Christmas came late for Eagles fans. Exactly three days late.
In a wild day that will go down as one of the most memorable in Eagles' history, a bizarre chain of events fell like dominos to create the perfect scenario: Eagles vs. Cowboys with the winner going to the playoffs and the loser going home.
The result? A 44-6 demolition of the hated Cowboys and a spot in the playoffs. Ho, ho, ho indeed.
Here's what had to happen: First and foremost, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had to lose their fourth straight game to the suddenly rejuvenated Oakland Raiders. Presto! The Bucs cought it up. Then comes step two. Either the Bears or Vikes also had to lose. While the Vikings didn't help the cause, beating the Giants, the Bears stepped into the breech and flopped against the Texans.
Suddenly, the game everyone believed was going to be meaningless suddenly was for all the marbles.
And you could almost see the "gulp" in the Cowboys' throats.
Dallas promptly came out and got crushed at a raucous Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles won, 44-6, to capture the final NFC Wild Card slot. They will play in Minnesota next Sunday at 4:30.
Forget all those chants for Andy Reid's head. Yesterday's win - and another playoff appearance - pretty much save his job for another year. The future for Donovan McNabb - who simply could not resist taking on the mantel of martyr after the game - is not as clear, but it would seem he also will be back.
For now, Eagles fans simply can revel in a day to remember.
It was a day when everything had to break their way. And did.
Now the Eagles need to cash the ticket that fell into their lap. They need to go to Minnesota and play the way they did yesterday in manhandling the 'Boys.
Merry Christmas, Eagles fans.
In a wild day that will go down as one of the most memorable in Eagles' history, a bizarre chain of events fell like dominos to create the perfect scenario: Eagles vs. Cowboys with the winner going to the playoffs and the loser going home.
The result? A 44-6 demolition of the hated Cowboys and a spot in the playoffs. Ho, ho, ho indeed.
Here's what had to happen: First and foremost, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had to lose their fourth straight game to the suddenly rejuvenated Oakland Raiders. Presto! The Bucs cought it up. Then comes step two. Either the Bears or Vikes also had to lose. While the Vikings didn't help the cause, beating the Giants, the Bears stepped into the breech and flopped against the Texans.
Suddenly, the game everyone believed was going to be meaningless suddenly was for all the marbles.
And you could almost see the "gulp" in the Cowboys' throats.
Dallas promptly came out and got crushed at a raucous Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles won, 44-6, to capture the final NFC Wild Card slot. They will play in Minnesota next Sunday at 4:30.
Forget all those chants for Andy Reid's head. Yesterday's win - and another playoff appearance - pretty much save his job for another year. The future for Donovan McNabb - who simply could not resist taking on the mantel of martyr after the game - is not as clear, but it would seem he also will be back.
For now, Eagles fans simply can revel in a day to remember.
It was a day when everything had to break their way. And did.
Now the Eagles need to cash the ticket that fell into their lap. They need to go to Minnesota and play the way they did yesterday in manhandling the 'Boys.
Merry Christmas, Eagles fans.
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