COWBOYS BEAT EAGLES 24-0 AND TAKE NFC EAST

The Cowboys have proven during the regular season that they are a better team than Philadelphia.

Now we'll see if they can do it again.

For the second time in three seasons under head coach Wade Phillips, the Cowboys are the NFC East champion. Sunday's 24-0 victory at Cowboys Stadium served notice that these Cowboys, unlike previous versions, have saved the best for last.

Their reward: a return engagement with the Eagles here Saturday night.

Before you fret too much over how difficult it is to beat a team three times in a season, before you have flashbacks to what happened with the New York Giants two years ago, wrap your mind around this: The Cowboys carry a three-game winning streak into the playoffs, making them the hottest team in the NFC. One of those victories came against a New Orleans team that finished 13-3. This one came against a Philadelphia team that rode a six-game winning streak into the regular season finale.

"I think this is the way you need to go into the playoffs," Phillips said. "We certainly couldn't go in on a higher note than we are.

"We know we play Philadelphia again next week, but we have to savor this one right now."

There is so much to savor.

Perhaps you remember how last season ended in 44-6 shambles to the Eagles. It's been mentioned a time or two – or 200 – over the last 12 months. Sunday's result provides a measure of redemption for a team that lost not only that game, but its previous nine regular season finales by an average of 14.3 points.


For the first time in 13 years, the Cowboys finish the regular season with a winning record (3-2) after the Thanksgiving Day game.

"I've said all along I believe in this team, I believe it's a different year," Phillips said. "I think it's played out that way."

This defense is certainly different. A group that allowed 77 points in the final two games of 2008 allowed zero over the final two games of this season.

The Cowboys neutered the Eagles running game, blanketed receiver DeSean Jackson and limited the team's big-strike capability. Philadelphia was 3-of-12 on third down. The one time they did get into the red zone, the Cowboys recovered a fumble to turn them away.

Shutting out Washington, which the Cowboys did one week earlier, is one thing. What the Cowboys did Sunday was blank an Eagles team that had averaged 31.2 points during a six-game winning streak and was playing for the No. 2 seed.

What the Cowboys did was record back-to-back shutouts for the first time in their rich history.

The offense wasn't bad either. Tony Romo wasn't flawless. He forced a pass to Patrick Crayton in the first quarter that was intercepted.

But he finished with 311 yards and two touchdowns while completing passes to seven different receivers. Marion Barber and Felix Jones each rushed for 91 yards. Jones picked up more yards on his 49-yard touchdown run in the third quarter than the Eagles gained on the ground (37 yards) all afternoon.

"Felix Jones is our home run threat," Phillips said.

The Cowboys had plenty of threats this day.

"All of us have a sense of accomplishment," said tight end Jason Witten, who scored a touchdown on the team's opening possession to help put the Eagles on their heels. "We earned this.

"But we're just getting started, and we made that clear together."

Philadelphia coach Andy Reid vowed his team will be ready to play in its return to Cowboys Stadium for the first round. Running back Brian Westbrook said the Eagles, who also lost to the Cowboys 20-16 earlier in the season, "are going to have to wake up and sacrifice."

The Cowboys, meanwhile, allowed themselves a few moments to reflect on this division title compared to the one in '07 and what is left to accomplish.

"This is way more satisfying because in '07, we were just winning," linebacker Bradie James said of that 13-3 season. "It was like a wave. It was so fast, so new.

"This one right here, we earned it. There were times in the year when people counted us out, but all of us stayed together as players and we overcame some things.

"They both are great. The only way it can be more gratifying is to continue to win, to leave no stone unturned."

Story courtesy of www.dallasnews.com