Why I Can't Stand The Cowboys

As any true Eagles fan, you probably guess my feelings about the Cowboys. Especially on days like today when they will face off in Philly tonight. There is a lot of back and forth about tonight's game. Rest the starters? Don't lose momentum, keep starters going? If it was any other team I would say rest the starters but at least go with the starters for the first quarter or so, just to keep them sharp. But this is the Cowboys!!!

When it comes to the Cowboys, all logic is thrown out the window. I become an enraged lunatic looking for them to be humiliated and soundly defeated. Sorry, I just lose all common sense when it comes to them. The bigger the margin of victory, the more satisfied I feel. There is nothing better than walking away with a big win against the Cowboys.

If the Cowboys are on television I may watch. only and I do mean only if they stand a good chance to lose. Oh, there is nothing that feels better than a Cowboys loss. Especially if it is a blow-out. I will just savor every moment of the game when I'm watching them get humiliated. And if it's a home game for them, it's just icing on the cake!

Oh come on now, Eagles fans...you know you feel the same way!

And those so-called Cowboy fans who have no connection to Dallas! Don't get me started. They remind me of those Yankees fans who jump aboard the bandwagon when they are doing well and disappear when they aren't. As I've said to some of them, "Look all because you had cowboy pajamas as a kid, it's time to grow up!"

So as I think about tonight...I just want a win! Whatever it takes, get it done!

Which as I thought about this game, it got me thinking about my favorite and worse memories related to the Eagles/Cowboys rilvary. So here is what I came up with:

Worst Memories (in no particular order): 

1. Drew Bledsoe leads Cowboys to win

In Week 5 of the 2005 season, quarterback Drew Bledsoe needed only four plays to lead the Cowboys to a touchdown to open the game. The Eagles defense made a nice goal-line stand on the Cowboys' next possession, but when Dallas got the ball back, Bledsoe connected with Terry Glenn for a 38-yard score, Glenn's second touchdown. A José Cortéz field goal left the Eagles in another 17–0 hole. Donovan McNabb and the Eagles managed a field goal on their first drive of the second quarter, but there would be no comeback this week. Bledsoe tossed another touchdown pass, this one to Lousaka Polite, making it 24–3 Dallas. Bledsoe led the Cowboys to field-goal drives to end the half and to start the third quarter, leaving the Eagles behind 30–3. The Eagles were held to a paltry 129 offensive yards in the embarrassing 33–10 loss and their pass defense was mauled by Bledsoe. 

This one hurt because I was a big Drew Bledsoe fan going back to when he played for the Patriots.  I'll explain this in a later blog when true confessions are revealed, stay tuned!

2. Goodbye T.O. and 2nd lost

In Week 10 of the 2005 season, the Eagles hosted the Cowboys to Lincoln Financial Field needing a win to keep any playoff hopes alive. At the time their record was 4–4, and had already lost to the Cowboys 33–10 in Week 5 (see above). In addition, two weeks prior to this game, the Eagles dismissed Terrell Owens due to inappropriate comments he made about Donovan McNabb and the organization following their loss to the Denver Broncos. The Eagles appeared to be in control, as they held a 20–7 lead late in the game following 2 rushing touchdowns from Brian Westbrook and Donovan McNabb. But with 4 minutes to go in the 4th quarter, the Cowboys scored on a Drew Bledsoe to Terry Glenn touchdown to cut the lead to 20–14. And with less than 3 minutes to go, then came the nail in the coffin, as McNab threw an interception to Roy Williams who returned the ball 45 yards for a touchdown and a 21–20 lead. To make matters worse, the Eagles quarterback re-injured his sports hernia attempting to make the tackle. Backup Mike McMahon came in and got the Eagles into Dallas territory, but a go-ahead 60-yard kick from David Akers failed.

Always hated any season when the Cowboys swept the series. And once again that year, Bledsoe lead the way.

3. A Battle for the Division

 Week 9 of the 2009 NFL season, the Eagles and Cowboys met. It was a home game for the Birds. Both teams came into this game 5–2 and looking to take control of the NFC East. The Cowboys held a 10–6 lead by halftime. The Eagles went up 13–10 in the 3rd quarter. But with just under 8 minutes to go, quarterback Tony Romo threw a 49-yard touchdown pass to Miles Austin midway through the fourth quarter and the Dallas Cowboys held on to beat the Eagles 20–16.

There was nothing worst than one of those games when the Birds couldn't hold a lead and would give away the game towards the end.

4. Three Times the Reasons to Despise the Cowboys

On January 3, 2010, in Week 17 of the 2009 season, the Cowboys (10–5) hosted their regular-season finale against the Eagles (11–4) in a regular season-sealing claim for the NFC East crown. The Cowboys shut out the Eagles, 24–0. With the victory, the Cowboys would once again reclaim first place in their division and improve to 11–5. The loss dropped the Eagles from being the #2 seed and having a first-round bye, all the way down to the #6 seed, while the Cowboys earned the #3 seed, setting the stage for a rematch in the Wild Card playoffs once again in Dallas. For the third time that year, the Cowboys defeated the Eagles, with a final score of 34–14.

5. Heartbreak, Hope, and then Defeat and Even Worst Heartbreak

On December 14, 2014, the Cowboys met the Eagles on NBC Sunday Night Football with both teams at 9–4. The Cowboys took a 21–0 lead early in the 2nd quarter, but the Eagles would score 24 straight points capped off by a Darren Sproles 1-yard run to take a 24–21 lead with 5 minutes left in the third quarter. The Cowboys would however re-take control and win 38–27 to split the season series and take possession of the NFC East lead for the first time in the season. The Eagles, who controlled the division for the entire season, were eliminated from playoff contention the next week.

6. America's Team? Who You Kidding!

Throughout the Aikman, Smith, and Irvin years there was no other time when my feelings were as strong. Those so-called Cowboy fans came out of nowhere and loved to strut their stuff!  The good news about this is that the Cowboys have pretty much disappeared since this era.

Favorite Memories: 

1. On Way to First Super Bowl

The Eagles defeated the Cowboys on January 11, 1981, to win the NFC Championship. The only bad memory I have of this game was I had tickets to the game but because I got sick I didn't make it to the game. Big regret!

2. The Bounty Bowls

I was never a big Buddy Ryan fan. I'm sure some Eagles fans will jump on my case for this statement. I always felt he was more hype than actual coaching ability on both sides of the ball. Yet, these games were classic Buddy Ryan games. A 1989 season sweep of the Cowboys.

3. Pickle Juice Game

It was September 2000, the Eagles and Cowboys met with temperatures at 109+ degrees, the Eagles pulled their players off the field and; to prevent cramping, had the players drink pickle juice, a practice the club had begun during training camp as a means to combat both dehydration and cramping. It certainly had an effect, either imagined or not, the Eagles handed the Cowboys their worst opening day loss since 1963: defeating them by a score of 41–14.

4. Eliminating the Cowboys Always Felt Great

On December 28, 2008, in Week 17 of the 2008 season, the Eagles and Cowboys faced off in Philadelphia with a wild card playoff berth on the line. The winner would claim the sixth and final wild-card spot in the NFC, and the loser would be eliminated from playoff contention. The Eagles a 27–3 halftime lead on their way to a 44–6 blowout of the Cowboys.

Then there was December 22, 2019, when at home the Birds defeated the Cowboys 17-9 and took the lead in the NFC East for the first time all season. The following week they defeated the Giants and eliminated the Cowboys.

5. Anytime the Cowboys lose.

As mentioned previously, any defeat of the Cowboys is a favorite memory for me. This is especially true when they are playing at home and are expected to be big winners and then are soundly defeated.