Buddy Ryan had quarterback Randall Cunningham fake taking a last-second knee so he could score one more touchdown to further embarrass Tom Landry in an Eagles’ blowout in 1987.
Fans threw batteries wrapped inside ice balls at the Cowboys in 1989, and cheered when Michael Irvin was carried off on a stretcher in 1999, his career ended by a neck injury.
And the Cowboys had two seasons crash spectacularly in Philadelphia – in the 1980 NFC Championship Game and via a 44-6 shellacking in 2008.
It’s Philadelphia. It’s a dreary, miserable, grumpy city. But, recently, it ain’t so bad.
After all, how can a place be so scary if Stephen McGee won there? The Cowboys’ former backup led a meaningless 14-13 win at Lincoln Financial Field in 2010, and the Cowboys – despite the joint’s hostile reputation – have actually gone 4-1 in their last five trips.
Since the win-or-go-home 38-point loss to end the ’08 season, the Cowboys have only lost once in Philly and that was a thorough 34-7 trouncing on Sunday Night Football early in 2011.
Sandwiched around that are wins of 20-16 (helped by a Miles Austin touchdown and a Mike Jenkins interception), 14-13 (sealed by McGee’s last-minute touchdown pass to Jason Witten), 38-23 (fueled by punt, fumble and interception returns for touchdowns) and last season’s 17-3 (Dallas knocked out Nick Foles, picked off backup Matt Barkley three times).
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The Cowboys may not win Sunday night in Philly. But there’s no reason to be intimidated by their surroundings.
A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He currently lives in McKinney with his wife, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.
