QB Michael Vick
On how different the Cowboys are since changing coaches:"We all know they've won their last three out of four, and they're playing with a lot of confidence, playing some good football. So we don't expect anything less from them but a good showing."
On how crucial the upcoming stretch is for the Eagles:"Man, every game is crucial from here on out. In December, you have to play your best football. And every team is going to be juiced up and pumped up. You just have to go out and win it, so you just have to take it one game at a time and stay focused."
On whether he gets the sense that the Eagles-Cowboys are heated rivals:"I didn't have to be here long to know that this was a heated rivalry. When I was young, I'd seen so many Eagles-Cowboys games and tempers flared, and teams really didn't like each other when they were out there on the field. And that's how it is within a division. You just have to go out there and block that out and just play football, because at the end of the day it is football."
On how improved defensively the Cowboys are:"Well, they have a good defense, I think. They're defense hasn't changed. Since the beginning of the year, I always thought they played well. But it has to be consistent on both sides of the ball. The offense has to complement the defense. They're putting it together in all phases of the game right now."
On how difficult the playoff loss in Dallas was last year and how this Eagles team is different from last year: "It was a tough feeling last year, going down there and losing two weeks back to back, and the way we lost. So, we just have to come out and play with confidence, be poised, stay patient, weather the storm. We know they're going to be fired up in the beginning, and (we have to) just play smart. But it was an ill feeling leaving out of there last year and there was nothing we could do about it, because they ended our season."
On how much of those the two losses in Dallas are on the minds of the Eagles right now: "We're not thinking about last year. We're focusing on this year, 2010."
On how much the time off helps: "Oh man, the layoff this weekâwe're fresh. Practices are going to be up-tempo. We're fired up, ready to get out there and be sharp. It takes every guy to go out there, and the concentration level has to be up, and have a consistent, good practice."
On how much he looks at the NFC standings:"I don't pay attention to it. I've just got to focus on the task at hand. One game at a time. You can't get too far ahead of yourselves and caught up in what other teams are doing. It doesn't help you at all when you do that. Just have to, like I say, win the game that's in front of you and focus on that."
S Quintin Mikell
On how different the team is this year compared to the team that left Dallas last year:"Yeah, it's a much different team. We have a little different makeup. I think we have a lot of young guys, but we have a lot of guys that can play ball. And we have a lot of guys that are hungry right now and are willing to do whatever it takes to make plays. So that's a good thing."
On whether the Cowboys will try to have a similar gameplan to the two games at the end of last season:"It's hard to tell, I mean obviously in the NFL, if you're staying the same. So I know that they're probably working on something else. We're going to be working on a lot of stuff. But I think really what that game came down to was just basic football, blocking and tackling, getting off blocks and stuff like that, and that's what we didn't do well. So put the scheme aside and let's just play ball."
On what QB Jon Kitna brings to the Cowboys: "I mean, they haven't lost much. He's moving the ball well. He's managing the game well. He's making good throws and you see he's a veteran guy. So the thing that he's doing is if guys are covered he's running for first downs and getting the ball to the right guys. So he's still a very good quarterback. But at the same time we have a lot of guys on our side that can play and we're going to be ready play, man. We're going to bring it."
T Winston Justice
On the timetable until his knee will be totally healthy: "No one knows."
On whose decision it was to hold him out of practice today: "I mean, I'm still doing the pre-practice stuff to see how it feels and I really feel if that feels good, I could get some plays in practice, too."
On whether he will be able to practice full tomorrow:"Yeah, hopefully. In my mind I'm telling myself yes because I think with injuries it starts with your mind first."
On whether his knee injury has any structural damage because he is wearing a brace:"Maybe it's more mental because it feels unstable and the brace would help me feel like it's more stable."
WR Jeremy Maclin
On whether the Eagles are fueled by losing to Dallas twice at the end of last season: "As much as we say no, it is. Obviously, they did beat us three times last year, you know that. We're going to come out on a mission. Our mission is to achieve what we want to achieve, and not just beat Dallas. So, we know in order to do that, we have to beat Dallas this week."
