IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Everything was going fine for the Dallas Cowboys this season. Then they went to Philadelphia.

What was supposed to be a fourth straight victory, matching the start of their last Super Bowl team, turned into a disastrous loss. Michael Irvin went down and Dallas hasn't been the same, losing six of nine.

For the Eagles, beating the Cowboys was validation that rookie coach Andy Reid is turning things around. Two more victories and several near misses have served as further proof.

Two months since their prophetic first meeting, the teams play Sunday. And, again, it should provide a good idea of where each is headed.

Dallas (6-6) needs to get on a roll if it's going to make the playoffs. A sense of urgency is apparent in the Cowboys' moves this week: letting Deion Sanders play receiver and signing kicker Eddie Murray and linebacker Quentin Coryatt, both of whom last played in the NFL in 1997.

"It's disappointing to see all the talent walking through this locker room and not be 10-2," said safety Darren Woodson said.

Philadelphia (3-10) is one win from topping last season's total. Getting No. 4 against archrival Dallas would do wonders for the Eagles' already soaring confidence.

"We're so close, I truly believe that," cornerback Troy Vincent said. "We're going on the road now and being very, very competitive. It wasn't like that a year ago."

Philadelphia led 17-7 in Arizona last weekend, only to lose 21-17. The previous game was a 20-17 overtime loss in Washington. Previously, they lost by one at the Giants. At home, the Eagles took the Giants to overtime before losing.

"It gives us a little confidence that we can compete with these teams, and if we can eliminate some mistakes we can come out with wins," said rookie quarterback Donovan McNabb.

"We're not frustrated to the point where we're turning things in. We're staying focused and hopefully changing things around so we can pick it up next season."

The Cowboys are saying many of the same things about eliminating mistakes and trying to stay focused. Those comments are targeted at an offense that has failed to score enough to win four games when the defense allowed just 13 points.

Coach Chan Gailey has likened his offense to a jalopy: it can sometimes get you from Point A to B, but not often. And it doesn't look good trying.

Starting with the game in Philadelphia, Dallas' offense has scored one touchdown or less in five of nine games. The Cowboys have one offensive touchdown in the last 11 quarters.

"I'm quite sure everybody is tired of hearing me say we have the potential of doing this, because it hasn't happened," running back Emmitt Smith said. "So now we've got to win and we've got to win in the right way, whether that is making some big plays or just showing some consistency for four quarters or eight quarters or 16 quarters. Those kind of things have to happen in order for us to be where we want to be at the end of the year."

Injuries are partly to blame. Former Pro Bowlers Irvin, Daryl Johnston, Larry Allen and Mark Stepnoski all missed last Sunday's 13-6 loss to New England. Stepnoski may return Sunday, but the Cowboys won't have receivers Ernie Mills or Wane McGarity.

The lack of depth at receiver is one reason Sanders will return to double duty. He's also needed to try drawing coverage from Raghib Ismail.

Ismail had two 100-yard games in the three he played opposite Irvin. He's had one since as quarterback Troy Aikman has often settled for dump-off passes to running backs instead of taking risks on deeper routes.

Aikman's reluctance to pull the trigger has resulted in just two 50-yard outings from receivers other than Ismail in the post-Irvin era. Neither came in the last six games.

"It was a tremendous blow for us to lose Michael," Aikman said. "I think there are probably people who underestimate that. I think there are probably people in the organization who underestimate what it meant to lose Michael."

Could Sanders be the answer?

"I'm in favor of whatever they feel needs to be done for us to be successful," Aikman said. "I don't think you can keep going down this road and say, `Well, things are OK.' Because they're not OK."

PHILADELPHIA Season schedule and results

DALLAS Season schedule and results

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 W 13-10 October 17 @Chicago W 20-16 October 24 @Miami L 13-16 October 31 NY Giants L 17-23 November 7 @Carolina L 7-33 November 14 Washington W 35-28 November 21 Indianapolis L 17-44 November 28 @Washington L 17-20 December 5 @Arizona L 17-21 December 12 @Dallas 1:00pm ET December 19 New England 1:00pm ET January 2 St. Louis 1:00pm ET

September 12 @Washington W 41-35 September 20 Atlanta W 24-7 October 3 Arizona W 35-7 October 10 @Philadelphia L 10-13 October 18 @NY Giants L 10-13 October 24 Washington W 38-20 October 31 @Indianapolis L 24-34 November 8 @Minnesota L 17-27 November 14 Green Bay W 27-13 November 21 @Arizona L 9-13 November 25 Miami W 20-0 December 5 @New England L 6-13 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

Records source: STATS, Inc.

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