• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Eagles clinch fifth NFC East title in six seasons

Jan 1, 2007 - 3:12 AM PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid was afforded a luxury he probably didn't expect to have.

Getting a surprising result earlier Sunday, the Eagles clinched their fifth NFC East title in six seasons with a 24-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.

Needing a win or a loss by the Dallas Cowboys to win the division, the Eagles (10-6) must have been stunned when the Cowboys were upset by the Detroit Lions.

The crowd at Lincoln Financial Field erupted in joy less than five minutes into the contest after hearing that the Cowboys had lost.

With the Eagles' contest rendered meaningless, Reid was able to pull most his starters after just one series.

"I watched the (Dallas) game up until we went out," Reid said. "It was just a matter of keeping an eye on it. We had a plan if it did go Detroit's way, what we would do, so that's what we did."

"It's always good to get a day off, especially after being NFC East champs," Eagles running back Brian Westbrook said. "We worked long and hard and it's definitely a great job for us to go out and get a day off."

The Eagles, who closed the regular season with five straight wins, will host the NFC East rival New York Giants (8-8) in a wild-card game next Sunday. The teams split two regular-season meetings.

The latest division title has to be extra special for the Eagles, who lost star quarterback Donovan McNabb to a season-ending knee injury on November 19.

"I think this is a little more special," Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter said. "The reason being what we went through in the middle of the season, no one expected us to be here."

"For guys to hang together, to not pointing fingers, not backbiting each other, says a lot," Eagles Pro Bowl free safety Brian Dawkins said. "That builds a lot of character in that locker room."

A.J. Feeley went virtually the entire way at quarterback for the Eagles and completed 22-of-33 passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns. His final score was an 89-yard connection to rookie Hank Baskett with 13:14 remaining that snapped a 17-17 tie. Baskett finished with seven catches for 177 yards.

"Oh man, tonight was just an opportunity," Baskett said. "We had to have all the young guys step up, because once we found out Dallas lost and we had the NFC East, we did the right thing and took the starters out."

It was a disappointing finish for the Falcons (7-9), who missed the playoffs after losing seven of their last nine games.

The Falcons also likely will have a new coach next season with Jim Mora expected to be fired. Falcons owner Arthur Blank had said that missing the playoffs would be "unacceptable."

"I have a strong passion for this organization," said Mora, who guided the Falcons to the NFC championship game in his first season in 2004, where they lost here to the Eagles. "I love this organization. Of course, I want to be here. It's all I've ever wanted."

To conclude what turned into a miserable season, the Falcons lost starting quarterback Michael Vick to a sprained right ankle early in the third quarter.

"We have a good relationship," Vick said. "I like coach Mora. I've enjoyed him the last three years since he's been here. He's a fun guy. We'll see what happens."

Matt Schaub completed 15-of-21 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown with an interception after replacing Vick.

"Anytime, you're playing (against A.J.) Feeley, their third quarterback and we can't get it done, that's a problem," Falcons cornerback DeAngelo Hall said. "They didn't have their starting receivers, starting running backs and we still didn't get it done, point blank."