Wild Card: #6 Eagles at #3 Vikings

[Who Del]

Lets have some serious discussion up until Sunday at 4:30 when the Eagles go up to Minnesota to play the Vikings in the first round of the playoffs.

I think the Eagles do have a shot to win this game but it depends on which team shows up (Eagles vs. Bengals, Redskins, Ravens) or (Eagles vs. Cowboys, Giants and Cardinals).

One thing I'll give the Fat Ass credit for is when he has a game in the first or second round he's usually well prepared. I think the Eagles can beat the Vikings. They have a great D and a great RB which should prove to be tough for the Eagles.

Tavaris Jackson doesn't scare me no matter how well he's played in the last few weeks. I still think he's a bum. Of course this will be the week he proves me wrong, I know it.

[Hitman#21]

as much as i dislike the eagles im gonna go with the eagle there a much better team.

[renaissance]

Did you see Tavaris Jackson play yesterday?

Iggles win.

[snowman5607]

I'm going with Minnesota to win. I picked them to go to the Super Bowl before the season, and I'm not changing now. Besides, who wants to see Philadelphia win?

[rebornempowered]

I think the Eagles will pound the Vi-Queens in their own building. Jackson will not do well against the pressure he will see.

[Hitman#21]

I think the Eagles will pound the Vi-Queens in their own building. Jackson will not do well against the pressure he will see.
So your predicting alot of balls being thrown while hes jumping?:)

[Titaw]

I think with all things considered the Eagles should win this game. Let's break it down.

Eagles Run O vs Vikings Run D: Vikings are without a brick in the Williams wall, but it really doesn't matter because Philly doesn't run the ball. Advantage, Vikes.

Eagles Pass O vs Vikings Pass D: Eagles pas and pass alot and the Vikings Pass D is below average at best. Advantage Eagles.

Eagles Run D vs Vikings Run O: Adrian Peterson is the key to this game. If he can't get going, which is possible with the Eagles having one of the stingiest run D's in the league. Advantage: Adrian Peterson, I mean Vikings.

Eagles Pass D vs Vikings Pass O: Tavaris Jackson will be leaned on if the run isn't there. If so, the eagles secondary will have a field day. Advantage: Eagles.

Right now we are at 2-2, but the Eagles two advantages over the Vikings are a ton larger than the Vikings advantages because 1) the Eagles don't run the ball and 2) They have a top performing run defense to face the NFL rushing champ.

My prediction:

Eagles 30
Vikings 17

[BayouBrave86]

Vikings win this game with a healthy d-line and a healthy Gus. No way in hell Tav Jackson QB's a team that beats the Eagles.

[BigRay]

Eagles should win this one easy maybe even easier than the beatdown of the Pukes. Tarvaris is not ready to face what he is going to face with Johnson's defense.

[Stophovr6]

Go Purple!!!

[pointyfootball]

The Vikings on offense have two weapons that can be a concern: Oline & Peterson. I would expect JJ to play the Vikings the same way he played the Giants: 8 in the box and make the QB/receivers beat you. Asante/Sheldon should be able to handle receivers assuming front 7 can get decent pressure. Peterson is going to get his yards, you just can't let him dominate and win the game. Make them have to pass.

Vikes Dline will get pressure on McNabb, and in the way he hates it the most: up the middle. I would love to see AR use Buck more, especially in the short passing game which I think will be the key to the an Eagles win, if it happens. They have to run the ball, but I think this is the one time that the passing game is more important for the Eagles.

Intangibles: Minnesota is a going be rocking for the home playoff game. AR & Co. have a bit more playoff experience both in the coaching staff and the players. If anyone knows DM's weaknesses though, it's Childress.

If the Eagles avoid any huge special teams mistakes or horrible turnovers (inside their 30), I think they win this game.

PF

[TD_washingtonredskins]

I think Philly rides their momentum and wins easily in Minnesota. That would set up a nice 2nd round matchup in New York.

Can Philly do to New York what New York did to Dallas last year? I think they have a very good chance in that game (though I don't see them parlaying it into a Super Bowl run if they have to play Carolina).

[pointyfootball]

I think with all things considered the Eagles should win this game. Let's break it down.

Excellent post, IMO.

[pointyfootball]

I think they have a very good chance in that game (though I don't see them parlaying it into a Super Bowl run if they have to play Carolina).

Great thing about being a fan is we can look ahead and "what if". How great would it be for Eagle fans to get to play Carolina for NFCCG and pay them back for 2003 (I think it was then).

Long way off, but since we're playing on house money anyway...

[doncherry]

I honestly think that Philly will destroy the Vikings. They feel that they are a team of destiny. As soon as Chicago AND Tampa Bay blew it yesterday I knew that Dallas was finished. Philly is playing with house money and they are going to be a tough out.

[TonyRomoProBowl]

Eagles win this one big IMO! Zone will beat Atlanta

in the AFC, I am calling a Chargers win vs the Colts and the Ravens over Miami

AFC looks to be a fun final four no matter which way it goes.....

[BigMike619]

the front 4 of the vikes should be back fully and have a monster day.

IF, and thats a big IF, McNabb shows up its no contest. But if he has a typical McNabb game (one big, one screw up) then he will be picked apart by that D.

and if Peterson goes off then its all over. The pressure will be off of Jackson and Peterson will be a monster.

im going Philly though....

[Tom [Giants fan]]

The Giants almost beat the Vikings in Minnesota while playing a lot of backups in the second half. They don't have a shot against Philadelphia.

It will be Eagles @ Giants in two weeks.

[sircharlz]

I can see D-Mac laying an egg in this game. He could have a false confidence going into the game due because of the Cowboys game. That game turned due to the defense - not Donnie Mac. Watch him come out and play the same pathetic way as he did against the Bengals, Ravens, Skins.

I simply wouldn't trust him to have a stellar game. My prediction - he throws a bunch of balls at the receivers feet and Andy Reid completely abandons the run. The Vikings get the running game going and win the game. McNabb gets traded to Chicago in the offseason and Andy Reid gets fired after the 2010 season (2yr debacle with Kolb).

[Toe Jam]

Philly will win. The Vikes shouldn't even be there.

They are a product of a crappy, crappy division.

[Spartacus87]

It all comes down to Peterson having a monster day, controlling the clock, and not committing any costly fumbles.

Jackson is inexperienced, obviously especially in the playoffs, and Johnson will have his defense coming from every angle in ways Jackson hasn't seen before and could make him pay, causing a costly interception or just knocking him silly.

Gus doesn't have the arm to really beat the blitz and is actually probably the least mobile QB out of all these playoff teams. He's also more turnover prone than Jackson.

The Vikings' pass protection has been pretty shaky lately despite their impressive line, so they need to get whatever's going on with them resolved in a hurry.

Eagles could also come in a little flat after destroying the Cowboys at home to make it in.

I think the Eagles come out on top though.

[Bubble Screen]

Eagles win this game. Johnson will stack the line of scrimmage and force Jackson to throw. Jackson will fail, of course. And the Eagles have forced turnovers lately, while Peterson has put it on the ground alot lately. This one is easy to call.

[pjfootballer]

Screw the Eagles now. They did their job. GO VIKINGS!!!

[dockeryfan]

;6001452']The Giants almost beat the Vikings in Minnesota while playing a lot of backups in the second half. They don't have a shot against Philadelphia.

It will be Eagles @ Giants in two weeks.

I don't see it. I think Childress will know how to contain Westbrook, and Andy will abandon the run. McNabb will become one-dimensional, the same way he did against the Redskins. The Vikings force an enormous amount of three-and-outs. When that happens to Reid, he gets pass happy, and if you look at how Reid has done against his old assistants, it ain't good. The Ravens, The Giants...they know how to stop Reid's offense. I think Childress will do the same.

The Vikings will continue to pound the run, and even though Peterson will have a lot of +1, +2, -1, +3 type yards, he'll get his +45 yard run eventually. I disagree about Tavaris. I think he's got a pretty strong arm for this part of the season, and he made some over the top throws in yesterday's game to keep drives alive, and keep the defense honest. It wasn't like the Giants weren't able to get to him. They were. But he made some crucial throws. He didn't look great, but he was good enough, and I think it'll be the same against Philly. It'll come down to clock management, and Childress will come out on top.

[Westbrook36]

I totally thought dockeryfan would pick the Eagles.

[CPortJGibbs89]

Lets have some serious discussion up until Sunday at 4:30 when the Eagles go up to Minnesota to play the Vikings in the first round of the playoffs.

I think the Eagles do have a shot to win this game but it depends on which team shows up (Eagles vs. Bengals, Redskins, Ravens) or (Eagles vs. Cowboys, Giants and Cardinals).
I am pretty much in agreement with you, if the team playing the Cowboys last night and the Cardinals shows up I think they will roll over the Vikings. If that defense gets after Tavaris he will start to throw the ball up for grabs.

I can also see the Vikings winning this game if the other Eagles team shows up, if AP gets rolling and the Vikings shut down the Eagles offense they will win. This is going to be a great game, I think the Eagles will win if they show up and play good ball but wont be surprised if the Vikings get the W.

[Tom [Giants fan]]

I don't see it. I think Childress will know how to contain Westbrook, and Andy will abandon the run. McNabb will become one-dimensional, the same way he did against the Redskins. The Vikings force an enormous amount of three-and-outs. When that happens to Reid, he gets pass happy, and if you look at how Reid has done against his old assistants, it ain't good. The Ravens, The Giants...they know how to stop Reid's offense. I think Childress will do the same.

The Vikings will continue to pound the run, and even though Peterson will have a lot of +1, +2, -1, +3 type yards, he'll get his +45 yard run eventually. I disagree about Tavaris. I think he's got a pretty strong arm for this part of the season, and he made some over the top throws in yesterday's game to keep drives alive, and keep the defense honest. It wasn't like the Giants weren't able to get to him. They were. But he made some crucial throws. He didn't look great, but he was good enough, and I think it'll be the same against Philly. It'll come down to clock management, and Childress will come out on top.

The Vikings are very good against the run. But the Eagles don't run. They pass and do it pretty well. That is the weakness of the Vikings defense. And I don't see the Vikings offense doing much against the Eagles defense.

Adrian Peterson had 1 carry for 67 yards and a TD against the Giants. The other 20 carries resulted in 36 yards. The Eagles defense is as good if not better than the Giants (that was painful). The Vikings will be lucky to score 10. Assuming the same Eagle team from yesterday shows up. It is a road game so that may play a factor. But I doubt it.

[Titaw]

;6002257']The Vikings are very good against the run. But the Eagles don't run. They pass and do it pretty well. That is the weakness of the Vikings defense. And I don't see the Vikings offense doing much against the Eagles defense.

Adrian Peterson had 1 carry for 67 yards and a TD against the Giants. The other 20 carries resulted in 36 yards. The Eagles defense is as good if not better than the Giants (that was painful). The Vikings will be lucky to score 10. Assuming the same Eagle team from yesterday shows up. It is a road game so that may play a factor. But I doubt it.

Thak you for expounding my point. It is a known fact that Tavaris Jackson can't deal with constant, aggressive pressure. That is what the Eagles D is known for. I really think the Vikings are in for a very rough day.

[Deefense]

Eagles win.
Ravens win.
Falcons win.
Chargers win.

[BayouBrave86]

Wow, dockeryfan and I are the only one picking the Vikings? I expect to serve some crow if Gus plays.

[DWinzit]

WILLIAMS WALL RETURNS ON SUNDAY? (http://www.profootballtalk.com/2008/12/29/williams-wall-returns-on-sunday/)

Posted by Mike Florio on December 29, 2008, 4:46 p.m.
As we pointed out in our Ten-Pack for SportingNews.com (gratuitous plug no. 3), the Vikings miss defensive tackle Pat Williams (http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=501521), who has missed two games with a broken shoulder.
Per Sean Jensen of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Williams has been cleared by doctors to play (http://blogs.twincities.com/Vikings/2008/12/pat_williams_will_try_to_retur.html) on Sunday against the Eagles.
There’s only one obstacle.
“I got to fight with the missus,” Williams said.
In 14 games with Pat Williams, the Vikings gave up an average of 71 yards on the ground. Against the Falcons (http://www.profootballtalk.com/category/rumor-mill/#) in Week Sixteen, the Vikings surrendered 98 yards. On Sunday against the Giants, the Vikings gave up 135 yards.

[redskindan07]

Eagles over Vikings
Falcons over Cards
Ravens over Phins
Colts over Bolts

Carolina over Falcons
Eagles over Giants
Titans over Ravens
Colts over Steelers

[Titaw]

My prediction:

Eagles 30
Vikings 17



I was prettly damn close with this one.

Final:

Eagles 26
Vikings 14

[McNabbOwnsFedEx]

Eagles win this one big IMO! Zone will beat Atlanta

in the AFC, I am calling a Chargers win vs the Colts and the Ravens over Miami

AFC looks to be a fun final four no matter which way it goes.....

I hope you laid some money down with your picks. Nice call.