Whenever the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys play each other, it’s more than just another game. Eagles-Cowboys rivalry is the most legendary, hateful battle in sports.
There is no team that Eagles fans dislike more than the Dallas Cowboys, because of their annoying superiority complex. Any victory over Dallas is a cause for celebration and some victories are sweeter than others.
So here, in descending order, are Philly’s 7 best moments in the Eagles-Cowboys rivalry. (WARNING: This Eagles-Cowboys rivalry list may or may not be a bit biased)
7. Donovan McNabb to Freddie Mitchell (14-second scramble)
In 2004 The Philadelphia Eagles were up 14 on the Cowboys with 3:09 left in the second quarter when Donovan McNabb took a third-and-10 snap from the Eagles’ 25-yard line. Cowboys defensive tackle Leonardo Carson broke free and grabbed McNabb’s jersey, but he didn’t stand a chance. McNabb slipped away like he did so many times in his career, and the rest is history.
After the legendary 14.2-second scramble, Mcnabb heaves it to the always sure-handed Freddie Mitchell – AKA: Fred-Ex, AKA: Peoples Champ, AKA: Sultan of Slot.
6. Troy Aikman Sacked 11 Times
In 1991 the Philadelphia Eagles humiliated the Dallas Cowboys with a 24-0 victory led by Clyde Simmons who had 4 1/2 sacks. The Birds ultimately sacked Troy Aikman a record-breaking 11 times for 67 yards in losses for the Cowboys. Dallas only put up a total of 45 yards passing, along with three Aikman interceptions.
5. Emmitt Smith STACKED UP… 2x
On December 10, 1995, The Eagles’ 20-17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys was highlighted by two huge goal-line stops. It was bitterly cold with a wind chill of -7, and Dallas had a 14-point lead before the Eagles tied it in the fourth quarter. With a little more than two minutes to play, Dallas faced fourth-and-inches from the 29-yard line. Coach Barry Switzer tried to run for the first with Emmit Smith TWICE and lost both times.
After Smith was stacked up for the first time, officials ruled the two-minute warning sounded before the snap, so Dallas got another shot. But that didn’t matter, the Eagles stuffed Smith for a second time and that led to Gary Anderson’s game-winning, 42-yard field goal, which eventually propelled the Eagles to a wild-card berth in Rhodes’ first season.
4. Pickle Juice DUCE
On September 3, 2000, the Philadelphia Eagles marched into Texas Stadium on the first game of the NFL season, drank some pickle juice and jumped on the back of Duce Staley as they smashed the rival Dallas Cowboys. It was 105 degrees and the Eagles players were given pickle juice which kept them from cramping up and overheating, but the Cowboy players weren’t quite so lucky, and they definitely couldn’t take the heat.
After Andy Reid surprised everyone with an onside kick to begin the game, the tone was set as the Eagles marched their way to a 41-14 victory. Never too cold for an Eagles-Cowboys rivalry game.
3. The 44-6 Playoff Birth Beatdown
On December 28th, 2008, everything had to go right for the Eagles to make the playoffs. Then the unthinkable happened… the Raiders came from behind in the fourth quarter to upset the Bucs and the Texans beat Bears. That opened the door for a potential Win-and-In against rival Dallas Cowboys. They not only beat the Cowboys, they smashed them into a bloody pulp in order to ensure a playoff birth.
Terrell Owens was also a Cowboy at the time, which made this game even bigger. The Philadelphia Eagles embarrassed the Dallas Cowboys with 24 points in the 2nd quarter alone, and never let up the rest of the game. Final Score: Eagles 44, Cowboys 6.
2. Eagles/Cowboys Bounty Bowl
In 1989 the Eagles destroyed the Dallas Cowboys 27-0. Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson was so mad with Buddy Ryan running up the score after a fake kneel play by Randall Cunningham. Johnson actually alleged that Eagles’ coach had taken out a $200 bounty on his kicker Luis Zendejas and quarterback Troy Aikman. Zendejas left the game after a hard hit by linebacker Jessie Small. Waaaah. Cowgirls.. am I right?
Philly fans were so incensed by Johnson’s comments that they returned the love two weeks later in Bounty Bowl II in Philadelphia. As Johnson left the field he was pelted with snowballs, chunks of ice, beer and anything else the fans could throw.
“America’s Team,” as the Cowboys were called back then, was no match for the Eagles in 1989.
1. 1980 NFC Championship Game
On January 11th, 1981, it was the NFC Championship game at the Vet between the Philadelphia Eagles and the hated Dallas Cowboys. With temperatures -9 and the Philly crowd ready to explode… the Birds felt right at home during this Eagles-Cowboys rivalry game.
Bill Bergey even remembers thinking: “There is no way were going to lose this game.”
On their first offensive series, Wilbert Montgomery broke loose for a 42-yard touchdown run, and that was just the start of his day (194 yards) and the end of the Dallas Cowboy season. The Eagles defense held the Cowboys to just 11 first downs and forced four turnovers in a 20-7 victory. The Eagles won 20-7 but as Bergey said later: “In terms of physical play, the hitting part of the game, it was more like 42-0.”
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