Top Story

Much of the Cowboys' defensive struggles can be pinned on their third-down efficiency. Early in the season it was efficient. Now? Not so much.

Philadelphia converted on nine of 16 attempts on third down Monday, including six of its first eight to take a 16-7 lead after one drive of the second half. The Cowboys have allowed 50 percent or better conversions for six straight games after allowing 50 percent just three times in the first nine games.

"They just kept getting on third down and converting," linebacker DeMarcus Ware said. "That's the one big thing they kept doing all game."

— Todd Archer

Defensive end Chris Canty said he's frustrated by the Cowboys' inability to win big games. Dallas has lost two games to the Eagles, one to the Saints and split division games with Washington and the New York Giants.

	Eagles 23, Cowboys 7
	CowboysPlus.com: Free for a limited time Season's beating: Eagles whip Cowboys Cowlishaw: With this defense, Dallas may be doomed Taylor: Erratic team has Jones on brink of despair Moore: Eagles leave no doubts Owens, Glenn sound off Offense thrown for a big loss Todd Archer's Cowboys report card Calvin Watkins' five plays that shaped the game Notebook Game photos Game summary Official NFL summary (.pdf) Grade the Cowboys' performance Tell Us: Will the Cowboys win a playoff game? Sports front page (.pdf) All-time vs. Philadelphia Teen touches down in his last stadium Cowboys Blog More Cowboys

"It's a big game for us, and in the past we haven't come out with our best performance," Canty said. "It's hurting us."

Canty said Eagles quarterback Jeff Garcia was the key to the Eagles' offense.

"He was very efficient at throwing on the run and getting out of the pocket," Canty said. "They had a balanced attack of running and passing."

— Calvin Watkins

With his 12th touchdown catch of the season, Terrell Owens tied for the third-most scoring receptions in Cowboys history. It's the sixth time in his career he has caught 12 or more touchdown passes in a season.

The last time a Cowboys receiver had 12 or more touchdown catches was 1969, when Lance Rentzel had 12.

— Calvin Watkins

The final straw for the Cowboys came early in the fourth quarter, when Philadelphia safety Brian Dawkins intercepted a pass intended for Terrell Owens in the end zone.

After all Owens put the Eagles through last season, what were their fans doing after that one?

"I'm pretty sure they thought it was an excellent present to open at the right time," Dawkins said. "I know I was excited about it."

The key: Dawkins said when Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo gets a single safety, he always tries to go over to Owens' side.

— David Moore

Monday was the fourth time the Cowboys have played on Christmas in team history and first time they played at Texas Stadium.

The Cowboys are now 2-2 on the holiday, having lost their last two games by a combined 54-7, to Tennessee (2000) and Philadelphia (2006). The Cowboys' wins came in a 1971 divisional playoff against Minnesota and at Arizona in 1995.

— Todd Archer

Outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware (left shin) and defensive tackle Jay Ratliff (separated right shoulder) left the game early in the third quarter but later returned. Ratliff was down for several moments and was on the sideline getting the shoulder pulled back into place. Ratliff did return. He departed Texas Stadium with an ice pack on his shoulder.

ANDREW P. SCOTT / DMN Tony Romo scrambles under pressure from Eagles defensive tackle Mike Patterson (98).

Ware missed only one play after getting kneed by Chris Canty while making a tackle on Jeff Garcia.

"Both of us are trying to make a tackle, and I whipped around when I tackled Garcia," Ware said. "It's all right."

— Calvin Watkins

Patrick Watkins is glad he won't see the Eagles again, at least until the playoffs.

After getting beaten for plays of 87, 60 and 40 yards when the Cowboys lost at Lincoln Financial Field earlier in the season, he was beaten for 35 yards by Donte Stallworth when the Eagles were coming out of their end zone in the second quarter.

"I don't want to talk about it," said Watkins, who had five tackles. "We lost. That's all that matters. Everything is simple, and we're not getting it done."

— Todd Archer

For the first time since his rookie year in 2004, cornerback Jacques Reeves was inactive.

Reeves dislocated his elbow last week against Atlanta and did not practice. He was replaced by rookie Quincy Butler, who was called up from the practice squad Saturday, which meant veteran safety Tony Parrish was out again.

— Todd Archer

It wasn't Miles Austin's broken left hand that led to a fumble on a kickoff but his right hand. Austin fumbled the kickoff after the Eagles took a 7-0 lead with 3:50 to play in the first quarter. The Eagles' Quintin Mikell stripped the ball from Austin's right hand along the sidelines. The turnover led to an Eagles score, a 25-yard field goal from David Akers.

"I lost focus," Austin said. "Just wasn't concentrating when I was running with the ball. It's something I need to work on."

— Calvin Watkins

The Eagles won their 15th consecutive road game when carrying a lead into the second half. Even more impressive is that Philadelphia won three games on the road against the division in three consecutive weeks. The last team to face a schedule that onerous was the New York Giants in 1982.

"I thought it was going to be a cakewalk," Philadelphia coach Andy Reid said, with his tongue planted firmly in his cheek.

— David Moore

Sunday's kickoff against Detroit will not be part of the NFL's flex scheduling and will remain at noon (Ch. 4). ... Receiver Terrell Owens lined up as a defensive back near the end of the first half when the Cowboys were preparing for a long throw from the Eagles. It's similar to how the Cowboys used Keyshawn Johnson. ... Mat McBriar has 210 consecutive punts without a block, the third-longest streak in team history. The club record is 341 consecutive games by Danny White, followed by John Jett's 253. ... After missing the previous game with a knee injury, fullback Oliver Hoyte was active, but Lousaka Polite took the first snaps at fullback. ... Linebacker Junior Glymph, nose tackle Montavious Stanley, guards Joe Berger and Cory Procter, tackle Pat McQuistan and defensive end Stephen Bowen were also inactive.

Jason Witten became the first Cowboys tight end to have three straight seasons with at least 60 catches, and in the process, gave the Cowboys three receivers with 60 or more catches in a season for the fourth time in team history.

Witten tied his season high Monday with six catches for 50 yards, giving him 60 catches for 692 yards on the season. In the last three seasons, Witten has had 87, 66 and 60 catches.

The other Cowboys tight ends to have 60 catches in a season are Jay Novacek (1992, 1995) and Doug Cosbie (1984, 1985).

A look at the seasons the Cowboys have had three receivers with at least 60 catches:

1985: Tony Hill 74, Doug Cosbie 64, Mike Renfro 60

1995: Michael Irvin 111, Jay Novacek 62, Emmitt Smith 62

2005: Keyshawn Johnson 71, Jason Witten 66, Terry Glenn 62

2006: Terrell Owens 79, Terry Glenn 64, Jason Witten 60

— Todd Archer

— Calvin Watkins