When ex-Eagle Al Harris stepped in front of a Matt Hasselback pass in overtime, you’d just knew it that he would return the ball all the way for the win and a ticket to Philadelphia next week. His first order of business after celebrating with teammates was to call Troy Vincent and ask him how he looked. Vincent told him he looked great and then added, “The funny thing about it is I spent four of my greatest years in my life in Wisconsin (in college). Who would ever think that we would see dreadlocks racing down the sidelines of Lambeau Field? All Harris returning an interception for a touchdown in Lambeau Field? That’s not what you think of when you think of the cheeseheads, the people in Wisconsin. He’s going to have the key to that city for a long time?” This week’s game will be the Green Bay Packers at the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. It will involve 2 of the NFL’s best quarterbacks in Donovan McNabb versus Brett Favre. Lastly, it will showcase 2 explosive offenses with the now 2-headed monster against Ahman Green. The 3-headed monster will be without Brian Westbrook because of season ending surgery to his right triceps muscle. Green Bay is the worst possible draw for the Philadelphia Eagles, but you must play the best in order to be the best.

The weather on Sunday will not be a factor or advantage to either team. It will be cold, very cold with temperatures predicted around 2o degrees at the start of the game with a steady cold wind. The good thing for the Eagles is the fact that they do have the bye week. The week well serves well for a defense ravaged by injuries. The Eagles secondary will be fully intact for the first time since game #1. Troy Vincent, the latest causality is expected to be ready in time for kickoff. The defense will have to find a way to slow down the running of Green, while making sure Favre does not control the game with his arm. Everyone is talking about how well Brett Favre is playing. What is Donovan McNabb? Chopped liver! He has almost single-handedly willed the team to a 12-4 record with the home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The real question should be, how will Green Bay deal with McNabb and his high-octane offense of late.

The Eagles will need to get to the “Big Dance” this year in order to consider this season a successful one. If they lose this week or next, people will compare this team to the Buffalo Bills, a team that could not win the big one. Sine the start of the new Wild Card format, only 2 teams ever in the NFC won a Divisional Playoff game against the team with a bye. One of them was the 2001 Philadelphia Eagles. They beat the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Dawkins added, “If this was our first time in the playoffs or our second time, maybe we wouldn’t feel the same way. But we’ve been knocked out every year. And that hurts. You’ve got to want it so bad you’ll do anything to get it.” The Eagles have the data history on their side this week with the bye. Oh, did I forget to mention that Philadelphia already won against Green Bay this year at Lambeau Field in miserable weather conditions on a prime time Monday Night game. The Eagles have fared well lately against the Packers and we will have the big advantage of over 68,000 loud and obnoxious screaming Eagle fans that the Green bay offense will have to deal with. If the Eagles succeed in pressuring Bret Favre, then we have a great chance of winning this game. That is why you fight for the home-field advantage and the first round bye. It should be fun to watch. Hopefully we will be talking about St. Louis or Carolina here next week.