PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- EAGLES, FLYERS

* Even more Eagles notes..

- It's the Chinese Year of the Dog. How appropriate for the underdog Eagles, a team of Destiny..

- The Vikings lost 3 games this season. Two of the losses were on the road and on grass in outdoor stadiums- the exact scenario Minnesota will be facing on Sunday night in Philadelphia.

- 2004: The Eagles beat Atlanta and Minnesota to reach the Super Bowl for the right to play New England. 2018: The Eagles beat Atlanta, face Minnesota on Sunday in the NFC Championship Game,for the right to possibly play New England ( if they beat Jacksonville) in the Super Bowl. Destiny?

- As Zach Berman ( who I love as a writer- he is honest and always interesting) writes this morning in his Early Birds email column, we can thank the Eagles beating Carolina earlier this season for the NFC Championship Game being at home. Why? Because the Birds finished 13-3- so did the Vikings. Philly was 10-2 in the conference- so was Minnesota.  But the Eagles beat the Panthers whereas the Vikes lost to Carolina. Common opponents is the next tie-breaker, so advantage Eagles, hence their No. 1 seed.

- The Vikings are advising their fans who plan to attend the game in Philly to be cool in our stadium. Don't get drunk, don't fight with Eagle fans, take off your Viking jersey if Minnesota wins so you're not targeted afterwards. They are scared of us, believing the stories and rumors of the rough Philly fans. Hopefully the Minnesota players are just as intimidated on Sunday as their fans seem to be.

- I respect Ross Tucker, but he picked the Vikings to win on Sunday, 16-13. It will be interesting to see who ray Didinger selects tomorrow. Minnesota remains 3 1/2 point favorites. I'll make my pick tomorrow. The Eagles continue to relish the underdog role. Let the so-called football pundits, experts and media- types pick Minnesota. Let's see what the Vegas line is right before the game, as the line decreased last weekend before Philadelphia beat the favored Atlanta Falcons.

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* The Flyers lost in New York last night, falling to the Rangers 5-1. The Orange and Black had won four in a row, and the Rangers were struggling. The Flyers remain inconsistent. It's a reason why they will be on the bubble to make the playoffs.

It's Eric Lindros Night at the Flyers-Maple Leafs game tomorrow night. No. 88 gets his number retired, another banner hoisted to the rafters.

Lindros was a great player, but didn't take the Flyers to a Stanley Cup. He was always be remembered as a tremendous Hall of Famer, but in Philadelphia, he will always remain as a "what-if" player who could've been even greater if he didn't get hurt.