Three-feat? Cowboys face three hurdles to trifecta vs. rival Eagles
Article By viyer.tsn on 5th January, 2010
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Just how difficult is it to beat the same team three times during an NFL season? Since the 1970 merger, the opportunity has arisen 19 times in the playoffs and 12 sweeps were completed.
That should make Dallas Cowboys faithful feel better about their chances in their first-round matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, a team they beat 20-16 at Philadelphia in Week 9 and then 24-0 at home on Sunday. (Kickoff is 8 p.m. ET Saturday.)
Last season, the Steelers pulled off a three-feat of Baltimore en route to winning Super Bowl 43. Dallas, however, has failed in its only two attempts—in 1998 against the Cardinals and 2007 against the Giants, both part of the franchise's 13-year postseason drought.
"I don't know that we have faced in the playoffs, since I've been here, more of a challenge to turn around and play that good of a team for a third time," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said of the Eagles. "Now we've done it two years ago with a team that we thought could go all the way with all the talent and we couldn't get it done."
Jones' players aren't expecting Philadelphia to struggle to play defense and score points in their return trip to Cowboys Stadium.
"It definitely gets our attention, because I know (Eagles coach) Andy Reid is going to have those guys ready," Dallas wide receiver Patrick Crayton said.
Here are three notable obstacles Dallas must overcome to beat Philadelphia one more time:
More Brian Westbrook
He didn't play in the Nov. 8 matchup and was limited to nine touches for 37 total yards Sunday. Reid is slowly working Westbrook back into the mix, and if the Cowboys keep focusing on taking away DeSean Jackson deep, Westbrook could burn them on underneath routes that get him into the open field.
Before the final month of the season, there was a question as to whether Westbrook, 30, would return at all after suffering two concussions and missing n...
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