Tashard Choice's 2-yard TD run gives Cowboys a 7-0 lead over Eagles after one quarter
By: ROB MAADDI
Associated Press
11/08/09 9:55 PM EST
PHILADELPHIA — Tashard Choice scored on a 2-yard touchdown run off a direct snap, giving the Dallas Cowboys a 7-0 lead over the Philadelphia Eagles after one quarter Sunday night in the 100th meeting between the division rivals.
Gerald Sensabaugh set up the Cowboys' scoring drive by intercepting Donovan McNabb on a well-thrown pass that bounced out of rookie receiver Jeremy Maclin's hands.
The winner will have sole possession of first place in the NFC East. Both teams entered at 5-2.
Coming off a convincing 40-17 win over the New York Giants, the Eagles are seeking their third consecutive win against a division opponent.
The Cowboys entered on a three-game winning streak.
In their last meeting on the final day of the 2008 regular season, the Eagles dominated Dallas 44-6 in a do-or-die game for both teams. The Eagles earned a wild-card berth with that victory, won two playoff contests on the road and advanced to the NFC championship game, losing at Arizona.
Sensabaugh's interception on Philadelphia's first possession ended McNabb's streak of 118 straight passes without a pick. McNabb's pass on 3rd-and-5 to a wide-open Maclin hit him in the hands and bounced to Sensabaugh, who was tackled for no gain at the Eagles 37.
Six plays later, Choice ran in from the 2 after taking a shotgun snap with quarterback Tony Romo lined up wide to the right. Romo completed two third-down passes to keep the drive going. He hit Jason Witten for a 9-yard gain on third-and-6 and connected with Kevin Ogletree for 21 yards on third-and-9, setting up Choice's TD.
The Eagles were missing star running back Brian Westbrook for the second straight game because of a concussion and strongside linebacker Chris Gocong sat out with hamstring and quad injuries. Rookie Moise Fokou made his first start in Gocong's place.
Westbrook was expected to play, but he started experiencing symptoms of a mild headache on Friday. Westbrook then underwent more tests and the Eagles held him out as a precaution.
The Cowboys lead the series 55-44.
