The Philadelphia Eagles gave their fans the perfect Christmas present on Monday, clinching a playoff spot with a 23-7 win over the Dallas Cowboys. The New York Jets were also in festive mood after Mike Nugent's field goal with 10 seconds left gave them a 13-10 win over the Miami Dolphins, keeping their post-season hopes alive. New York (9-6) can clinch an AFC wild card spot if they beat Oakland (2-13) in their final regular season game.
The Eagles improved to 9-6 with their win, securing at least an NFC wild card spot. They also have the chance to claim the NFC East title for the fifth time in six years with a win over the Atlanta Falcons in their regular season finale. The Cowboys (9-6) had already secured a playoff berth but to win the division they must now beat the Detroit Lions and hope the Eagles fall to the Falcons.
Written off as playoff no-hopers after a season-ending injury to Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb, the Eagles have soared to unexpected highs behind backup Jeff Garcia who directed Philadelphia to their fourth straight win. Philadelphia's victory also touched off celebrations in New Orleans as it assured the Saints of the number two seed in the NFC and a first-round playoff bye. The Eagles seized control quickly with Garcia engineering an 89-yard drive capped off by a 25-yard touchdown strike to Matt Schobel on their opening possession.
David Akers followed up with a 25-yard field goal in the second quarter before Dallas hit back with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Tony Romo to Terrell Owens, trimming the deficit to 10-7. But that was all the points the Cowboys could muster, while Philadelphia's Akers added two more field goals and Correll Buckhalter sealed the win with a one-yard touchdown plunge late in the fourth quarter. "These guys play the game with energy and enthusiasm with a certain hunger," Garcia told reporters.
"I think you learn from the past, from the experiences you have been through and you turn things around in a positive way." While Owens accounted for the Cowboys' only touchdown, the outspoken receiver was again quick to express his unhappiness at the number of times he was thrown to. "I need to get involved earlier in the game instead of late in the game," complained Owens, who finished with two catches for 23-yards but had several dropped passes.
"That's what I've been doing throughout my career. Everybody knows that's what I do. "Every team I play on I've been involved early and often.
" After a scoreless first half in Miami, Chad Pennington connected with Jerricho Cotchery on a 32-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter and Nugent booted a game-winning 30-yarder with just seconds to play to give the Jets the win. Nugent also kicked a 22-yarder in the third, while Miami's points came from the boot of Olino Mare and a seven-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Cleo Lemon to Randy McMichael. Lemon had replaced the struggling Joey Harrington at the start of the second half.
With their playoff destiny now in their own hands, the Jets' win dealt a blow to the playoff hopes of Cincinnati, Tennessee, Jacksonville and Kansas, who all sit on 8-7 heading into the final weekend of the regular season.
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