MINNESOTA vs. PHILADELPHIA
These two teams have only played each other four times since 1992 so there are not many comparisons that can be made to past head to head match-ups. Philadelphia earned their place in the playoffs by putting together another great season while the Vikings backed in with an 8-8 record and even lost their final regular season game.
Vikes QB Culpepper has actually put together an excellent season and ranks behind only Peyton Manning in the QB Ratings. Last week against the Packers, he threw for four touchdowns and no interceptions. Despite Randy Moss?s endzone shenanigans last week, we all know that this guy can mash and with all of the attention his moon job got in the media, I look for him to play this game balls out. The Minnesota defense showed up when they had to last week and intercepted Brett Favre four times and did not allow a rush of over 12 yards.
Philly QB McNabb has played great but the presence of Terrell Owens on the field this year has unquestionably opened up a lot of options for this offense that simply did not (and do not) exist without him. A lot is being made of the fact that Owens is only one player and that the team should not fall apart just because he is out. But don?t forget that TO was responsible for exactly one third of the Eagles offensive touchdowns this year. Who is going to take up the slack? Pinkston? Mitchell?
Despite Philly?s excellent 13-3 record in the regular season, they went just 9-7 ATS. Granted they virtually gave away their last two games to St. Louis and Cincinnati but in the two weeks before those games they scored only 17 and 12 points against Washington and Dallas. The Birds have only scored a total of 46 points in their last four games and are now being asked to cover 9 points against a Minnesota team that has explosive potential every time they take the field. Eagles may win this one but this is just too many points.
The Verdict: 4* - Minnesota (+9)
These two teams have only played each other four times since 1992 so there are not many comparisons that can be made to past head to head match-ups. Philadelphia earned their place in the playoffs by putting together another great season while the Vikings backed in with an 8-8 record and even lost their final regular season game.
Vikes QB Culpepper has actually put together an excellent season and ranks behind only Peyton Manning in the QB Ratings. Last week against the Packers, he threw for four touchdowns and no interceptions. Despite Randy Moss?s endzone shenanigans last week, we all know that this guy can mash and with all of the attention his moon job got in the media, I look for him to play this game balls out. The Minnesota defense showed up when they had to last week and intercepted Brett Favre four times and did not allow a rush of over 12 yards.
Philly QB McNabb has played great but the presence of Terrell Owens on the field this year has unquestionably opened up a lot of options for this offense that simply did not (and do not) exist without him. A lot is being made of the fact that Owens is only one player and that the team should not fall apart just because he is out. But don?t forget that TO was responsible for exactly one third of the Eagles offensive touchdowns this year. Who is going to take up the slack? Pinkston? Mitchell?
Despite Philly?s excellent 13-3 record in the regular season, they went just 9-7 ATS. Granted they virtually gave away their last two games to St. Louis and Cincinnati but in the two weeks before those games they scored only 17 and 12 points against Washington and Dallas. The Birds have only scored a total of 46 points in their last four games and are now being asked to cover 9 points against a Minnesota team that has explosive potential every time they take the field. Eagles may win this one but this is just too many points.
The Verdict: 4* - Minnesota (+9)
