Full Circle
PHILADELPHIA, PA (CBS) -- The Eagles will open the playoffs on Sunday the same way they began the regular season – with a home game against the Green Bay Packers.
That is Philadelphia's reward for winning the NFC East – a rematch against Aaron Rodgers and company, who beat the Eagles on week one, 27-20 at Lincoln Financial Field.
That was then – this is now.
VIEW PHOTOS: Eagles vs. Packers - Week 1
The Eagles entered the regular season opener with Kevin Kolb as their starting quarterback. That didn't last very long.
Kolb, making his first start since being handed the offense following the trade of Donovan McNabb to the Redskins, suffered a concussion late in the first half and didn't return for the final 30-minutes.
Instead, it was Michael Vick under center, trying to lead the Eagles back from a 13-3 halftime deficit. Despite going 16-of-24 for 175 yards and a passing touchdown, and adding 103 yards rushing, Vick was unable to complete the comeback for Philadelphia.
Vick – of course – was eventually named the Eagles starting quarterback and hasn't looked back. He put up MVP numbers in helping lead the Eagles to eight of their ten wins this season, and has earned the right to start for the NFC squad in this year's Pro Bowl.
But with the NFL's version of the All Star game being played the week before the Super Bowl again this year, Eagles fans will be hoping they don't see Vick at all in the Pro Bowl.
As for the Packers -- heading into this season, they were picked by a lot of people, not only to win the NFC North, but to represent the NFC in Super Bowl XLV.
And even though Green Bay's season didn't go exactly as planned following their win over the Eagles -- that could – in fact – work to their advantage.
While the Eagles had already secured a spot in the playoffs before playing their final two games of the regular season, the Packers were treating their last two contests as playoff games -- facing must wins against both the New York Giants and the Chicago Bears.
Working in the Eagles favor, however, could be the fact that Andy Reid was able to rest most of his starters against the Cowboys, with his team having already locked up the three-seed in the NFC.
That all remains to be seen.
One thing is for sure. The Eagles must win three more games to reach the Super Bowl. And if the Eagles are going to lift the Vince Lombardi trophy this year, its starts with beating the team he coached during the 1960's.
Reported by Dan Majka, KYW Newsradio.
