A Scoring Feast In the NFC East

The Cowboys and Eagles each have at least a half-dozen weapons to utilize on offense, big-time triggermen at quarterback, headhunting linebackers and safeties on defense. Each appears, at this point, to be a complete team. The Eagles put up 30 points in the first half without having starting wide receivers Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown, which isn't the most encouraging note for upcoming opponents.

McNabb, who played essentially a perfect game in destroying the pathetic St. Louis Rams in the opener, seems more confident than ever that he can stand in the pocket and find a game-breaking receiver. And that now includes rookie DeSean Jackson, a 175-pound blur who had better find a big dose of self-control before he gets himself booed out of Philly.

Jackson became the first receiver since 1940 and only the second one in league history to begin his career with back-to-back 100-yard receiving games. But he turned what appeared to be a 61-yard touchdown into a 60-yard gain to the 1-yard line when he stupidly threw the ball down before crossing the goal line with a gorgeous pass from McNabb.

Keeping Jackson from looking like a total fool in his first national television appearance, the always dependable Westbrook somersaulted in from the one for the touchdown that put the Eagles back on top in the fourth lead change of the first half.

The Cowboys, with Terrell Owens, manic runner Marion Barber, tight end Jason Witten and now lightning Jones, are even more loaded than Philly. Owens averaged nearly 30 yards per reception on three catches the first half, two of them resulting in touchdowns. And when the Eagles' defense decided to tilt the field to shut down Owens, Witten ran free down the middle and caught seven passes for 110 yards. Owens, at 34 years old and in his 13th season, looks as good if not better than ever. The question, then, is whether the Cowboys, specifically Romo, can stop goofing up before the playoffs really get going.

Romo had one of his typical games on Monday night against Philly: stretches of brilliance punctuated by moments of self-destruction. Philly's second touchdown was scored when Romo simply coughed up the ball in his own end zone, which the Eagles recovered.

Romo showed after the game why he has endeared himself to his teammates when he said: "Once we got that big play [the kickoff return from Jones] there was no turning back. Until I fumbled in the end zone."

If McNabb, meantime, isn't what he was at 26, he looks pretty darned good again, at 31. While he can no longer run away from the fastest linebackers and defensive ends, as was plain to see when the Cowboys ran him down on the final series, he is strong enough now to pull away from the biggest mashers across the line. Less than a year ago, it seemed quite possible, if not probable, that McNabb would leave the Eagles, perhaps going to Chicago, maybe to Minnesota. In fact, the Eagles of Andy Reid/McNabb seemed on the brink of extinction. But quickly, with a smart draft and offseason acquisitions such as former Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel), the Eagles have come back looking fresh.

But they bobbled enough snaps and receptions and made enough mistakes in the final 10 minutes to blow a chance at beating the Cowboys for the third straight time here in Dallas. And it sets up quite the intramural story line that might also set the season agenda for the entire NFC.