Eagles run over Cowboys to clinch playoff berth
Football Betting Lines
12/26/2006 - Irving, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jeff Garcia completed 15-of-23 passes for 238 yards and Brian Westbrook led a clock-controlling ground game with 122 rushing yards, as the Philadelphia Eagles clinched a playoff berth and gained the NFC East lead with a 23-7 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in a Christmas Day battle at Texas Stadium.
Correll Buckhalter gained 38 yards on the ground with a touchdown for the Eagles (9-6), who can capture the division title with a win over Atlanta on Sunday in Philadelphia or a Dallas (9-6) loss at home against Detroit in Week 17. Although both the Eagles and Cowboys have identical records, the Eagles would win the crown due to a season sweep of Dallas. Lito Sheppard's 102-yard interception return for a touchdown capped a dramatic 38-24 Eagles win over Dallas in Week 5.
Dallas, which has now dropped two of its last three on the heels of a four- game win streak, clinched a playoff berth last Sunday. The Cowboys were dominated at nearly every facet and were outgained, 426-201, losing to the Eagles for the 11th time in the last 14 meetings.
Garcia has re-energized a Philadelphia offense that was left for dead when star quarterback Donovan McNabb suffered a season-ending knee injury on November 19. Garcia's first start was a 45-21 loss to Indianapolis, but he has rebounded and guided the Eagles to four straight wins, including three consecutive divisional road games.
Pro Bowl quarterback Tony Romo finished 14-of-29 passing for 142 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions for the Cowboys. Julius Jones and Marion Barber combined for just 80 rushing yards against the 28th-ranked rushing defense entering the game. Former Eagles wide receiver Terrell Owens caught two passes for 23 yards and the lone Dallas touchdown in the loss.
Due to Philadelphia's win, the New Orleans Saints clinched a first-round bye in the playoffs.
Newark, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Randy Johnson's days with the New York Yankees could be numbered. According to a report in the Newark Star-Ledger, the Yankees are in discussions with the Diamondbacks to trade Johnson, a five-time
<< Wade thrives, Heat shut down Kobe
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dwyane Wade had a spectacular Christmas
afternoon, scoring 40 points, dishing out 11 assists and tying a career-high
with four blocked shots, as the Heat rolled to a 101-85 over the Los Angeles
Lakers.
<< NFL Inactives (Monday, December 25, 2006)
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The following is a list of the players
placed on the inactive squad for this week's NFL games.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT DALLAS COWBOYS, 5:00 P.M. (ET)
Eagles - RB Ryan Moats, G Max Jean-Gilles, T Pat McCoy
<< UCLA remains on top of poll; Clemson and Tennessee join Top 25
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - For the fifth consecutive week, UCLA
remained atop the Associated Press college basketball poll.
The Bruins (11-0) crushed Michigan, 92-55, and also dismantled Sam Houston
State this past week
<< ACC represents top of women's poll as Oklahoma falls
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Maryland, North Carolina, and now Duke, hold
the top three spots in the latest Associated Press women's college basketball
poll as Oklahoma tumbled out of the third spot and all the way down to eight.
With
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Leon Washington's 64-yard jaunt on a screen pass set up Mike Nugent's winning field goal with 10 seconds remaining, as the New York Jets moved closer to the playoffs with a 13-10 win over the Miami Dolphin
Packers/Bears selected for Sunday night; wild chase for playoffs >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The NFL has moved this coming Sunday night's
game between Green Bay and the Chicago Bears to 8:15 p.m. (et) as part of the
flexible scheduling system.
There were other games moved back to later in the afte
Rockets stop off in Indiana >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Rockets hit the road this evening to take on
the Indiana Pacers at Conseco Fieldhouse.
Houston will visit Indiana and New Jersey on its brief trip and is 8-8 as the
visitor this season. The Rockets have lost t
Grizzlies, Wizards meet at Verizon Center >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Memphis Grizzlies try and stop a three-game losing
streak tonight when they pay a visit to the Washington Wizards at the Verizon
Center.
Memphis, the NBA's worst team, suffered a 100-97 loss to the Utah Jazz on
Satur
Pistons welcome Nets to The Palace >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Central Division-leading Detroit Pistons aim for
their fifth straight win when they host the New Jersey Nets tonight at The
Palace of Auburn Hills.
Detroit, which owns a two-game lead over Chicago in the division, ha
El Duque expected to throw Tuesday
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.
Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.
El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.
MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds.
Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.
New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.
Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''
Additional baseball lines and World Series odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com
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