By Zack Cimini

Overcoming adversity is what defines a true champion. On Sunday when Terrell Owens went down, the rest of the NFC?s contenders all grew in confidence. Confidence has been known to be the downfall of many teams, but yet provide that uplifting glimmer of hope. Donovan McNabb now knows the pressure is fully on him, and he?ll need a miracle playoff run with his receivers Freddie Mitchell and Todd Pinkston.

On Sunday the seasoned veteran showcased what it takes to single handedly carry a team. He drove the Eagles down field and stole a win away from a Cowboys team that played their hearts out. Afterwards McNabb calmly explained that the team would need to carry on without Owens, and continue their pace to the Super Bowl. It?s not like McNabb hasn?t been in this situation, as he has been to the NFC title game three different times. All of those trips were in a much stronger NFC, and that should ease the situation even more for McNabb.

Another benefit is the Eagles defense that has done extremely well especially in their young secondary. Jevon Kearse has also added a ferocious past rush that had been missing since the Eagles lost Hugh Douglas. There really isn?t a better defense in the NFC that can contend with the Eagles besides the Panthers. That means that McNabb and the Eagles can play ball control style and just wait for the defense to fold?because it will eventually. Who cares if they win games by a field goal or a touchdown, as long as they?re moving on?

The ex factor for the Eagles will need to be Brian Westbrook. Last season he was out for the stretch playoff run, and the spark and emergency insurance he provides McNabb is really unnoticed. McNabb is the type of quarterback that gets a lot of completions with short dump offs to the likes of Westbrook or his tight ends. In fact besides Owens the other receivers haven?t done much of anything. So expect more screens and trick plays to try to ease the opposing defense.

In Sunday?s win over Dallas, McNabb started to use his legs again. Throughout most of the season McNabb was able to wait in the pocket, and find an open receiver. That?s expected when you have an All Pro in Terrell Owens roaming the field, which means the secondary has to focus more and more attention to the passing game. Most defenses adjusted to that scheme and Dallas forgot that McNabb could run. On two occasions in their fourth quarter drive, McNabb ran freely without any trouble because Dallas wasn?t prepared. McNabb protected himself greatly by sliding both times, after learning from the past couple of seasons. The Eagles will need more of that once in awhile to throw the defense out of sync, like Vick does for the Falcons.

With home field advantage the Eagles know that will only play into their hands in the winter. Potential playoff teams in the Vikings, Rams, and second seed Falcons are all dome teams, that aren?t accustomed to cold weather. On the flipside a team like the Green Bay Packers could get their revenge on what happened last year.
It?d be a shame to see the Eagles season be tarnished over Owens injury, but it?s a situation that any team has to be prepared for. The Eagles need to finish out their final two games strongly, so that rust doesn?t settle in offensively. An offensive slump will lead them to an early exit on their home field in the divisional round.