On the day when the defense had some mental lapses, the passing game led by Donovan McNabb really stepped up and put a licking on the Browns. On a day when McNabb showed the world that he could be and should be voted the NFL's 2000 MVP, the Eagles defense gave up 317 yards and 24 points to a team that had only 2 first downs all last game and scored only 3 points the last games combined. McNabb really stepped up with his best career performance of his young career. He passed for 390 yards and 4 touchdowns. He also led the Birds on 2 98-yard TD drives during the game. The only fault of the offense today was their running game. The Birds only rushed for 41 yards on 15 rushes. Donovan, himself only rushed 3 times for 12 yards. But the acquistion of Chris Warren should really help the Eagles rushing game as they now prepare for the playoffs. What was really impressive was that Donovan McNabb completed passses to his receiver corps today. Torrance Small: 7 catches for 92 yards and 2 TD's, Charles Johnson: 5 catches for 93 yards and 2 TD's, Todd Pinkston: 2 catches for 56 yards and Eagles tight end Chad Lewis had 5 catches for 100 yards.

The Philadelphia Eagles are now officially in the playoffs. And unless the Birds lose their last game against the lowly Cincinnati Bengals, we also be hosting the first game on December 31 down at the cold, windy Vet. The likely matchups: New Orleans, St. Louis, Tampa Bay or possibly Detroit. Three domed teams and a team who has never ever won outside when the temperature is below 40 degrees. A second game against either Minnesota or the New York Giants looks very promising. Tampa Bay plays St. Louis this week and the winner right now looks like the team we most likely get as our first round game. The Saints should and probally win the division as they got Atlanta next and then the Rams the last week, both at home. If we get Tampa Bay, hopefully it is after they win next week and then lose at the "Frozen Tundra" the last week of the season to help them think about their career 0-18 record in winter conditions. The Bucs do sport one of the best defenses, but on the other hand, St. Louis boasts one of the all-time offenses ever to take the field. But in all the hoopla, the Rams are yet to prove they can win when it is cold and windy. The Rams won the Super Bowl last year with the majority of their wins either inside or in warm weather. Don't you remember when they came into Philly the last game of the year and the lowly 5-11 Eagles thumped them. Granted, Marshall Faulk and Kurt Warner did not play, but the truth is that they still have not proved they could win in cold wintry conditions. Look at last week when Carolina held them to only 3 points. The temp last week at game time was 25 degrees. The temp at the Vet on New Year's Eve could very well be only 10 degrees. The same could be said about the Lions who lost again in Green Bay, now 10 time in a row and New Orleans who have never even won a playoff game yet in their history. I only worry about the Giants and Vikings, but the likelyhood of playing one of those teams is nil until January 6th or 7th. Yes, unless a miracle happens with either Green Bay or Washington pulling out the rabbit from the hat, we will play a domed team or Tampa Bay.

A funny thing happened today to the Eagles who clinched a playoff spot today. The Giants who are 10-4 and a 1/2 game better than us in the standings still are not guaranteed a playoff berth, mainly because of their losses to Lions and Rams at home. If either finished tied with them, they hold the first tiebreaker. Then again, who would have thought that Dallas would beat the Redskins 32-13. New York Giants, you better not go into Dallas next week all confident that you will walk away with a victory just for showing up. If you do, Randall and the 'Boys could surprise you, then you have a game against the now mighty Jaguars who seem to average 40 points a game over the last month and half or so. And if you blow that one, then Philadelphia, not the Giants would get the first round bye and win the East. Next week, I will update the Eagles and concentrate on a playoff preview along with all the playoff possibilites.