For the Cowboys, the victory was sweet because it eliminated all recent talk about the team’s inability to win in the playoffs—something they had not done since December 28, 1996.
According to www.dallascowboys.com, Dallas head coach Wade Phillips admitted how important the win was. “It’s important there, but I think more for this team and our fans where we don't have to hear we haven't won a playoff game in a long time.”
Third-seeded Dallas will now travel to Minnesota to face the second-seeded Vikings at the Metrodome next Sunday in the NFC divisional round. Next week’s game will exhibit arguably the postseason’s hottest defense in Dallas, against one of the league’s hottest offenses in the regular season with the Vikings.
The Cowboys came into this wildcard matchup fresh off their 24–0 dismantling of the Eagles a week prior and had plenty of momentum on their side.
After a scoreless first quarter, the ‘Boys and Eagles traded quick touchdowns to start the second. Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo hit tight end John Phillips for a 1-yard touchdown. Philadelphia came right back after versatile quarterback Michael Vick hooked up with rookie receiver Jeremy Maclin for a 76-yard catch-and-runtouchdown. But after that, it was all Dallas.
The Cowboys scored 20 more points before the half was over, including a 6-yard pass to New Jersey native Miles Austin. For Dallas, the 27 second quarter points were the most scored in a single quarter by any Cowboys team in franchise history.
Dallas’s defense also came up huge in the second quarter, forcing two turnovers, the last of which was followed by the Miles Austin touchdown.
In the third quarter, the Cowboys struck again after speedy running back Felix Jones dashed for a 73-yard touchdown run, increasing their lead to 34–7.
Romo finished the game completing 23 of 35 passes for 244 yards with two TDs. Felix Jones rushed for 148 yards on 16 carries with one touchdown.
Romo commented after the team’s victory, stressing how proud he was of his teammates’ effort. “It makes me proud of the guys in there, for them fighting, grinding, and staying committed,” he said.
The Cowboys defense made one last emphatic statement in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter after defensive end DeMarcus Ware sacked Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb and caused the team’s third fumble. Dallas recovered and the game was essentially sealed.
Just as they had done in the last two meetings, Dallas dominated the line of scrimmage, sacking McNabb four times and outgaining Philly 198 to 56 yards rushing.
Special teams play was also a factor in the game. The Cowboys won the advantage in field position, allowing the Eagles to cross midfield only 5 times out of 13 possessions.
Eagles head coach Andy Reid was blunt after the game, “They [Cowboys] were better all the way around, in every phase.”
On A Hot Streak
Since beating the New Orleans Saints during Week 15 in a must win game, the Cowboys have been red hot, sweeping the Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles to close out the season—and winning three in a row against Philly including the wildcard. They will now take their hot streak on the road against Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings.
Vikings quarterback Brett Favre has an 0–3 lifetime playoff record against the Cowboys.
Game Time: Cowboys at Vikings, Sunday, Jan. 17, 1 p.m. EST.
Cards Outlast Packers in OT
After an all-out shootout, the fourth-seeded Arizona Cardinals hung on to defeat the fifth-seeded Green Bay Packers 51–45 in overtime in the NFC’s second wildcard matchup at University of Phoenix Stadium on Sunday.
The game was one of the highest-scoring matchups in playoffs history, with each quarterback throwing for over 300 yards passing and nine touchdowns combined.
Arizona led most of the game but the Packers never gave up. Behind quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the Pack eventually evened things up at 38–38 in the fourth quarter but the playoff-experienced Cards would eventually get the better of the young Packers in overtime, when linebacker Karlos Dansby returned a fumble for 17 yards and the winning score.
Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner was an absolute gunslinger. The savvy veteran finished the game completing 29 of 33 passes for 379 yards and five touchdowns. Two out of those five touchdown passes went to All-Pro receiver Larry Fitzgerald in the second quarter.
Despite the loss, Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers also had an incredible outing. Making his first start of the postseason, Rodgers distributed the ball evenly, throwing four touchdown passes to four different receivers. He finished the game completing 28 of 42 passes for 422 yards with four touchdowns, and one interception. Rodgers also scrambled for a 13-yard touchdown run.
Game Time: Cardinals at Saints, Saturday, Jan. 16, 4:30 p.m. EST.
