Determined Cowboys Send Message in Start of NFC East Stretch

IRVING, Texas (AP) - The Dallas Cowboys have begun their march through the NFC East in dominating fashion with their 38-17 win at Philadelphia.

That's where the Cowboys have lost seven of their past eight games.

At the midpoint of the season, it appears that the NFC East title will go through Dallas.

The 7-1 Cowboys' only loss is to undefeated New England. They can take another big step Sunday when they play at the 6-2 New York Giants in a rematch of the season opener Dallas won 45-35. New York has won six games in a row and is coming off its open date.

After the Giants, the Cowboys return home for a November 18 game against Washington, which is now 5-3 and will play Dallas again in Washington at the end of the season.

Notes: Cornerback Anthony Henry returned after missing three games with a high ankle sprain. He had an interception, his fifth, and is again tied for the NFL lead. ... The Cowboys are at least 7-1 for the 10th time in franchise history. The last time was 1995,

their last Super Bowl season. ... The 14 points Dallas scored in the first quarter Sunday were one more than the team had in the first quarter of the first seven games combined.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)