WILD CARD RECAP: EAST MEETS WESTBROOK

While both AFC matchups turned out to be duds, the NFC gave us two classic matchups over the weekend. The latter of the two games was a classic battle between the two evenly matched division rivals, the Giants and Eagles. In a game with such high emotion and talent, it's a shame that some one has to lose a game like that, particularly because if the Giants weren't ravaged by injuries this year, they most likely would have came out victorious. Nevertheless, Philadelphia, who looked dead in the water when Donovan McNabb went down with injury, continued their improbable run with another victory. McNabb's replacement Jeff Garcia has received almost all the credit for the team's success down the stretch, but it was the underrated and undervalued Brian Westbrook who was once again the difference maker. The Giants started off with all of the momentum on Sunday. They looked brilliant as they drove all the way down the field and scored on their first possession. Then their often criticized defense stepped up and stopped the Eagles on two straight drives. While the Giants defense was playing well, it was the Eagles defense that deserved an equal amount of credit early in the game. The Giants offense started two straight possessions in Eagles territory up 7-0 and failed to score on either drive. After the Philadelphia defense prevented the Giants from perhaps ending the Eagles day early, it was the fore mentioned Brian Westbrook who saved the day. With the team sputtering on offense, Westbrook completely changed the game's dynamics by busting a 49 yard touchdown run to tie the game at seven. It was the much needed boost that the entire Eagles team needed to get back into the game. Were it not for that play, I would not be here writing about the Eagles moving on, but rather about the 9-8 Giants heading to Chicago.

While the Eagles and the city of Philadelphia celebrate, the Giants and their fans are left with an emptiness caused by once of the most dysfunctional teams in recent memory. Going into their 2006 campaign, the Giants had arguably the most talent in the NFC. However, an unusual amount of injuries coupled with an even more unusual amount of in house fighting led to the team's demise. A season that once looked so promising at 6-2 ended so disappointing at 8-8 The blame can be pointed in many directions Part of it falls on the shoulders of Tiki Barber for making his impending retirement so public. Part of it is the cause of Coach Coughlin's inability to connect with his players. Part of it has to go to Eli Manning, who failed to take the big step forward this season towards becoming both a good QB and a leader. Nevertheless, the Giants must forget the 2006 season now and move forward. There will be three big question marks for this team next season. First, who will coach the Giants? Personally, I believe that Coughlin is a very good coach that just didn't win over key veterans from the start. Many forget is is the reason for Tiki Barber's resurgence as a runner. However, if the Giants know that they can hire a better coach, it would be best they part ways with him. Second, how will the Giants do with Brandon Jacobs now carrying the load? Tiki is gone, and Giants' fans shouldn't mourn because that was Barber's choice. He leaves the team in good hands with the quick and powerful Jacobs now running the ball. It would be best to limit Jacobs to about 20 carries a game and drafting a Maurice Jones-Drew type running back would be a perfect fit to help him shoulder the load. Even without Tiki, the Giants remain as one of the better rushing offenses in the NFL. The final and possibly most important question is what kind of quarterback will Eli Manning be in 2007? Eli has two major problems. The first is that he locks onto one receiver and get the ball to him no matter what type of coverage he has on him. He needs to correct this by simply going through his progressions. His second problem is that once Eli gets away from the scripted plays to start the game, he completely loses confidence in himself. If you watch the Giants, you'll see that he is always accurate and effective early on, but once he doesn't know exactly what play he will run, he gets flustered. I don't know how to correct this problem by any other way than preparation. The offense under Coughlin was not made for Eli, and if they bring in a coach who likes to throw the ball down field more, Manning's numbers should improved. With the same steady offense, and possibly the addition of youth and speed on defense, the Giants should be a team contending in 2007.

With enough said about the Giants, it's now time to turn our attention to Philadelphia and their second round matchup. The red hot Eagles will now travel to New Orleans to take on a Saints team that beat them earlier this season. It's an intriguing matchup because they are almost mirror images of each other on both sides of the ball. The Saints, though, appear to have the upper hand in this matchup. Without Lito Sheppard, the Eagles will struggle to defend against the deep pass that Drew Brees throws so effectively. Consider that and the fact that this will be the first home game for New Orelans in years, and a hostile environment could have the Eagles in trouble. This offensive shootout will be the next chapter in the emotional story of the Saints and the city of New Orelans. The Eagles better be prepared to play a whole city.