The Philadelphia Eagles crushed the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, 44-3. The Eagles will now advance to the NFL playoffs with a wild card and the Dallas Cowboys will go home and pick up the pieces.

Donovan McNabb and the Eagles offense looked strong, but the real disaster was Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys offense, with fumbles and interceptions, combined with an overall lack of productivity resulting in the worst loss of the season to a hated rival.

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has fallen behind in his recovery efforts from knee surgery and could risk missing next season if another operation is needed.

Brady, who underwent surgery Oct. 6 after tearing the ACL and MCL ligaments in his left knee in the first quarter of the team’s first game of the season, had subsequent operations on the knee after it became infected.

The scar tissue also has affected Brady’s ability to begin fully rehabilitating his leg, the report said, and the repaired ligaments remain loose. Another surgery also could be needed for that condition.

The Detroit Lions lost to the Green Bay Packers 31-21 on Sunday, making them the first team to go winless through a 16-game season. The 1976 expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-14) were the last NFL team to complete a season without a victory.

The Lions were building toward this for years and now have lost 23 of their last 24 games. The 0-16 record will be a lasting testimony to the Matt Millen era. With Millen as president of the team from 2001 until he was fired on Sept. 24, Detroit won only 31 games.

Vancouver Canucks General Manager Mike Gillis today announced that the team has signed free agent centre Mats Sundin. In keeping with club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We are very excited to have Mats join the Vancouver Canucks,” said Mike Gillis, Vancouver Canucks General Manager. “Playing previously in two Canadian markets and consistently being among team and League leaders in scoring, Mats has proven that he can excel under pressure. He adds a wealth of experience, leadership and skill to the Canucks.”

“I am truly excited to be joining the Canucks,” said Sundin. “Once I made the decision to return to play a few weeks ago, the Vancouver opportunity was simply the best overall fit. I want to thank Mike Gillis and the entire Canucks organization for their professionalism throughout this entire process.”

Cristiano Ronaldo could soon be adding World Player of the Year award to the European Ballon d’Or to his resume after being named to FIFA’s five-man shortlist. Ronaldo’s incredible scoring rate has him set in a sweet position for the award.

The Manchester United winger was confirmed as Europe’s best last week for scoring 42 goals and helping his side to the Premier League and Champions League double. Ronaldo’s primary competition will be coming from Barcelona’s Lionel Messi.

Spain’s European Championship winners Fernando Torres and Xavi have also been shortlisted with last year’s winner Kaka. World governing body FIFA get coaches and captains of national teams from around the world to nominate for the annual award.

Notorious Dallas Cowboys cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones will likely miss the rest of the football season after a major neck injury received during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Coach Wade Phillips said that Jones will miss Sunday’s game against the New York Giants because of a herniated disk. Phillips said a second disk might be damaged but assured that team doctors don’t think the injury could end Pacman’s career.

Jones was hurt when he fell on top of his muffed punt, and got caught in a scramble for the loose ball. After several players fell on him, Jones was pulled from the pile by a Pittsburgh Steelers player. It was Jones’ first game back after a six-game suspension.

After 355 wins and 23 major league seasons, Greg Maddux held a 30-minute news conference to announce his retirement on the opening day of the winter meetings, just minutes from his Las Vegas home.

“I really just came out here today to say thank you,” he at the Bellagio hotel. “I appreciate everything this game has given me. It’s going to be hard to walk away obviously, but it’s time. I have a family now that I need to spend some more time with. I still think I can play the game, but not as well as I would like to, so it’s time to say goodbye.”

Greg Maddux exits game with four NL Cy Young Awards (1992-95) and a 3.16 ERA. The right-hander ranks eighth on the career wins list, with one more victory than Roger Clemens.

Sean very has been punished indefinitely by commissioner Gary Bettman for using a crude term about his former girlfriends now dating other hockey players. Bettman acted immedietly to keep Avery out of the Dallas Stars’ game against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night. Avery’s inflammatory line came following a morning skate in Calgary, Alberta.

“I’m really happy to be back in Calgary; I love Canada,” he said. “I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the NHL for guys to fall in love with my (former girlfriends). I don’t know what that’s about, but enjoy the game tonight.” He then walked out of the locker room.

Avery’s ex-girlfriend, actress Elisha Cuthbert of the television show “24″ is dating Flames defenseman Dion Phaneuf; she had been romantically linked to Mike Komisarek of the Montreal Canadiens.

Watch the video of Sean Avery’s “sloppy seconds” comments on Elisa Cuthbert above.

Pittsburgh’s high-ranked defense really made things happen on Sunday, leading the Steelers to a 33-10 win on a cold and rainy day, just their second victory in eight games against the Patriots. The Steelers outscored the Patriots 23-0 in the second half when they had all five of their takeaways and four of their five sacks and gave up 81 yards. The Patriots beat the Steelers in two AFC championship games en route to two of their three Super Bowl titles in the past ten years and dominated them 34-13 in Foxborough last season.

“The weather didn’t matter,” New England’s Kevin Faulk said. “The turnovers were frustrating. You can’t do that and win in this league.” Pittsburgh hasn’t allowed more than 290 yards in any game this season and held New England to one conversion on 13 third-down plays.