Game 4 NFC: Sunday, Jan 4, 4:30 pm

Philadelphia Eagles (9-6-1) vs. Minnesota Vikings (10-6)

My first instinct was to say Vikings, but I think that’s because both my high school and sorority colors were purple and gold, just like their uniforms! However, I do know of Donovan McNabb from the Eagles and that is clause 3a in the Rules of Team Selection: Picking teams by Color. If you know of someone on the team with the less pretty colors, go ahead with that team. Chances are if you have heard of him, he’s probably pretty good!

And look, he wears the #5 too! Best number (in case you haven’t noticed, I have a slight obsession with the #5)

Facts & History:

• The Eagles won their last four games.
• The Vikings won 5 of their last 6
• This is the Eagles7th playoff in 9 years. They won in the first round every time
• The Vikings have won the first round five times in a row. Clearly, someone’s streak will end.
• The last time the Vikings were in the playoffs in 2004, they lost to the Eagles 27-14 in the division playoffs

The QB Match Up:

No contest really. Apparently, Minnesota’s offense hasn’t been led by their quarterback Gus Frerotte. He’s okay but Adrian Peterson, their running back is the real offensive star of the Vikings.

• In some pictures Frerotte looks kinda hot. Distinguished. At 37, he’s grown into his looks. Because in earlier pics he looks like a beat up hockey-player.
• The Eagles definitely win the name contest because really, Gus? I just think of Gus-Gus the mouse from Cinderella. Donovan is a much hotter name. And his last name is McNabb–easily adapted to McHotNFLBody.
• McHotNFLBody has a clothing line named Super Five.

I apologize for this part. This is what happens when you ask your boyfriend to help you with the research part because you are having technical problems with your computer. Whole lot of really boring stuff you don’t understand. Sure it’s important…if you are basing your picks on actual sports facts! But what fun is that?

• The Vikings’ Adrian Peterson won this seasons NFL rushing title with 1,760 yards.
• He had averaged 4.8 yards per carry and had a league-high 20 runs of 20-plus yards.
• Peterson rushed for 100-plus yards in eight of the Vikings’ final 11 regular-season games. The Vikings are 7-1 in those eight games. I tell ya, being a sports statistician must be the funnest job ever. Tons of totally useless and completely random facts that others get really excited about!
• The Eagles have the league’s fourth-best rush defense.
• But the Vikings have the league’s top-ranked rush defense for the third straight season.

Did that just muddle everything up for everyone because it did for me!

My Fun and Totally Weird Football Fact: The Eagles barely made it into the playoffs. Sometimes the playoff spots read like a really horrible Logic problem from high school math. If Oakland upsets Tampa Bay and Houston beats Chicago and the Eagles win then they go to the playoffs. If Oakland wins, Houston loses and the Eagles win, they do not. If two trains leave NY and LA at the same time when do they meet? Answer: I don’t care!

Check back for a recap on today’s matchups!

About the author: Jennifer Taglione is the owner of this fabulous website Stiletto Sports. Despite writing well over 500 posts, she still maintains that she is not a sports writer! She is however a huge fan of Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, Mark Sanchez, the Celtics, and totally kicks butt on March Madness brackets! Connect with her by following her on Twitter @StilettoSportsJ and subscribing to her weekly newsletter. For more info check out the About the Editor page!

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