Philly @ Dallas Cowboys: 1st Quarter Notes

Home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs is at stake for the Dallas Cowboys as the hated Philadelphia Craples come to town. I’m pumped for this game.

The Dallas defense starts the game against the idiot Eagles. The Eagles will start at their 31 and immediately it appears they are talking trash. Typical Eagles. Their first play is a pass in the backfield to Brian Westbrook for five yards. On 2nd and 5 Dallas blitzes, but Donovan McNabb throws a quick slant to Kevin Curtis for a first. On 1st and 10 the Eagles false start sends them back 5 yards. On 1st and 15 Westbrook runs for eight yards. On 2nd and 7 McNabb throws deep to Matt Schobel, who is hit hard by Ken Hamlin. Schobel drops the ball and is helped off the field. Andy Reid complained it was a helmet to helmet hit, but it was legal. No penalty. On 3rd and 7 Westbrook picks up nine on a short pass and run. On 1st and 10 the pass is incomplete. On 2nd and 10 DeMarcus Ware tackles Westbrook behind the line of scrimmage. GREAT PLAY! On 3rd and 13 pass coverage is perfect and McNabb is forced out of bounds. Eagles punt.

Dallas starts at their own 15. Julius gets the ball first and runs for five yards. On 2nd and 5, false start on Jason Witten. On 2nd and 10 Tony Romo throws deep to a wide open Terrell Owens, but he threw it too far. On 3rd and 10 Romo avoids pressure and throws to Sam Hurd, who appears to have dropped the ball while falling to the ground. However, upon review it sure looks like he had possession. That was a catch!!!!!!!! Dallas asks for a review: No catch. Dallas punts.

Eagles Second Series: 1st and 10 and newly signed Jay Ratliff tackles Westbrook for a loss of 1. On 2nd and 11 a flea flicker is broken up and Bradie James sacks McNabb, with the held of Ware. On 3rd and 18 Westbrook gains 6 yards on a screen. Three and OUT!!!

Dallas Second Series: On 1st and 10 Marion Barber runs for about three yards. On 2nd and 7 Romo throws behind Anthony Fasano for an incompletion. On 3rd and 7 Romo throws to Patrick Crayton but it goes out of bounds. Another slow start, and a three and out for the Cowboys.

Eagles Third Series: McNabb under pressure throws to Reggie Brown, but Terence Newman nearly intercepted it. On 2nd and 10 McNabb under pressure runs for a first down. Roy Williams is tagged with a 15 yard penalty for his infamous illegal tackle. On 1st and 10 Westbrook is tackled for a loss. On 2nd and 12 McNabb throws for an 11 yard gain. On 3rd and 1 Ware comes in untouched and hits McNabb just as he throws it for a screen, but it is incomplete. David Akers comes in for a 47 yard field goal on 4th and 1: NO GOOD!

Dallas Third Series:  Romo’s passes are off and he throws another incompletion on 1st and 10. On 2nd and 10 Jones gets five yards. On 3rd and 5 the Eagles blitz, and the pass is incomplete. Another three and out. Three possessions and no first downs for the Cowboys.

Eagles Fourth Series: On 1st and 10 the Eagles hold on a run for Westbrook, and Anthony Henry pops him hard going out of bounds. On 1st and 20 a little dump pass to the tight end goes for 7 yards. On 2nd and 13  Curtis is wide open for about 15 yards and a first down. On 1st and 10 on the Eagles 31 Brown makes a catch for 16 yards to the Dallas 47. On 1st and 10 a quick slant is incomplete. On 2nd and 10 Westbrook runs for about a yard. On 3rd and 9 Ware is offsides. On 3rd and 4 Curtis catches it for about 7 and a first down.

First quarter ends 0-0