Against Vikings, Eagles look to continue perfect string in playoff openers

Note: Home team in CAPITAL LETTERS

Trying to figure out these Birds is like trying to figure out when Britney Spears will shave her head again. In other words, it ain't an exact science. Breaking down this wild-card game, we looked at Donovan McNabb pre-benching and post-benching. In the game and a half leading up to the benching, McNabb completed 47.4 percent of his passes, threw one TD and had five interceptions. After the benching, he was in Pro Bowl form, completing 64.3 percent of his passes, with nine TDs and only one pick. Then you have Minnesota's previous two home games, which were unimpressive: a 24-17 loss to Atlanta, and a last-second, 20-19 victory over the New York Giants, who rested some key players and didn't even have the starters around in the second half. But here's the final, and most important piece to this puzzle. Andy Reid's Eagles have been to the playoffs six times and have a gorgeous 6-0 record in the first game out of the box.

Before rolling into this selection, Double V's thrilled with all the e-mails coming in. They're well written, full of great stats, and greatly appreciated. Keep the flow going. Now we'll give you Arizona's last 11 outings, and see whether you don't agree that Atlanta has to be the best bet of the weekend. The Cardinals lost to Carolina, beat St. Louis, San Francisco and Seattle, lost to the Giants and Eagles, beat St. Louis again, lost to Minnesota and New England, then closed with another W against Seattle. Notice a pattern? Yeah, easy. 'Zona has beat up on losing teams, and can't get a W against a team with a winning record. So, the Cards' final five wins that put 'em in the playoffs came against powerhouses with a combined 19-61 record. Then, if you had not heard, Arizona has the NFL's worst rush offense (averaging 73 yards per game), and the lack of balance is always a killer in the postseason.

Initially, Indianapolis jumped out at me with a perfect 9-0 run down the stretch, with Peyton Manning being Peyton Manning, completing more than 72 percent of his passes during the streak. That's the left side of the brain. The right side looked at San Diego coming from an impossible 4-8 hole to win its last four and grab the AFC West crown, the first time that has ever happened. Philip Rivers ain't quite Peyton, but he does have the NFL's No. 1 passer rating (105.5) and tied Drew Brees for the most TD passes (34). So, now I'm starting to lean to the home 'dog. But, and this is as huge a but as there is, we have to deal with LaDainian Tomlinson's sore groin. Hate to be wishy-washy, but in this spot, if we know LT is gonna play, and be close to 100 percent, the pick is the Lightning Bolts. If not, we would turn around and play the Horseshoes.

Everyone is back-slapping Bill Parcells for leading Miami from a pathetic 1-15 season to an 11-5 mark and a playoff game. We give Tuna props, as well, but let's take a close look at whom the Fish beat, and whom they lost to. After the bye, Miami beat a struggling San Diego (8-8) team, Buffalo (7-9) twice, Denver (8-8), Seattle (4-12), Oakland (5-11), St. Louis (2-14), San Francisco (7-9), Kansas City (2-14) and the Jets (9-7), the only winner in the bunch. Check Baltimore's losses and find Pittsburgh (12-4) twice, Tennessee (13-3), Indy (12-4) and the Giants (12-4). Basically the cream of the NFL crop, while the Dolphins beat the bottom-feeders. The Ravens spent a few days in Miami in October and came back home with a solid, 27-13 victory. Baltimore has covered 12 of 16 overall, six of eight on the road, and should have no trouble advancing to the second round.