The Eagles took care of business and beat the Packers, 22-10, in Sunday’s wildcard game on their home field.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers did not. They lost 23-20 on their home field to the Washington Commanders, so the great thorn in the Eagles’ side won’t be trekking to South Philly next weekend.
Instead, the trip east will be made by the winner of Monday night’s game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Los Angeles Rams. That game will be played in Glendale, Arizona, home of the Cardinals after the game was moved from Southern California due to the wildfires that have ravaged Los Angeles.
The game between the Eagles and Rams or Vikings will be Sunday at 3 p.m. at Lincoln Financial Field and will be televised by NBC.
So the question has already been asked of me, which team I’d prefer to play – Vikings or Rams.
It’s true the Eagles manhandled the Rams in Week 12 on Nov. 24, with Saquon Barkley rewriting the team’s record book by rushing for a single-game record of 255 yards in a 37-20 win, made only that close when L.A. scored a touchdown with just 1:07 to play.
My opinion is the Vikings. The Bucs would have been a difficult test because their head coach, Todd Bowles, always seems to keep Jalen Hurts guessing and usually comes out on top of that matchup. Minnesota is an unknown commodity, and a first-time matchup always intrigues me more.
Either way, the Eagles are in the Divisional Round of the postseason for the second time in four seasons under head coach Nick Sirianni, who has won three straight playoff games at the Linc. That ties him with former head coach Andy Reid, who did it twice – 2000-03 and 2005-07 – and Dick Vermeil in 1979-81.
The Eagles forced four turnovers, including interceptions from Zack Baun, Darius Slay, and Quinyon Mitchell. The other came on special teams when Oren Burks jarred the ball loose from Packers return man Keisean Nixon on the opening kickoff and Jeremiah Trotter, Jr. recovered it.
The four takeaways were their most in a playoff game since Jan. 19, 2002, at Chicago, when they combined for four. The defense held the Packers to a season-low 10 points.
