Eagles defeat scrappy Vikings

The Eagles let the Viks hang around for this one. Huge play by Westbrook. Tarvaris Jackson simply does not look like a good enough player to lead a team deep into the playoffs.

For the better part of Sunday’s National Football Conference wild-card game, the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense managed merely three field goals during an afternoon of frustration against an injury-depleted Minnesota Vikings defense. Philadelphia led by 2 points only because cornerback Asante Samuel returned an interception for a touchdown, but the Vikings appeared one big Adrian Peterson play away from stealing the game. Then the Eagles turned to Brian Westbrook, their gifted runner and receiver who spent much of the season battling injuries. With less than seven minutes to play, Westbook took a short pass from Donavan McNabb, turned upfield, juked free and dashed through the Minnesota secondary for a 71-yard touchdown. That was enough for the Eagles to finish off the Vikings, 26-14, before a boisterous, white-towel-waving crowd of 61,746 at the Metrodome. – From NY Times

Brian Westbrook took a short screen pass 71 yards for a touchdown to shatter a two-point second-half deadlock with 6 1/2 minutes to play, and the Philadelphia Eagles went on to post a 26-14 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in an NFC Wild Card bout. Following a 16-14 Philadelphia halftime lead, neither team was able to alter the scoreboard until the Eagles started their fourth drive of the second half with a little under seven minutes to play. – From Sports Network