DALLAS, Texas: Jeff Garcia guided two long touchdown drives and the Philadelphia Eagles clinched a berth in the National Football League playoffs with a 23-7 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Monday.
Philadelphia's fourth victory in a row left both clubs level atop the NFC East division at 9-6 with one game remaining, but the Eagles own the tie-break edge by beating Dallas twice this year.
The Eagles can win the division title for the fiftgh time in six years by beating Atlanta next Sunday and can fare no worse than a wild-card playoff berth to join Dallas, New Orleans, Chicago and Seattle in NFC playoff spots.
"It's a Merry Christmas, I can tell you that," Eagles cornerback Lito Sheppard said. "We got a present."
Garcia threw for 238 yards and ran for 43 more. His effort as a fill-in replacement for injured Donovan McNabb has lifted the Eagles from a struggling 5-6 club to a serious contender.
"I just think the defense and offense and special teams are all feeding off each other," Garcia said. "It's really just been exciting and fun the way this team has come together and is playing so well from the top to the bottom."
The Cowboys' loss clinched a first-round playoff bye for the New Orleans Saints. Dallas could still win their first division crown since 1998 if they beat Detroit next week and the Eagles lose.
Five teams with 7-8 records - Green Bay, Carolina, Atlanta, St. Louis and the New York Giants - are competing for a last NFC spot to be decided in next weekend's season-ending games. The Giants would advance by beating Washington.
David Akers kicked a 45-yard field goal on the final play of the second quarter to give Philadelphia a 13-7 halftime lead, then boosted the margin with a 21-yarder just 2:46 into the second half.
Correll Buckhalter's one-yard touchdown run with 6:54 to play capped an 80-yard march to give the Eagles their final victory margin.
"Great teams stay together and play together," Eagle defensive tackle Darwin Walker said. "Teams that are playing the best at the end of the season are the teams that win. There's no reason we can't keep playing this way if we keep working."
The Eagles had grabbed a 7-0 lead only 11 minutes into the game when Jeff Garcia capped a 13-play, 89-yard drive by throwing a 25-yard touchdown pass to Matt Schobel.
Akers' earlier 25-yard field goal had given the Eagles a 10-0 edge before the Cowboys answered just 36 seconds before halftime.
Dallas quarterback Tony Romo connected with former Eagles receiver Terrell Owens on a 14-yard touchdown pass to pulled the Cowboys within 10-7.
It was the second game this year for Owens against his former team, having caught only three passes for 45 yards in a 38-24 Dallas loss in October at Philadelphia.
Owens verbally ripped injured Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb when they were team-mates, leading to his departure for Dallas, as he had complained about Garcia when the two were San Francisco team-mates.
Elsewhere, Mike Nugent kicked a 30-yard field goal with 10 seconds remaining to give the New York Jets a 13-10 victory over Miami here Monday, boosting the Jets' chances of reaching the playoffs. The Jets improved to 9-6 and kept control of their post-season destiny, needing only to defeat doormat Oakland (2-13) next Sunday to reach the National Football League playoffs. The already eliminated Dolphins fell to 6-9.
(China Daily 12/27/2006 page16)
