ARLINGTON, Texas — These aren't the same old disappointing Dallas Cowboys. If anything, they're starting to play like some of the really old versions.

Tony Romo broke open a scoreless game with five straight scoring drives in the second quarter and Dallas' defense kept up its recent dominance, sending the Cowboys past Philadelphia, 34-14, last night for their first playoff victory since 1996.

Dallas had lost six straight postseason games and would've set an NFL record with another. But now those skids are history, buried along with the notions that Wade Phillips (0-4 as a head coach) and Romo (0-2) couldn't win a playoff game.

"The demons are gone!" owner Jerry Jones said.

The way the Cowboys have played over the last four games — all wins, powered by the defense and an efficient offense — they could be sticking around a while this postseason. Next up for Dallas is a trip to Minnesota on Sunday, with Romo taking on childhood hero Brett Favre.

"Just keep trying to get better and eventually things will go your way," said Romo, who presented game balls to Jones and Phillips in the locker room. "Going out there and playing this way we have lately is very exciting. If we just keep going forward, we got a chance."

Since losing back-to-back games in early December, the Cowboys haven't even trailed any of the last four games.

"This team has hung together all year, got stronger at the end of the year and is playing our best football," Phillips said. "I think we're playing as good as anybody right now."

The Eagles are one-and-done in the playoffs for the first time under coach Andy Reid. Philadelphia had been 7-0 in playoff openers with Reid and 6-0 with Donovan McNabb at quarterback.

Dallas beat Philadelphia twice in the regular season, including 24-0 last weekend at Cowboys Stadium. About all that changed for the Eagles was getting Michael Vick back from an injury and using him in place of McNabb for a few plays — for better and worse.

Vick threw a 76-yard touchdown pass that made it 7-7 early in the second quarter, but later messed up a handoff deep in his own territory, with Dallas recovering the fumble. Romo turned it into a touchdown that made it 24-7 on the way to 27-7 at the half.

"They were better all the way around," Reid said. "When you get your tail kicked, it's not a great feeling. No one expected it."

When Felix Jones stretched it to 34-7 with a 73-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter, Dallas' 4,760-day drought between playoff victories was all but over.

Romo finished 23 of 35 for 244 yards with touchdowns to John Phillips and Miles Austin, and no turnovers.

Jones finished with 148 yards on 16 carries and turned one short catch into a dazzling 30-yard gain on the opening drive.

DeMarcus Ware had two sacks, Bobby Carpenter had two fumble recoveries and Mike Jenkins intercepted two for Dallas.

PHILADELPHIA 0 7 0 7—14

DALLAS 0 27 7 0—34

Second Quarter

Dal—Phillips 1 pass from Romo (Suisham kick), 14:09.

Phi—Maclin 76 pass from Vick (Akers kick), 13:19.

Dal—Choice 1 run (Suisham kick), 9:14.

Dal—FG Suisham 25, 3:39.

Dal—Austin 6 pass from Romo (Suisham kick), 1:55.

Dal—FG Suisham 48, :02.

Third Quarter

Dal–Jones 73 run (Suisham kick), 5:33.

Fourth Quarter

Phi—D.Jackson 4 pass from McNabb (Akers kick), 13:30.

A—92,951.

          Phi Dal

First downs 17 27

Total Net Yards 340 426

Rushes-yards 13-56 35-198

Passing 284 228

Punt Returns 2-9 3-56

Kickoff Returns 4-51 3-39

Interceptions Ret. 0-0 1-(-1)

Comp-Att-Int 20-39-1 23-35-0

Sacked-Yards Lost 4-22 2-16

Punts 5-50.6 6-38.2

Fumbles-Lost 3-3 1-1

Penalties-Yards 9-116 14-112

Time of Possession 20:26 39:34

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—Philadelphia, McCoy 5-24, Weaver 5-19, McNabb 2-13, Vick 1-0. Dallas, Jones 16-148, Choice 14-42, Barber 3-4, Romo 2-4.

PASSING—Philadelphia, McNabb 19-37-1-230, Vick 1-2-0-76. Dallas, Romo 23-35-0-244.

RECEIVING—Philadelphia, Maclin 7-146, Celek 3-59, D.Jackson 3-14, Avant 2-32, Weaver 2-11, Westbrook 1-27, McCoy 1-9, Smith 1-8. Dallas, Austin 7-82, R.Williams 5-59, Witten 4-27, Crayton 3-34, Jones 1-30, Choice 1-6, Ogletree 1-5, Phillips 1-1.

MISSED FIELD GOALS—None.