Call this one The Three Phases of a Playoff win. Because at the end of the day, after the Eagles packed up their things and left this frozen tundra of a land, the 26-14 win over Minnesota was possible because all three phases of the team chipped in for a thrilling victory. The Eagles move on to play the Giants in the NFC Divisional Playoff round as a team. They won a tremendously physical game against Minnesota and will now take the appropriate steps to freshen up for a well-rested and battle-tested Giants team. And as the team landed in Philadelphia and put the win over the Vikings behind it – that's what happens in this league, win or lose – the Eagles have a little more trust in one another and in every phase of this team. You want big plays? The Eagles delivered them, first with a 62-yard punt return by DeSean Jackson that set up the first of four David Akers field goals. Score one for the special teams. In the second quarter, it was Asante Samuel's turn as he stepped in front of a Tarvaris Jackson pass intended for Sidney Rice and returned it 44 yards for a touchdown to give the Eagles a 16-7 advantage. Kudos to the defense. Later on, with everyone on the edge of his/her seat, and with palms sweating and heartbeats racing, Donovan McNabb completed a screen pass to Brian Westbrook and he got some great blocking, did his usual amazing running through the maze and ended up 71 yards down the field in the end zone for a touchdown to turn a two-point lead into a nine-point, it's-over margin with fewer than seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
The defense led the way, for the most part, battling tooth and nail against superstar running back Adrian Peterson, who exploded for a 40-yard touchdown run but was otherwise pedestrian: He ended with 83 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries. While the defense sacked Jackson just once, they harassed him enough into an awful day – Jackson completed only 15 of 35 passes for 164 yards and had a passer rating of 45.4. After a frustrating first half in which the Vikings converted 6 of 10 third downs, Philadelphia clamped down on defense. In the second half, Minnesota managed only 101 yards of total offense, six first downs and only 2 of 10 conversions on third downs. The defense was stout on the edges as the Vikings tested them with pitch plays to running back Adrian Peterson. Super job by Chris Gocong and the linebackers. The line of scrimmage was stout. Chris Clemons continues to make progress as a pass rusher. Trent Cole never stops. Juqua Parker was there to make a big play or three. You get the sense from the secondary that they can cover anybody, anywhere. That's what it was like on Sunday in the Metrodome. There were a couple of missed tackles and a missed interception or two, but the coverage has been excellent since November. Tight ends? Whatever adjustment Jim Johnson made has worked.
The offense didn't have a whole lot going for it other than McNabb's passing game. Correll Buckhalter reeled off a 27-yard run to set up another Akers field goal, but then mysteriously did not touch the ball again. McNabb went to eight receivers, including Jason Avant, who gained first downs on four of his five receptions. A little dinking and dunking did just enough to keep the Vikings off balance, and then the Eagles went for the killer blows in a convincing fourth quarter. The offensive line did a fine job in the face of a relentless pressure-based scheme from the Vikings, who are very good and very fast up front. Tight end Brent Celek had 6 receptions for 56 yards, and Jason Avant had 5 catches, 4 for first downs. Eight players caught passes in all. Give Correll Buckhalter, who was under-used with only a couple of carries for 27 yards, a hug for lining up and playing fullback for much of the second half while Dan Klecko was out with a shoulder injury. And make sure the receivers, who we all watch for the way they run routes and catch passes, are appreciated because of the way they blocked all over the field. Great job.
David Akers is again being taken for granted. He kicked four field goals on Sunday, kicked off well and was a huge reason the Eagles turned away the Vikings, 26-14, in the Wild Card playoff game. Akers was one of several facets of the victory in need of some kudos for a job well done. The entire special teams, in fact, played great in the win. DeSean Jackson had punt returns of 62 yards and 30 yards. Punter Sav Rocca averaged 44.3 yards on his four punts with a net of 44.0 yards and all four kicks inside the 20-yard line. Rocca was terrific and the coverage group was outstanding, as it has been all season. You know who is lights-out on special teams this season, somebody who is under the radar but shouldn't be? How about Sean Considine, the former starting strong safety who has done nothing but help this football team in every game this season. Considine was named the Special Teams MVP by the players, and is a playoff captain. He isn't playing all that much as a safety, and hasn't played much in the last six or seven games, but he sure is making a difference on special teams. Everyone is. The special teams are a huge part of the Eagles' late-season success, and everyone from Considine to Quintin Demps to Akeem Jordan to Omar Gaither to Tracy White and the list keeps going has been terrific in coverage and, as we have seen with Jackson in the punt game and Demps in the kickoff game, in the return phase. Akers, though, has been amazing. Mr. Automatic, almost. Even when he has missed this season -- other than the three blocked attempts, Akers has missed one field goal since October 5 against Washington -- Akers has had plenty of leg and has just been a hair off. Akers missed a kick against the Cowboys, so he's 28 of 29 since the Redskins game in October, and that includes the perfect 4-of-4 performance on Sunday. Those problems Akers had from 40 yards and out are a thing of the past. He has been on cue since October. That's a good thing to know in the post-season.
That's what happened against the Vikings. Every player who stepped on the field helped in the win. The coaches did a complete job preparing the Eagles for the environment and the opponent. Step one of the playoff journey is complete, with a huge one Sunday waiting. The Eagles move on to play the Giants in the NFC Divisional Playoff round as a team. They won a tremendously physical game against Minnesota and will now take the appropriate steps to freshen up for a well-rested and battle-tested Giants team. And as the team landed in Philadelphia and put the win over the Vikings behind it – that's what happens in this league, win or lose – the Eagles have a little more trust in one another and in every phase of this team. Hey, there are smiles all around right now, but there is also the understanding that the defending Super Bowl champions are waiting on Sunday. The scene is set for Round 3 of this season between the Eagles and Giants. It should be a great, great battle. For now, as the Eagles heal and savor the win, the reality is this: A total team has come together here after that baffling 5-5-1 start to the season. The Eagles are playing as One, and that is the formula to win in the post-season. Great win. Great weekend. Thousands of Eagles fans made the trip to Minnesota in search of the win, and they got it. They earned it. Everyone of you did. It's that kind of feeling right now.
The defense led the way, for the most part, battling tooth and nail against superstar running back Adrian Peterson, who exploded for a 40-yard touchdown run but was otherwise pedestrian: He ended with 83 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries. While the defense sacked Jackson just once, they harassed him enough into an awful day – Jackson completed only 15 of 35 passes for 164 yards and had a passer rating of 45.4. After a frustrating first half in which the Vikings converted 6 of 10 third downs, Philadelphia clamped down on defense. In the second half, Minnesota managed only 101 yards of total offense, six first downs and only 2 of 10 conversions on third downs. The defense was stout on the edges as the Vikings tested them with pitch plays to running back Adrian Peterson. Super job by Chris Gocong and the linebackers. The line of scrimmage was stout. Chris Clemons continues to make progress as a pass rusher. Trent Cole never stops. Juqua Parker was there to make a big play or three. You get the sense from the secondary that they can cover anybody, anywhere. That's what it was like on Sunday in the Metrodome. There were a couple of missed tackles and a missed interception or two, but the coverage has been excellent since November. Tight ends? Whatever adjustment Jim Johnson made has worked.
The offense didn't have a whole lot going for it other than McNabb's passing game. Correll Buckhalter reeled off a 27-yard run to set up another Akers field goal, but then mysteriously did not touch the ball again. McNabb went to eight receivers, including Jason Avant, who gained first downs on four of his five receptions. A little dinking and dunking did just enough to keep the Vikings off balance, and then the Eagles went for the killer blows in a convincing fourth quarter. The offensive line did a fine job in the face of a relentless pressure-based scheme from the Vikings, who are very good and very fast up front. Tight end Brent Celek had 6 receptions for 56 yards, and Jason Avant had 5 catches, 4 for first downs. Eight players caught passes in all. Give Correll Buckhalter, who was under-used with only a couple of carries for 27 yards, a hug for lining up and playing fullback for much of the second half while Dan Klecko was out with a shoulder injury. And make sure the receivers, who we all watch for the way they run routes and catch passes, are appreciated because of the way they blocked all over the field. Great job.
David Akers is again being taken for granted. He kicked four field goals on Sunday, kicked off well and was a huge reason the Eagles turned away the Vikings, 26-14, in the Wild Card playoff game. Akers was one of several facets of the victory in need of some kudos for a job well done. The entire special teams, in fact, played great in the win. DeSean Jackson had punt returns of 62 yards and 30 yards. Punter Sav Rocca averaged 44.3 yards on his four punts with a net of 44.0 yards and all four kicks inside the 20-yard line. Rocca was terrific and the coverage group was outstanding, as it has been all season. You know who is lights-out on special teams this season, somebody who is under the radar but shouldn't be? How about Sean Considine, the former starting strong safety who has done nothing but help this football team in every game this season. Considine was named the Special Teams MVP by the players, and is a playoff captain. He isn't playing all that much as a safety, and hasn't played much in the last six or seven games, but he sure is making a difference on special teams. Everyone is. The special teams are a huge part of the Eagles' late-season success, and everyone from Considine to Quintin Demps to Akeem Jordan to Omar Gaither to Tracy White and the list keeps going has been terrific in coverage and, as we have seen with Jackson in the punt game and Demps in the kickoff game, in the return phase. Akers, though, has been amazing. Mr. Automatic, almost. Even when he has missed this season -- other than the three blocked attempts, Akers has missed one field goal since October 5 against Washington -- Akers has had plenty of leg and has just been a hair off. Akers missed a kick against the Cowboys, so he's 28 of 29 since the Redskins game in October, and that includes the perfect 4-of-4 performance on Sunday. Those problems Akers had from 40 yards and out are a thing of the past. He has been on cue since October. That's a good thing to know in the post-season.
That's what happened against the Vikings. Every player who stepped on the field helped in the win. The coaches did a complete job preparing the Eagles for the environment and the opponent. Step one of the playoff journey is complete, with a huge one Sunday waiting. The Eagles move on to play the Giants in the NFC Divisional Playoff round as a team. They won a tremendously physical game against Minnesota and will now take the appropriate steps to freshen up for a well-rested and battle-tested Giants team. And as the team landed in Philadelphia and put the win over the Vikings behind it – that's what happens in this league, win or lose – the Eagles have a little more trust in one another and in every phase of this team. Hey, there are smiles all around right now, but there is also the understanding that the defending Super Bowl champions are waiting on Sunday. The scene is set for Round 3 of this season between the Eagles and Giants. It should be a great, great battle. For now, as the Eagles heal and savor the win, the reality is this: A total team has come together here after that baffling 5-5-1 start to the season. The Eagles are playing as One, and that is the formula to win in the post-season. Great win. Great weekend. Thousands of Eagles fans made the trip to Minnesota in search of the win, and they got it. They earned it. Everyone of you did. It's that kind of feeling right now.
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