“I’m starting to get concerned,” the radio host said during his euphoric postgame Eagles report. He had that feeling again, the one that had proved so dangerous to so many Philadelphia sports fans over the years: the feeling of hope.

Fans celebrate Lito Sheppard’s endzone interception (Jerry Lodigruss/Inquirer)

You couldn’t help but feel optimistic after the Eagles beat the Cowboys today by a score of 38-24. But this is Philadelphia, the city in which bad things happen to good teams, time and time again. The one Eagles loss this season — a devastating fall to the Giants, whom they had outplayed for three out of four quarters — reinforced the sense here that no lead was safe; even a sure victory could be snatched away at a moment’s notice.

And, even after nearly everything had gone right for the Eagles yesterday through three-and-a-half quarters, it seemed like it was about to happen again. Donovan McNabb, who had spent the day lofting touchdown passes to his young receiving corps (how about Hank Baskett!!), suddenly looked tight on a series of three-and-outs. The defense, which had knocked Bledsoe silly, gave up a long, steady drive to the Cowboys. And, on fourth-and-eighteen, with less than a minute on the clock, and with the Eagles leading by a touchdown, safety Michael Lewis was called for a demoralizing sixty-yard pass-interference penalty, which brought the Cowboys to first-and-goal at the Eagles six-yard line. A Dallas touchdown seemed a foregone conclusion; and it would be scored, no doubt, by T.O.

But no — not today — NOT THIS TIME! Lito Sheppard’s interception in the end zone, and his 102-yard touchdown run on a hobbled ankle, put an emphatic seal on the victory. But this was about more than a single game: it was a defining point in an Eagles season that has rapidly removed all traces of doubt from the Eagles faithful. Like the Birds’ repeated goal-line stands against the 49ers a few weeks ago, that interception marked a moment when the defense stook a stand and anchored the team. It was a triumphant, amazing way to win a ball game, one that will not soon be forgotten.

Game Notes: McNabb was again unbelievable, airing out long, beautiful passes while under pressure from the Dallas defense. There is no one I’d rather have at the helm of this team.

Hank Baskett looks great. With Donte Stallworth out, and Reggie Brown dinged last week, Baskett stepped up. He’s looking good.

On defense, Howard and Walker were huge. Michael Lewis, again, was not.

My biggest concern about this game was the percentage of passing to running plays. I don’t know what the exact percentage turned out to be, but it seemed as if it could have been 90%-10%. In the fourth quarter, you’ve got to run the ball to wind down the clock and to save your defense.

Other perspectives: Enrico has a shot of a T.O. jersey that you just have to see.

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