Cowboys vs. Eagles

Get your popcorn ready and your slay bells ringing because this is a HUGE game for the Cowboys. If the Dallas Cowboys win then the Cowboys are the crowned the NFC East Division champions. If we lose the Eagles have a chance of claiming the NFC East Division for themselves. So the Cowboys just need to win this one!

Who isn't ready for a little Christmas day football between the Cowboys and the Eagles? When I saw this game when the schedule was released months ago this looked like the makings of an classic game. Bad blood between T.O. and Donavan McNabb, who could ask for a bigger storyline on Christmas game? Ok, Donavan will be on the sidelines but guess who will be under center for the Eagles? Yep, Jeff Garcia. I'm sure we all remember the clashes he and T.O. had in San Francisco. Well it looks like the hatred will continue on this peaceful and grateful day.

Philadelphia, meanwhile, has been one of the league's biggest second-half surprises, resuscitating a season that looked all but lost when quarterback Donavon McNabb was ruled out for the year due to a torn ACL suffered against the Titans on Nov. 19th. The Eagles have managed to go 3-1 in McNabb's stead, scoring their most impressive victory during that stretch by going to the Meadowlands and stunning the Giants, 36-22, last week.

Andy Reid's team defeated Dallas by a 38-24 count on Oct. 8th, and a second win over the Cowboys would give the Eagles the tie-breaker advantage should the two squads finish knotted in the standings. Philly will clinch at least a Wild Card berth with a win on Monday, while Dallas has already secured its first postseason trip since 2003.

Garcia should be able to make some hay downfield against a Dallas secondary that has been the weak link in the Cowboys' defensive chain of late. One week after allowing the Saints' Drew Brees to gut them for 384 yards and five touchdown passes, Michael Vick and at Atlanta passing attack ranked dead last in the league managed to throw four more touchdown passes against America's Team last week. Let’s hope they step it up or it could be a long Christmas day, which is never bad but lets hope the secondary steps it up.

Philadelphia is most deserving of its reputation of being soft against the run, though the league's 28th-ranked rushing defense (138.6 yards per game) did a nice job against the Giants' tandem of Tiki Barber and Brandon Jacobs last Sunday. The duo totaled 88 yards on 22 combined carries with a pair of touchdowns, with neither breaking off a run of longer than 14 yards. MB3 (marion barber III for all ya’ll) will need to have another great game in order to help the cowboys offense moving.

I feel pretty comfortable about this game but the Eagles are a definite threat. Tony Romo is going to have a big day and lets all sing joy to the world when the Cowboys take the NFC East!

- Big-D Sports