Garcia Eagles' right guy at right time
They had watched as the ball slipped from holder Tony Romo's hands, and the potentially game-winning field-goal attempt had dribbled into nothingness, along with the Cowboys' hopes.
So when the Eagles lined up for their own game-winning field goal against the New York Giants, things were pretty tense.
Not only was the field slippery and the ball slick for the 38-yard attempt by kicker David Akers, the holder, Koy Detmer, was a new guy who had been, in his own words, ''sitting on my couch, playing with my kids'' until the Eagles signed him five days ago.
Yep, he too had watched Romo flub the ball and end the Cowboys' season.
''People think those things are gimmes,'' Detmer, a backup quarterback as well as holder, said in the locker room. ''But anybody who's ever kicked, snapped or held knows they're not. That was tough to see.''
This was not, however.
The kick went off perfectly, and the Eagles won 23-20 as time expired.
If their luck holds up against the New Orleans Saints and the Bears can beat the Seahawks on Sunday, the Eagles will come to Soldier Field Jan. 21 for the NFC Championship Game.
And, as always, the most important player on each team that day will be the quarterback.
All nervous Philadelphia scrutiny may have been on the Eagles' trio of long-snapper Jon Dorenbos, holder Detmer and Akers, but the most important person in the Eagles' success was, and has been, quarterback Jeff Garcia.
Nobody needs to tell Chicagoans that the Bears' hopes rest squarely on one mercurial man, Mr. Hot-or-Cold, quarterback Rex Grossman.
Garcia did not light up the sky with stats (he completed 17 of 31 passes for 153 yards, one touchdown and a 79.1 passer rating). But he was agile and heady, and he threw no interceptions.
And he knew when to hand off to running back Brian Westbrook (20 rushes, 141 yards) and get out of the way.
Most of all, he simply was at the helm, filling in with remarkable confidence, aplomb and vision after the Eagles' Pro Bowl quarterback, Donovan McNabb, went down with a knee injury during the 10th game of the season.
NFL experts and talk-radio wise men chuckled and said the Eagles might as well pull in their beaks and fly south, since the season was clearly over.
But since McNabb went out, the 36-year-old Garcia, whose career was on a downhill run until he was picked up by Philadelphia in the offseason, has played like an expert reborn with zest.
He has led the Eagles to a 6-1 record since becoming a starter, and his stats are those of a clever and efficient leader.
He almost never gets sacked (just four since becoming a starter), and he protects the ball well (11 touchdown passes and only two interceptions this season).
Above all, the frail-looking guy with the receding red hair has the athletic quickness to make rushers miss on that first attack, roll out of the pocket and get something done.
Several times against the Giants, Garcia looked as if he was about to get squashed, but then got off a crisp pass or dumped a ball harmlessly into the turf.
''I have to move and throw on the run,'' he said, alluding to his limited size (6-1, 205). ''And that's something I'm very comfortable with.''
It is something Grossman is not comfortable with, and as he will find out against Seattle, the rushers are just a little more ferocious in the postseason, the timing just a little tougher.
''In the playoffs, you have to fight for every yard,'' said Garcia, who also ran four times for 14 yards. ''Nothing's going to be given to you.''
In the hallway, the limping, street- clothes-clad McNabb seemed to be enjoying the ride, though he too has to be amazed at Garcia's success.
''Yeah, I'll be coming to Chicago, if we make it that far,'' the native Chicagoan said. ''I travel with the team.''
He laughed as he said this, like he's a mascot or cheerleader. But Garcia must be blowing McNabb's mind, too.
What does a quarterback need to be a successful playoff leader? I asked Garcia.
''I think you definitely have to have thick skin,'' he replied. ''You have to handle difficult situations well, be sharp mentally and physically and you can't allow the emotions of the game to overcome you.''
Could be good advice, Rex.
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