Battle for the East: Dallas Cowboys Vs. Philadelphia Eagles Preview

11 weeks ago, the Dallas Cowboys lost a game of high emotions and even higher intensity to the archrival Philadelphia Eagles. Dallas before they could even blink fell behind quickly as a result of costly turnovers and missed opportunities. Dallas would fight back but Philadelphia clearly wanted the game far more. And yet, despite being one of Dallas's worst performances of this year, this still had a chance to win it in the closing seconds. Philadelphia topped Dallas 38-24 in an ugly win.

But in a lot of ways, that game was also the beginning of the end for both the Cowboys' and the Eagles' starting quarterback. Dallas's Drew Bledsoe had a miserable performance, constantly turning the ball over, including an interception in the end zone to help Philadelphia seal the win. Bledsoe was largely blamed for the lost afterwards. This led to Bledsoe eventually be replaced by Tony Romo. For Donovan McNabb, his luck wasn't much better. His masterful performance against Dallas would prove to be his last great game of the season. Philadelphia would lose their next three games. Then during a humiliating lost to the Tennessee Titans, the Eagles also lost McNabb for the season.

For the Dallas Cowboys, however, replacing Drew Bledsoe for long time back up Tony Romo proved to be a stroke of genius by Dallas Coach Bill Parcells. Since his first start against Carolina, the Cowboys went 6-2 and are now leading the NFC East as well as clinching a playoff berth. The Philadelphia Eagles also have been reborn it seems. After McNabb suffer his season, many (including myself I admit) had written off the Eagles of having any hope of the playoffs. But quarterback Jeff Garcia, since starting for McNabb, has thrown for 9 touchdowns and only 1 interception and more importantly lead his team to 3 straight wins. Behind Garcia's brilliant play and Brian Westbrook's over 1,000 yards rushing for the year, the Eagles, if they win their final two regular season games, will not only make the playoffs but they'll win the NFC East.