Well first of all, I’d like to thank Mr. Gorman for selling myself 2 tickets to the NFC Championship game at an affordable price. I took my son, who suffers from Asberger’s Syndrome and we had the time of our lives. Even though it was bitter cold with a temperature around 15 °, we at least were shielded from the 25+ mph winds that were gusting throughout the game. We were dressed in overalls with extra layers and both us did not feel the effects of the cold, until after we left the LINC! The crazed fans were cheering loudly even before the pre-game ceremonies began. Everybody it seemed was waving their ACME rally towel during player introductions and it lasted all the way through the celebrations that followed the end of the game. The crowd never really sat down during the game and cheered the Eagles to victory. It really was loud the entire game. The amazing thing was how the Atlanta offense never had a false start though the crowd was yelling loudly throughout every defensive play for the Eagles. Michael Vick did call 2 timeouts, caused directly by crowd noise. Penalties in the game did not play into the outcome as Philly only committed 6 and the Falcons had just 5. It was an exciting game from start to finish which the Eagles ultimately won 27-10.

Yes, the Eagles are the NFC Champions for the first time in 24 years. The result: the Eagles will play in the year’s biggest game; Super Bowl XXXIX. The offense was proficient throughout with Donovan McNabb leading 3 long TD drives of: (1) 6-plays 70-yards; (2) 9-plays 72-yards; (3) 11-plays 65-yards in that order. McNabb threw 2 TD passes, both to Chad Lewis while completing 17-of-26 passes (65.4%) for 180 yards with a QB rating of 111.1. His counterpart in Michael Vick finished the game with a QB rating of only 46.5. He completed only 11-of-24 passes for 136 yards and 1 costly INT. Atlanta’s rushing game which was rated #1 in the NFL was also outplayed by the Eagles. McNabb even out rushed Vick; 32-to 36 yards! As a team, the Eagles also out rushed the Falcons on the ground; 156 to 99 yards. The Eagles out-gained Atlanta in total yardage; 326 to 202 yards. The Eagles needed Brian Westbrook to be a factor and it he accomplished that goal too as he gained 135 total yards, 96 of those rushing on 16 carries. The Eagles defense sacked Michael Vick 4 times, while McNabb was sacked just twice.

I’m sure there were many anxious fans at the game waiting to see how the team would come out. The Eagles took the wind and put their defense out on the field to start. The Falcons went 3-and-out with Vick running two of the first 3 plays and failed at getting a first down. The Eagles defensive coach, Jim Johnson emphasized for the players to stay in their lanes and they were perfect throughout the entire game, except for just 1 play. On that play, Vick rolled to his right, stopped and did a complete reversal of direction and headed up the middle escaping both Jevon Kearse and Darwin Walker and he gained 13 yards and a first down. But that was it. On this same drive, which ended with a field goal, Atlanta had the ball on the 2-yard line with a third down situation. Vick went back to pass, saw nobody open and immediately tried to run to the end zone straight up the middle. It was Hollis Thomas who met him at the 4-yard line and smacked him down for a sack. But the defensive play of the game took place in the 4th quarter when Vick rolled to his right and was met with another sack by Derrick Burgess, who was just waiting for him to turn around. He never was able to get it going as the Eagles defense stymied him throughout the whole afternoon.

The Eagles offense was productive throughout, scoring 3 TD’s in three different quarters, including 2 against that 25+ mph wind. The Birds could have scored 41 points as they botched at least one FG and possibly a couple of TD’s. On the Eagles second possession, Westbrook broke open on a rush through the right side. He gained 36 yards on the play. On the next play, McNabb hit LJ Smith over the middle for another 21 yards to the 4-yard line. Dorsey Levens scored pay dirt with a scrum through the middle, but had some help from Jermaine Mayberry, who pushed the pile into the end zone. The Eagles led 7-0 early in the game. On their next possession, McNabb escaped the rush and connected with Freddie Mitchell along the sideline for 13 yards and a very important first down. On the very next play, McNabb went deep to Greg Lewis, who made a nice adjustment to ball as the wind knocked it down for a huge 45-yard gain. Then a few plays later, McNabb threw a pass to Chad Lewis, as he had to keep his toes in from going out-of-bounds. Replays clearly showed that it was in fact a touchdown, which gave the Eagles a 14-3 lead. Atlanta did come back and scored their only TD of the game, helped by a questionable roughing the passer penalty on an incompletion on third down. It was 14-10 at the half.

The Eagles added 2 FG’s in the third quarter, thanks mainly to a 11-play 60-yard drive that opened the second half for the Birds and a key INT by Brian Dawkins, who returned the ball to the Falcons 11-yard line. Both drives should of finished with touchdowns. Akers made both attempts: 31-yards and 33-yards, respectively. He had lined up for another for 50-yards, but Andy Reid had the ball snapped to Reno Mahe on the fake, but it failed. The drive that clinched the championship started with just 10:14 left on the Eagles own 35-yard line. The Eagles drove the field methodically rushing more than passing. With just 3:21 left, McNabb hit Chad Lewis again on a third-and-goal play from the 2-yard line. This time, there were no questions about the catch. It also sent the 67,717 fans into frenzy, as they knew the end was near for the Atlanta Falcons. The Eagles had a 27-10 lead with just over 3 minutes left. As time was running down, a chant started, “Super Bowl, Super Bowl”. It soon got louder and louder as the Eagles finally exorcised the demons of the last 3 NFC Title games. Next up are those formidable New England Patriots down in Jacksonville. That city will soon become Phillyville as hordes of Eagle fans are sure to invade this small city in NE Florida. It will be quite a ride. Thanks Eagles.