFC East on the line.
That’s a common stipulation in the late-season meetings between these two teams. While the franchises have been excellent for spells, this is perhaps the first time in the six decades of competition the rivals are equally talented and evenly matched.
Eagles vs Cowboys Odds – NFL Week 16
Eagles Cowboys Odds – LIVE FEED:
Dallas is currently a slight favorite in a do-or-die game on the road at many NJ online sports betting sites. Philly needs this win to maintain their pursuit of a third straight playoff appearance and salvage a season that started with lofty expectations.
Carson Wentz will seek his first win at home against Dallas in a game that matters with a short arsenal. Think the Eagles Cowboys odds will change since Dak’s new injury?
Before the game kicks off, let’s take a look back at three of the biggest wins the Eagles earned in this series:
3. December 25, 2006: Eagles 23, Cowboys 7
The schedule makers in the NFL did Philly no favors in 2006. The Eagles became the first team to play three consecutive divisional games on the road in Weeks 14-16. They did so after Donovan McNabb’s second consecutive season-ending injury.
Jeff Garcia led the Eagles to three consecutive wins but they were still dogs to Dallas, now helmed by Tony Romo. Somehow Philly clawed their way into the playoff picture from 5-6 and faced their rivals in a winner-take-all game.
The Eagles struck first as Garcia found Matt Schobel for a 25-yard score. Dallas countered an Eagles field goal with a long TD to Terrell Owens. However, Garcia’s high-tempo offense (remember how much more urgency he used to show compared to McNabb?) marched down the field in half a minute for another field goal and a 13-7 halftime lead.
The Cowboys tried to come back from a 16-7 deficit but couldn’t sustain their offense. Romo threw two interceptions, one that became the final scoring drive of the day capped by a Correll Buckhalter TD, the other a signature moment for Brian Dawkins that probably ruined Christmas in Big D (and all those families who cheer for Dallas in other cities just to piss off local fans).
The Eagles won the NFC East and a wildcard game against the Giants. The Cowboys also made the playoffs but lost in Seattle when Tony Romo botched the hold on a potential game-winning field goal.
2. December 28, 2008: Eagles 44, Cowboys 6
There was little hope for Eagles fans that they could make the playoffs in 2008. The up-and-down season with the infamous tie in Cincinnati would need three teams ahead of them to drop if it were to continue in the playoffs.
The late kickoff actually favored Philly. The fans and team saw Tampa and Chicago fall in early action. This makes Cowboys-Eagles the play-in game for the NFC’s final wild-card spot.
With the Linc rocking, the teams traded field goals in the first quarter. Philly took over in the second quarter with three TDs from Donovan McNabb (two thrown, one run in). After Dallas fumbled a kickoff, David Akers turned that into a field goal for a 27-3 Eagles advantage at half time.
Dallas’ playoff chances fell apart in an epic meltdown fueled by five turnovers. Two of those were returned for defensive touchdowns in the second half. If Twitter were more popular back then, it would have been an absolute social media bloodbath.
On that momentum, the Eagles won two more road games in the playoffs before losing the conference title game in Arizona.
3. January 11, 1981: Eagles 20, Cowboys 7
The rivals have met four times in the playoffs. The home team has won each game. The only time it’s been in Philly, the Eagles made it count.
After Dallas won the wild-card round and upset top-seeded Atlanta (ask your dad if you have never heard of Steve Bartkowski or the Grits Blitz), they secured a date in Philly to play for their sixth Super Bowl appearance. The Eagles won their way in with a divisional-round win over the Vikings.
It was a bitterly cold day in Philadelphia. Neither Danny White nor Ron Jaworski could throw effectively. The day belonged to Wilbert Montgomery, who opened the scoring with his iconic 42-yard run through the Cowboys defense. Dallas responded with a long drive in the second quarter, capped by a Tony Dorsett touchdown.
After halftime, turnovers began to plague the Cowboys. A muffed punt gave Philadelphia a short drive for the go-ahead field goal in the third. A Dorsett fumble on the ensuing drive in Eagles territory set up the game’s final touchdown, a rush from Leroy Harris. A short Tony Franklin field goal set the final score.
Philadelphia would lose Super Bowl XV to Oakland. The Cowboys would lose the following two NFC title games and not make their sixth Super Bowl for over a decade.
