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Everybody expected defending Super Bowl champs the New York Giants to still be playing Jan. 11.
But the Philadelphia Eagles?
Remember, they’re the ones who were in desperate need of a new head coach and quarterback.
These are the same Eagles who looked lifeless in a Nov. 16 tie with the Cincinnati Bengals — yes, there are still ties in football — followed by a real snoozer of a performance against the Baltimore Ravens a week later. For those with short memories, that was the week it looked like the Donovan McNabb era had officially ended.
Instead, it served as the mental lift this organization badly needed as it has won four of five games since, including last weekend’s Wild Card match-up over the Minnesota Vikings.
The Birds got a little help along the way thanks to Chicago and Tampa Bay losing the final week of the regular season. It was topped off by The Great Dallas Collapse of ’08.
With the playoffs here, everybody gains new life; Winner advances, loser goes home.
Fittingly, Sunday’s showdown against the Giants is the rubber match of the 2008 season. New York took the first meeting 36-31, while Philadelphia took the Dec. 7 rematch 20-14. Ironically, both won on the other’s home field. For the 12-4 Giants, it was their lone home defeat. The champs will be just a tad hungry to avenge the previous outcome.
For the Eagles, this could be the last hurrah for veterans like Brian Dawkins, Jon Runyan and Tra Thomas, who are all in the final years of their current deals. Since losing to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX, the team hasn’t fared too well, missing the postseason in ’05 and ’07. Two years ago, they defeated the Giants in the Wild Card round before being eliminated by the Saints a week later.
Could the championship magic the Philadelphia Phillies experienced during the fall be contagious? Possibly. The task requires winning three-straight road games, something the Giants achieved during last year’s title run.
The outcome will be determined by which version of the ’08 Eagles take the field 1 p.m. Sunday (Fox will carry the game). If the Birds continue playing like they did in recent outings against the Cowboys and Vikings, it will be tough stopping their momentum. Their defense has been dominating down the stretch, holding opponents to 14 points or less over the last five weeks in which they’ve gone 4-1.
Sunday’s meeting will be another defensive war. In the end, the doubt of how the Eagles were playoff material will be what puts these Birds over the top. Expect the good times to continue in the form of a 17-14 victory.
Road to Super Bowl XLIII
Jan. 11
Philadelphia at New York, 1 p.m. Fox
Jan. 18
NFC Championship Game, 3 p.m. Fox
Feb. 1
Super Bowl XLIII, 6 p.m. NBC
Get in the game
Diane Sciascia, of the 2800 block of South 12th Street, won a $50 gift certificate to McFadden’s for answering last week’s Eagles trivia contest questions correctly. The answers in order were: Cowboys; Chicago Bears; and offensive coordinator.
For Week 17, Dave Romanofski, of 10th and Jackson streets, was the winner. That week’s answers were: Connie Mack; Terrell Owens; and Andy Reid.
As long as the Eagles remain in the Super Bowl hunt, there will be $50 McFadden’s gift cards up for grabs. So the question is how well do you know the Eagles? Below are this week’s multiple-choice question.
Choose the correct answer from the three provided for each question in our Web-exclusive contest and you’re in the running for this week’s prize.
The deadline to enter is 11:59 p.m. Jan. 12. One winner will be selected at random Jan. 13. Only entries submitted will be accepted.
Question 1:
What city is Super Bowl XLIII being played in?
Question 2:
Which two teams are playing in the other NFC Divisional round playoff game?
Question 3:
Which of these New York Giants assistant coaches previously spent eight seasons as a coach with the Philadelphia Eagles?
