Dallas (10-3) at Philadelphia (8-5) Sunday, 12:00 pm CST

The Dallas Cowboys try to clinch the N-F-C East title and move a step closer to home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a road victory Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Cowboys currently lead the San Francisco 49ers by a game for home-field advantage in the N-F-C playoffs. Dallas could have clinched a berth last Sunday, but was upset for the second time this season by the arch-rival Washington Redskins, 24-17.

The Cowboys committed two costly fourth quarter turnovers that led to their third loss of the year. Troy Aikman threw an interception and Emmitt Smith fumbled on a fourth-and-one inside the 10-yard line late in the game.

Aikman threw a career-high 48 attempts, completing 29 for 285 yards and one touchdown. Smith, who was questionable for the game, finished with 91 yards on 21 carries and scored his N-F-L leading 22nd touchdown of the year.

Smith needs just two touchdowns to tie the N-F-L record for touchdowns in a season, 24, set by John Riggins while with the Washington Redskins in 1983.

Dallas will be playing their first game without leading pass rusher Charles Haley. Haley, third in the N-F-C with 10.5 sacks, is through for the season with a herniated disc in his back.

Philadelphia missed an opportunity to pull within one game of the Cowboys when the Eagles were beaten by Seattle, 26-14. The loss broke the Eagles' three-game winning streak and forced a must-win situation against Dallas to keep their division-title hopes alive.

Rodney Peete completed 19-of-36 for 200 yards and one interception. Ricky Watters continues to make Eagles fans forget his early-season criticism. Watters has nine rushing touchdowns in his last five games and has at least two rushing scores in each of the last four contests.

Andy Harmon will look to apply pressure on Aikman and add to his team-leading 10.5 sacks.

Dallas blasted Philadelphia, 34-12, in their first meeting on November 6th. Smith rushed for 158 yards and two touchdowns and Michael Irvin tied an N-F-L record with his seventh straight 100-yard game.

The Cowboys have won eight straight over the Eagles dating back to the 1992 season.

From The SportsTicker
Published with permission by TheBoys.com