Irving, Texas ? Say this about the 2008 Dallas Cowboys: They sure do make things interesting.

A season that began with Super Bowl hype, then seemed lost because of sloppy play, injuries and infighting, was salvaged enough for Dallas to go into Saturday night’s game against the Baltimore Ravens on the verge of a wild-card berth.

Getting an extra boost from the emotionally charged atmosphere of the final game at Texas Stadium, the Cowboys jumped ahead with an early touchdown — only to end up losing, 33-24.

Thus, more drama, even Sunday, when Dallas wasn’t playing.

The Cowboys (9-6) needed the right combination of wins and losses to remain alive and, for the most part, got it with the Buccaneers and Eagles losing. So Dallas still has a chance to get in with a victory Sunday in Philadelphia. The agonizing part for the Cowboys is that if they’d beaten the Ravens, they would’ve had a chance to clinch with a Chicago loss tonight.

“It’s all just part of a full season,” quarterback Tony Romo said. “We’ve got to find a way to grind it out and get into the tournament. If you get in, you have a chance. It’s a matter of doing the things it takes to get you in position. We obviously need a little help now.”

While Romo talked, the never-a-dull-moment theme played out around them in the locker room. Terrell Owens was munching on popcorn and team owner Jerry Jones kept repeating his own words while professing the job security of head coach Wade Phillips.

“I don’t have any inclination about any coaching changes. None. None. … I don’t see that as an issue,” Jones said. “It just doesn’t make any sense.”