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PHILADELPHIA -- Donovan McNabb flexed his muscles, seemingly mocking Terrell Owens. The always stoic Andy Reid played cheerleader, encouraging the crowd to make noise.
Many fans may not want the quarterback or coach back for another season. But they'll be with the team for at least one more game -- a playoff game.
The Philadelphia Eagles overcame daunting odds to capture an NFC wild-card spot with a dominating 44-6 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
The Eagles will play at NFC North champion Minnesota (10-6) next weekend.
"They just handed us an old-fashioned butt whipping," Owens said. "I don't have all the answers, but I'd love to be part of the solution."
In a game that become do-or-die for both teams shortly before kickoff, the Eagles (9-6-1) thoroughly outplayed the error-prone Cowboys (9-7) in every facet. McNabb threw two touchdown passes and ran for another, and Brian Dawkins forced two fumbles that were returned for scores.
Written off after a 10-3 loss at Washington last week, Philadelphia avoided elimination when Oakland upset Tampa Bay and Houston beat Chicago in the early games. The Raiders were 13-point underdogs against the Buccaneers, who lost their fourth straight.
Tony Romo came up way short in another crucial game, dropping his record to 5-8 in December. T.O. was a non-factor, despite six catches for 103 yards.
"I wake up tomorrow and I keep living," Romo said when asked how he deals with tough defeats.
McNabb scored on a sneak from inside the 1 to put Philadelphia ahead 10-3 in the second quarter. McNabb kept the drive going with a 59-yard catch-and-run to Correll Buckhalter on third-and-6. Buckhalter, who has missed three full seasons to knee injuries during his eight-year career, outran several tacklers to reach the Cowboys 6.
Then the Eagles scored 17 points in the final 2:03 of the second quarter. McNabb tossed a 4-yard TD pass to Buckhalter to make it 17-3 just before the 2-minute warning. He twice kept the drive going in third-and-long situations, connecting with Kevin Curtis for 15 yards and DeSean Jackson for 34 yards to the Cowboys 3.
Sheldon Brown intercepted Romo's underthrown pass to Roy Williams on Dallas' ensuing possession and returned it 23 yards to the Dallas 42. Then two big penalties -- a personal foul on Adam "Pacman" Jones and pass interference against Terence Newman in the end zone -- set up McNabb's 1-yard TD pass to Brent Celek.
Jones was stripped by Quintin Demps on the kickoff and Omar Gaither recovered at the Cowboys 31 with 3 seconds left in the first half. David Akers made a 50-yard field goal to give the Eagles a 27-3 lead going into halftime.
On the first possession of the third quarter, Dawkins sacked Romo and Chris Clemons picked up the fumble and raced 73 yards for a score that gave Philly a 34-3 lead.
Joselio Hanson returned Marion Barber's fumble 96 yards for a score on the next series.
