8:03 - We're live with Dick Stockton, Darryl Johnston, and Tony Siragusa at the Louisiana Superdome, where the Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints, a couple of improbable playoff teams, are playing for the right to go to the NFC Championship Game.

8:05 - "Tonight, someone's gonna win and someone's gonna lose." - Siragusa - that kind of crap is acceptable from Erin Andrews or Sam Ryan (my new favorite), but from a 350 pound man? No thank you.

8:09 - "Signal to Noise said... Oh, what I wouldn't give for Erin Andrews or Bonnie Bernstein, hell, maybe even Lesley Visser..."

Dude, it's like we're sharing a brain here.

8:11 - I don't know about anyone else, but I'm kind of in the mood for a beatdown in this game. I'm not talking a 39-20 game where one team hangs around just long enough to make some people nervous, like the Jets last week against the Patriots - no, I want a 62-7 beatdown that's already so far out of hand at the half that they just have to kill time for the rest of the game.

8:13 - Reggie Bush gets absolutely KILLED in the open field. Couldn't even stand up after the play. That might be the best thing the Eagles could have done in this game - crush Bush (or any Saint) early and send the message that they aren't just going to roll over.

8:16 - Empty backfield, and Brees almost paid for it. An Eagle came untouched off the right side of the offensive line and forced him to get rid of it in a hurry. Not much good happening for the Saints on offense - the punt was the best part of the series.

8:19 - Alright, FOX, thank you - we've seen enough crowd shots for awhile. Yes, I understand people are cheering, but really, that's enough.

8:21 - FOX is obviously trying to play up the crowd noise factor in this game, but they need to decide which they'd rather have: announcers trying to call the game or the sound of the crowd roaring. Can't have it both ways.

8:23 - "TJ said...Ms. Andrews is looking money as always in a tight turtelneck over on ESPN...looks like she's doing the Pitt/Georgetown game."

Appreciate the tip, TJ. I still contend that there's something weird about Erin Andrews' face, but she's still nice to look at, especially compared to Siragusa - there's something weird about his everything.

8:24 - "Don't go to sleep on Deuce McAllister." - Johnston - hey buddy, tell that to Siragusa.

8:26 - "Sean Payton likes to find out what's working, and keep on doing it throughout the game." - Johnston - this is the direct opposite of the theories espoused by most NFL coaches, who like to find out what's working, then stop doing it and try to make the other stuff work.

8:29 - Nice...I thought I was deficient in the beverage department, then realized there's a can of Mountain Dew sitting next to me on the couch. This live-blogging thing is so tough.

8:30 - Almost forgot to mention - John Carney in for a 33-yard field goal, and it's good. 3-0, Saints.

8:31 - I don't know who this kid on ESPN is, but I DO know two things: one, he's not the brightest bulb in the box, and two, he's been in his share of those female dorm rooms they were just showing.

8:34 - Sorry about that last thought. I flipped over to ESPN to see if Erin (we're on a first name basis now) was there and got caught in the Tractor Beam of Goofiness.

8:35 - "Signal to Noise said...The Fox crew accidentally shot a hot blonde wearing a "FUCK DA EAGLES" t-shirt."

See, this is the kind of stuff a sideline reporter should come up with.

8:37 - "Looks like he gained a couple of extra pounds." - Siragusa (I think) - he was talking about a guy who is 6'0, 306 pounds. How, exactly, do you tell if someone that size has gained "a couple of extra pounds"?

8:42 - Searching for early pictures of the "FUCK DA EAGLES" girl, I stumbled on the following web site: List of films ordered by uses of the word fuck. This is why Wikipedia is great. You know, Casino's total looks impressive at first glance, but not so much when you go to the FPM ranking.

8:46 - I'm not happy. My wife is pissed because I have watched four hours (and counting) of playoff football, and there has not been one single touchdown scored. Is this what karma feels like?

8:50 - Big play by the Saints and they're knocking on the door as the first quarter ends.