BROWNNOSE
BOOTLICKER
A year ago, Philadelphia opened the playoffs where it had finished the regular season: in Dallas, and the result was the same, an easy Cowboys' victory. This year, the Eagles are the NFC East champions for the first time in five years and they don't intend to continue the symmetry of 2009 by ending their season the way it started: with a home loss to Green Bay.
Still, the Packers come to Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday as the hotter team. They thumped the New York Giants, 45-17, in Week 16 behind 404 yards and four touchdowns from NFC passing champion Aaron Rodgers and an opportunistic defense that forced six turnovers and then edged the half-trying NFC North champion Chicago Bears,10-3, to claim the conference's last playoff berth.
Philadelphia, having already clinched the NFC East before taking the field against lowly Minnesota in Week 16 in a game postponed by a snowstorm, was outplayed by the Vikings, 24-14, and then rested most of its starters in another home loss, 14-13 to Dallas in the finale.
Still, the Packers come to Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday as the hotter team. They thumped the New York Giants, 45-17, in Week 16 behind 404 yards and four touchdowns from NFC passing champion Aaron Rodgers and an opportunistic defense that forced six turnovers and then edged the half-trying NFC North champion Chicago Bears,10-3, to claim the conference's last playoff berth.
Philadelphia, having already clinched the NFC East before taking the field against lowly Minnesota in Week 16 in a game postponed by a snowstorm, was outplayed by the Vikings, 24-14, and then rested most of its starters in another home loss, 14-13 to Dallas in the finale.
