The 2009 NFL Playoffs - NFC Wild Card Weekend in HDTV on FOX
Philadelphia Eagles at Minnesota Vikings
Live from the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, MN
FOX HD 720p & DD5.1
4:30 PM ET
Joe Buck, Troy Aikman will have the call, Pam Oliver serves as the sideline reporter.
Philadelphia Eagles at Minnesota Vikings
Live from the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, MN
FOX HD 720p & DD5.1
4:30 PM ET
Joe Buck, Troy Aikman will have the call, Pam Oliver serves as the sideline reporter.
Quote:
From foxsports.com
John Czarnecki
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: The Eagles' offense is far more efficient when RB Brian Westbrook gets about 25 combined touches in the running and passing games. Philadelphia lacks downfield speed, so it needs the threat of Westbrook's versatility to help complement QB Donovan McNabb.
Eagles LT Tra Thomas didn't allow a sack to DeMarcus Ware last Sunday and now he faces DE Jared Allen. The Vikings have the league's top-ranked run defense, but it looks like NT Pat Williams (broken shoulder blade) won't play. The Vikings may activate him, but the team really doesn't believe he will be effective.
The Eagles stopped Adrian Peterson last season, holding him to 70 yards on 20 carries in a 23-16 Philadelphia win. Thirteen of those 20 runs gained two yards or less. The Eagles were fourth in the league against the run this season, their best regular-season ranking under defensive coordinator Jim Johnson. The Eagles have held opponents to a puny 3.11 yards-per-carry in their last seven games.
Johnson made two significant lineup changes in the middle of the season that turned the defense around. CB Joselio Hanson became the nickel slot corner, bumping Sheldon Brown to the outside and putting pouting Pro Bowler Lito Sheppard on the bench. Johnson also replaced weakside linebacker Omar Gaither with second-year man Akeem Jordan. Both Hanson and Jordan have played very well.
Peterson led the league with 1,760 rushing yards. He has run for 100-plus yards in eight of the Vikings' last 11 games. The Vikes were 7-1 in those eight games.
CB Asante Samuel (hip) will start and will cover Vikings WR Bernard Berrian, the team's best deep threat. The Eagles will trust Samuel and Brown in a lot of man coverage, and will have a big advantage if they're able to contain Peterson and put young QB Tarvaris Jackson in long passing situations. The outcome could be determined by Jackson's decision-making while on the move against Philly's complex blitz packages.
Seven of Vikings TE Visanthe Shiancoe's 42 receptions have gone for touchdowns.
Jackson has taken advantage of TE Visanthe Shiancoe, who has just 42 receptions this season, but seven for touchdowns. Three of those have come in the last four games. The Eagles will rotate SS Quintin Mikell and WLB Jordan on him.
In the last seven games, the Eagles have allowed more than 14 points just twice. The Eagles committed just 74 penalties during the regular season, setting a franchise record for a 16-game season.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/9...ild-card-games
