"In order to get there then, we had to beat Chicago on the road in very frigid conditions," McNabb said. "This time, we had to go to NY and defeat the Giants in very cold weather. Like the last time, this week will be playing on the road, in a dome, against Kurt Warner and his high-powered offense."
The Eagles, underdogs in 2002, lost to Warner when he was quarterback of a St. Louis Rams team that was known as "the Greatest Show on Turf." This time, McNabb and the Eagles are favored to beat the Cardinals and advance to Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, Fla., but the quarterback warned it won't be easy.
"Make no mistake, the Cardinals are a solid football team in all three phases," he said.
"I know our supporters want to discount their abilities based on the Thanksgiving Day game but they shouldn't - the Cardinals had to travel here on a short week. I believe we have what it takes to match up with them but we will have to play our best football. If we learned anything from our previous playoff runs, it's that we cannot let up and must play at a higher level each and every week.
"I hope all Eagles fans help us build our momentum each day so that we all reach a peak on Sunday. I hope a few of you can be there to join us!"
In another McNabb-related item, NFL Network studio analyst Deion Sanders continued to bait the Eagles quarterback into saying something negative about Philadelphia fans after Sunday's win against the New York Giants.
Rich Eisen asked McNabb whether he wanted to respond to the words that "Sanders has been putting in his mouth."
After the Eagles' playoff win over Minnesota, Sanders provided his opinion on what McNabb really would like to say. It went like this: " 'I remember when you booed me on draft day. I remember when you booed me when Coach Reid benched me earlier this season. I remember when you continuously heckled me, even putting my mother in tears. I love you, but I've got to leave you. No matter what happens this season.' That's what he really wants to say. I think he wants out."
McNabb played along with Eisen's question.
"You know what, it's funny because they've been commenting a little bit in Philadelphia on what Deion has been saying," McNabb said. "But you know what, Deion? Continue on with what you're saying. I'm having a ball. I'm having a great time."
Sanders' response: "I love me some Donovan McNabb. You tell Mama McNabb I love her, I miss her, and I wish I could put a microphone on her, because I know what she want to say."
- Bob Brookover
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