More important, Dallas crossed a huge psychological hurdle in its effort to return to NFC dominance.
It might be hard to believe, but the Cowboys had dropped seven of their last eight and 11 of 14 games to the Eagles.
Even more amazing is that Dallas hasn't won an NFC East title since 1998 - the season before Andy Reid came to Philadelphia and began the Eagles' rebuilding program.
"I think it does [become mental]," Dallas linebacker Greg Ellis told reporters earlier in the week. "Maybe not against one particular guy. It seems like a team deal, like, man, we just can't get them."
The Cowboys don't have to worry about that anymore. They didn't just get the Eagles. They took them behind the woodshed and spanked them.
They certainly made McNabb's earlier comments about having to beat the heavyweight champ seem silly. It made Terrell Owens' rebuttal that McNabb was "just wishful thinking" appear dead-on accurate.
This was a knockout from the first snap of the game, when McNabb got hit by Dallas defensive end Marcus Spears and fumbled on the 36-yard line.
Six plays later, Julius Jones scored and the aging heavyweight champ was headed for retirement, leaving the division up for grabs.
Nothing is decided, but the Cowboys (7-1) have the inside track to the East.
They go to the Meadowlands next Sunday for a rematch with the Giants (6-2), whom they beat in the season opener, 45-35, and then host the Washington Redskins (5-3) on Nov. 18.
"We won't deem ourselves anything," Ellis said after the convincing triumph. "Once it's all said and done, whatever place it goes through, that's the place it's going to go through."
Still, you have to like Dallas in this race. The Cowboys look like the most complete team in the conference, not just the division.
