Bad Night for Eagles; Peete Hurt

The lights were on, the Cowboys were on the run and the Eagles had the opportunity to stomp on Dallas, wipe that smug smirk off owner Jerry Jones’ face and rid the NFL of its perennial Super Bowl champion.

But quick as a bug granted a reprieve, the Cowboys escaped annihilation and a 1-4 start with a 23-19 victory before 67,201 in Veterans Stadium and now they begin their quest in earnest for a fourth Super Bowl trophy in five years with the return of suspended wide receiver Michael Irvin.

“No doubt this win puts us in good shape now and it will be nice to see No. 88 [Irvin] running around out there,” said Jones, his smile widening with each interview request. “Anybody can add and to get four losses, well, the numbers alone would have told the story.”

The Eagles, revved by Coach Ray Rhodes revenge rhetoric and a howling mob in Veterans Stadium, roared out to a 10-0 lead and were in position to bury the Cowboys in the NFC East cellar while tying with Washington for first place.

Instead, the Eagles collapsed, not only falling for the ninth time in 10 meetings with the Cowboys, but losing quarterback Rodney Peete for the season because of a torn tendon his right knee late in the the second quarter. Philadelphia never recovered from the injury, while the undermanned Cowboys continued to improvise and find a way to win.

“They showed why they are a championship team,” said Philadelphia tackle Barrett Brooks. “They did what they had to do to win.”

Ty Detmer, Peete’s replacement, flopped with the game on the line, and now with a week remaining until the NFL trading deadline, the Eagles must decide if they want to pursue beleaguered Atlanta quarterback Jeff George.

“That’s a good question,” said Eagle Coach Ray Rhodes.

Running back Charlie Garner for George? If the Eagles want to stay ahead of the Cowboys and in pursuit of the Redskins, they cannot remain status quo. Detmer, seven for 14 for 118 yards with an interception, was also sacked three times, and while the Eagles have a bye, what they really need is for Detmer to grow taller by another three or four inches.

“Bringing in another quarterback is a must for us,” Rhodes said. “We have a long season ahead and we have to make a decision at the quarterback position; that’s critical for us.”

Rhodes, who had bristled at Dallas Coach Barry Switzer’s post-game remarks following the Cowboys’ 30-11 playoff victory a year ago, stood bewildered after Peete’s knee collapsed while Peete had retreated to pass. Peete, clutching his knee in pain, fumbled as a result, and the Cowboys recovered and went on to use one of Chris Boniol’s three field goals to complete a 20-0 run and establish a 20-10 halftime advantage.

“I told the team before the game this was not about winning and losing, but who we were and what we have done,” said Switzer. “This game was for respect. We were down 1-3 and our offensive line was supposed to be too old and too fat, and it was just a matter of challenging the team.”

After the Eagles moved in front 10-0, running back Herschel Walker took the kickoff and jump-started the Cowboys with a 49-yard return, which led to a Boniol field goal.

“Big, big play,” Switzer said.

Deion Sanders’ 39-yard pass reception set up a five-yard touchdown run by Emmitt Smith. Sanders then intercepted a Peete pass, and the Cowboys turned it into another Boniol field goal.