Can you say the word “playoffs” in the Eagles vocabulary? After losses to the Titans and Colts, that word was basically removed. After last night’s inspiring game, that word once lost has now been added again. Two very key defensive plays along with a mistake-free playing of Eagles QB Jeff Garcia, it is now possible for the Eagles to make the post-season. First Jeff Garcia, who replaced injured Donovan McNabb in week #11 versus the Tennessee Titans, had a QB rating of 105.9. Not too shabby for a 37-year old quarterback who was booed often during the first half as he struggled to get the Eagles offense moving. I was NOT one of those idiotic Eagle’ fans in the upper echelon stands at Lincoln Financial Field. In fact, I took my buddy and he bet me that AJ Feely would eventually replace Garcia during the game. I won!!! Myself along with Andy Reid and the rest of the Eagles’ coaches knew that our only real chance of winning this game against the Carolina Panthers was to win with Jeff Garcia playing at quarterback. Putting in AJ Feely now is like waving the white surrender flag. Garcia finished the game completing almost 54% of his passes (21-for39) for 312 yards and THREE touchdowns. What more can one ask of a proven, now backup QB. He also had a lot of help from his friends, as there weren’t many drops from the receiver corps.

You start with the defense and the “2” Eagle defenders, who ultimately made it possible for the Eagles to finish this game with a 27-24 victory. First and foremost with score tied at 24 and with 7:16 left in the game, a blitzing Michael Lewis forced a Jake Delhomme pass to flutter too long for any Panther receiver to catch it, but the ball found it’s way right into Brian Dawkins arms. It looked more like a punt with no special team players trying to get downfield to tackle him. Thus 38 yards later, the Pro-Bowl safety had returned the ball back to the Panthers 37-yard line. Garcia ran the offense and the clock down for 2 first downs before the Eagles kicker David Akers was called upon. With just 3:13 left, Akers was successful from just 25-yards out giving Philadelphia its first lead at 27-24. The defense trotted back out onto the field for one last time. They only had to make one more stop. It almost did not come as Delhomme easily led his team downfield quickly to the Eagles 7-yard line with just 38 seconds left. Up stepped Lito Sheppard, who read the next play and was in position to intercept the pass meant for Keyshawn Johnson. Earlier in the first half with just 4 seconds left in the 2nd quarter, Carolina ran the same play and Johnson caught that pass for a touchdown. Carolina had a 14-7 lead at the half. This time though, Sheppard was ready and beat Johnson to the spot and caught the ball in the end zone, thus sealing this game for a huge Philadelphia victory.

During most of the game, you felt that the Panthers were always 2-steps ahead of the Eagles, who fought valiantly back in time after time. Carolina opened the game by marching straight down the field in just 3:34. Delhomme connected with Steve Smith on a quick slant across the middle for a 9-yard TD pass. Late in the second quarter, Jeff Garcia connected on a super-catch to Donté Stallworth, who after out leaping the Carolina defender, the receiver broke free for 51 yards before he was tackled. Four plays later, Brian Westbrook caught a short pass over the middle for a touchdown. The Panthers responded quickly to take back the lead at 14-7 on a 7-play, 78-yad TD drive in just 50 seconds. Philadelphia tied the score at 14 with a 10-play, 74-yard TD drive of their own midway through the third quarter. But again, Delhomme threw a short screen pass to RB DeAngelo Williams, who followed his blockers and made a few moves himself all the way for a touchdown from 35 yards out. That made it 21-14. After both teams added field goals, Garcia went long to Reggie Brown on the old post pattern. Brown caught the ball in stride for an easy 40-yard touchdown. The Eagle defense came up pretty big the rest of the game and as you already know, Brian Dawkins and Lito Sheppard helped to preserve the game and keep alive the dream of making this year’s playoffs. What a Game? Probably the most exciting game I’ve ever witnessed live. And I just got my tickets just days before the game, thanks to a last-minute availability.