PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- The Cowboys-Eagles rivalry has produced some extraordinary games. Emmitt Smith's two failed dives on fourth-and-1, Troy Vincent's 90-yard touchdown and Chris Boniol's botched kick are just part of the lore.

Unless Philadelphia remembers how to find the end zone, Sunday's game doesn't figure to add much to it. Instead, it could be another forgettable afternoon at Veterans Stadium, the NFL's new home office for losing.

The dreadful Eagles (0-4) have lost 20 of 23 games since late in the 1997 season, including two straight against Dallas. The Cowboys are going for their first 4-0 start since 1995, the last time they won the Super Bowl.

The Eagles, by the way, have never won one of those, either.

Dallas has won five of seven and 13 of 17 against Philadelphia, none of which coach Chan Gailey wants to hear.

"They're a professional football team with professional players," Gailey said. "It's not like we're picking on Floyd Junior High."

Shutting up those who thought their aging stars were past their prime, the Cowboys have their sights on a 5-0 start for the first time since 1983 under Tom Landry. They've won 10 straight against NFC East opponents; Gailey has never lost to a division opponent.

"It's a little early to say right now, but being 3-0 really doesn't mean a whole heck of a lot," quarterback Troy Aikman said.

In his brief tenure as coach of the Eagles, Andy Reid has evoked memories of neither Landry nor Gailey, but rather Ed Khayat. He's the last Eagles coach to win fewer than three games. The Eagles could be headed in that direction unless they get their offense fixed fast. With Doug Pederson still starting at quarterback, they haven't scored an offensive touchdown in 15 quarters.

"They're going to have to win some games," linebacker Randall Godfrey said. "We just hope it's not against us."

After a loss to Arizona in the NFC wild-card game last year, the Cowboys have shown their time may not have passed. Aikman, Smith and Michael Irvin are far from finished.

"I think a lot's been talked about as far as the three of us getting older," said Aikman, 32. "I look around and see quarterbacks six and seven years older than I am. I certainly feel that I am productive, can be productive and will be productive for a number of years."

The offense has gotten a big jolt from Raghib "Rocket" Ismail. Greg Ellis has scored in the fourth quarter each of last two weeks on long interception and fumble returns.

Then there's Deion Sanders, the NFL's king of ostentatious dashes to the end zone. He's back from a toe injury and promises to show off his new "Ghost Dance" when he scores a touchdown.

The way the Eagles offense has been playing, Deion had better make sure he has the choreography straight. Pederson, signed by Reid to groom McNabb for the presumed stardom that awaits him, has been missing receivers, rushing throws and misreading defenses all season.

"The offense has been struggling," Reid said. "I make no bones about that."

Reid is still new to Philadelphia, and it showed this week when he told reporters the offense was "improving." Let's just say the obvious follow-up questions were, "Where? How?"

But to his credit, Reid showed he already senses the importance of the Dallas game. He gathered his team, which has mostly new faces from last year's 3-13 squad, and said, "For those of you guys who don't know, this is a really big rivalry."

"When I got drafted, the first question I got was, `Do you like the Cowboys?' " McNabb said. "I said, `Yeah, I like them.' And they said, `Well, people in Philadelphia don't like the Cowboys.' So I guess I don't like them now."

The Eagles stopped Smith twice on fourth-and-1 plays in Philadelphia's 20-17 victory at the Vet in 1995. James Willis intercepted Aikman in the end zone and pitched to Vincent for a long touchdown return in 1996. Boniol botched a game-winning 22-yard field goal in the Cowboys' 21-20 victory on Monday Night Football in 1997.

Dallas swept the Eagles last season, including a 34-0 drubbing on Monday night. It started the final countdown on the coaching regime of Ray Rhodes, a Texas native who was crushed he couldn't even get his team up to compete with the Cowboys.

Sanders woke up the sellout crowd and snoozing national TV audience with a 69-yard punt return for a touchdown, adding another highlight to his "Prime Time" legacy.

This figures to be another game sorely in need of that dance Deion is promising.

DALLAS Season schedule and results

PHILADELPHIA Season schedule and results

September 12 @Washington W 41-35 September 20 Atlanta W 24-7 October 3 Arizona W 35-7 October 10 @Philadelphia 1:00pm ET October 18 @NY Giants 9:00pm ET October 24 Washington 1:00pm ET October 31 @Indianapolis 1:00pm ET November 8 @Minnesota 9:00pm ET November 14 Green Bay 4:15pm ET November 21 @Arizona 4:15pm ET November 25 Miami 4:15pm ET December 5 @New England 8:20pm ET December 12 Philadelphia 1:00pm ET December 19 NY Jets 4:15pm ET December 24 @New Orleans 3:05pm ET January 2 NY Giants 4:05pm ET

September 12 Arizona L 24-25 September 19 Tampa Bay L 5-19 September 26 @Buffalo L 0-26 October 3 @NY Giants L 15-16 October 10 Dallas 1:00pm ET October 17 @Chicago 1:00pm ET October 24 @Miami 1:00pm ET October 31 NY Giants 1:00pm ET November 7 @Carolina 1:00pm ET November 14 Washington 1:00pm ET November 21 Indianapolis 1:00pm ET November 28 @Washington 1:00pm ET December 5 @Arizona 4:05pm ET December 12 @Dallas 1:00pm ET December 19 New England 1:00pm ET January 2 St. Louis 1:00pm ET

Records source: STATS, Inc.

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