PLAYOFF GDT - Cowboys vs Eagles!!! (Wild Card)

[Underdog]

Cowboys Vs. Eagles
Dallas Hopes Three Times Is Charm In Eagles Rematch

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GAME SET
WHAT: Dallas Cowboys (11-5) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)
WHEN: Saturday, 7 p.m. (CT)
WHERE: Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas
TELEVISION: NBC (Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth)

BIG ISSUE: What's on the line here for the Cowboys is quite obvious - not just any playoff win, but their first playoff win since 1996, as well as the first career playoff win for both quarterback Tony Romo and head coach Wade Phillips. Facing a team the Cowboys beat twice this season, including a 24-0 stomping last week, it would seem a smooth ride through wild-card weekend. But hold on - the two times the Cowboys have faced a team in the playoffs that they beat twice in the regular season, they lost. That should be fresh in the Cowboys' minds, since the last time it happened was in 2007 when the New York Giants knocked Dallas out en route to the Super Bowl.

The Eagles know, as do the Cowboys, that they didn't lose last week's game as badly as it seemed. As quarterback Donovan McNabb said, many times the Eagles beat themselves, dropping passes and missing opportunities. This week, that will have to be different if they want to win. Dallas isn't likely to deviate from their defensive game plan much, seeing how well it worked, so if Philly wants to win, they'll have to take what the defense gives them. Otherwise, they'll be sitting at home watching the Cowboys play Minnesota next week.

NUMBERS, PLEASE: For the Cowboys to beat the Eagles a third time, they'll have to continue to start fast, a strategy they've only recently discovered how to implement. The Cowboys have managed to score a touchdown on their opening drive in all of the past three games - all wins - after not being able to so all season. Getting ahead will make the Eagles one-dimensional, which makes them easier to defend.

The Cowboys didn't just stop the Eagles on defense; they shut them down on special teams, an effort which will have to continue Saturday night. Cowboys' punter Mat McBriar and the rest of the punt unit held Pro Bowl returner DeSean Jackson to an average of only four yards on two returns. Eagles kickoff returner Jeremy Maclin only got out of the end zone once, as Cowboys kickoff specialist David Buehler booted 4-of-5 kickoffs for touchbacks.

ONE-ON-ONE: Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson can tweet all he wants about the matchup between him and the Cowboys' cornerbacks, but the most important battle will take place between Cowboys outside linebacker Anthony Spencer and Eagles right tackle Winston Justice. Spencer has come on strong since recording his first sack on Thanksgiving against the Raiders, and finished the season beating Justice for two sacks and two pressures, along with a forced fumble. If the Cowboys want to take away the deep ball, getting pressure on McNabb will be key. And with Cowboys outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware looking to play through a back injury, it will be up to Spencer to continue his stellar effort.

Playing the Eagles for a third time, the Cowboys have to wonder what they can do on offense that the Eagles haven't already seen. One thing could be to get wide receiver Roy Williams involved. Williams was held without a catch for the second time this season, and he puts the blame solely on himself for dropping passes. The Eagles' secondary has seen plenty of Cowboys receiver Miles Austin, but a big game from Williams could knock Eagles corners Sheldon Brown and Asante Samuel on their heels. Williams can justify the trade that brought him to Dallas with one huge performance in the playoffs.

SUPPORTING ROLE: He's baaaaack! That's right, Cowboys fans, after suffering a high ankle sprain/fractured fibula against Green Bay, the meanest, brawling-est member of the Cowboys' offensive line: right tackle Marc Colombo. Colombo has practiced on a limited basis all week, although he should resume his starting duties Saturday night. Backup Doug Free played well, especially against the Eagles last week, and could still rotate with Colombo to provide the veteran some rest. Colombo is sure to have some rust, but one thing's for sure - his mean streak is still in great shape.

Five carries for 17 yards? Four catches for 20 yards? Does that sound like the Brian Westbrook the Cowboys are used to seeing? Not at all, and don't expect Westbrook to have such a quiet game this time around. After coming back from injury two weeks ago, the Eagles have slowly brought the running back along, but now, with everything on the line, it's time for him to go full speed. Jackson may be the Eagles' big-play threat, but Westbrook is their most versatile player. If the Eagles are going to try something different on offense, it's a safe bet Westbrook will be involved. The Cowboys will have to know where he is at all times.

HEADSET GAMES: What more can the Cowboys do defensively compared to last game? Not much, and they really shouldn't try to change it up. The Eagles live and die by the big play, and the Cowboys were quite happy to take that away last week, an effort they hope to duplicate. Where the Dallas defense was vulnerable was in the middle of the field, especially on crossing routes - by pulling their safeties back, the Cowboys left the underneath stuff open. Dallas could do a better job of covering Eagles tight end Brent Celek, who had seven catches for 96 yards last week, but they'll take Celek having a ton of yardage but no touchdowns over Jackson and Maclin torching them on deep passes.

Unlike the Cowboys, the Eagles have to do something different on defense. Romo and the Cowboys already have an idea of what that will be - blitzing. Romo predicted the Cowboys will likely see every blitz ever invented from Philadelphia, but knowing what's coming is useless if you can't stop it. Romo has become more adept at beating the blitz over the last three years, and he'll have to make the Eagles pay with well-timed passes when they sell out to pressure him.


HEALTH WATCH:

Cowboys
Questionable -- Backup safety Pat Watkins (knee). Probable -- starting running back Marion Barber (knee), backup running back Tashard Choice (concussion), starting right tackle Marc Colombo (ankle), starting corner Terence Newman (knee), starting strong safety Gerald Sensabaugh (thumb), starting outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware (wrist/back).

Eagles
Probable -- backup wide receiver Jason Avant (knee), backup wide receiver Reggie Brown (shoulder), starting tight end Brent Celek (knee), starting center Nick Cole (knee), backup safety Quintin Demps (ankle), starting guard Max Jean-Gilles (ankle), starting right tackle Winston Justice (ankle/knee), starting wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (thumb/foot), starting defensive end Juqua Parker (ankle), backup cornerback Dimitri Patterson (knee), wildcat quarterback Michael Vick (quadriceps).

[Underdog]

“Hit them in the mouth, bloody their nose, throw them to the ground and step on their throat!” - Keith Brooking

[Flacolaco]

I'm predicting...

35-10

[Rick41]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vUAS_2zCMQ

Someone show this tube video to the Cowboys before the game.

Eagles employee spitting on the mid field... TWICE!!

[Dirkadirkastan]

*sigh* I guess I'll put the game on mute on the second TV, just because all my virtual friends care about it so much.

[Thespiralgoeson]

If Colombo starts tonight than Wade should be shot.

[craggmac]

link anybody?

[Jon Avalon]

Doh false start, great way to start the game.

[alexamenos]

I hope the 'boys aren't choking as bad as I am. I'm in a bad way.

[Windmill360]

i like choice's ferocity. BEASTING

[Jon Avalon]

Wow nice wildcat play & 3 headed attack on this drive.

[Jon Avalon]

Come on WIT??!?! that's two flags in a row.

[Windmill360]

F U hockey-lee

[alexamenos]

Damn penalties.

[Jon Avalon]

Grrrr there should of been a score on that drive, stop the penalty's please!.

[Windmill360]

Here's where mcflabb will try to air it out for large bombs.

[Jon Avalon]

GAH 2 sacks already, lets go O-line.

[Windmill360]

wealp the eagles defense has improved a lot from the last game.

the longer the game continues like this the better the chance of the eagles winning. We gotta start converting these drives. Last game both of those drives would have ended in a score.

[Thespiralgoeson]

I f**king hate Jason Garrett.

[Jon Avalon]

Sh*t come on Hamlin

[alexamenos]

The steak I cooked tonight was perfect. That's usually a good omen.

[Windmill360]

Bout time they throw a flag worth a sh*t

[Jon Avalon]

Damn that would of been a sweet play if he caught that, but thank god for the pass interference.

[Windmill360]

PHILIPS!!!

[Jon Avalon]

TOUCHDOWN PHILLIPS!!!!!

[alexamenos]

td mother ____________!!!

[Jon Avalon]

Damn oggletree!!!! nice hit

[Windmill360]

lol that's all it takes

[Jon Avalon]

WTF are you kidding me? Vick throws for TD?

I had a feeling we might see that in this game, GRRRR cannot let that happen again. That could be a killer tonight if we are not prepared to stop it.

[Jon Avalon]

Romo intercepted, UGH!

[alexamenos]

S

[Thespiralgoeson]

If Roy keeps playing like this, I'll forgive the sh*tty season he's had.

[Jon Avalon]

TD Choice!

[Flacolaco]

Game over.

Back to the mavs

[alexamenos]

Challenge of the year.

[alexamenos]

I love Roy Williams.

[Jon Avalon]

Fumble!!! boys recover.

[alexamenos]

Carpenter and Williams making plays!!!

[Jon Avalon]

MILES!!!!!!!!

[Jon Avalon]

Fumble again baby!!!!!