I’ve written an overarching “Dallas Week” story a million times over the last decade or so. “I’m just a guy from South Philly who grew up hating the Cowboys just as much as he loves the Eagles.” Yeah, great, man! That’s most people in this area who are hardcore sports fans. Maybe I’m a tad bit more unhinged than those folks, but the point remains. It’s a common sentiment, particularly if you’ve ever interacted with a Cowboys fan, who, pathetically, is from the greater Philadelphia area.
Dallas Week, nevertheless, always gets me amped despite wading through my own cliché-filled existence. I run the gauntlet. I talk to my dad on the phone about the 1980 NFC title game. I rewatch all the big highlights, from the 4th and 1 stops to James Willis’ interception to 44-6. Maybe things have cooled in this rivalry since the Dak Prescott vs. Carson Wentz debates revitalized things in the 2010s, but, hey, this still means a lot to me.
I’ve seen my fair share of Eagles-Cowboys games in person from meaningless Week 17 affairs to banner-raising Week 1 events you spent your life dreaming about. What’s different about this Dallas Week for me is that I will be heading into enemy territory and making the trip down to Jerry World for the game.
Is AT&T Stadium an architectural marvel? It’d be the equivalent of calling the Death Star one, so count me out on that front, but I am beyond excited to snap a picture outside of there and post it alongside the “I’m not locked in here with you. You’re locked in here with me,” meme from Watchmen.
I’m not going to have the best seats in the world. I’ll be in the nosebleeds and screaming for pass interference when I can barely make out the players’ numbers. Lining Jerry Jones’ pockets isn’t cheap to begin with before even taking into consideration flights, Uber rides, a $12 cool blue Gatorade in the airport, etc. Such is life!
It’s about the experience though.
I rarely leave Philadelphia city limits, a rather Charlie Kelly-like aversion to stepping out of my comfort zone. I’ve watched every Eagles-Cowboys road game for a quarter of a century and have thought, “Wouldn’t it be wild to be down there rooting on the Birds in the thick of things, surrounded by loathsome Dallas fans?” It’s one of those things you BS about with your friends and family about always one day wanting to do until, sadly, maybe you’re too old and life gets in the way, preventing you from actually making the leap.
I want to be able to say that I saw the Eagles, donning their Kelly Green throwbacks, go down to Texas and stomp the Cowboys, seeing tens of thousands of Dallas fans leaving the stadium in anger after a loss. I want to make a dumb Instagram post after the game with the caption “successful business trip ✈️” while wearing my Kelly Green Mitchell & Ness gear. I want to, on the simplest possible level, feel alive.
Also…
Just win. I don’t care about covering the spread or their EPA per dropback or what the offensive scheme looks like for that afternoon specifically. Let me witness a victory in hell incarnate.
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