UNFOR-VET-ABLE. These were the headlines from my local paper for today's game. The Vet is the home of the most raucous fans in the NFL. It is a place nobody wants to play. Especially in January! If the Eagles win their last two games against Dallas and the Giants, the Vet, a place for horros for the oppostion, will be the road to the Super Bowl for the teams that are left standing: Tampa Bay, New Orleans, Atlanta, San Francisco and Green Bay. All would have to win in Philly first before traveling onwards to San Diego. Only Green Bay knows how to win in the cold. By then, the Eagles will get back Donovan McNabb and that trip will seem even more daunting then. The Eagles will be favored whoever they play, especially at Veteran's Stadium.

Back to the last game at the VET! Here are my favorite memories of the Vet: (1) Eagles vs Dallas in the 1980 NFC Championship game. After Wilbert Montgomery ran off-tackle and into the endzone, the game was basically over. The fans went nuts and the temperature was 18 degrees. (2) Eagles vs Washington in the infamous "Body Bag" game in 1991 on Monday night. Nine Redskins were removed from the game curteousy of the "Mean Green Machine". The Eagles defense was led by arguably, the greatest defensive lineman in NFL history in Reggie White. (3) & (4) The last playoff years against the Tampa Bay Bucaneers. No more words needed. (5) 1995 Wild Card game against the Detroit Lions. Everybody, including guard Lomas Brown predicted victory for the Lions. The Eagles destroyed the Lions, 59-36. (It was 59-13 when most of the Eagle staters were taken out). (6) Eagles vs Cowboys in 1997. Twice on 4th down - the Eagles defense held Emmitt Smith to no gain. The Eagles Gary Anderson soon kicked the winning FG to lead the Birds to victory, 20-17. Some of the Philly's most unforgetable moments also happened at the Vet. They include: (1) The "Ice Bowl", when the city forgot to remove the snow from the stadium before a game against the Pokes. Jimmy Johnson and company were all human targets for the Eagles faithful. (2) Eagles against the Cowboys again back in 1994 on Monday night. The drunks & brawlers, mostly from the infamous 700 level, assured an Eagles Court held by Judge Shamus. Others include all the nasty injuries, especially career-ending to the likes of Michael Irving and others. I loved the Vet, but I always tried to stay away from the 700 level if I could. The new stadium, Lincoln Finacial Field is set to open in August of 2003. If we get home-field advantage, we could have 2 more games at the "Dump". The Vet will go out in style on January 19, 2003 if the Eagles can advance to the NFC Championship.

Well let's get back to the Redskins game. The Redskins ran the first two plays for first downs, then disaster struck. Stephen Davis fumbles the ball and is injured. Michael Lewis pounces on the ball as he slides out-of-bounds. The Eagles forced 4 turnovers, including a fumble which was recovered by Carlos Emmons and when everybody forgot to touch him, he got up and ran it in for a 44-yard TD return. That gave the Birds a 24-7 lead. The Eagles defense held Washington after the kickoff to 3 plays and out and then AJ Feely took the Birds on a game-clinching drive: 9 plays and 80 yards. The TD drive ended with a 6-yard pass to Antonio Freeman. He instantly ran over to where his brother was sitting and gave him the ball. You all seen Antonio's brother on the NFL's commercial for people serving in Afghanistan. It was a touching moment for the Freeman' brothers. The last time Antonio saw him was back in early August. Though the Birds layed back a little bit in the fourth quarter, Washington scored 2 touchdowns to make the final score look respectable at 34-21. Steve Spurrier said it best about his team, "That was a sad play for the Redskins", referring to to the TD fumble return by Carlos Emmons. He continued, "We're just not smart and not very good right now. As coaches, we have not done a super job with these players."

Jeffrey Lurie before the game called the Vet, "The Dump". But after the game and the Eagles now the NFC Champions two years and running, he also said, "Just growing up, division championships in any sport were not something. It's something to cherish, but it's put into perspective, it's not our goal." He was referring to our goal to get home-field advantage and ultimately advancing and winning the Super Bowl. Last year, we were both 1 inch and 50 yards away from advancing to the Super Bowl. In the Trans-World Dome in St. Louis, the Rams' fans were loud and caused many problems for the Eagles' defense. This year, the fans will be on our side along with the infamous reputation of "The Dump", the cold and wind of South Philly and all those crazy, loud fans who bleed green. Andy Reid said it best about the game with the Washington Redskins. "The fans were out of their minds. I think if you go around the league and ask people, the place that they do not enjoy playing is right here at Veteran's Stadium." It's the aura of the Vet, the fans, the cold, the wind and the TURF!!! It's Philly!