ARLINGTON, Tx. --The Eagles had been used to getting the initial jump on the opposition all season long. In fact, the team entered the game tops in the league in first quarter points and first half points.

But when the Eagles walked into the locker room at halftime down 17-0 to the Cowboys on Sunday, they were unable to respond and the Eagles fell by a score of 24-0. Donovan McNabb was held to just 223 passing yards and was sacked four times. Rookie sensation Jeremy Maclin and second-year man DeSean Jackson, who alone scored 12 total touchdowns this season, combined for just six catches and 94 yards.

"They got the best of us. We have to man up. We have to accept it for what it is," Jackson said. "We came into this to win the game and we lost. We just have to come together as a team. It's definitely a nasty loss, but we have a lot of leaders on this team and a lot of people to bring this together."

The Eagles trailed 7-0 after the Cowboys' opening drive, which was compounded by a three-and-out by the offense. The Cowboys assembled another long drive that ended when Joselio Hanson picked off a Tony Romo pass that was deflected into the air. McNabb and Co. moved the ball into Cowboys territory, but were forced to punt.

The Cowboys added another touchdown, a 14-yard pass from Romo to Patrick Crayton, and the Eagles needed a spark. But after two 30-plus-yard pass completions, one to Maclin and the other to Jackson, McNabb fumbled a low snap from Nick Cole in the red zone which was recovered by Cowboys nose tackle Jay Ratliff.

"I thought it was a good snap. Not every snap is going to be perfect. (McNabb) said it was a little short," Cole said. "We just have to do better. That's what practice is for."

The Eagles will get the chance to right the wrongs of this shutout loss in Dallas next week in a rematch.

-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 10:21 p.m., January 3