David Akers kicked a 31-yard field goal 4:48 into overtime to give the Philadelphia Eagles a come-from-behind 20-17 victory over the Green Bay Packers in NFC divisional round playoff action on Sunday.
After trailing 14-0 in the first quarter and 17-14 late in the game, the Eagles refused to lie down and forced overtime on Akers's 37-yard field goal with 10 seconds remaining.
Philadelphia hosts the surprising Carolina Panthers in next Sunday's NFC championship game, the winner advancing to Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston on February 1.
PHOTO: AFP
Quarterback Donovan McNabb played a huge part in the Eagles' comeback, hitting Freddie Mitchell on fourth-and-26 with just over a minute to play, setting the stage for Akers's game-tying field goal.
Ryan Longwell had put Green Bay 17-14 ahead with a 21-yard field goal with 10:22 left on the clock after the Eagles had already rallied from an early two touchdown deficit.
"For us to come back against a great Green Bay team shows some heart," said McNabb, who came in for considerable criticism after the Eagles were thumped in their first two games this season.
"This is such a beautiful win after everything we've been through.
"We're excited about this win. We're gonna enjoy it now."
Playing with a broken thumb, Packers quarterback Brett Favre threw for two first-quarter touchdowns as Green Bay appeared headed for its first win in Philadelphia since 1962, when the legendary Vince Lombardi was Packers coach.
Favre -- who finished with 180 yards but who suffered a crucial interception early in overtime -- hooked up with Robert Ferguson from 40 and 17 yards for scores just over six minutes apart.
The Eagles got on the scoreboard when McNabb -- who threw for 248 yards -- found fan favorite Duce Staley from seven yards 6:29 from half-time.
He then hit Todd Pinkston from 12 yards on the first play of the fourth quarter to level the score at 14-14 after he had evaded several tacklers before finding the wide receiver in the corner of the end zone.
McNabb was at his elusive best all afternoon, as he rushed for 107 yards, a modern-day record for quarterbacks.
Staley was next best among Eagle runners with just 45 yards on the ground.
Green Bay back Ahman Green, the NFC's rush leader over the season, ran for 156 yards on 25 carries to keep the Eagles' offense off the field for much of the afternoon. But not when it counted.
After defeating the Seattle Seahawks 33-27 in extra time last weekend, the Packers were trying to set a precedent as no team has won two overtime games in the same post-season.
The Eagles will be hoping to make it third time lucky in their quest to secure a Super Bowl berth after having lost the last two NFC title games.
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