Rivalry Series; Eagles vs. Cowboys

The NFC East is known for a lot of things. They have a history of success with nine Superbowl championships between the four teams. The games have been some of the most intense and exciting games that any fan, of any team would enjoy watching. But maybe more than any other division, they have some of the most storied rivalries. Today we start the rivalry series, breaking down memorable moments in the Eagles/Cowboys rivalry…

As an on school fan off WWF/WWE wrestling, I've noticed that a lot of their phrases and lines work very well when describing football.

Any 1990s wrestling fans know, whenever "Stone Cold" Steve Austin walked down that ramp, you would hear Jim Ross simply state, "Business is about to pick up!"

That's how I feel when I see the Cowboys and Eagles about to kickoff.

For those of who who’ve followed these games, you know the feeling. That feeling that you’re unsure what exactly is about to take place. But whatever it is, you know it’s about to be big.

These two have had historic games against one another. From accused bounties on players, to injuries that caused the collapse of a dynasty, there are games that will forever be etched in the minds of Cowboy fans, Eagle fans, and football fans alike.

As of this writing, the Cowboys hold the record over the Eagles with 55 wins, and 43 losses (including playoffs). Below are just a few moments to think about in their epic rivalry:

Controversy

Buddy's Revenge (1987): Fuming over Tom Landry's decision to run a reverse in the Cowboys' 41-22 blowout win two weeks earlier, Eagles head coach Buddy Ryan retaliated near the end of Philadelphia's victory at the Vet. Leading comfortably 30-20, quarterback Randal Cunningham intentionally ran up the score by faking a third consecutive kneel-down and firing a touchdown pass in the final minute.

Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips, then serving as the Eagles' defensive coordinator, found no humor in Ryan's tricks.

"You know, I've never coached that way," Phillips said last year. "No offense to Buddy, but I didn't think it was right."

Asked if he confronted Ryan after the game, Phillips said, "Yeah. He didn't care."

Bounty Bowl I and II (1989): In yet another notorious moment for Ryan, Cowboys head coach Jimmy Johnson accused him of placing a 'bounty' on Cowboys kicker Luis Zendejas and rookie quarterback Troy Aikman on Thanksgiving Day.

Zendejas suffered a concussion when Eagles linebacker Jessie Small crushed him on a kickoff. Two weeks later, Eagles fans tossed snowballs and beers at Johnson following Philly's 20-10 victory at the Vet. Nothing like a little holiday cheer.

Irvin's Injury (1999): The rivalry's lowest point: Some merciless cheering from Eagles fans as Hall of Fame receiver Michael Irvin lay motionless on the Vet turf after suffering a spinal cord injury that would ultimately end his career.

The Cowboys lost that game, then three of the next four en route to an 8-8 season in Chan Gailey's last as head coach. Diagnosed with cervical stenosis (narrow spinal column), Irvin officially retired the following July. "The Playmaker" was inducted into the Cowboys' Ring of Honor in 2005 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007.

T.O.'s Return (2006): Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens received little brotherly love from the Philly faithful six months after the Eagles released him, ending his long-standing feud with quarterback Donovan McNabb and the organization.

Owens was held to three catches for 45 yards and the Eagles sealed their 38-24 victory on Drew Bledsoe's last-minute interception which cornerback Lito Sheppard returned 102 yards for a score. The miscue foreshadowed Tony Romo's eventual promotion; Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells benched Bledsoe for good two weeks later following another forced interception.

Late-Game Suspense

Woody's Pick (1994): Darren Woodson ended Philly's last-minute, potential game-winning drive with a 94-yard interception for a touchdown.

The defending Super Bowl champs escaped the Vet with a 31-19 victory and improved to 11-2. Their bid for a three-peat ended with an NFC Championship loss to quarterback Steve Young and the 49ers two months later, however.

Load Left (1995): Sitting in field goal range with a tie score (17-17), Cowboys head coach Barry Switzer called two straight unsuccessful short-yardage plays in the final minute. The Eagles stuffed Emmitt Smith on third-and-1 and fourth-and-1, regained possession in Cowboys territory and kicked the game-winning field goal.

"The whole world knew we were going to run that play," Newton recalled. "You talk about a bitter taste in your mouth. That really got us going for the rest of the year because we wanted people to know that that ain't the team you saw."

The Cowboys didn't lose another game that year. They crushed Philly in the divisional round, got past Brett Favre's Packers in the conference title game and then beat Pittsburgh to claim their third Super Bowl in four years.

Hutton's Folly (1997): With the Cowboys leading 21-20, Eagles punter Tom Hutton dropped the potential game-winning field goal snap and was tackled while trying to run with the ball.

The Cowboys had erased a 20-9 deficit earlier in the game and survived to win their second game in Switzer's last season.

Roy's Woody Impression (2005): The Cowboys won a Monday night nail-biter, 21-20, with another safety's last-minute interception for a touchdown.

This time Roy Williams picked off Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb with 2:43 remaining and ran 46 yards untouched for the game-winning score.

Unforgettable Plays

The Longest 14 Seconds (2004): McNabb redefined the term "pocket presence" in a Monday night blowout victory over the Cowboys. He eluded Dallas defenders for 14 seconds before rifling a 60-yard completion to Freddie Mitchell that led to an Eagles score.

Owens, playing for the eventual NFC Champion Eagles, caught six passes for 134 yards and three touchdowns. Philly rolled at Texas Stadium, 49-21.

No Helmet, No Problem (2007): In 20 years, Witten's career might be encapsulated in one indelible image - his hat-less, nose-bloodied, 53-yard catch and run at the Linc after absorbing a nasty hit that sent his helmet skittering across the field.

Witten finished with three catches for 77 yards, including a 20-yard touchdown to give him 19 career scores, tying Butch Johnson for the 11th-most in club history. He passed Tony Dorsett (3,432) for 10th place on the club's all-time receiving yards list.

And the Cowboys won easily, 38-17.

"It's funny because you look back at it and it probably wasn't my best game," Witten said. "But everybody remembers that play and you're the toughest guy to ever play now because your helmet came off."

Recent Games

Week 17 Massacre (2008): It was announced just prior to this game, the winner goes to the playoffs, the loser will sit home and watch.

The Eagles would put a stomping on the Cowboys for everyone to remember. Defeating the Cowboys 44-6, sending the Cowboys home with a horrendous taste in their mouths, and an image of defeat, cemented in their brains.

“They just handed us an old-fashion butt whooping,” Terrel Owens stated after the game.

Three Game Sweep (2009-2010): With the week 17 Massacre fresh in their minds, Dallas went back to Philly in week nine, knowing that the fans in Lincoln Financial Field wanted a repeat of the last game…they didn’t get it.

McNabb was sacked four times, and threw two interceptions in the loss, but this wasn’t the game that Dallas felt like they extracted their true redemption.

Week 17 came back around, this time, the game was in Dallas’s billion dollar stadium. And the Eagles purely didn’t show up. Dallas would run the ball right down the Eagles’ throat, both of their running backs gaining 91 yards in this 24-0 game. The Eagles were sent home with their head down, knowing they’d have to return next week for the playoffs in the teams’ third and final game of the season.

You must believe in the third game of this season, Dallas felt like they were on top of the world. Ending a 13 year streak of never winning a playoff game, and stomping the Eagles 34-14, much like the Eagles stomped them the season prior.

Felix Jones again torched the Eagle defense for 178 yards, and McNabb was sacked another four times in this game.

Keith Brooking, Dallas’ middle linebacker called the Eagles “Predictable”

“The way we dominated them, obviously McNabb didn’t play his best, but they were very predictable. We knew exactly what was coming on every play. A lot of that didn’t have to do with Donovan McNabb.”

Summary: There’s a lot of hatred, tension, and pure emotion that runs between these two clubs. Although that can be said about many rivalries within divisions, I would venture to say that these two historic teams have more controversy, memorable moments, and consistent drama than any other rivalry in football.