10. Uh oh, Shaun Suisham misses a 30-yard, chip-shot field goal from right between the hashmarks. Okay, so the victory over the Philadelphia Eagles wasn't perfect. But it was dang close.
9. I respect Eagles' head coach Andy Reid, but I also question his strategy. He's taken Philly to five NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl this century, but If my team is down 24-0 and I see DeSean Jackson limping and Donovan McNabb being harasssed, I yank my starters and live to fight another day. Especially when "another day" comes in one week. And it comes against the same opponent.
8. Cowboys-Eagles brought out some stars, including Charles Barkley, Emmitt Smith, golfer John Daly and Cheaters host Joey Greco. Smith looked giddy up in owner Jerry Jones' suite donning one of those gray NFC East Championship Game hats along with Daly. That, despite his ominous 7-9 pre-season predicition. "I can tell you," says Jones, "he's glad to be wrong about that one."
7. Biggest scare of the night wasn't quarterback Tony Romo writhing in pain or DeSean Jackson running free behind cornerback Terence Newman. Nope, the collective gasp at Cowbys Stadium was prompted by JumboJerry suddenly going dark for about 45 seconds in the fourth quarter. Whew. How in the world could we go on living?
6. What is it about the Cowboys losing their heads against the Eagles? Two years ago Jason Witten catches and runs without a helmet, and today it was Jason Hatcher recording a sack of Donvan McNabb after losing his headgear.
5. The victory breaks a seven-game losing streak in January for Dallas. Cowboys haven't won two games in January since 1996, when they won Super Bowl XXX.
4. 44-6 won't be totally buried until next week's third straight victory over Philly, but you could tell in the locker room there was an unusual sense of satisfaction at bullying the bully. "We've got some history with those guys," says quarterback Tony Roomo, "so, yeah, it's very enjoyable."
3. During the blowout did you ever feel like the fan of a baseball team piling up the hits and runs during a 12-0 win in the first game of a doubleheader? Me too. "Save some of this" came to mind, no?
2. Consecutive shutouts. Wow. I repeat, defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, take a bow. In the 50-season history of Cowboys football that trick had never been turned. In fact, only twice since 1960 have the Cowboys had two shutouts in the same season. And to think, the Eagles came in averaging 31 points during their six-game winning streak. Impressive.
1. Props to the 100,621 in attendance in Arlington. They were loud. And, unless I missed a JumboJerry prompt, they started "Eagles Suck!" on their own several times. For the first time, Cowboys Stadium felt like a football stadium more than a library. Also extra credit to offensive lineman Doug Free, who was blocking a good 35 yards down field on Felix Jones' 49-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
