[BurdenRobert]

Game time is Sunday at 1:00pm Eastern.

The Eagles are favored by nine and a half points.

[Aw1HhC0m]

Holy crap! The oddsmakers must really like Philly to give them that much of a point spread.

Then again, they are the #1 and we are the #6 seed, so I guess it's warranted.

[Sarbrienna]

It's warranted. The football gods don't like hubris any more than the ancient Greek or Roman deities, and Moss is definitely guilty of hubris. They will shoot celestial bolts of retribution at the Vikes to make their point.

[ligaliaCods]

I don't know. Again, I'm not placing a bet yet due to low fundage, but I'm thinking the Vikes may cover. Like the Jets-Steelers, that's a huge spread, and I'm not sure a TO-less Philly squad can cover.

[grosqueneen]

I don't know. Again, I'm not placing a bet yet due to low fundage, but I'm thinking the Vikes may cover. Like the Jets-Steelers, that's a huge spread, and I'm not sure a TO-less Philly squad can cover.

Ah, but TO assures us his squad can make it to the Super Bowl without him. I'm not really an Eagles fan, but I'd kind of like to see them do it and prove him right, so that HE could see that they can do without him.

[uncoosesoge]

Ah, but TO assures us his squad can make it to the Super Bowl without him. I'm not really an Eagles fan, but I'd kind of like to see them do it and prove him right, so that HE could see that they can do without him.

Honestly, I still think that the Eagles will go to the super bowl. IMO, they are still head and shoulders above anybody else in the NFC. Yes they will miss TO, but he is just one player. They didnt win all those games solely because they had TO, and they wont lose solely because he isnt playing. Philly still goes, book it.

Now, will they cover this bet? I have to really think about it. Thats a hell of alot of points.

[vintsqyuid]

Honestly, I still think that the Eagles will go to the super bowl. IMO, they are still head and shoulders above anybody else in the NFC. Yes they will miss TO, but he is just one player. They didnt win all those games solely because they had TO, and they wont lose solely because he isnt playing. Philly still goes, book it.

Now, will they cover this bet? I have to really think about it. Thats a hell of alot of points.

You're right Slob...TO is the 3rd most important player on the Eagles...Westbrook is 1 and McNabb is 2.

[cialesxtr]

i will be happy witha win by ether team

[SaLifHoq]

hmmmmmmmm

[SinncmxM]

What to do.....what to do.
I do think that TO was the most important PART of this Eagle offense. He opened up so much for Pinkston and always gave McNabb that one guy he could always rely on. With him gone if the Vikings can get into McNabb's head.....I dunno man.
Tough matchup.....
Their defense is good tho....The Freak scares me.

[disappointment2]

These are the Vikes we are talking about. They are very hard to judge from week to week.

I bet on them last week and won. I'm tempted to put down a bunch on them this week, but do I dare bet on the Vikes two weeks in a row?

As far as Philly goes don't forget that the last time the regulars were on the field (for the most part), they still had T.O.

They will have gone a month without playing a game with the starters, and now they are without their best player.

They still have a great team as their 3 straight NFC Championship games without T.O. will tell you.

However, they could come out of this game flat and rusty. Just enough to keep the Vikes in the ballgame.

Then again the Vikes defense is good for knocking a helluva lot of rust off any offense.

[nmnrIjGB]

The Eagles were only 11 points better than the Vikings the first time they played. . .WITH a healthy T.O.

There's nothing to suggest that they're double-digits better than the Vikings without him.

[Lxbsvksl]

Is Moss still gimping. Anybody know his status?

[pKgGpUlF]

The Eagles were only 11 points better than the Vikings the first time they played. . .WITH a healthy T.O.

There's nothing to suggest that they're double-digits better than the Vikings without him.

The Vikings were also playing a hell of a lot better back then. But I agree with you....Eagles SHOULD win by about 17

[eropiereetuekm]

Philly 31-16. Theyve got something to prove in Philly. Stinkston and the rest of the wr corps need to show they can play. For a week they'll do it.

[YonkFiorc]

The Eagles were only 11 points better than the Vikings the first time they played. . .WITH a healthy T.O.

There's nothing to suggest that they're double-digits better than the Vikings without him.

Well, I wouldn't say that...if what you are saying is true then the line wouldn't have gone up after it was first posted like it did, obviously more than half of those betting still liked the eagles. Some interesting stats that really don't mean anything but I'll bet they factor in when making the line.

Eagles are undefeated under Reid after a bye week.

The number one seed in the NFC has never lost in the Divisional Round, that's to any seed since the current playoff system has been in place.

The number six seed in the NFC has never advanced into the Championship round ever.

[Soassesaisp]

Eagles are undefeated under Reid after a bye week.

The number one seed in the NFC has never lost in the Divisional Round, that's to any seed since the current playoff system has been in place.

The number six seed in the NFC has never advanced into the Championship round ever.

Before this weekend, no 8-8 team had ever won an NFL playoff game, either. Then it happened twice in 2 days.

[averkif]

I'd like to mention just a few things.

The Vikings have struggled against teams with good defenses all year. They have struggled to run the ball even though they have a few talented running backs. Without the threat of a solid run attack and with Moss not 100% (he looked really awful limping off the field after his interview) that poses problems for their offense.

Philly's defense has gotten worlds better since their meeting with the Vikings. 3/4ths of their secondary is starting for the NFC in the pro bowl and many people feel the corner that didn't make it (Brown) is actually better than Sheppard but didn't have the interceptions to prove it, They got better as the season went on and they gained more and more experience. Trotter moving to MLB and Siminau ( I can't spell his damn name and am too lazy to look it up) moving to weak side has helped their run defense dramatically, allowing them to use more of Jimmy Johnsons famed blitzing schemes. The Eagles defense finished 3rd in the league in points allowed and that with 2nd and 3rd stingers playing in their final two games.

Unlike last season when the Eagles were crippled going into the playoffs, they are relatively healthy (except TO of course) Especially on their defensive line where they had 6 players on IR going into the playoffs.

The offense might come out a little rusty, but how long does it take them to shake that rust off against a morbid defense? a drive? two? maybe a Quarter? On the last drive the Eagles starters played in they marched right down the field and scored a Touchdown against the Rams who's defense is comparable to the Vikings....and they did that without TO or Westbrook who did not play that game.

The Eagles Special teams are arguably the best in the NFC and Reid vs Tice is a no-brainer if it ever comes down to a battle of wits. Generally in the playoffs Overall Health, Defense, Special teams and coaching all loom large and the Eagles have the advantage in all those categories. The vikings (and Packers for that matter) are far too one-dimensional a team

Over the past two years there is a model for teams that have beaten the Eagles. All the teams fit the Model, Well coached teams with good defenses and effective but not really explosive offenses. The Eagles tend to match up well against teams like the Vikings that are built around offense and not much else

All that being said I wouldn't be suprised if the Vikings covered, but I personally don't think it's going to happen. As slob said, the Eagles are still the best team in the NFC, there is a reason they are heavily favored in this game and it has nothing to do with Randy Moss mooning Green bay fans.

[exschke]

All that being said I wouldn't be suprised if the Vikings covered, but I personally don't think it's going to happen. As slob said, the Eagles are still the best team in the NFC, there is a reason they are heavily favored in this game and it has nothing to do with Randy Moss mooning Green bay fans.

Dang it. I had my bet decided.

Back to the drawing board.

[hexniks]

The Vikings have struggled against teams with good defenses all year. They have struggled to run the ball even though they have a few talented running backs. Without the threat of a solid run attack and with Moss not 100% (he looked really awful limping off the field after his interview) that poses problems for their offense.

Only one team in the NFL has a higher yards/carry average than the Vikings. The total yards aren't that high. . .but when you have a QB that completes nearly 70% of his passes and throws for over 4,700 yards, you'll throw a little more than you probably should.

Unlike last season when the Eagles were crippled going into the playoffs, they are relatively healthy (except TO of course) Especially on their defensive line where they had 6 players on IR going into the playoffs. You say "except TO, of course" like it's a minor thing.

Outside of TO, the Eagles' other receivers are. . .well, to put it as politely as I can, they're garbage. Todd Pinkston is scared of his own shadow, to say nothing of actual physical contact.

The offense might come out a little rusty, but how long does it take them to shake that rust off against a morbid defense? a drive? two? maybe a Quarter? On the last drive the Eagles starters played in they marched right down the field and scored a Touchdown against the Rams who's defense is comparable to the Vikings....and they did that without TO or Westbrook who did not play that game.

The Eagles Special teams are arguably the best in the NFC and Reid vs Tice is a no-brainer if it ever comes down to a battle of wits. Generally in the playoffs Overall Health, Defense, Special teams and coaching all loom large and the Eagles have the advantage in all those categories. The vikings (and Packers for that matter) are far too one-dimensional a team The Packers? One-dimensional? No. You don't get to be a Top 10 rushing offense in the NFL (which the Packers are) by being one-dimensional. And I'd take Ahman Green over every RB on the Eagles' roster.

They BECAME one-dimensional against Minnesota after the Vikes forced a three-and-out on the first drive and a Favre INT on the second drive to put the Pack down 17-0 eight minutes into the game. I'd argue that without TO, the Packer offense is much better than the Eagles offense.