Weeks of rest have Birds at their best

"On that rust stuff, that was only people outside this locker room talking about that," Eagles tight end L.J. Smith said yesterday. "The guys on this team weren't thinking about that at all. We trust Coach [Andy] Reid, and we knew we would be fine. "

Fine they were, cruising to a 27-14 victory over the Minnesota Vikings that sent the Eagles to their fourth consecutive NFC championship game.

The Eagles' offense scored on three of its first four possessions, and the defense sacked Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper three times and intercepted him twice.

Linebacker Ike Reese, who had the first of the Eagles' interceptions, said he understood the outside concerns a little bit.

"I think those last two weeks of the season worried just about everybody," Reese said. "But we don't worry about that stuff. "

With yesterday's win, the Eagles improved to 9-0 under Reid after a week off and, some might argue, 1-0 after a month off. They will get another chance to play after an off week if they can beat the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday in the NFC championship game at Lincoln Financial Field.

"We know how to handle the time off well," Reese said. "A lot of guys still stayed around and a lot of guys still worked out and even got extra workouts in. A lot of guys were in the film room. The time is used well. "

In other words, the Eagles don't take their off weeks off.

"When we do get back, Coach Reid does a great job of organizing practice," Reese said. "He doesn't try to overdo anything. We put pads on last week, but it wasn't like we were doing the same stuff we do in training camp. He understands it's the 20th week of the season and we have a game to play Sunday.

"It just all boils down to how you spend your time, and we have enough veterans on this ball club that we can relay the message that the bye week isn't a time to go off and do whatever. "

Without question, the most important thing about the rest is that it allowed the Eagles to get healthy. With the exception of wide receiver Terrell Owens and linebacker Mark Simoneau, every starter and the long list of key reserves were ready to play yesterday.

"This is the healthiest we've ever been going into the playoffs," Reese said.

And, for the most part, they remained healthy during the game.

Right guard Jermane Mayberry aggravated an elbow injury in the first quarter, but he left just briefly and finished the game.

Safety Brian Dawkins, who is getting over the flu, had to leave briefly in the second half to get an intravenous treatment to relieve cramps, but he also returned.

On the Eagles' final offensive series, tackle Jon Runyan was hit after a play and left with a strained knee. But he walked off the field after the game, and Reid said, "I think he'll be OK. "

Missed opportunity. On their final possession of the first half, the Eagles put together an outstanding drive from their 4-yard line to the Vikings' 9. But on a second-and-goal play with 10 seconds and no time-outs remaining, quarterback Donovan McNabb threw a pass to Dorsey Levens at the 4-yard line. Levens was tackled, and the clock expired without David Akers' getting a chance to kick a field goal that would have put the Eagles up by 24-7.

"They knew the situation as well," McNabb said. "They [had players] in the end zone, and there was no one behind Dorsey at the time, so I felt I could get the ball to him quick and he could turn upfield and get into the end zone.

"I had to get it over a defensive lineman. He went up for the ball and, by that time, guys corralled around him. I could have thrown a jump ball into the end zone and had the guys compete, but I thought I had an easier throw."