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	Howard Smith/US PRESSWIRE
	Jason Witten and the Cowboys will return to Lincoln Financial Field for the first since last year’s devastating 44-6 loss there on the season’s final week.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Matt Mosley



IRVING, Texas — In a span of about five minutes on Dec. 28, 2008, the Eagles’ and Cowboys’ seasons took completely different paths. There was a good chance heading into the final game of the regular season that the Eagles would not have anything to play for in terms of making the playoffs.



But shortly before the 4:15 p.m. ET kickoff, everyone at the Linc found out that the Oakland Raiders had done the Eagles a remarkable favor with a comeback win over Tampa Bay. Suddenly, the Eagles and Cowboys were in a winner-take-all situation — and we all know what happened next.



In one of the most regrettable performances in franchise history, the Cowboys suffered an embarrassing 44-6 loss. Eagles cornerback Sheldon Brown intercepted Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo late in the first half, setting up a Brent Celek touchdown catch that gave the Eagles a 24-3 lead. The rest of the afternoon is still a blur for some Cowboys players and coaches — and they’d prefer to keep it that way.



In the postgame locker room, Romo delivered his now infamous “life goes on” speech. Romo made some critical remarks about offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, but that wasn’t the worst part. He tried to offer some perspective at a time when Cowboys fans weren’t ready for it by saying that if he never reached the Super Bowl, he’d still end up having a pretty good life.



It’s something you might be able to get away with saying a few months later, but it was an awful miscalculation at the time. It fed the perception that other things were more important to Romo than winning football games — and it’s something that will linger until he wins his first playoff game.



Moments after the game, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones delivered the message of continuity, saying he would stick with head coach Wade Phillips. He also promised that he would take some of his employees “to the woodshed” in an effort to find out what went wrong. Based on their 13-3 ’07 season, the ’08 Cowboys had been a popular Super Bowl pick. An extremely disappointed and angry Jones set out to change the culture in his locker room, although he never phrased it quite like that.



Jones shut down his reform school that had housed Adam “Pacman” Jones and Tank Johnson. And then he made one of the toughest decisions of his career in releasing Pro Bowl wide receiver Terrell Owens. It shouldn’t have been a difficult decision after watching T.O. splinter the locker room, but it was because it required Jones to admit that he’d made a mistake in giving Owens a lucrative contract extension.



Jones fired defensive coordinator Brian Stewart and gave that title to Phillips. He also replaced special teams coach Bruce Read with Joe DeCamillis, perhaps one of the most underrated moves of the offseason based on the Cowboys’ immediate improvement in that area.

	Tim Heitman/US Presswire
	Miles Austin’s emergence has been a boon for the Cowboys’ receiving corps.

Now seven games into the ’09 season, there doesn’t seem to be as much sense of entitlement in the Cowboys’ locker room. The one minor controversy — Roy Williams‘ lack of chemistry with Romo — doesn’t seem to faze the other players. I’m sure it’s embarrassing for Jones to see Williams go for about 19 yards per game, but that is offset by the remarkable rise of former undrafted wide receiver Miles Austin.



I almost laughed in Jones’ face when he told us at the owners meeting that Austin had the potential to make people forget about T.O. — but that’s exactly what’s happened. The only time you hear T.O.’s name in Dallas is when someone’s joking about his lack of production in Buffalo.



The Cowboys return to the Linc on Sunday a confident team. They’re well aware of their reputation for falling apart in December — and that’s why they need to stack wins in November. It helps that their new emotional leader on defense, inside linebacker Keith Brooking, doesn’t give a rip about last season’s 44-6 loss. He was a member of a Falcons playoff team at the time, and his refusal to buy into the Cowboys’ past has been an important part of the culture change at Valley Ranch. Players such as linebacker Bradie James certainly haven’t forgotten how their ’08 season ended, but they don’t seem obsessed with it.



“We know what happened last year,” James told reporters Wednesday. “This is a different team, a different season, but we haven’t forgotten. The only way we can right that wrong is to go out there and win, whether it’s ugly, sexy, it doesn’t really matter. We’ve got to go out there and find a way to win. We’ll definitely know where we are as a team after we play this game.”



Williams said Wednesday that Phillips hasn’t even brought up the Cowboys’ last trip to the Linc. And the receiver said he didn’t intend on reliving his two-catch, 4-yard performance in the game.



I think it’s a good sign for the Cowboys. This team appears to have a different approach. It should be enough motivation that the winner of this game will be in the driver’s seat in the division race. And you know what they say about crippling 44-6 losses.



Life goes on.

Fantasy Fix video: Gregg Rosenthal and Tiffany Simmons say you should stay away from the backups in the Dallas vs Philadelphia matchup. What other advice do they have? (NBC Sports)

Fantasy Fix: Stay away from the backups in the Dallas vs Philadelphia matchup. (NBC Sports)

	Matt Stamey/US Presswire
	Carson Palmer has enjoyed success during his career against the Ravens.

Posted by ESPN.com’s James Walker



CINCINNATI — It’s the statistic no one likes to talk about in Baltimore.



It’s also a topic those in Cincinnati would rather keep under wraps.



But here are the facts: Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer is 7-3 in 10 career starts against the Ravens. He’s given the vaunted Baltimore defense more trouble over the years than any quarterback not named Peyton Manning.



“If you say we’ve had success, that’ll be your line,” said Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, eluding the topic.



The truth is, Palmer brings his “A” game against Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Co. The two-time Pro Bowl quarterback has thrown for 2,506 yards, 13 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 10 career meetings with the Ravens.



The trend gained even more traction when Palmer led the Bengals to another game-winning drive in the final seconds of Cincinnati’s 17-14 victory over Baltimore on Oct. 11. Palmer, who carved up the Ravens secondary with 271 yards, connected with receiver Andre Caldwell for a 20-yard touchdown pass to help catapult the Bengals into first place in the division.



Palmer’s success will be something to closely monitor Sunday when Baltimore (4-3) visits Cincinnati (5-2) in a huge game for both teams. Cincinnati can improve to 4-0 in the AFC North, while Baltimore has a chance to tighten the division standings and ensure that it remains a three-team race.



“I actually wasn’t aware of that,” Palmer said of beating the Ravens in seven of 10 career starts. “We’ve always had good game plans against them. We’ve matched up pretty favorably against them. I think because Marvin was there and he won a Super Bowl, Baltimore week is always a real big deal.”



It’s difficult to pinpoint Cincinnati’s biggest rival in the division, as a strong case can be made for the Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers and the in-state Cleveland Browns. But it’s clear the Bengals have no problem gearing up for games against Baltimore.



Cincinnati receiver Chad Ochocinco has said on many occasions that his battles with the Ravens are the most enjoyable games of the season. Palmer also admits the respect factor plays a big role in getting ready for these games.



“I love the challenge,” Palmer said.



Not only has Palmer been up for the challenge, he’s often conquered it.



Matching wits and physical prowess with Baltimore’s defense is never easy. But Palmer, at times, has made it look routine. Manning also is 6-2 with 16 touchdown passes in his career against the Ravens, and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is 3-0 with three touchdowns.

“[Palmer] is a smart football player that does well against these guys, and we see Baltimore a lot more often than other quarterbacks,” Bengals left tackle Andrew Whitworth said. “These guys kind of have that shock factor. I think we saw that a little bit with Denver last week.



“When you get out there and see how big and physical they are, and athletic, if you’re not used to it and expect it when you get on the field with them it has a chance to overwhelm you.”



As Whitworth mentioned, Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton certainly fell victim to the “shock factor” last Sunday.



Orton, who was an MVP candidate through six games, appeared uneasy and out of rhythm from the first play from scrimmage when Baltimore linebacker Jarret Johnson turned the corner for a quarterback sack. From there, Orton took several additional hard shots and rushed a lot of his throws, as the speed and physicality of the Ravens’ defense rattled him.



In Cincinnati’s first meeting with Baltimore, Palmer was sacked just once and had the kind of pass protection needed to have success. Baltimore’s secondary, for the most part, has struggled this year. So Palmer had no problems picking the Ravens apart.



Look for the Ravens to give Palmer less time to throw in their second meeting.



“The way things are set up right now, as tough as it is to cover on the back end, you’ve got to get the quarterback,” Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said this week. “If you don’t get to the quarterback, it’s going to be impossible to defend the pass.”



Consider this divisional game a window into what to expect in the second half of the season.



If Baltimore wins, the Ravens, Bengals and Steelers (5-2) will all have at least five victories after this week’s games. But if the Bengals win, it virtually would end Baltimore’s hopes of winning the AFC North this year and create a major uphill climb to earn a wild-card spot down the stretch.



“We know that they have to beat us,” Palmer said of the Ravens. “They’re in a must-win situation. But we also feel we’re in a must-win situation, too.”

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) -Closing statements are set in the trial of a man charged with attempted murder of a Jacksonville Jaguars player, who was shot several times and paralyzed in 2008.