Magic time for Packers, Eagles

When Green Bay’s Mike Holmgren moved Andy Reid to quarterbacks coach after the 1996 season, he said he wanted “to replace Andy Reid with another Andy Reid” as his tight ends coach. Reid recommended Texas A&M assistant Mike Sherman, and Holmgren hired him.

Seven years later, Sherman, now Green Bay’s coach, and his team stand between Reid’s Philadelphia Eagles and a third straight NFC Championship game appearance. The last team to accomplish that feat was the 1997 Packers with Sherman and Reid on staff.

The NFC East champion Eagles have the home field and the advantage of the rest that comes from the bye week, but the NFC North champion Packers have the magic of quarterback Brett Favre. Since the NFL’s’s only three-time MVP lost his father Dec.21, the Packers have outscored their foes 105-37 and Favre has played his best football in several years.

“We know the fans will be out of their minds and it will be a loud and electric atmosphere,” Reid said. “All the mystique things you put aside when the kickoff happens.”

While Sherman says he believes in divine intervention — as do millions of Cheeseheads— Packers offensive tackle Mark Tauscher is skeptical so far.

“If we end up winning this thing, then you can say destiny,” Tauscher said. “I don’t think destiny leads to winning the first round [over Seattle on an overtime interception return for a touchdown by ex-Eagle Al Harris]. Destiny leads you through the whole way.”

After losing the conference title game in St. Louis in 2001 and in an upset by visiting Tampa Bay last year, the Eagles feel it’s time for them to take the next step.

“If it’s not winning the Super Bowl, then it’s not a good year for us,” quarterback Donovan McNabb said. “We’ve won the NFC East title. We’ve won in the playoffs. We’ve been to the NFC Championship. What’s left is winning the Super Bowl.”

That task has been complicated by season-ending injuries to run-stopping linebacker Carlos Emmons and scatback Brian Westbrook, the Eagles’ top rusher and kick returner and No.2 receiver. Pro Bowl passer McNabb called Westbrook Philadelphia’s MVP. Veteran Duce Staley and Correll Buckhalter will try to pick up the slack, but the key remains McNabb, whose touchdown pass with 27 seconds left gave the Eagles a 17-14 victory in Green Bay on Nov.10.

“We have to step up for Brian and make plays for Donovan,” tight end Chad Lewis said.

Ike Reese is in the same position replacing Emmons for a defense that’s 22nd against the run and which the Packers’ Ahman Green trampled for 192 yards in their previous matchup. McNabb’s play, plus two turnovers by Green and another by Favre, saved the Eagles.

“Sure, we want to take away the long runs and make sure we keep Green [in check],” defensive coordinator Jim Johnson said. “He’s the best back we faced all year. But you sure don’t want Brett Favre to beat you.”

Lost in all of the media fuss over Favre is that Philadelphia is favored, having won 12 of 14 since opening Lincoln Financial Field with losses to Tampa Bay and New England. Offensive coordinator Brad Childress said that early adversity was good for the Eagles.

“We kind of got to 12-4 a little different way than last year,” Childress said. “We’re a little bit more battle-hardened, if you will. We have a little thicker skin.”

Both teams will need thick skin this afternoon in frigid Philadelphia, even though the new stadium has all the modern accoutrements — such as a heated field — that late, unlamented Veterans Stadium lacked. But Eagles cornerback Troy Vincent, whose bad hip will make his availability a last-minute decision, said opponents didn’t hate coming to Philadelphia because of the Vet but because of what lay in store for them come game time.

“Teams might have been worried coming in with the turf and whatever, but I think a little bit of that had to do with how we play also,” he said. “We’re known to hit a little bit. You know it’s going to be a physical game when you play the Eagles.”