I hate the Dallas Cowboys. I have always hated the Dallas Cowboys. I can't remember a time when I heard the words "Dallas Cowboys" and didn't immediately recoil in revulsion. This is what growing up in Philadelphia will do to you. And it's not just me. Black, white, man, woman, child...Philadelphians are bound by their hatred of the Cowboys. Take, for example, my mom's response to the news that I was moving to Dallas after college.

"You're moving to Cowboys country??"

It's impossible to convey the proper amount of disgust in that sentence over the Internet, but you get the point. The Cowboys are the enemy and therefore, Dallas is the enemy. The city, its people, its landmarks - we hate it all.

Hey, no one said we were logical in our passion.

Anyway, 53 weeks ago, I walked into Texas Stadium for my first Eagles/Cowboys game in enemy territory. Things have changed a bit since I was a kid, and now it's typically the Eagles who administer the yearly ass-kicking and not the other way around. I was thrilled for the opportunity to see the destruction of the cocky Cowboys firsthand, and in preparation, I had been talking shit at work for weeks.

But, in true Philly fashion, things didn't exactly go according to plan.

On the first play of the game, the Cowboys took advantage of a botched Eagles onside kick and put points on the board before I even made it to my seat. Three seconds into the game. Three seconds! The walk from the concourse down to my seats was humiliating, and not at all how I had imagined my first experience at Texas Stadium. I spent the rest of the afternoon listening to vile southern accents explain to me that Rush Limbaugh was right about McNabb, that he was a shitty quarterback who only got attention because of his skin color.

This from a group of guys who were wearing Quincy Carter jerseys.


Seriously. Quincy Carter jerseys! Did you even know they made those?


Fast forward to today: November 15, 2004. Finally. Redemption.

Tonight, The Eagles are in town to take on the Cowboys on Monday Night Football, a stage on which the Eagles always shine. Halfway through the season, the Birds are 7-1, while the Cowboys are a pitiful 3-5. Everything is in place for the a magnificent Eagles thrashing. But this is Philadelphia we're talking about. Anything's possible.


Things I'm feeling good about:
*The Eagles are coming off an absolute collapse against the Pittsburgh Steelers and are sure to be hungry for a win.
*The Cowboys have a 41 year old quarterback. A 41 year old quarterback. I love the way that rolls off the tongue.
*Andy Reid's Eagles are 7-1 on Monday nights.
*Jeremiah Trotter is starting at middle linebacker. Should be interesting.
*This matchup: Torrin Tucker against Jevon Kearse
*41 year old Quarterback. Say it with me.

Things I'm not feeling so good about:
*The Eagles have only converted 28 of 87 (32.2 percent) third downs so far this season. That's good for 27th in the league. Not impressive.
*Where do we turn now that we can't blame the Vet's turf for injuries? These guys are all banged up and are probable for tonight: kicker David Akers (hip), safety Brian Dawkins (forearm), linebacker Dhani Jones (ankle), guard Jermane Mayberry (calf), tackle Sam Rayburn (concussion/elbow), offensive tackle Jon Runyan (groin), defensive tackle Corey Simon (calf), running back Brian Westbrook (rib) and cornerback Dexter Wynn (hamstring).
*LJ Smith - still hurt.
*The Eagles are atrocious against the run. (Thank god the Cowboys don't have anyone who can.)

When it's all over, I hope to see Terrell Owens dancing on that star in the middle of Texas Stadium's field. The star that Cowboys fans hold so close to their hearts. The star that Owens once before celebrated on, much to the resentment of Cowboys fans everywhere. The star that I may or may not have spit on during an early morning photo shoot at Texas Stadium.

Oh, but that's a different story for a different post.

For now, repeat after me...

41 year old quarterback.