PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — For Eagles fans, losing to the Cowboys is more painful than a root canal.
Such has been the case in the last four meetings between the two rivals. Dallas has won four in a row against the Eagles and the Cowboys have also won six of the last seven games played at the Linc.
The two teams will battle for first place in the NFC East on Sunday, and Eagles coach Doug Pederson knows the rivalry has been one-sided in recent years.
"The Cowboys have been a team we have struggled with," said Pederson. "It's something that we just have to continue to work and try to overcome. They have had our number here recently and really, since my time here in Philly. It's something that as we look at the tape and how I prepare the football team and get ready to play and all of that, I would look at all of that."
The last loss to the Cowboys earlier this season wasn't even close.
Dallas jumped out to an early lead and went on to roll to a 37-10 victory. The Eagles turned the ball over twice early in the game, which set up two Dallas scores and put the Eagles in an early hole.
Pederson knows his team can't afford to get off to another slow start on Sunday.
"I look back to our first game," Pederson said. "The turnovers early in that football game really cost us big, and then we were playing from behind. Even some of the games that we watched again this week from last year and even the year before, we got down early in those games. It's something we've tried to put an emphasis on."
This is a must win game for the Eagles.
A loss gives the Cowboys the division title and a victory gives the Eagles a chance to clinch the division next week against the Giants. This grand stage could be intimidating for some of the younger players, but wide receiver Greg Ward says they have been in a similar situation in recent weeks.
"We'll treat it just like last week," said Ward. "It's win or go home. This is a very important game and it's the Cowboys. Everybody's amped, everybody's happy, everybody's excited and everyone is ready."
The Eagles will need some help from the 12th man on Sunday.
Everyone is expecting an electric atmosphere at the Linc and the crowd could make a difference in the outcome. Pederson remembers how the crowd helped his squad in his first year as head coach.
Now, the Eagles will need all the help they can get with their season on the line against their biggest rivals.
"I look back to my first year," Pederson said. "We had two games remaining, the Giants and the Cowboys to end that season. The crowd showed up and helped us win really both of those games to finish 7-9 that first year. They were such an impact in affecting our opponent. That's what our players also feed off, they feed off the energy of the crowd."
