TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

NFC Matchup Must Be Seen To Be Believed

ADVERTISEMENT

By IRA KAUFMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 18, 2009

GLENDALE, Ariz. - At first glance, today's NFC title game matchup in the desert looks like a mirage.

The Eagles, left for dead in November amid benching and backbiting, are slight favorites at University of Phoenix Stadium against the NFC West champion Cardinals, who for more than a generation have unwillingly served as the NFL's poster child for futility.

"Three or four weeks ago there were a lot of people taking shots at us, and they're still taking shots at us, which is fine," said Coach Ken Whisenhunt, who has spent the past two years methodically raising Arizona.

The Cardinals (11-7) entered the season boasting only one winning season since 1985, and they stumbled to a division crown after suffering losses by 21, 28 and 40 points in the final five weeks.

But when the playoffs began, Arizona beat Atlanta at home before posting a shockingly easy win at Charlotte, where the second-seeded Panthers had been 8-0.

"I think there's a healthy curiosity with the Arizona Cardinals," Fox analyst Michael Strahan said. "They're not a mainstream team. There's a lot of intrigue from real football fans to see if they're for real."

Philadelphia is no stranger to the big stage, but the path to a fifth NFC Championship Game in eight years featured more turns than the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Veteran quarterback Donovan McNabb was benched during a 36-7 debacle at Baltimore that left the Eagles 5-5-1, prompting speculation that McNabb and/or Coach Andy Reid would be jettisoned after the season. Enter the Cardinals, providing comic relief to a tension-filled situation.

Including a 48-20 home victory against Arizona in which McNabb fired four touchdown passes, Philadelphia has won six of seven and outscored opponents by an average margin of nearly 16 points.

"The Eagles are one of the time-tested organizations in our league," said Falcons coach Mike Smith, who lost to both teams. "Too often we focus on one game, but you have to look at the big picture. In Philadelphia's case, it's a pretty impressive body of work over the years."

Savvy defensive coordinator Jim Johnson keeps shuttling in fresh linemen, and Philadelphia controlled the line of scrimmage on the postseason road against the Vikings and Giants. The Eagles are the first NFC No. 6 seed to advance past the divisional round.

Rookie wide receiver DeSean Jackson has emerged as a deep threat and a dangerous punt returner. Brian Westbrook, nursing a sore knee, remains one of the league's most versatile backs.

Seven weeks after being counted out, the Eagles appear intent on making it to Tampa for another crack at that elusive Vince Lombardi Trophy.

"We all had to kind of challenge ourselves and question a lot of things that were going on," said McNabb, 9-5 in the postseason. "We needed to make sure we understood the mistakes we were making."

Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner, 7-2 in the postseason, has enjoyed early leads in both playoff games. A dormant ground game has been revitalized since Edgerrin James regained his starting job.

Receiver Larry Fitzgerald has four consecutive 100-yard games, and the league's No. 2 passing attack should be buoyed by the return of Anquan Boldin.

"When you think about where we were five years ago - to not really feel like we had a chance to win - and to be at this point, one game away from the Super Bowl, it's unbelievable," Arizona defensive end Bertrand Berry said.

Reporter Ira Kaufman can be reached at (813) 259-7833.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT