PHILADELPHIA – It won’t be seen but it will be felt, stinging more harshly than any icy winter blast. The pressure on the Eagles this afternoon is enormous and will become apparent and possibly suffocating if they struggle at any moment in their NFC Championship Game tussle with the Falcons.
The weight of three consecutive losses in this game will become one gigantic burden if the Eagles fall behind early, or if they turn the ball over quickly, or if Michael Vick zigs and zags for serious first-quarter yardage. The atmosphere at Lincoln Financial Field figures to be one of nervous anticipation, as the desperate home fans have seen their beloved Birds lose the past two title games on their own turf.
Past failure can be discounted only if the Eagles rise above their recent history.
“We know that that’s a fact, that we lost three NFC Championship Games in a row,” running back Brian Westbrook said. “Other than that, those are things that happened in the past. This is a totally different team, different players, different philosophies somewhat, as far as coaches’ philosophies and schemes. We’re going in with a fresh attitude and we’re ready to play.”
They had best be ready to win, and dominate, early and often, or else all the snow and frigid weather won’t be able to cool down the seething crowd. No team has ever reached a conference title game four straight years and failed to advance every time. Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville awaits the winner and if it’s not the Eagles, and level of angst and agony in this city will be unimaginable.
The Falcons, upstarts on the rise, can win. The Eagles must win, or forever live with the label as the league’s greatest teasers.
“I mean, regardless of who the pressure’s on, we’ve got to come out and play,” Vick said. “They’ve been in this situation before. They’ve been to the NFC Championship Game three times, three years in a row. Like I said, obviously their goal was to get back. They’re here and they have another opportunity to go to the Super Bowl. This is our first chance. I don’t know who the pressure’s on, but I know the pressure’s not on us.”
Vick can help ratchet up the pressure on the Eagles if he starts darting and dashing and scrambling, turning his first title game into a personal showcase. The Eagles are leaning on their experience to carry them forward, operating behind a balanced offense directed by Donovan McNabb, the quarterback in all three previous losses, an unquestioned leader who has given off a cool confidence as he prepares for yet another high-wire battle.
“It’s unfortunate what happened to us the last three years but it’s just a different feeling this year,” McNabb said. “We’ve had a special season. It’s going to be a bunch of crazed dogs out there just fired up ready to just tee off.
“If you didn’t get your hot dog and your Pepsi last week and buckled your seat belt for an enjoyable ride, you might want to get about two seat belts for this one, get two hot dogs and some popcorn and cheesesteaks because you might miss something.”
That’s the voice of a self-assured customer. The Eagles hope McNabb’s attitude rubs off on the rest of them. There’s three years worth of losing in this game to erase.
“They were experiences, we lost, and it is time to move on,” defensive tackle Corey Simon said. “We would love to see [the media] move on. But the story sells, so you will continue to write about it. We can’t focus on that. It is not even a part of who we are. This is a different team in a different season.”
FALCONS at EAGLES
Site Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
TV Ch. 5
Radio WFAN (660 AM)
Kickoff 3 p.m.
Line
Eagles -5
Over/Under
38½
INJURY REPORT
Falcons: Questionable : DE Travis Hall (chest); CB Kevin Mathis (ankle); T Todd Weiner (ankle). Probable: WR Brian Finneran (wrist).
Eagles: Out: WR Terrell Owens (ankle). Questionable: LB Mark Simoneau (ankle). Probable: LB Dhani Jones (shoulder); TE Chad Lewis (tricep); G Jermane Mayberry (tricep); LB Ike Reese (knee); T Jon Runyan (knee); TE L.J. Smith (back).
NOTABLE NUMBERS
All-time series
Eagles lead, 12-10-1
Records
Falcons 12-5;
Eagles 14-3
Playoff victories
Falcons defeated Rams, 47-17; Eagles defeated Vikings 27-14
Last meeting
Nov. 2, 2003 at Atlanta – Eagles 23, Falcons 16
NFL rankings (32 teams)
Falcons offense:
20th overall, 30th passing, 1st rushing
Falcons defense:
14th overall, 22nd vs. pass, tied-8th vs. rush
Eagles offense:
9th overall, 7th passing, 24th rushing
Eagles defense:
10th overall, 12th vs. pass, 16th vs. pass
STATISTICAL LEADERS
(regular season)
PASSING
Michael Vick
181 of 321,
2,313 yards,
14 TDs, 12 INTs
Donovan McNabb
300 of 469,
3,875 yards,
31 TDs, 8 INTs
RUSHING
Warrick Dunn
265 carries, 1,106
yards, 9 TDs
Brian Westbrook
177 carries, 812
yards, 3 TDs
RECEIVING
Alge Crumpler
48 catches,
774 yards, 6 TDs
Terrell Owens
77 catches,
1,200 yards, 14 TDs
SACKS
Rod Coleman
11½
Jevon Kearse
7½
