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Philadelphia, Pa.

Sunday Jan. 7, 4:30 P.M. EST

Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia

The NFC East champion New York Giants are coming off an encouraging victory in their regular season finale that enabled them to take part in this postseason - following several weeks of inconsistent - and controversial football.

Nevertheless, the Giants are in the postseason and will have a chance, no matter how slim, to extend their season with a win over their longtime division rivals from the "City of Brotherly Shove."

Here is a look at the upcoming NFC wildcard matchup and my prediction on both the winner and point spreads:

Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)

I'm generally not one to use Biblical terms to describe the state of any professional sports franchise, but the more I thought about it, the more I kept coming back to the conclusion that the Eagles were playing the role of Lazarus, dead and all but buried, when veteran quarterback Jeff Garcia, (whom many thought was a dead man himself) came riding to the rescue as if he were The Son of Man himself.

Poof, the Eagles arose, healthier than ever and have shown their new leader all the appreciation of a team that literally was rescued from the damnation of a season that was going to end way too soon.

Biblical references aside, the Eagles don't appear to have many chinks in their armor right now and will give the Giants everything they can handle and more in this matchup.

When Garcia stepped in for an injured Donovan McNabb, the Eagles entire team personality miraculously transformed for the better on both sides of the ball.

Not only that, but the Eagles play calling became more balanced, giving the Birds' explosive running back, Brian Westbrook, more carries.

Westbrook has averaged more than 20 carries per game and 100 yards rushing in the seven games following the change, before sitting out most of the regular season finale against the Atlanta Falcons when the Eagles already had the NFC East title wrapped up.

Before McNabb's injury, Westbrook did not have 20 carries in any of his first seven games, while averaging about 30 fewer rushing yards per contest. His effectiveness has taken some pressure off Garcia. who has completed nearly 65 percent of his passes and thrown only two interceptions since becoming the starter. He was sacked only six times in six games, as his scrambling ability has fit well into offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg's West Coast scheme.

The bottom line is that the Eagles have looked more efficient on offense and have had more time-consuming and consistent drives than they did prior to Garcia stepping in. This has had a ripple effect on the defensive side of the ball as well.

No longer are the Eagles giving up one big play after another. All of a sudden, the Eagles defense, orchestrated by their incomparable defensive coordinator Jimmie Johnson, seems stouter than ever, both against the pass and the run, allowing an average of only 17.8 points during the five-game win streak while forcing 12 turnovers.

New York Giants (8-8

Although the Giants won their regular season finale, they have allowed 107 points and 399.3 yards per game in their past four games. In order for the Giants to actually have a chance to win this game, they will have to run the ball much like they did in their regular season closer, when retiring running back Tiki Barber rushed for a team-record 234 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

The Giants strategy should be simple. Unless they fall behind quickly and are forced to throw, New York should give the ball to Barber early and often. The franchise's career rushing leader, Barber ran for 1,662 yards this season to rank fourth in the NFL. New York was 6-2 when he rushed for 100 yards, and 2-6 when he didn't.

Unfortunately, Barber, who usually leaves ample skid marks all over the Eagles, didn't have any outstanding games against Philadelphia this season. Barber ran for 75 yards on 19 carries in Week 15, but the Eagles' 161 rushing yards nearly doubled New York's output, and Garcia outplayed Manning as Philadelphia won 36-22. Barber was held to a season-low 51 yards on 21 attempts at Lincoln Financial Field on Sept. 17, but Manning helped the Giants rally from a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter to win 30-24 in overtime.

The Giants are trying to join the 1999 Miami Dolphins as the only teams in the Super Bowl era to win a playoff game after going 2-6 or worse in their final eight games of the season. New York has been outscored by a 107-26 margin in the fourth quarter during that span, not the way any team wants to be playing heading into the postseason.

The Line: Philadelphia -7 NY Giants Over/Under 46.5

My Pick:

I'll make this selection short and sweet. There is absolutely no way the Giants win this game. The only question in my mind is whether the Eagles win by eight to cover the spread, which I don't think they are going to do. The truth is, even though the Eagles are playing very well right now, these teams aren't as far apart, talent-wise as most people think.

I like the Giants to cover the spread in a losing effort, let's say 28-24. My combined score makes the over/under line of 46.5 look a little low, but this is a game that both teams should easily combine for 50 points at the least.

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Eric Williams is a sports columnist for the Philadelphia Sunday Sun, and Sr. NBA analyst for basketball.com as well as a nationally syndicated freelance writer for bot, print and online publications.