Why Birds are going to the Super Bowl
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Why Birds are going to the Super Bowl
Daily New staff
5 REASONS EAGLES WILL WIN
1. Donovan McNabb, of course. In the win over the Giants, McNabb was by far the better quarterback. He was resourceful, tough and made plenty of correct decisions … playfully answering the Giants’ phone not being one of them. He’s getting great protection, something that shouldn’t be taken for granted.
2. Have you noticed how much smarter Andy Reid sounds these days at his (once-annoying) news conferences? Yep, you’ve got a winner in town. And Reid’s newly found genius might be too much for Cardinals second-year coach Ken Whisenhunt.
3. How good is this Eagles’ defense? Best ever? Better than the Reggie White-Jerome Brown top-ranked defense? Statistically, this year’s defense is not as good. Lately, this year’s group is coming up with one enormous play after another — as your replay of the Giants’ game shows.
4. David Akers was strong at Giants Stadium and he will be headed indoors in Arizona. That will shorten the field for the offense, and make them a threat to score frequently. Field goals are gold in a tight, defensive game.
5. With each week and each victory, fate is a factor. It’s not easy to believe in such things, but evidence continues to mount and, that’s right, the Super Bowl is in Tampa. Without the Bucs’ collapse, the Eagles don’t even make the playoffs. We make that point without once bringing up the Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays.
5 REASONS CARDINALS WILL WIN
1. Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald might be the best receiver on the planet. He is big, strong and tough. He has made some of the season’s great catches in the playoffs alone. He goes up in the air with a defender, or two, and comes down with the ball.
2. Edgerrin James’ return to the offense has coincided with Arizona’s dominance. James is one of the NFL’s great backs and if he has a big game — and Brian Westbrook does not — the Cards have a great chance to win.
3. The Cardinals’ defense is underrated because no one knows their players. In the regular season, the Cardinals’ defense was ranked 19th. In the playoffs, they are ranked second and against Carolina it seemed they were getting turnovers every other possession.
4. Kurt Warner is a Super Bowl-winning quarterback (good for Cards). He is 37 years old (maybe bad for Cards). In the playoffs, he has completed 62.5 percent of his passes. He did even better in the regular season (67.1). If he stays upright and cool while the Eagles blitz their brains out, they might be partying in the desert.
5. If the Eagles players are as overconfident as their fans, and play that way, the Cardinals will win. It’s easy to look past the Cardinals, who were crushed at the Linc on Thanksgiving night. Just as the Eagles aren’t as bad now as they were in Cincinnati, the Cardinals aren’t as bad now as they were that night.
-- Chuck Bausman
To read the transcript of Sam Donnellon's chat from Arizona, click here.
I truly believe that the Eagles took those previous trips to the NFC Championship games for granted. Therefore, they will be hungrier now than ever before. Kudos to the Cards for a great run, but experience will prevail.— JRusso- I truly believe that the Eagles took those previous trips to the NFC Championship games for granted. Therefore, they will be hungrier now than ever before. Kudos to the Cards for a great run, but experience will prevail.— JRusso
- Play 60 tomorrow. Eagles 19 Steelers 13, Enough Said!!!— ChillyWilly
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- from MINNESOTA!!!! GOOD LUCK GREEN BIRDS!!!! we up in the state of hockey will be SHOCKED!!!!!! IF YOU LOSE TO ARIZONA!! SO GOOD LUCK FROM VIKING LAND!!!!!!!— KDANNO11
- after the eagles beat the giants on sunday everybody on espn said the eagles will destroy the cardinals and now more people on espn are picking the cardinals, its ridiculous. the defense will remind kurt warner that he is 37 years old, westbrook will score on a screen and mcnabb will play well enough to get the eagles past the cardinals and into the super bowl! I predict 24-14 Eagles victory. GO EAGLES!!!— ConservativePatriot22
- Philly, Don't get too excited, McNabb will break your heart. signed Ricky Manning Jr and Rhonde Barber— MD20202020
- I will be at game sh#$&ing my pants until the outcome is secure one way or the other— funsoaz
- it all about the turnovers... in that respect I'll take the Eagles defense to turn over warner and the Cards more so than the cards to McNabb and Birds... 3 turnovers to 1... Birds 31 cards 20— EndTheDrought
- iggles beat az, but then get trampled by afc. let's face facts, philly 2nd rate team just like the city. cheesesteaks is about it.— jet
- eagles 10 cardinals 27— BHite15
- Cards 31, Philly 13. McNabb was last seen choking on a can of Chunky soup during a big game.— phillychokesagain
- Da Eggles is this year's team of destiny. I am 57 years old. Grew up in Wilkes Barre going to games with my dad; whose only dying wish was to be buried with his Eagles Hat. Live in Central PA now in Steelers territory AND I FEEL IN MY BONES THIS IS OUR TIME.— Gringo4
- this game is going to be interesting because the last two we played as the underdogs. This time around we are the heavy favorites. Arizona has been playing as the underdog all playoffs and they have been able to step it up every week. Just my 2 cents, hopefully should be an entertaining game— wolfburn
