NFL Preview - Dallas (5-2) at Philadelphia (5-2)

By Scott Garbarini, Sports Network - The Sports Network

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Sole possession of first place in the NFC's East Division will be on the line when the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles renew their spirited rivalry with a Sunday night showdown at Lincoln Financial Field to highlight the Week 9 schedule.

With both teams fresh off impressive wins and sporting identical 5-2 records, not to mention a genuine dislike of one another, this pivotal midseason clash didn't need any additional intrigue to draw the interest of the fans. There's a good chance, however, that the Cowboys are viewing this game as something more than simply an opportunity for bragging rights.

Dallas last visited the City of Brotherly Love in the 2008 regular-season finale, needing a victory over Philadelphia to secure a spot in the NFC's postseason parade. The Cowboys didn't come close in a 44-6 shellacking that not only served as the team's most lopsided defeat since patriarch Jerry Jones purchased the franchise 20 years ago, but vaulted the hated Eagles into the playoffs as the conference's final Wild Card.

If recent results are any indication, the Cowboys seem to have put that devastating loss in the rearview mirror. Dallas comes into Sunday's tilt on a three-game winning streak, highlighted by a convincing 37-21 verdict over a quality Atlanta squad in Week 7, and backed that strong effort up with last weekend's 38-17 besting of the overmatched Seattle Seahawks.

Tony Romo has spearheaded the surge with a superb three-week stretch in which the highly-scrutinized quarterback has amassed 918 passing yards and eight touchdowns without an interception. The two-time Pro Bowl participant, who's completed nearly 63 percent of his attempts over that span, delivered three scoring strikes in last Sunday's rout of the Seahawks.

Romo's near-flawless play under center figures to be put to the test this week, however, by an opportunistic Philadelphia defense that's racked up 21 takeaways through the team's first seven games. The group was at its havoc- causing best in its last outing, forcing three turnovers that played a key role in a 40-17 dismantling of the slumping New York Giants.

The offense did its part as well, with quarterback Donovan McNabb throwing for 240 yards and three touchdowns and a resurgent running game generating 180 yards despite the absence of standout back Brian Westbrook, who sat out the contest with a concussion that isn't expected to keep him out of the lineup for Sunday's matchup.

That win moved the Eagles to 2-0 against NFC East competition this season, with the club having posted a 27-17 triumph over Washington the previous week. Dallas is 0-1 thus far in divisional play, having dropped a 33-31 decision at home to the Giants back in Week 2.

SERIES HISTORY

The Cowboys hold a 53-43 advantage in their all-time regular season series with the Eagles, including a conventional split of last year's home-and-home. Dallas won a 41-37 home thriller when the teams met in Week 2 of last season, but as previously mentioned, were drilled by a 44-6 count with a playoff berth on the line at Lincoln Financial Field in Week 17. Dallas last won in Philly in 2007, coming up a 38-17 winner in a primetime game there.

In addition to their regular season advantage, the Cowboys have a 2-1 edge in the postseason series. The Eagles were 20-7 winners in the 1980 NFC Championship, while Dallas won NFC Divisional Playoff games over Philadelphia following the 1992 and 1995 seasons.

Eagles head coach Andy Reid has a career record of 14-6 against the Cowboys. Dallas' Wade Phillips is 3-2 all-time against both Philadelphia and Reid all- time, with the first of those wins coming in the form of a 26-0 rout for Phillips' Bills over the Eagles in 1999.