After last week's awful, uninspiring 10-3 loss to the Redskins, it seemed the Eagles were knocked from the playoff chase. Too many outcomes had to fall in line on the season's last day for the Eagles to get back into the playoffs: losses by Tampa and Chicago or Minnesota, then a win over the Cowboys.

But around 4 p.m. Sunday, the holiday miracle began to take shape:

Raiders 31, Tampa 24

Houston 31, Chicago 24

So when the Eagles took the field against the hated Cowboys, they knew a win would get them in the playoffs. And win they did.

EAGLES 44, COWBOYS 6

Don't know if it was the emotion on which the Eagles played, or the lack of intensity from the Cowboys, but after a 3-3 first quarter, the Cowboys imploded, turning the ball over 5 straight times which led to 27 Eagles points. But who cares, we beat the stinkin' Cowboys to get into the playoffs. I watched the game at a little holiday gathering at my house. My dad and uncle and cousin from York and I were all going crazy as each Cowboys' fumble led to an Eagle defender running in for a score.

So now the Eagles will visit Minnesota to play the Vikings in a game at 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

GO EAGLES!!!