Because it really isn't a Giants game live-blog if I don't get Abby Manning in there somewhere, right?

Demps takes the kickoff out to the Eagles 47. McNabb to the Avant Garde for a two yard pass. McNabb's pass is knocked down, and it's in the hands of D-lineman Fred Robbins! He rumbles over to the Eagle 30 until Kevin Curtis brings him down.

I don't think I've ever seen 300-lbs move like that before in my life. - JFein

Jacobs drags defenders with him inside the 20 for a first down. He then gets five more on the next carry. Screen to Ward is dropped, who was running before making the catch. The third down pass is behind Kevin Boss, and Carney will have to try for another FG. Kick is up and good, 11-10, Giants.

We'd like to advise Kevin Gilbride to stop being clever and run Brandon Jacobs until Philly proves it can stop him consistently. Right now, I understand why Buddy Ryan punched him in the mouth back in the day, and I'm sure some Giants fans would like to do the same.

Eagles start at the 25, McNabb's pass is off the hands of Celek. After a hold, it's 2nd and 20. Incomplete to Brian Westbrook, 3rd down. McNabb to Avant Garde, wide open, and Avant gets past the first down marker! Donny Mac has a gimme deep ball dropped by Curtis, but an illegal hands to the face penalty is called on the Giants (not much there, ticky-tack). Buckhalter catches a pass for a couple yards and gets nailed. James Butler stops Buckhalter in Giant territory on the run play.

Matt Damon! That's who Myers looks like with that silly hat on! - Anon @ 3:04

Yup, straight out of Ocean's Eleven. Pass incomplete to Avant. McNabb has all day -- finds Buckhalter in the middle and gets a first down on a 3rd and 10. Up the gut with Westbrook for four more yards. Donny goes for Westbrook in the end zone and overthrows him. After another incomplete, Akers hits another FG. 13-11, Eagles.

No one apparently wants to win this game that badly. Bradshaw returns the kick to the 32 yard line.

McNabb could have pulled out a cell phone, call his mom, have her cook and bring him a can of Campbell's Chunky Soup, eat said chunky soup, and still have time to complete that pass. - JFein

Rush for three yards to start. Jacobs gets two more to the left. Eli drops back and goes deep for Domenik Hixon -- and they finally connect in Philly territory! Eli aims high for Hixon, incomplete. Jacobs goes for the right side and gets nothing. Carney on for a long try -- and that's no good from 47.

Westbrook again up the middle for five yards to start. 2nd down incomplete, McNabb got pressured by Barry Cofield. McNabb hits Curtis for eight yards on a five-stepper; great throw away from the coverage by Corey Webster. Webster breaks up the next one to Curtis, and Coach Sgt. Hartman is FURIOUS. Um....he was kinda going for the ball there, ref. A left hand on the left shoulder wasn't enough....and they picked up the flag.

Now Andy Reid is angry too. The only time you see him show this much emotion is when he's thinking Arby's. (Cheap joke, I know.) Next play gets a face mask on Antonio Pierce, getting the Eagles another first down -- and McNabb then hits Curtis at the Giants' 13 for another 15. Celek for another five on the next pass play. Westbrook up the middle for 3 yards; 3rd and 1. Interesting that Reid's going to a running game balance and using him up the middle. That's not his usual play-calling trend.

Pitch left to Westbrook; he gets outside and the first -- and starts first and goal at the three. McNabb drops back, easy flip to Celek in the left corner of the end zone, TOUCHDOWN, EAGLES! Akers' kick is up and good, 20-11, Philly.

Who falls for this play? The tight end either runs this route or across the middle EVERY DAMN TIME. Anyway, G-men have the ball, and Jacobs rushes 11 yards to start it off. He bounces off the right and goes back left for five more yards. 3rd and short after Jacobs gets plugged up.

"That was an interesting play call by Kevin Gilbride there." - Troy, being too diplomatic to say it sucked. Coughlin now has to challenge the spot.

Bill Simmons called this the year that Home field advantage died. Shouldn't every Road dog win? Look out Steelers. - frankasu03

Giants Stadium is not exactly State of the Art. Wind still affects the hell out of everything and it's creaky and ugly. If we're going by those rules, home field ought to apply -- and I can't believe that Eli hasn't figured out how to throw a tighter spiral in this place yet. No wonder they were so happy to go on the road and play all through last year's playoffs.

And Coach Sgt. Hartman just gave away a time out. Eli on the QB sneak -- and he didn't get jack. Eagles' ball!

Westbrook picks up three on the carry. Throw to Curtis, short on the play. 3rd and 5. Swing out to Westbrook, short by two yards. Good tackle by Webster. Rocca punts to Hixon, calls for the fair catch.

Gilbride is a moron. You have a 6'4", 264 pound running back in Brandon Jacobs and you run a QB sneak on 4th and 1? Come on, dude. Derrick Ward gets a first down with 14 yards out to the 25. Another first down for Ward with a two yard carry. Jacobs picks up a yard. Juqua Parker stuffs the run on 3rd -- and Coughlin's gonna go for this one -- has to.

A scary thought: Andy Reid is still making poor challenges and some bad play calls, but he must be transferring his crappy essence on the opposing sideline, too. First Brad Childress, now Kevin Gilbride is getting affected by the suck (although Gilbride has blown for years; one of the great mysteries is how the Giants won an SB with him calling plays.)

And Brandon Jacobs gets stuffed on 4th down. Measurement coming, but he looked short. Yep, turnover on downs.

McNabb airs it out for DeSean Jackson, who beats Corey Webster, and he's down at the one, I think. Looked like his knee hit before he lost the ball, but he fell on it in the end zone anyway. Westbrook stopped on first and goal, and gets caught in mid-air on 2nd down; lost a yard. The Eagles, no matter what, are not a goal line rushing team, period. Play action, boyos.

Turfed and incomplete for Hank Baskett. Kendra isn't happy. Akers on for 21-yard FG try....up and good, 23-11, Eagles. We can probably put this sucker on ice barring anything too stupid.

Manning to Toomer near midfield for a first. Buck talks about Plaxico Burress; I honestly don't believe Plax would have made that much of a difference. I think Jim Johnson would have taken his chances with loading up the box if they saw Eli throwing in the wind like that the whole game....and Eli throws another pick, this one to Quinton Mykell.

McNabb scrambles for nine yards....and dear God, the NFC championship game's gonna be in Glendale, Arizona. Jesus. Please tell me the Chargers aren't going to win. I can't deal with the possibility of a Bolts-Cards Super Bowl. McNabb gets an unsportsmanlike penalty for apparently picking up the phone on the Giants sideline. Neither Spags nor Gilbride are usually in the booth for them, so I wonder whom he was thanking for Eli sucking.

Hixon takes the Rocca punt back to the 20 yard line...and Eli nearly threw another pick. Two minute warning.

I said it once and I'll say it again. Eli Manning was looking ahead... to the Oreo Double Stuff Racing League battle with the Williams sisters. - PricelessCommentary

Joe Buck's outrage at Donny Mac's phone call reminds me of his disgust at Randy Moss faux-mooning Green Bay: totally fake, manufactured, and utter bullshit. Another turnover on downs for the Giants, and we're really just waiting for the kneel downs. Final score is 23-11, Philly, and the NFC championship game will be the Eagles visiting the Buzzsaw That Is The Arizona Cardinals in the Pink Taco next Sunday.

See you up in the 2nd live-blog for Philip and Nantzy Boy in Yinzer Central.

All right. Double live bloggin' today. Worth watching today: the clash between the Eagles' run-stuffing safety Brian Dawkins and the G-men's trio of RBs, because Brandon Jacobs is back this time.

Game: NFC Divisional Playoff #2
Teams: Philadelphia Eagles (9-6-1, 2nd place, NFC East) vs. New York Giants (12-4, NFC East Champs)
Location: Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
Start Time: 1 PM EST
Announcers and Network: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Pam Oliver, and Chris Myers (Fox)
Miscellany: Manning Face, Donovan McNabb's future in Philly, Jim Johnson's defense, Steve Spagnuolo's D (and his "hot candidate" status for head coaching vacancies), Andy Reid's curious challenges and/or time management.
Favorite: Giants (-4)
S2N's Pick: Giants. Jacobs is playing this time around, and that sets up the run game. Plus, you all know I don't trust Andy Reid's play-calling against competent coaches. He could forget Brian Westbrook exists this week.

Chris Myers again? Is he giving the big boys blowjobs to get these gigs? - Anon @ 12:57

It's probably that they pay him a ton and are trying to justify it.

Or they are too cheap to use anyone else. - JFein

Now, now. Hacks don't come cheap. Do you know how much his hair spray budget is? (And we won't get evidence of this today; Myers is wearing a cap.)

"Hence the hat for Chris; he looks like he's in Prison Break." - Joe Buck, weaving in both bad joke and Fox promo like the skilled slick bastard he is. Eagles will kick off to Ahmad "Fire" Bradshaw, with the wind swirling all over the place in New Jersey. They should note when the wind is NOT a factor at the Meadowlands. Bradshaw scampers all the way down in Eagles territory and kicker David Akers saves a touchdown by pushing him out at the Philly 36 or so.

Eli Manning's first pass goes for The Other Steve Smith, and the wind catches it a bit -- lucky for Asante Samuel, who was about to get burned if not for that. Brandon Jacobs gets 7 on his first carry for a 3rd and 3. Manning Face on the first play is a rarity. Screen pass to Ward -- and he's short of the marker. 4th and 2, and the G-men are going for it -- Jacobs gets that first down.

Manning completes to TE Darcy Johnson at the 11. Jacobs gets one or two, tackled by Brian Dawkins. Incomplete on 2nd down, short out to Derrick Ward again on 3rd down....and short. FG team on. John Carney's attempt is good, 3-0, Giants.

Quentin Demps returns Lawrence Tynes' kick 19 yards. Donovan McNabb starts with a rifle shot to DeSean Jackson for nine yards....well, 10. First down. Westbrook gets hit in the backfield for a loss at the 40. McNabb to Correll Buckhalter on a screen pass that gets sniffed out and brought down for another 3 yard loss. 3rd and 16. McNabb aims behind Kevin Curtis -- three and out. Clearly, the Giants have no respect for the run game right now -- they're loading guys in the secondary and having them play run support.

To add insult to injury, it's a false start on the punt. 4th and 21, and the predictable "EAGLES SUCK" chant. Domenik Hixon crosses the 40 on the punt, but there are flags for either holding or a block in the back. Holding and unsportsmanlike.

And right off the bat, Eli throws an ill-advised pass and Asante Samuel picks him off, returning it for a first and goal situation. Ah, Manning Face.

Westbrook on first and goal from the 2 is completely stuffed. McNabb skies 2nd and goal out of bounds with a flag thrown -- usually that's holding, but it's defensive, and it resets the downs from the one. Westbrook tries to jump in, and crashes thanks to a G-men defender at the line of scrimmage. McNabb keeps it himself and reaches over the goal line, TOUCHDOWN, EAGLES. Akers' kick is good, 7-3, Philly.

Still trying to figure out whose idea of a date movie is "My Bloody Valentine 3D." By personal experience, horror movies don't exactly make great dates.

Dear Asante, nice to see you can intercept Eli Manning

-Signed,
the New England Patriots - Ghost

Hah. Ward carries for two, and it's a long third down for the Giants coming up. Manning throws 12 yards for Steve Smith, moving the chains. The Eagles stop up two more running plays, and it's another 3rd and long. Manning floats another pass, this one out of bounds for Amani Toomer. Punt is 45 yards, and Philly will have to back up thanks to a block in the back. They'll start at about the 10 or so.

What's "G"? It's the crappiest set of spots ever, that's what. Westbrook loses a yard on the carry. A false start will move the Eagles back even further. Buckhalter gets five yards on 2nd down.

Get me some PowerAde. - James Craven

Donny Mac's 3rd down pass goes through the mitts of Jason the Avant Garde....and Rocca will punt again. Hixon gets nailed by Considine at the Philly 46 -- and it will back up into Giants territory because of a block in the back. Brandon Jacobs picks up 11 yards and a first down to end the quarter.

This is gonna rival Titans v. Ravens for flags. - Mal

Hopefully not with ticky-tack ones in the fourth quarter when it counts, though. Jacobs starts with a rush for two, follows up with 1 yard. Manning goes downfield for Smith....and overthrows him. Jeff Feagles punts, it's saved from the end zone by Terrell Thomas, and downed at the five.

Westbrook gets a yard on the carry after Buck remarks that the Eagles have only gained 10 yards so far. McNabb flips the ball out on 2nd down, and EVERYBODY DO THE SAFETY DANCE! Intentional grounding. 7-5, Philly.

McNabb didn't vomit on the field then, but that was a pretty sick hurl on that pass. - Mal

I'm pretty surprised Andy Reid didn't challenge that, it just seems like the type of thing he would challenge. He's stepping up a notch for the post-season. - Ghost

Rocca free punts it to Hixon, who brings it out to the 32. Four yards on a first down rush. Eli hits Kevin Boss a yard short of the marker...at least it looked like that to me, but apparently he's got it. Ward for three as he runs out to the right. Incomplete pass, but Stewart Bradley gets called for illegal hands to the face, first down. Manning hits Boss for 21 down the left sideline, gets forced out at the 27. Jacobs carries for no gain.

Manning throws another duck that's a bit too far to catch Hixon in stride. The Eagles have to play single coverage on the receivers to stop the run, and Manning isn't hitting them. Eli has to get rid of it, and here comes John Carney for an FG try of 46 yards, and he pushed it right.

Buckhalter carries once again for fuck all. Both defenses are doing rather well with the run. McNabb hits Brent Celek at the 41 for 5 yards. First wasted time out by the Eagles because they can't get a play off.

Arizona must be loving watching this game. If the winner plays like this next week, Arizona may actually be in the Super Bowl. And if Eli continues to play this badly, Arizona's going to have an even easier time in their own house. - Zidane Valor

I don't think Kurt Warner's any better throwing in the wind than these guys, honestly. You can bet the Cards are rooting for the Eagles. L.J. Smith just caught a first down pass for the team's first 3rd down conversion of the game. Westbrook gets two yards on the outside. He then grabs six for his longest run so far this game, after Buck has a bit of an obsession with McNabb's chin strap. Buckhalter burrows for a first down on 3rd and 1.

Another yard for Westbrook. After the next play, it's third and 9. Blitz on, McNabb is hit as he throws by Terrell Thomas, forcing the pass to float, and Sean Dockery comes down with the pick at the Giants 20!

Brandon Jacobs gets a nice 24-yard run to start thanks to a Madison Hedgecock block. Hedge-cock block, heh. Ward gets five on the next carry. Manning hits Boss after stepping up in the pocket and the tight end is down at the Eagles 26 after a 25 yard pass. Jacobs adds another five, and we're in the red zone at the two minute warning.

I can't be the only one who wants to see Taken, if only because Liam Neeson in ass-kicking mode is fun.

The refs took the Jacobs carry off because it apparently was snapped after the clock hit 2 minutes. Quick throw to Hixon, wrapped up, but offsides on Philly. Incomplete on 1st and 5. Tipped ball on 2nd and 5. Short throw to Ward, and he'll be tackled short of the first down. Carney comes on for a 35 yard try. Kick up and good, Giants take an 8-7 lead.

With Coughlin standing around with his hands on his hips, I'm expecting him to start singing "I'm a Little Teapot." - Mal

But he's ALWAYS steamed. How can you tell when to pour him out?

Demps takes the kickoff out to the 25. McNabb throws to Celek, who drops it because he's looking upfield. DeSean Jackson gets his first catch, running out of bounds after passing the first down marker. Donny Mac to the Avant Garde for 5, then another pass to Westbrook, who scampers out of bounds for the first down at the Giants' 49. McNabb to Avant again at the 34.

And Andy Reid burns his last time out with 40 seconds left, while Troy Aikman digs at him slightly for it (rightfully so.)

As a Vikes fan, I now see where Brad Childress got his clock management skills. - Anon @ 2:32 PM

Jackson brings the catch in at the 25. Ball thrown away on 2nd down. 3rd and 1 means Westbrook; he gets the first, and now they spike it. Giants get flagged for an illegal contact on the running play by McNabb, which gets added on. First and goal. McNabb aims for Jackson in the end zone, but he catches it out of bounds. Akers on for the chip-shot FG; it's up and good. 10-8, Eagles at the half. See you in the 2nd half thread.

Had no idea Brian Westbrook was the equestrian type.

Hicks gets upended by Kyle Eckel after a 15-yard return. T-Jack hits Kleinsasser, who heads out past the 30 for a first down. No gain for AP's first carry of the half. 2 yards on the pitch to Taylor. Another big pass to Kleinsasser, 17 yards and past midfield.

Both RBs exchange getting stopped up after an offsides call on Trent Cole; 3rd and 5. Eagles blitz, knock the ball away from Jackson, but he falls on it. Loses 12 yards, fourth down. Kluwe to punt to DeSean Jackson, not much on the return -- but a flag, and it'll back up the Eagles even more for holding.

McNabb hits for a first down after two rushes that get nowhere, Avant brings in the catch at the 11. Donny Mac is hitting passes in stride; latest receiver is Brent Celek, who's got another first down at midfield. 2nd and 3 pass gets knocked down. McNabb throws behind Avant, but he catches it for five and a first down. Gain of two on a running play. 3rd down...McNabb gets off a pass....but they call it a sack, as his forward progress had been stopped. Punt to Bobby Wade at the 10.

Taylor gets six, AP three, and the drive comes up short. Punt, and DeSean Jackson returns it all the way back deep into Minnesota territory.

That was quick. Minnesota gets the ball right back after Jared Allen knocks the ball out of Donovan McNabb's hand as he was throwing.

Incomplete on first down from Jackson. AP up to the 49 on the next play, and that ends the third quarter. No fun at all, with the lack of scoring. 3rd down is incomplete to Berrian, with good coverage from Mikell. DeSean Jackson is back, lets the punt go, and the ball could either be downed at the 4, or it's a touchback -- and they say it's a touchback because his foot was still in the end zone.....it's reviewed, and overturned. Ball at the 4 yard line. An actual good challenge by Childress. Amazing.

Westbrook runs to the right -- and gets stoned at the line of scrimmage. 2nd and 9 to Avant -- leans out for the first down, much needed, too. McNabb then goes to Reggie Brown over the middle for nine yards. Westbrook gets three yards for the first down. Kevin Curtis is wide open at the 43 for another completion. Nothing for Westbrook there, followed by a false start. McNabb to Curtis for 8 on 2nd down and 15. 3rd down -- the rush is on, Brian Robison hits McNabb's arm as he's throwing, and it comes down incomplete.

Sav Rocca's punt goes out of bounds. Vikes start at the 20. AP gets five yards on the carry. Jackson to Rice for 14 yards, out at about the 37, and I'm really getting sick of that damn horn they play in the Metrodome every Viking first down. Handoff to AP for one, stopped up by Chris Gocong. False start flag on Berrian makes it 2nd and 14. Sheldon Brown almost ripped that pass for a pick -- he stepped right into Berrian's route. Eagles bring the blitz on 3rd and 13, and Jackson throws it away from Shiancoe.

Kluwe's punt is only 36 yards, the Eagles will start with decent field position. Handoff to Westbrook....blocks up front, and he's in full gear! Brian Westbrook, 71 yards for the EAGLES TOUCHDOWN! Akers' extra point is good, 23-14.

Hicks' return is out to the 25. Three incomplete passes by Jackson later (and a near pick by Dawkins), Kluwe will punt again. DeSean gets three yards on the return at the Iggles' 24.

Hey, an actual screen pass for Westbrook, something Reid talked about but never did up until that point, and it got a touchdown!!!! In other news, Andy has discovered fire. - SSR
Andy Reid the only man that can hold Westbrook under 100 yds - JG
Before that TD, Westbrook went into the locker room to put on his Darren Sproles underwear. - Anon @ 7:22

Westbrook for a couple on the carry. 2nd and 7 loses yardage, as McNabb throws a screen to Celek, who gets whacked by Madieu Williams. Westbrook gets 11, but is short of the first down -- ugh, punt again....Yawn.

Vikes start at their own 15, incomplete to Wade. Jackson throws out of the reach of Shiancoe. Another incomplete, but a Philly linebacker gets called for roughing the passer with hands to the helmet, and an automatic first down. Jackson breaks the pocket, and rushes it all the way out to midfield. Low snap, fumbled, and recovered by Philly!

Westbrook for five or six. McNabb hits Celek again for a first down, forcing Minny to blow another time out. Rush by Westbrook, called back on holding, but declined by Minny. 2 minute warning and fourth down. Akers comes out and drills a fourth FG, 26-14, Eagles.

Just waiting for the clock to run out, guys...false start penalty. Another Taylor rush. Dawkins breaks up a pass. Another penalty, and eight seconds left. The game will end with a Philly win, 26-14. They're headed to the Meadowlands next week to play their division rivals, the Giants, and Arizona's headed to Charlotte to play Carolina.

Game: NFC Wild Card Playoff #2
Teams: Philadelphia Eagles (9-6-1, 2nd place, NFC East) vs. Minnesota Vikings (10-6, NFC North Champs)
Location: Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, MN
Start Time: 4:30 PM EST
Announcers and Network: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Pam Oliver, Fox
Miscellany: Teacher vs. student at the coaching positions, how many boneheaded decisions either Andy Reid or Brad Childress make involving play-calling or clock management. Tarvaris Jackson's in a playoff game for the first time, Donovan McNabb and his battle with the naysayers in Philly. All valid narrative points for Buckbot, Jr. and Troy.
Favorite: Philly (-3)
S2N's Pick: Eagles, on the premise that Reid will screw up less than Childress, as well as the first-time playoff QB factor.

It's the Mormon Walrus vs. Coach Major Dad in the Metrodome, folks! Marvel at the specter of bad clock management and play calls designed not to the benefit of the skills of the quarterbacks running both offenses!

Does Chris Myers really need all this work? Seriously? CBS seems to survive with no sideline reporters for Nantz and Simms, why both Oliver and Myers?

Quinton Demps brings the return out to the 11, and Donovan McNabb will start with the ball. McNabb overthrows DeSean Jackson, but mostly because a lineman was about to knock the crap out of him. Westbrook gets his first carry, and loses yardage on it. McNabb hits Kevin Curtis right in the numbers on 3rd down, getting out past the 20 for a first down. Westbrook goes inside for two yards on the carry.

Andy Reid hasn't shaved his beard. He looks like Michael Moore gone football coach. Donny Mac overthrows Greg Lewis, going for the deep strike. 3rd down pass to TE Brent Celek, and he's very, very close to a first down. It's short, and here comes the punt team after Troy made an exceptionally dumb comment about Celek needing to know where the marker is -- one, it was a quick out and two, he was trying to make the move to get the extra yard.

Bernard Berrian returns Sav Rocca's punt to the 10 yard line, but that's it. Tarvaris Jackson throws it away just in time to avoid the sack. Adrian Peterson loses a yard on his first carry. Chester Taylor gets a first down on his first touch in the game. AP brought down for another loss, followed by a screen to the left for Taylor again for 8 yards. Taylor will be short on third down, despite Buckbot saying it depends on the spot.

Chris Kluwe's punt goes to Jackson, who dodges one side of the Vikes' special teams, gets to the outside, and runs all the way to the Minnesota 34.

Does Andy Reid have an ammo belt on holding up his pants? - 49er16
@49er - that belt is Reid's utility belt. It is where he keeps everything he needs to get through the game: a box of twinkies, a selection of proven to be ineffective short yardage plays, and the phone number for his kids' parole officer.- Mal

Westbrook gets two yards on the carry. McNabb scrambles back to the line of scrimmage, away from Jared Allen. After another failed play, David Akers nails a 44-yard FG. 3-0, Philly.

Hicks returns to the 22. AP for two yards, and he took a bit of time to get up. Five for Taylor, and a quick strike from Jackson to Berrian gains a first down. Quinton Mikell nearly picks off Jackson on the next play. Taylor gains seven on his next carry, getting whacked by Brian Dawkins. Jackson hits Bobby Wade for 19 yards. Peterson picks up 2 as he comes back in, ball at the Philly 40. A couple of incompletions after that, and Kluwe comes back on to punt; the kick goes out of bounds at the 16.

Well, now it's marked at the 25 after an official conference. Donny Mac throws to Hank Baskett for the first time today -- gain of 7. (Kendra must be happy.) Correll Buckhalter gets the carry, busts through a hole and then cuts to the right sideline for 26 yards on the run. Buckhalter gets a yard on the next rush. McNabb hits Reggie Brown for 8 yards on 2nd down; 3rd and 1 coming. Vikings call time.

The pass to Westbrook is incomplete, and Akers will try a 51-yard FG. Perfect kick, 6-0, Philly.

Maurice Hicks returns the kickoff to the 22. No yards for AP on the first carry, but an offsides penalty makes it 1st and 5. Jackson throws it away with a defender chasing him. Taylor's tackled for a loss by Mikell. Jackson steps up and hits Sidney Rice at the 38. He follows that up with a pass to Visanthe Shiancoe on first down. Jackson goes downfield for Berrian -- and Brian Dawkins had a better angle on that than Berrian did. Sheldon Brown breaks up the 3rd down pass to Andre Ellison -- but there's a PI flag on Brown. That was kind of ticky-tack.

First down toss to AP gets outside to the right for 6. Injury time out as Asante Samuel collapses in a heap on his leg.

"3rd down and a long 2....", sayeth Buckbot, as Purple Jesus takes the handoff and makes that long 2 a short memory all the way to the end zone. TOUCHDOWN, VIKINGS! Ryan Longwell adds the XP, 7-6, Vikings.

Demps takes the kick up to about the 28. McNabb to Curtis on a great throw for 11 yards. Antoine Winfield knocks the next pass away from DeSean Jackson. And there's another time out blown by the Vikings' D.

The "G" campaign for Gatorade is entirely useless. No ad campaign should fail to tell the viewer what it's actually trying to sell.

McNabb to Jason Avant for five yards on 2nd down after the TO. He then goes deep for DeSean Jackson, who brings it in and is out of bounds at the Vikings' 21. Westbrook gets three yards on first down. He gets five on his next rush, 3rd and 2...blitz on....McNabb's pass incomplete for Kevin Curtis; Akers coming on for another FG try -- up and good, 9-7, Philly retakes the lead.

Hicks makes a 25 yard return on the kickoff. AP for 6, 2nd down pass incomplete to Kleinsasser. Jackson throws.....and Asante Samuel picks it off! Samuel rushes down the sideline, and he's in the end zone for the Eagles TOUCHDOWN! Akers kick is up and good, 16-7, Eagles.

They'll add a 15 yard penalty for celebration on the kickoff (dumbest rule ever, really.)

I guess Asante Samuel has his Ed Reed underwear on for the game. - Anon @ 5:49

How much bad news can the Vikes get on one play? Interception. Eagles TD. Tavaris hurt on the play. Frerotte warming up on the sideline. The only thing missing was Mike Tice scalping tickets in the parking lot. - Mal

Ed Reed would've scored on that play and tackled Jackson at the same time. - SSR

Jackson pitches to AP on first down, and it's a loss of a yard. AP picks up five on the next carry, and another 3rd and 6 for the Vikes. In other news, I'm going to start selling Ed Reed Underoos for some extra spending cash. Bernard Berrian brings in the third down pass and heads all the way to the Philly 31. Bobby Wade uses his hops to get another first down at the 21 on the catch. Taylor up the middle for 8 yards; he follows it up by busting through to the 6 for a first and goal. Two minute warning.

Can we get a damn translator for Troy. Some one to spit would what he's trying to say in less than three minutes. - Lord Nero
@Nero - and it's all in one - three minute long - sentence. That guy abuses conjunctions the way Ed Reed abuses quarterbacks. - Gibbon Jockey

I now just ignore Troy whenever Joe asks him to explain something. Taylor rushes to the 3.

Goddamnit, Fox. Don't show me that graphic with Norv Turner being 13-1 in December and January. I CANNOT DEAL WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF HIM BEING A GOOD COACH.

Anyway, AP gets the ball, runs off tackle left, and that's TOUCHDOWN, VIKES. Longwell's kick is up and good, 16-14, Eagles.

Kickoff out to the 25. Pass to Avant for 13 yards.

"I'm about as much of a doctor as Dr. Phil, but I believe he's [Darren Sharper] is questionable for the rest of the game with the pain he's in." - Chris Myers

3rd and 1, and a bizarre play call -- aired out for Kevin Curtis and Cedric Griffin comes down with the pick. Why call that when the Vikes' defense isn't set at all? Andy Reid brain-fart, ahoy!

Bunch of running plays has the Minnesota crowd booing like crazy. Now, they punt after a horrid pass play call on third down (ka-ching, Major Dad!) DeSean Jackson returns the punt for 18 yards. Pass to Westbrook, who gets out of bounds after nine yards. Another pass to Westbrook on 3rd down with 8 seconds left -- he gets the first down, but time runs out. 16-14, Eagles at halftime.

I've loved Pam Oliver ever since that preseason game last season when she snapped at a producer before throwing it back to Joe Buck. She doesn't fit that standard sideline reporter mold, and that's a good thing. Well, yesterday she had what Troy Aikman called a "senior moment", when she completely forgot what she was going to say. Most would have danced around it, but not Pam. No Pam just flat out tells you that she screwed up and to come back in a few seconds so she can try again....

She came back on a few minutes later, and finished her point, but at least she was honest enough to admit in the moment that she had forgotten. Good stuff Pam, and if you can't laugh at yourself....who can you laugh at?

Some people might find this story annoying but I actually find it kind of refreshing that people from other networks would stick up for one another. It's a tough road for women in Sports and one sideline reporter is sticking up for her counterparts. NBC's Andrea Kremer is none to happy about the way ESPN handled the news of Suzy Kolber and Michele Tafoya's reduced role and she has something to tell the network....

Says Kremer, who worked at ESPN for 17 years before joining NBC: "They were doing the role that ESPN asked them to do — more feature-ish stuff — and they were fired for it? If you don't like them in that role, change their role. Don't humiliate them like that. The way (ESPN) handled it was terrible, just disrespectful. … They treated two professionals in a completely non-professional way."

But Kremer suggests she's "offended" by ESPN's move because "it sets back women." Referring to herself, Kolber, Tafoya and Fox sideline reporter Pam Oliver, she says "no one accused the four of us for being on television for our looks or figures. … This isn't five years ago, with eye candy on the sidelines. We established ourselves as reporters, professionals. Now, you've completely minimized that. These women don't have to prove themselves anymore."

No matter how you feel about Joe Theismann, Suzy Kolber, and Michele Tafoya they way they learned about their firings/"reduced roles" was pretty crappy. There's really no other way to describe it but unprofessional and I think Kremer is pretty dead on with her assessment of ESPN.

It's unfortunate when anyone gets fired but it has to be even more unfortunate when you find out through the media.

Bias seen in silencing 'MNF' sideline reporters (USA Today)

It always amazes me when people watching the same game draw two entirely different conclusions on the contest. Normally it's reporters covering different teams that notice certain nuances and rarely reporters on the same beat. That wasn't the case this morning as I was flipping (or clicking rather) through some of Green Bay and New York's coverage of the game.

The publications are the NY Daily News, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinal and the Green Bay Press-Gazette. All took stabs at FOX's coverage of last nights Pack loss and both came up with something completely different.

Bob Raismann (NY Daily News): "Neither Joe Buck nor Troy Aikman overplayed the weather angle. In a game contested at such a high level, under miserable conditions, the voices let the pictures take care of that story.

There were other issues to deal with, like Plaxico Burress' matchup with cornerback Al Harris. The plot was visual, with Fox's cameras offering telling replays of the confrontation, which often played on after the whistle, and Aikman making the point - in the second quarter - that the Packer coaching staff "sure should think about" giving Harris some help covering Burress.

OLIVER'S TWIST: Pam Oliver, working Fox's sidelines, tried selling a conspiracy theory in the second quarter."

Bob Wolfley (Milwaukee J-S): "Fox did a good job during the broadcast keeping viewers informed about the temperature and wind chill index during the course of the game. The game started at minus-1 degree with a minus-23 wind chill, and it was minus-4 and minus-24 late in overtime, according to the Fox thermometer."

Warren Gerds (Green Bay P-G): "In the booth, Buck and analyst Troy Aikman let the action play out, rather than say anything cute about the cold.

They had plenty to work with — the battle between Giants receiver Plaxico Burress and Packers defensive back Al Harris, the wowing 90-yard touchdown catch of Packers Donald Driver and the unfolding answers to the main mystery, "How will the quarterbacks perform in the numbing cold?"

Despite the outcome for Green Bay, the viewing was entertaining, perhaps more so when the Fox camera caught three "Bikini Girls" dancing in the stands in their yellow outfits."

Now for a fourth view. I don't mean to pick on you Warren and Bob (NY Post), but the last part of each of your quotes sound like they talked about the Weather a lot. I too didn't think they "overplayed" it, but it did get annoying at some points.

Since I was sans-internet for the game I couldn't really take "notes" on the contest but I don't think it was the weather that was the deciding factor on whether the broadcast was bearable or not. Maybe since Warren and Bob cover the Packers they didn't notice just how in love with Brett Favre FOX was. Look I understand it was possibly his last game, but I think Joe Buck's love of Favre surpassed Jim Nantz' love of Tom Brady during last night's contest. I honestly didn't think that was possible.

I know that you have to take certain angles and story lines during a contest, but Joe Buck was just flat out rooting for Brett Favre. I got the sense that Buck and Aikman truly thought that the Giants couldn't, wouldn't, and shouldn't win that game. I'm actually rather glad they did today.

ELI MANNING = UNSTOPPABLE

Hey, what could be more exciting then learning what Sports Broadcaster's favorite Christmas presents were? I submit nothing! Well FOX took care of asking to of AA's favorite subjects what that exactly was and here's their answers.....

FOX Sports Emmy Award-Winning Announcer Joe Buck (son of legendary broadcaster Jack Buck)

"In 1982 after the Cardinals had won the World Series that year, my dad got me a replica World Series trophy and I was in heaven. First, I was 13, and any trophy was cool. Second it was the very same that the Cardinals were presented with, only a little smaller so it could fit into my book case. It was heavy, gold, and excellent (as we said in the early 80's). And finally, that my dad thought to get that for me really meant a lot. I have never been more surprised on Christmas, and remember to this day where I was and what I was wearing when I opened it. It was a red rugby shirt and it happened in our basement next to a disco jukebox that was left over from the late '70s."

NFL on FOX Sideline Reporter Pam Oliver:

"I was 7 years old ... and my parents (or Santa) surprised me with an Easy Bake oven and matching washing machine. The cool part was the oven actually baked the cake thanks to the oven's high watt light bulb ... and the washer would actually whoosh around. By the next year I was a bonafide tomboy and completely horrified that I loved such products! But that was the best Christmas ever!"

Aww that's cute Joe. A red rugby shirt must have looked awesome with that blond hair. And Pam....an Easy Bake Oven? I would love a light bulb brownie!Actually I'm just as cheesy as Pam, my favorite gift ever was the Star Wars AT-AT I got when I was seven.

Buck & Oliver recount their 'Best Holiday Gifts' (FOX Sports)

I must have completely missed this report during the "Jessica Simpson Bowl" last Sunday, but Pam Oliver reported that Donovan McNabb had mentioned he knew he was not going to be the Eagles next year. The much maligned Eagles QB was quoted as saying that "his days in Philadelphia were numbered" and "he sees an organization distancing itself from him."

Well a day later Donovan is denying saying anything to Pam Oliver and she's left to defend herself and her story....

The dicey part of the he-said, she-said dispute that ensued after Oliver's halftime report and McNabb's rebuke of it following the Eagles' win over the Dallas Cowboys is in the semantics. When Oliver spoke with McNabb during pregame warm-ups at Texas Stadium, she didn't take notes. Oliver, who could not be reached for comment, reportedly said she asked him four questions and wrote nothing down until after their conversation was over.

It's possible McNabb thought he was speaking in confidence with a reporter he has known since his rookie season. That would have been foolish, given that Oliver, as a sideline reporter, gets paid to deliver information. She wasn't hanging out at Texas Stadium on her own time. She was working.

"Everything he said, I'm convinced he meant to say," Oliver told The Inquirer's Bob Brookover on Monday. "I'm a little shocked and dumbfounded that it has all been denied. I can't believe it, and I don't understand it."

I guess you'd have to be inclined to believe Pam in this situation because she has always come across as genuine, but I guess you never know. Either way I think it's pretty obvious that Donovan is going to be gone, so I don't understand what the fuss is about. Oh I forgot....it's Philadelphia Sports....there's always fuss.

McNabb situation has some gray areas (Philly.com)

That has to be the craziest title ever in the history of this site, but it's true. Pam first tackles a producer cutting her off. She then traverses through the smug comments of one Joseph Buck. And then finally she pulls of the trifecta of professionalism when Tony Romo gets a cockroach put on him during her interview (the cockroach is actually a replay...I came in right after the incident).

You tell him Pam! I missed you NFL on Fox....oh how I missed you.

"Take that Z!"