Baltimore Ravens Win Last Game At Texas Stadium

The Baltimore Ravens weren't supposed to crash this party at Texas Stadium.

They did it anyway.

The Baltimore Ravens pulled off a stunning 33-24 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in the last game ever played in Texas Stadium.

Matt Stover kicked four field goals to wipe out an early deficit, then Willis McGahee and Le’Ron McClain ripped off long, record breaking touchdown runs each time the Cowboys cut the defecit to just two points in the final minutes. The loss spelled doom for the Cowboys playoff hopes and head coach Wade Phillips' hope of a future with the team beyond this season.


The loss by the Cowboys clinched a playoff spot for the Carolina Panthers, who play the Giants tonight to determine who will get homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.

The Cowboys are dead. There is no way they will beat a resurgent Eagles team in Philly next week. No chance, especially with a hobbled Tony Romo under center. Romo's reputation as a big game choker will only get bigger after these two losses.

Once the Cowboys are officially eliminated, Wade Phillips will be fired and replaced with Jason Garrett. The handwriting has been on the wall ever since Garrett was about to take the job as Ravens head coach last season.

John Harbaugh gets my vote as Coach of the year. Joe Flacco should be the rookie of the year. Flacco actually played better in this game than Tony Romo! Flacco made smart decisions like throwing the ball away instead of forcing it into coverage,like Romo did.

The Cowboys defense, which looked good early, choked at the two most important parts of the game, on those two long touchdown runs. It looked like, on both times, McClain and McGahee ran past the run blitzers! Inexcusable defense also cost Dallas this game.

The Dallas Cowboys can now say they have something in common with the New York Mets.

They both choked away their playoff hopes in their home stadium finales.

Harbaugh Hired To Lead Ravens

John Harbaugh was hired Friday as head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, who hope their second choice proves to be a first-rate success.

Harbaugh spent this season as Philadelphia's secondary coach after making a name for himself working with special teams. He has never been a head coach, but has coaching in his genes — his father, Jack, is former head coach at Western Kentucky.

The 45-year-old Harbaugh will be introduced as the third coach in Ravens history at a news conference on Saturday.

Harbaugh interviewed a second time at the Ravens' training complex Friday with owner Steve Bisciotti, president Dick Cass and general manager Ozzie Newsome. Harbaugh arrived around 9:30 a.m. and finally reached an agreement around 5:30 p.m.

He then left in a limousine for his home in Philadelphia without talking to the media.

Ravens spokesman Kevin Byrne said Harbaugh wanted to first share the news with his wife and parents before sharing his feelings in front of cameras and reporters.

Harbaugh replaces Brian Billick, who was fired on Dec. 31 after a nine-year run. The Ravens earlier this week offered the job to Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, who spurned Baltimore in favor of staying in Dallas. Garrett rejected the Ravens' job offer after receiving a raise from owner Jerry Jones and a promotion to assistant head coach.

Harbaugh was selected the NFL Special Teams Coach of the Year by his peers in 2001. He shifted to the secondary last season, working under Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson.