The Rivalry: Reviewing the history of the Eagles and the Cowboys

Not much more needs to be said other than it’s “The Birds and “The Boys”.

It can be argued that the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys have the fiercest and most heated rivalry in all of sports. Ever since their first meeting in 1960, it was apparent that this could become something special. It was the Cowboys’ first season in the league. They finished with a goose egg in the win column.

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The Eagles went on to win the NFL Championship that year. With that victory came Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi‘s only post-season defeat. The Eagles won their first ever game against the Cowboys by a score of 27-25. The Cowboys would go on to become one of the most successful franchises in sports, and eventually earn the title of “America’s Team”. That will either make you smile or vomit depending on what side you’re on.

The Cowboys lead both the series by a 61-49 margin, and that’s why a rivalry was birthed in the first place. Things got personal around 1967 after two controversial games were played the year before. Cowboys linebacker Lee Roy Jordan delivered a forearm shiver to the kisser of star Eagles running back Timmy Brown. The result was Brown suffering a broken jaw and losing four of his teeth. ‘Twas a different time for sure, but more instances of this sort were to follow.

Some of the highlights:

There was Mel Tom’s cheap hit on “Captain America” aka Cowboy quarterback Roger Staubach in 1971. Tom was fined $1,000. When Tom appealed to the league, guess who was there representing the Cowboys? Lee Roy Jordan. In 1980, Harold Carmichael’s (then) record of 180 consecutive games with a catch ended in Dallas thanks to a crushing blow from Cowboy cornerback Dennis Thurman.

Then there was Tom Landry running up the score on Buddy Ryan during the 1987 strike. That was followed the following year by Ryan ordering Randall Cunningham to throw a bomb toward the end zone after pretending to take a knee. That set up a touchdown that was meant to rub salt in the wound.

There was the 1989 “Bounty Bowl” with Eagle linebacker Jessie Small knocking out Cowboy (and former Eagle) kicker Luis Zendejas. Cowboy coach Jimmy Johnson accused Ryan of having bounties on Zendejas and quarterback Troy Aikman. When the Cowboys returned later that year, Johnson and the Cowboys were greeted at Veteran Stadium by a shower of snow and ice balls being hurled at them.

There was NFL Hall of Fame and former Cowboy Michael Irvin’s career ending injury in 1999 at Veteran Stadium, the Terrell Owens debacle and a similar situation the acquisition of Demarco Murray. The list goes on, but while some look at all of this as entertaining, the classic games the two have played over the years are probably the most entertaining. You only need evidence the 1980 NFC Championship, the “4^th and 1 game” in 1995, the “44-6 game” in 2008 and countless other contests between these two teams.

That brings us to this week’s game:

The 4-2 Eagles travel to Dallas to play the 5-1 Cowboys to determine first place of the NFC East. The game will be in prime time on Sunday Night Football on NBC and will, most likely, be the most anticipated prime time game so far this season. There’s also an added twist. In 114 previous meetings (including the playoffs) between these two bitter rivals, there’s never been a game where both teams started rookie quarterbacks. Carson Wentz and Dak Prescott have taken the league by storm, and both have ensured the future of this division will be a bright one.

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The game itself could be a toss up. The Eagles, for the second week in a row, face a young team that’s coming off of a bye. It resulted in a win against the previously unbeaten Minnesota Vikings, however, the Cowboys welcome back their talented wide receiver Dez Bryant. He’ll be coming off of an injury and facing a battered Eagles secondary. This game also features a battle in the trenches. The dominant Eagles defensive front faces the best offensive line that Dallas has showcased in a decade.

This game could be a blow out, decided in the final seconds or an overtime thriller. All that matters is the entire county will have their eyes glued to the screen to see the next chapter in this storied rivalry.

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