Spent the last 30 minutes looking up flights.... but the reality is I just can't do it... no cheap flights from DC to Minneapolis and I work 7p-7a Saturday night into Sunday.... I'm gonna be wiped after that an in reality be hard pressed to drag my butt back out of bed to go to the local Eagle's bar for the game at 4.... but it was a fun fantasy.
I'm picking the Vikes in an upset. I think AP will have a nice game and I think the biggest difference will be the Viking's defense. I think they will get to McNabb and shut down the running game too. It'll be up to McNabb to take the game over and I'm not sure it'll get done.
Vikes rush defense was number one. When the Eagles run well they win more often. Am I wrong there? When McNabb had to carry the load and pass a lot did they struggle more? Look...I'm not trying to turn this into a fight at all. Did I not make a valid point? Vikings were also 4th in the league in sacks right behind the Eagles. Thus my point about getting to McNabb. Vikes were also 6th in the league in total defense allowing 18 more yards per game than the Eagles....is that a lot?? I'd say the defenses are pretty evenly matched and maybe the Vikings defense isn't getting enough credit.
I think mcnabb has a good chance to have a good game with the vikes 18th ranked pass D. So even if the game is put in mcnabbs hands i think he will do well.Even though they have a good run D there pass D sucks while our defense is more balanced.
Some interesting stats going into this game: The Vikings are 6-2 this year at home, with their only losses being to dome teams. The Eagles defense has scored more TDs (3) in December than they've given up (2). The two TDs they gave up game in garbage time on one, and an 18 yard drive on the other. Hopefully Eagles fans flocking to Minnesota can stop some of that dome advantage.
Vikings are 0-2 against the Eagles in playoff history, nost recently 2004 when the Eagles made the superbowl The last time AD played the Eagles in 2007, he had 20 carries for 70 yards and the Eagles who only had barely over 50 yards rushing dominated through the air with Reggie Scrub Brown having a 100 yard game in an Eagles victory in Minnesota IF the vaunted pass rush of the cowboys that led the league in sacks couldn't put pressure on McNabb, what makes anyone think that the minnesota pass rush is going to do any better. The Eagles are 26th in the league in allowing sacks (you want to be low in that list) the Vikings are 7th, which means only 6 teams give up more sacks than them, and the Eagles are third in the league in getting sacks. I really don't see how the Eagles can lose, everything matches up in their favor. Our defense is seemingly tailored to stop them and our offense is built perfectly to smash them, but alas this is the NFL and any team can win any week, but I would really be shocked if the Eagles lost this one.
I'm with Mike on this one. Our D keeps playing the way it has and the offense does just enough (20 points?), I think Eagles take it. But obviously the Vikings are a quality team or they wouldn't have home field advantage on the first game of the playoffs...
I think McNabb shoulders the load, the Defense proves to be too much for the Vikings and carries the Eagles to a victory. However, I think some of you aren't giving the Vikes D enough credit...as long as Allen and the Williams brothers are on the field, that defense is pretty strong. Childress knows that Eagles team pretty well... Regardless, the Eagles roll...easily.
Vikings and the Cardinals will both lose. Eagles are on fire, Vikings barely beat the 2nd string Giants, Cardinals suck balls. Eagles win by 2 possesions.
