PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Eagles once again have home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. And once again, nothing less than a trip to the Super Bowl will be considered a success.
Yes, the Eagles are in exactly the same favored (or is it stomach-churning?) position they have been in the last two years. Three straight losses a game away from the Super Bowl, including two at home, have rocked the faithful and a shaky end to the regular season hasn't helped.
Except inside Philly's locker room.
"I feel very confident about this group," coach Andy Reid said Monday. "I felt very confident in the other groups, too, going in. I have a lot of trust in them and I know they are going to work hard and come out and play hard. I feel good about this group."
There's been little to feel positive about lately, though.
The Eagles finished 13-3, but played backups for most of their final two games and were outscored 58-17 in the last two games by St. Louis and Cincinnati. Only the 1967 Green Bay Packers won the Super Bowl after losing the final two regular-season games.
Still, quarterback Donovan McNabb played one series in the two games while running back Brian Westbrook and defensive end Jevon Kearse were held out completely. Free safety Brian Dawkins, and cornerback Lito Sheppard were among others starter benched for the season finale.
Reid can hardly be blamed for being cautious after Pro Bowl wide receiver Terrell Owens was lost with torn ankle ligaments on Dec. 19. Last year, the versatile Westbrook missed the playoffs with a torn triceps and Philly's offense scored only three points in its loss to Carolina.
So after playing it safe, Reid has a well-rested, healthy team for the Jan. 16th playoff game. The Eagles may still be the heavy favorite in a weak NFC, but who knows much swagger and momentum they've really lost.
Still, nothing seems to bother Reid.
"I have a lot of confidence in our guys and wouldn't have been able to do this without them," he said. "I've got some tremendous leaders in the locker room and guys that will be very focused in on what is at hand."
Still, with the bye week, it will be nearly a month since the starters played together and the Eagles haven't looked dominant since beating Green Bay on Dec. 5. The needed a game-saving interception from Dawkins to beat Washington the next week, then trailed against Dallas until Dorsey Levens' 2-yard touchdown run with 1:57 left.
"We are OK. We know how to get there," said wide receiver Freddie Mitchell. "We have to relax and heal up. At the end of the year, the healthiest team wins. It was good to rest the starters."
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