McNabb, Westbrook Crush Vikings As Eagles Advance

January 5, 2009 6:20 a.m. EST

Minneapolis, MN (AHN) - Philadelphia gutted its way through a rousing victory in hostile territory, thanks to a crushing 71-yard catch from running back Brian Westbrook, and the Eagles drubbed the Minnesota Vikings 26-14 in the NFC Wild Card game Sunday night at HHH Metrodome.

With the Vikings hosting its first playoff game since 2002, the Eagles cut the Vikings to size and withstood Adrian Peterson's two rushing scores to reach the divisional round next weekend against the reigning Super Bowl champions New York Giants.

Philadelphia did it by hounding untested quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, whose pass was picked off by cornerback Asante Samuel for a 44-yard return TD in the second quarter.

Donovan McNabb, who threw for 300 yards on 23-of-34 clip, finally found his mark in an unlikely aerial ally-Westbrook, who broke free from the Vikings' stout running defense by darting deep into the end zone 71 yards out with 6:37 left to play.

The Vikings never recovered and Eagles kicker David Akers added an insurance 45-yard field goal to seal Minnesota's fate.

The Vikings (10-6) closed out the regular season by going 5-1 in the last six and were the benefactor of Chicago's 31-24 defeat at Houston last week.

But Minnesota ran into another surging team, one that may be peaking at the right time despite being given up for dead early in December.

Philadelphia has now won for the fifth time in the last six games and will need to duplicate its scrambling 20-14 victory at Meadowlands early last month to reach the NFC Conference round.

Akers rose to tough challenges on the turf to key in field goals from 43, 51 and 45 yards. Westbrook rushed 20 times for a meager 38 yards but had three catches for 83 yards.

Tight end Brent Celek made six receptions for 56 yards while Kevin Curtis and Jason Avant turned in 49 and 47 yards, respectively.

Peterson had 20 carries for 83 yards while Bernard Berrian added 36 receiving yards on two catches.

Jackson finished 15-of-35 with 164 yards and had one sack with 11 yards lost. Chester Taylor ran for 48 yards and caught another 36 on the air.