IRVING, Texas - For several reasons, it seems like head coach Wade Phillips is overly anxious about playing this game in Philadelphia.
Not only will it be quite a test for his Cowboys team in this battle of 5-2 squads, but it should give Phillips an idea just what type of squad he's got at the halfway point in the season.
Oh yeah, and maybe playing the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field this Sunday will get people to stop talking about last year's 44-6 debacle in Philadelphia.
"I think I've said all I want to say about last year. We are going on," said Phillips, who was simply asked if he's addressed the game with his team this week. "What we say to the team is really what we say. I've talked to the team and I've impressed upon them the things that I think are important for this ball game."
As for motivation, Phillips said he doesn't mind some of his players using the loss for an added jolt. Then again, the coach believes a division game with first-place implications should be enough.
"Motivation-wise, a lot of guys are motivated different ways," Phillips said. "If last year is part of it, then that's what we want. If it's a new guy like Keith Brooking, the motivation is clear to me that this is a big game. Whoever wins this at the halfway point of the season is in first place. To me, that's as much motivation as you need. But if you need more, if that (44-6) sticks in your craw, use that too."
Moments later, Phillips was asked why his team didn't "show up" against the Eagles in a game that had a playoff spot on the line.
"I don't know that we didn't show up," he responded. "We had a lot of bad things happen in that game. But it was a terrible game. Let's don't go back to that. You've already drilled me enough on that one."
Healing Barber
Although running back Marion Barber has missed just one game (Carolina, Sept. 28) because of a quad strain, he hasn't exactly played at 100 percent in the last four games, averaging just 48.5 yards in those contests, with only two touchdowns.
But Phillips said Wednesday he's starting to see more energy from his starting tailback.
"Yeah, I noticed it again today," Phillips said in his post-practice press conference. "He's got a little more juice. It's an injury that you lose strength. It's not something where you're going to get injured again. He lost some power in one leg. He could play and I thought he had his best game last week. He looked good today. I think more and more we'll see the Marion Barber that we know and love."
Empty Spot
By losing rookie cornerback Mike Mickens off the practice squad on Tuesday, the Cowboys have just seven players on the unit and likely won't fill that spot this week.
Mickens, a seventh-round pick from Cincinnati, signed with the Buccaneers on their 53-man roster.
The Cowboys will probably fill the spot next week, but they do save about $5,000 this week with the empty spot.
The seven remaining players on the practice squad are quarterback Rudy Carpenter, offensive lineman Travis Bright, wide receivers Manuel Johnson and Jesse Holley, running back Chauncey Washington, defensive end Marcus Dixon and tight end Scott Chandler.
Nothing T.O. Ask
Playing the Cowboys twice a year, Philly quarterback Donovan McNabb always talks to the Dallas/Fort Worth media via conference call once a year, if not twice.
For the first time since 2005, he didn't have to field any Terrell Owens questions. Not until the very end of the 14-minute conference call did a reporter point out the absence of a T.O. reference
"Well, maybe I'll just ask ya'll about it," joked McNabb, who was then asked if he missed answering those questions. "No, I don't."
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Nick Eatman - 
