Updated: January 9, 2010, 10:57 PM
Dallas Domination
Cowboys Break Playoff Drought With 34-14 Win
Kurt Daniels
DallasCowboysStar.com
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  • It's been a long time. Thirteen years to be exact, but this Cowboys team finally did what previous ones since 1996 could not – win a playoff game.

    And they did so in dominating fashion in front of 92,951 screaming fans, a single-game NFL postseason non-Super Bowl record. Dallas handed the Philadelphia Eagles a 34-14 defeat, marking the Cowboys' third win over the Eagles this season, the first time in their history they have beaten a team three times in the same year.

    Dallas easily outdistanced their rivals, racking up 428 yards and 27 first downs to Philly's 340 and 17, respectively. The Cowboys also held a sizeable time of possession advantage, 39:34 to 20:26.

    With Marion Barber leaving the game early, Felix Jones shined as the primary back, racking up 148 yards on 16 carries, the third-highest rushing game in Cowboys playoff history. Tashard Choice was also effective, adding 42 yards on 14 carries.

    In the air, quarterback Tony Romo threw for 244 yards and two touchdowns off of 23-of-35 passing. Miles Austin was the primary beneficiary, hauling in seven catches for 82 yards, while Roy Williams finally found his connection with Romo, earning 59 receiving yards on five grabs.

    Defensively, though, the Cowboys manhandled Donovan McNabb and the Eagles once again. The quarterback was on the run for most of the night, throwing for just 230 yards on 19-of-37 passing. He threw one interception and was sacked four times, with Philadelphia also fumbling three more for four turnovers. After firing off twitter barbs all week, receiver DeSean Jackson was held to just three catches for 14 yards with two punt returns for only four yards.

    After Dallas won the coin toss, Jones took the opening kickoff at his own two, tried to break outside to the right, but was stopped at the Cowboys' 17, a 15-yard return. That was immediately followed by a false start penalty, which pushed them back to the 12.

    Barber finally got things started with a three-yard carry off right guard, Romo then throwing a curl route out to Williams for a seven-yard connection. On third and five, Romo flipped a swing pass to Choice, a six-yard gain for a first down at the 28.

    Trying to bounce outside to the left, Barber was actually dropped for a one-yard loss, but Romo then hit Williams on a quick slant to the right, the receiver bolting upfield for 15 yards and a first down at the Dallas 42.

    Jones took a delayed handoff up the middle for five yards, with Choice taking the direct snap out of the “Razorback” formation around the left end for nine yards and a first down at the Philly 44.

    A screen pass to Jones saw the back break free down the left sideline, hurdling an Eagle defender before stepping out of bounds at the Philadelphia 14, a 30-yard gain.

    Jones was stuffed at the line of scrimmage, but an illegal motion penalty on tight end Jason Witten pushed them back five yards anyway. Jones tried to go up the middle, gaining two, which was followed by Kevin Ogletree taking what appeared to be a screen pass down inside the five. But, an offensive pass interference call on Witten negated the play and moved them back to the 27.

    After Romo was sacked for a nine-yard loss, the Cowboys were facing third and 32, the quarterback then overthrowing Witten in the right flat, incomplete. Out came McBriar for his first punt of the day, DeSean Jackson calling for the fair catch at his own 10.

    Quarterback Donovan McNabb's first pass attempt of the game fell incomplete to receiver Jeremy Maclin, running back Leonard Weaver then plowing up the middle for two yards. On third and eight, McNabb had to get rid of it under pressure, the ball nearly intercepted by linebacker Bradie James. Sav Rocca had to punt out of his own end zone, Patrick Crayton taking the 53-yard kick at his own 35 and returning it 14 yards to the Cowboys' 49.

    Jones bolted through a huge hole off right guard for a big 20-yard gain to the Philly 31. But on the next play, Romo tried to roll to his right, only to be sacked for a loss of seven. Barber fought his way up the middle for two yards, a draw to Choice managing only another two. McBriar's 29-yard punt was downed by Victor Butler at the Eagles' five.

    A handoff to Weaver on the right side earned four yards, McNabb following that by overthrowing tight end Brent Celek. But, safety Ken Hamlin was called for unnecessary roughness with his hit on Celek, a 15-yard penalty, giving the Eagles a first down at their own 24.

    Running back LeSean McCoy was stopped for no gain, McNabb then throwing the ball away to avoid the sack. He was called for intentional grounding, moving Philly back to their own 14. On third and 24, McCoy tried to go up the middle, but was held to just six yards. Rocca's 50-yard kick was taken by Crayton who nearly broke outside for a big gain, instead tripped up at the Cowboys' 45, a return of 11 yards.

    Romo dumped off to Witten underneath for a quick six yards, Jones then pounding his way off right tackle for one more. The Cowboys were facing a third and three, although a false start penalty pushed them back to a third and eight as the first quarter came to an end.

    A strike to receiver Austin on a slant over the middle gained 12 yards and a first down at the Philly 41. Romo then tried to go deep to Austin in the end zone, the pass tipped away incomplete. But a pass interference call on cornerback Sheldon Brown gave Dallas first and goal at the Eagles' one. On the very next snap, Romo rolled to his right and slipped one into tight end John Phillips for the score, only the rookie's eighth catch of the year and his first career touchdown. Shaun Suisham's extra point was good, Dallas taking a 7-0 lead.

    Macho Harris took David Buehler's kick at his own two, working his way out to the 17 before Ogletree laid a big hit on him. Harris suffered a knee injury on the play and did not return. Weaver went up the middle for seven, but on the very next play, Michael Vick came in at quarterback and hit Maclin on the left side, the receiver turning by cornerback Mike Jenkins, who had fallen slightly on the break, and sprinting 76 yards for the score. David Akers kick was good, the game now tied, 7-7.

    Jones grabbed the kickoff at his own one and danced his way out to only the 15. On the very first snap, Romo overthrew Austin, where diving safety Sean Jones appeared to make a bobbling catch, getting up and then returning the interception 20 yards to the Dallas 14. Head coach Wade Phillips threw his red flag for the challenge, the referee reviewing the play and determining that the ball hit the ground, the call changed to an incompletion and Dallas facing second and 10.

    Jones carried off left tackle for 12 yards, with a facemask penalty on linebacker Will Witherspoon tacking on another 15 for a first down at the Dallas 42. After Jones only picked up one yard up the middle, Romo tried to dump off to Jones but the pass was batted down, incomplete. On third and nine, Romo found Crayton over the middle, the receiver making a nice catch for 18 yards and a first down at the Eagles' 39.

    Choice took a pitch off right tackle for three yards, Romo then throwing too high to Austin on a slant. Facing third and seven, Romo stepped to his right to avoid the rush, then connected with a curling Williams for 17 yards and a first down at the Philly 19.

    Romo then threw an out to Witten on the right side, the tight end held just short of the end zone, Dallas owning first and goal at the one. Philadelphia called their first timeout. Choice capped the drive, diving through the pack for the touchdown. Suisham did his duty and the Cowboys were back on top, 14-7.

    After the Buehler touchback, Philadelphia got started on their own 20. Scrambling out of the pocket, McNabb's pass to Brian Westbrook fell incomplete, but a pass interference call on safety Gerald Sensabaugh provided 10 yards and a first down at the 30.

    McCoy went up the middle for six yards, Jenkins breaking up a pass intended for receiver Reggie Brown. On third and four, McNabb was able to connect with Maclin, but Sensabaugh was there to stop him after only a two-yard completion. Rocca's 52-yard punt was taken by Crayton at his 10, the return man breaking loose for 31 yards before being knocked out of bounds at the Dallas 41.

    Romo immediately hit Austin on a slant over the middle, the speedster splitting the defense and going for a big 36-yard gain for a first down at the Philly 23. Scrambling, the quarterback tried to dump off to Deon Anderson, but the fullback couldn't hang onto the ball. Jones was then stuffed for no gain trying to go off left tackle. On third and 10, Romo found an open middle again, going to Williams for 17 yards and a first and goal at the Philly six.

    A delay of game penalty pushed Dallas back five yards, Romo then throwing it out of the back of the end zone, incomplete. A quick screen out to Williams might have gotten another six points, but the receiver slipped after the catch, only managing three yards. On third and goal at the eight, Romo tried to go to Williams in the back right corner of the end zone, the pass sailing high. Suisham came on for a 25-yard field goal attempt, his kick good to up the Cowboys' lead, 17-7.

    Starting at his own 20 after the Buehler touchback, McNabb was nearly sacked then threw it too far out in front of Jackson, incomplete. Back in at quarterback, Vick fumbled the handoff exchange to Weaver, linebacker Bobby Carpenter there to recover it for Dallas at the Philly 18.

    Jones took the snap off left tackle, broke outside and was brought down at the five-yard line, first and goal. After Jones was dropped for a one-yard loss, the two-minute warning sounded. Romo then threw a quick screen out to Austin on the right, the receiver darting into the end zone for paydirt. Suisham was good, the Cowboys' advantage now up to 24-7.

    A shorter kickoff, Maclin took this one from his own five out to the Eagles' 25. With 1:50 remaining in the half, McNabb threw to receiver Jason Avant for 12 yards, a first down at the Philly 37. A bad snap dribbled back to McNabb, who was able to pick it up and scramble before throwing it out of bounds. But an illegible man downfield penalty, pushed the Eagles back five yards.

    Following an incomplete screen pass attempt, McNabb again escaped pressure and dumped off to Avant over the middle, a gain of 20 for a first down at the Dallas 48. But on the Eagles' very first snap of the game in Cowboys' territory, McNabb connected with Weaver over the middle, only to have the linebacker James strip Weaver of the ball and recover the fumble himself at the Dallas 42. The play was reviewed to see if the pass was initially completed, the call being upheld.

    Now with 51 seconds on the clock, Romo threw out to Witten for no gain, then couldn't connect with Choice, the pass incomplete. But, cornerback Asante Samuel was called for unsportsmanlike conduct, a 15-yard penalty and a first down at the Philadelphia 43.

    Romo threw short to Austin, 39 seconds left in the half, then checked down to Witten underneath for what would have been a 17-yard completion. But, a holding penalty on Leonard Davis brought the team back 10 yards to the Dallas 47.

    Escaping pressure, Romo tried to go to Choice, the pass falling incomplete. Again, however, the Eagles were called for pass interference, a 12-yard penalty and an automatic first down at the Philly 41. Another attempt to Choice went incomplete, 18 seconds now remaining. A quick out to Crayton earned six, Dallas calling their first timeout.

    On third and four with 35 seconds left, Romo connected with Ogletree underneath, a five-yard completion and first down at the Eagles' 30. Dallas called their second timeout. With seven seconds remaining, out came Suisham for a 48-yard field goal, his attempt right down the middle for another three points, the score now 27-7.

    A short squib kick was corralled by Philadelphia's Joe Mays, the clock hitting zeros as the half came to a close. Dallas dominated the time of possession through the first 30 minutes, 22:53 to 11:09.

    Another Buehler touchback gave Philly the ball at their 20. McNabb threw a quick out to Celek, who turned upfield for 20 yards. Weaver went up the middle for three yards, with McCoy then dropped for a loss of two thanks to linebacker Anthony Spencer. On third and nine, McNabb's pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage by Hamlin, falling incomplete. Rocca's punt bounced into the end zone, Dallas starting at their 20.

    Taking a draw, Jones fought his way for six yards, then went off right guard for two more. On third and two, Romo missed Crayton, McBriar on to punt. He boomed one 61 yards, Jackson stepping out of bounds at his own 19. Dallas was called for illegal man downfield, though, Philly earning another five yards to start at their own 24.

    A false start penalty handed those five yards right back, McNabb then trying to go deep down the middle to Jackson, but Jenkins came over to break up the pass. Jenkins hit the ground hard and went off the field, but returned shortly to the game. McNabb was able to connect with Jackson on the next play underneath, but only gained four. On third and 11, McNabb found Maclin after Jenkins fell down again, a 15-yard completion and a first down at the Eagles' 38.

    Philadelphia got caught for a false start again, moving back five, McNabb trying to then throw a swing pass out to McCoy, only to have Spencer knock it down at the line of scrimmage. McCoy broke outside on a delayed handoff and carried 14 yards to set up third and one. McNabb dumped off to tight end Alex Smith, a gain of eight yards and a first down at the Dallas 45.

    Weaver picked up three yards, with McNabb then overthrowing Celek. Facing third and seven, McNabb was finally tracked down by the Dallas defense, Spencer, DeMarcus Ware and Jay Ratliff all collapsing on him for an eight-yard loss. Crayton called for the fair catch of Rocca's 39-yard punt at his own 11.

    Choice took a draw on the right side for three yards, with a screen to Austin on the right side earning another three. The Cowboys called their first timeout. After the break, Romo stepped up and hit Crayton on the left numbers for 10 yards and a first down at the 27.

    On the next snap, Jones took a counter off right tackle, broke through the hole, went to the outside, turned on the after-burners, cut back to the inside and sprinted into the end zone for a 73-yard touchdown run. Jones' burst was the longest touchdown run in Cowboys' playoff history, breaking Emmitt Smith's previous mark of 65 yards against Minnesota in the 1999 postseason. Suisham's effort was good, Dallas now running away with it, 34-7.

    Maclin returned the kickoff 21 yards to the Eagles' 25. McNabb's first attempt to Maclin went incomplete, and on his next one the quarterback overthrew his target where Jenkins was there for the interception. But on his return, Jenkins fumbled, Philadelphia then recovering at the Dallas 47.

    A quick out to Jackson on the right side earned six yards, but much of that gain was lost when Philly was flagged for another false start penalty. Scrambling, McNabb tried to go deep to Celek, Sensabaugh there to knock it away, incomplete. On third and nine, Jackson checked down to Weaver, who was pushed out of bounds after a gain of six. Going for it on fourth down, McNabb was nearly sacked and then missed his target, Maclin, Dallas taking over at their 41.

    A pitch to Choice on the right side was sniffed out by the Eagles for a loss of six, Romo then forced to scramble, gaining five. On third and 11, Romo had to get rid of it quick under pressure, the ball going high through the hands of Williams and then dropped by cornerback Asante Samuel. McBriar's 50-yard punt was hauled in by Jackson at the Philly 10, the return man stepping out of bounds at his 11.

    With nowhere to throw, McNabb ran out of bounds after a five-yard gain. He was able to connect with Maclin on the next play for seven yards and a first down at the Eagles' 23.

    McNabb connected with Maclin over the middle, who then raced to the sidelines for a 25-yard completion and a first down at the Philadelphia 48. Maclin and Hamlin were both called for unsportsmanlike conduct, the penalties offsetting. A screen pass to Westbrook broke for 27 yards and a first down at the Dallas 25 as the third quarter came to a close.

    A pass to Maclin on the right side earned nine yards, with Hamlin then getting an unnecessary roughness penalty, moving the ball down to the Cowboys' eight for a first and goal. With Vick back behind center, he rolled to his left, but was hit by Spencer as he threw, the pass incomplete. McNabb went back in, this time Ware getting to him for a sack and a loss of eight.

    On third and goal, McNabb was forced to scramble, earning eight yards, but an illegal hands to the face call on defensive end Jason Hatcher added four more yards and a first and goal at the four. McNabb then threw a screen out to Jackson on the left side, who was able to get into the end zone for the touchdown. Akers' kick was good, the score now 34-14.

    Kevin Ogletree went back to receive the kick, and hauled it in at the one, making it back to the 11. Romo found Austin on a curl along the right sideline for nine yards, Choice then coming in for the “Razorback” and taking the direct snap to the left side for no gain. On third and one, Jones swept around the right end for six yards and a first down at the 26.

    Choice earned nine yards on a draw play up the middle, the same back then following the same route for five more yards and a first down at the Cowboys' 40. A quick out to Austin on the right side totaled six yards, Choice trying to pop outside, but slipping after four yards, a first down at the 50.

    A completion to Witten netted three yards, but a false start on Witten brought them back five. Jones was dropped for a loss of one, a screen pass to Austin earning 10. Out came McBriar for the punt, Jackson waving for the fair catch at his own 10.

    The Dallas defense kept up the pressure, James breaking through for another sack of McNabb and a loss of six. A screen pass to McCoy got the Eagles some breathing room with a gain of nine, setting up third and seven. Forced to scramble, McNabb was stripped from behind by a diving Ware, the ball eventually recovered by Carpenter at the Philadelphia 26.

    Choice tried a run up the middle but was stopped after a gain of one, the Eagles calling their first timeout. Choice then went off the left side for five yards, Philly using their second timeout. Jones went to the left side as well for four yards, earning the first down by inches at the 16. The Eagles' called their third and final timeout.

    A sweep by Choice around the left end was brought back because of a holding penalty on John Phillips, pushing Dallas back 10 yards. Choice went up the middle for one yard, a personal foul on Flozell Adams marching them back 15. On second and 34, Jones went around the left side for a gain of five, Choice then trying a sweep around the right end and gaining five. Choice was slow to get up and needed help off the field. He did not return. McBriar's punt went through the back of the end zone, Philly starting at their 20. The two-minute warning then sounded.

    McNabb hit Celek for 13 yards and a first down, then went to the left sideline to Maclin for 12 yards and a first down at the Eagles' 45. Again, McNabb went to Celek, this time for 26 yards, the ball at the Dallas 29. A pass to Maclin was dropped, with a shot to Jackson in the back of the end zone broken up by cornerback Terence Newman. On third and 10, McNabb threw wide to Jackson, incomplete, then tried to go back to Maclin on the left sideline, but Jenkins stepped in front, catching the ball out of bounds, incomplete.

    Dallas took over at the Philly 30, Romo grabbing a knee and the game was over. With the win, the Cowboys will now travel to Minnesota next week to take on the Vikings in the divisional round of the playoffs.

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