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DALLAS - 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 yesterday.
Philadelphia's fourth straight win left both clubs level atop the NFC East division 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 fifth time in six years by beating Atlanta next Monday 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.
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 strugglers to serious contenders.
"I just think the defence and offence 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."
Dallas could still win their first division crown since 1998 if they beat Detroit next week and the Eagles lose.
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.
"Great teams stay together and play together," Eagle defensive tackle Darwin Walker said.
"Teams that are playing the best atthe end of the season are the teams thatwin. There's no reason that we can't keep playing this way if we keep working."
* Mike Nugent kicked a 30-yard field goal with 10 seconds remaining to give the New York Jets a 13-10 victory over the Dolphins in Miami, 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) on Monday to reach the National Football League playoffs.
The already eliminated Dolphins fell to 6-9.
- AFP
