Take a look around the NFC. Why can't the Cowboys be the best team? But all of Philadelphia is asking the same question these days - why not the Eagles?
Left for dead with a 5-5 record when Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb suffered a season-ending knee injury Nov. 19 against Tennessee, the Eagles have rallied to put themselves in position to achieve their primary goal of 2006 - to win an NFC East title.
The Eagles rebounded behind veteran Pro Bowl quarterback Jeff Garcia to win three of their last four games, including a stunning 36-22 road triumph over the New York Giants on
Sunday, to set up a showdown for the NFC East lead Christmas night against the Cowboys.
The Cowboys lead the East with a 9-5 record. The Eagles are a game back at 8-6. But the Eagles won the first meeting between the two teams in October in Philadelphia.
Another Philadelphia victory over the Cowboys would tie the teams for the NFC East lead at 9-6 - but the Eagles would hold the tie-breaker on the strength of a season sweep of the Cowboys.
The NFC East champion will have at least one home game in January and possibly a first-round bye. And if you get into the playoffs in the NFC, you've got a shot.
Take a look at how the mighty have stumbled.
Chicago, the top seed in the NFC, blew a 14-point fourth-quarter lead at home Sunday against one of the worst teams in the conference. The Bears survived on a Robbie Gould field goal in overtime, defeating the 3-11 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 34-31.
Does Chicago scare anyone?
New Orleans, the second seed in the NFC, fell behind at home to hapless Washington early and stayed behind the rest of the way Sunday in losing to the 5-9 Redskins, 16-10.
Does New Orleans scare anyone?
So why not the Cowboys? Why not the Eagles? Check back with me on Dec.
26.
2006, The Dallas Morning News.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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