The Arizona Cardinals went out last night and did exactly what we need the Eagles to do today. They won on the road against a favored NFC team that was well rested. One area where the Eagles certainly can't expect the two games to be similar is in the turnover battle. The Cardinals were the recipients of six Panthers' turnovers. SIX! The Panthers put Saturday night's game on a silver platter for the Cards to go out and take. Kurt Warner, Larry Fitz and co. simply went out and executed.
With the Eagles and Giants knowing each other so well and always playing each other tight, the way the ball bounces will be vital. Here's a fun fact: "Four of the last eight games between New York and Philadelphia were decided on the final play."
Don't expect the Giants to cough it up six times but if the Birds want to win, they're going to need to be on the right side of a few of those bounces. If they are, a trip to Glendale and a shot at Tampa could be in their future.
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The above fun fact is from one of Lisa Olson's debut columns at FanHouse. She is, along with Jay Mariotti, one of the highly touted new faces on the masthead. In her column, Olson takes a look at the Eagles-Giants match up and thinks she knows all the plot lines. Let's examine.
Not much mystery cloaks Sunday's NFC divisional playoff game between
these two ancient foes, the Giants and the Eagles.
You're right. These teams know each other well.
Even Bill
Belichick's psychic could predict most of the expected plot lines:
News
If you say so.
The
collisions will be volcanic
Like in football.
the wind will gobble up the quarterbacks'
spirals;
You get the weather channel.
Giants coach Tom Coughlin's face will catch fire
I don't know what this means. Like Rosea?
Reid will
mutter something to or about Donovan McNabb from behind a clipboard,
and Eagles' fans will obsess over whether or not the coach and the
quarterback are BFF
Really? Reid will tell McNabb something? And do you know a single Eagles fan who cares about whether Andy and Donovan are BFF? In fact, I don't think I know a single one who cares about it let alone obsesses over it.
Brian Westbrook won't have any alone time;
I could maybe see this one. Do you mean, he'll be like double teamed? Because the Giants should keep an eye on him if that's what you mean.
the
side with the most prolific running game will win.
I agree with this to some extent.
And bet your David
Akers bobblehead doll the game will come down to the fourth quarter,
possibly even overtime.
Again, we agree with this one.
The whole point of this was really just to focus on the Andy and Donovan comment. I found that one way off base. Otherwise, it's a fine column.
>>Giants-Eagles like Yankees-Red Sox only bloodier [FanHouse]