|
|
Freddie Mitchell was known more for his outrageous outfits and self-proclaimed nicknames than he was for his play.
That was until fourth-and-26.
Mitchell went down
the middle, with the Eagles trailing and just over a minute remaining against
Green Bay, and got 28 yards -- setting up a game-tying field goal.
``Freddie, you're the hero,'' cornerback Troy Vincent told Mitchell.
``No,'' Mitchell replied. ``I'm the savior.''
Vincent had a good laugh and the Eagles had plenty of reasons to smile a day after their 20-17 overtime win against the Packers, sending them to their third straight NFC title game. Tickets
Mitchell spent the night receiving congratulations for making perhaps the most important catch in team history.
``I've heard that around, 'Catch of the Century,' all that stuff,'' Mitchell said Monday. ``I'm just like, let's get to next week. Let's get done writing this book.''
The Eagles hope the book has one last chapter, the one ending with a Super Bowl victory.
Philadelphia, which narrowly avoided being eliminated from the playoffs at home for the second straight season, hosts Carolina next Sunday -- with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.
``A lot of the guys have walked this road now,'' coach Andy Reid said. ``Any time you go through it once, you kind of understand the magnitude of it. I know our guys have gotten here and didn't achieve, so you even understand it a little bit more.''
The Eagles tried to change their approach after the disappointment of the last two years. That seemed to differ Monday, with more smiles, more laughs and plenty of amazement over the play that saved their season.
``You see your season start to dwindle away. Fourth-and-26!'' said Vincent, who did not play with a hip injury.
Vincent said the hip is improving and didn't give him any problems during a light run Monday.
Reid said the list of fourth-and-26 calls in the playbook are thinner than Mitchell's dreadlocks.
``You punt the ball,'' he said with a smile. (Yes, Andy Reid smiled.)
Instead, they went downfield, helping them become the first NFC team to reach the conference title game three consecutive years since the Packers in 1995-1997. The Packers lost to Dallas in 1995, but beat Carolina and San Francisco the following two years, winning the Super Bowl in 1996.
The last NFC team to lose two straight conference championship games and then win it the third year was San Francisco. The 49ers lost to Dallas in 1992 and 1993, but defeated the Cowboys in 1994 and went on to win the Super Bowl that season.
The Eagles hope their title-game experience is an advantage over the Panthers, who are in the postseason for the first time since 1996.
``We can all take the experience with us,'' Reid said. ``There are so many things you can take, the actual feel of more media and the pressures involved. You understand those. You understand how to work through them and get yourself right for the game.''
The players were off Monday and Tuesday, though several were milling around the Eagles complex.
Mitchell was still looking for a nickname.
First-down Freddie? Too long.
What about the Slot Machine, a tag for his role as Philadelphia's slot receiver? Good, but not quite.
FredEx, because he always delivers?
``I like that one,'' he said with a wide smile.
He wouldn't mind delivering again Sunday -- and beyond.
``It's amazing,'' Mitchell said. ``I'm just thankful for 5 (Donovan McNabb) for looking me at that time, for giving me an opportunity to make a play.''