"REMEMBER WHEN this Eagles season was going to be all about trying to match up with the Cowboys?

Almost a full year ago, they played two games in the brand-new Jerrydome in Arlington, Texas, 6 days apart. The Eagles went in 11-4, thinking about the Super Bowl. They exited 11-6, their season done after the first round of the playoffs. Cumulative score was 58-14. An offseason of dramatic change ensued, after Eagles president Joe Banner spoke of the need to close a "gap" between the teams.

It's good to get a refresher, because all that seems so long ago now, as the 8-4 Eagles prepare for a Sunday night visit with the 4-8 Cowboys, at the scene of last season's crimes.

Defensive tackle Antonio Dixon said he didn't really consider this a payback game.

"Too much has changed," said Dixon, a reserve last season who probably will start Sunday.

Dixon suggested that the game is important more because of how it could affect the Eagles' prospects in the tight NFC playoff struggle, rather than because of the need for vengeance.

"We can control our own destiny, we just have to play week by week," he said.

Strong safety Quintin Mikell wasn't in a mood to reflect on Dallas' shifting fate.

"I don't really care if they're in the playoffs or not. They're a good team, but I feel we can beat anybody," Mikell said yesterday.

"It was frustrating, because they put us out. They not only put us out, but they embarrassed us," Mikell said. "That kind of fueled the offseason and all that stuff . . . We're not expecting what happened last year to happen this year. We have a different mindset, different team with different abilities.

"I think this [Eagles] team is better. I think this team is more explosive. We have more playmakers, all across the board. Even though we're young, I feel like we're a smarter team and we're a team of natural football players," Mikell said.

He said natural football players are guys who "are going to put their head in and smash people, guys who are going to get off blocks and just play football, play smart.""