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PHILADELPHIA - Some call it the Wildcat. The Cowboys actually refer to it as the Razorback.
One description it hasn't been called in Dallas this season is successful.
But that changed a bit here Sunday night in Philly. The Cowboys corrected some of their Wildcat-woes by simplifying things a bit.
With quarterback Tony Romo split out wide, running back Tashard Choice took a few direct snaps in the first half against the Eagles. But instead of using running back Felix Jones on the end-around sweep to either take the handoff or be a decoy, the Cowboys simply used Choice as a lead runner, often scurrying right behind the pulling guard Leonard Davis.
All three of Choice's carries came from center, including a two-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.
"It was good to see us get that working tonight," center Andre Gurode said. "To us (linemen), it's really not anything different. We're still blocking like any play. But we knew it's something that can be successful."
Davis, who paved the way on the three rushing plays, said the always-vocal Choice gives him a personal pep talk before each play in the huddle.
"He goes up to me and says . . . 'Big Leonard, I'm running it up right behind you . . . I'm running it behind you,'" Davis said of Choice. "He gets excited about it. I already know before we run the play, I already know what the results are going to be. It's just something you have to study the look and how they're going to scheme against it. It's like any other run play -- when we have the numbers, it's going to be hard to stop."
The Cowboys have tried to run the formation a few times this season, but never without any setback. From false start penalties to fumbled snaps, something has gone wrong in the process - until Sunday.
Ogletree Pops Up Again
Rookie wide receiver Kevin Ogletree found himself on the active roster for the second straight game on Sunday, again making a big play on a bubble screen.
Actually the play worked twice against the Eagles. The first time Romo targeted Ogletree with a quick throw, the undrafted free agent got behind his offensive linemen and scampered for a 21-yard gain on third-and-9 in the first quarter. The catch and run set the Cowboys up at the two-yard line, and Tashard Choice punched in the first points of the game on the very next play.
In roughly the same situation late in the second quarter, the call worked again, Ogletree going for 17 yards on a third-and-14, giving the Cowboys a chance for three passes into the end zone before the half expired.
"We've been working on it in practice," Ogletree said. "If that's my way of getting involved and helping out a little bit, when my number gets called I've got to show up. If there's a play the coaches design and call for me, I'm just going to give it my maximum effort."
Ogletree had converted on third down with a 19-yard screen play in the Cowboys' Week 8 win over Seattle the previous week.
Josh Ellis
Vick-tory Formation?
While the Cowboys finally had some success with the Wildcat, the Eagles were supposed to do the same with Michael Vick this season. So far, the former Falcons quarterback hasn't been that successful in the Philly offense, and that didn't change on Sunday.
Vick ran just two offensive plays at quarterback with Donovan McNabb on the bench. Vick took one snap and ran for two yards and then handed the ball off on the other.
So far this year, Vick has 12 carries for just 27 yards and no touchdowns. He has thrown only six passes, completing two for six yards.
Spot On
You don't see many coaches challenging a spot on the field. Eagles coach Andy Reid did it twice in the second half and lost them both, resulting in two lost timeouts that would've been crucial as the Cowboys were running out the clock.
The first one forced the Eagles to punt when the refs ruled that running back LeSean McCoy was untouched by a Cowboys defender after making a catch beyond the first-down marker. However, his momentum carried back short of the first down and since he wasn't touched down, the call stood despite the challenge.
Later in the game, McNabb attempted a quarterback sneak on fourth down but was stopped short. Reid challenged the play again with hopes of gaining a few more needed inches for a first down, but the officials again said McNabb's forward progress had been stopped short of the first down. Five plays later, the Cowboys took the lead on a 49-yard touchdown to Miles Austin.
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Nick Eatman - 
