NFL Superbowl Playoffs Tickets:
New Orleans Saints - Philadelphia Eagles
As winners of the NFC East in five of the past six season, the Eagles are no strangers to the playoffs. No so for the Saints, who are in the postseason for the first time since 2000. Even their head coach is a rookie, but Sean Payton has been largely credited for the Saints' turnaround from a 3-13 record in 2005, earning him Coach of the Year honors. The Eagles come to New Orleans after dispatching the Giants in the wild-card round with a last-second David Akers kick. Philly was the victim of a game-winning kick when the Saints knocked off the Eagles in Week 6.
Saints:
While every player on the Saints has spent time at the team's training facility the past few days watching tape, lifting weights and doing conditioning work on their own, and for those that needed it, getting a little extra treatment for bumps and bruises, the team returned for formal meetings and a mandatory strength and conditioning period as they get ready for their playoff game against a team to be determined. The Saints also received a boost with the return of defensive tackle Hollis Thomas, who has spent the previous four weeks on the shelf as part of the NFL's substance abuse policy. Thomas, an effervescent and jovial sort, is allowed to participate in full team drills and is expected to jump back into the rotation at defensive tackles, according to coach Sean Payton. "He's doing well," Payton said. "He was in here on Tuesday lifting and running. He was also here on Wednesday. I was encouraged with where he was at weight-wise and he'll have this week where he'll be lifting and running. He was at our team meeting today and he'll practice Friday. He's back in the mix."
Eagles:
The Eagles finished off their regular season by winning five straight games and capturing the NFC East title. That hot streak has rolled over into the playoffs as the Eagles escape with a 23-20 victory over the Giants in their NFC wild-card matchup. The Eagles got solid running from RB Brian Westbrook, who rushed for 141 yards on 20 carries and scored a touchdown and an efficient game by QB Jeff Garcia, who went 17 of 31 for 153 yards and tossed a 28-yard touchdown pass to WR Donte Stallworth. Yet despite their efforts, the game came down to the foot of kicker David Akers. With the score tied at 20 late in the game, Garcia led his team on nine plays to set up the last of Akers' three field goals -- a 38-yard game-winning kick with 3 seconds remaining on the clock. "Koy [Detmer] said, 'Those posts look big, don't they?"' Akers said. "I said, 'Don't worry. We're going to be celebrating in a minute."' With the victory, the Eagles advance to the divisional playoffs where they will take on the Saints on Saturday.
New Orleans Saints vs. Philadelphia Eagles Tickets
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