Only the Eagles didn't lose, and it was one of the best days in their storied history as they destroyed the Cowboys, 44-6, to extend the season for at least a week. Up next: The Minnesota Vikings on Sunday (4:30 p.m.) in a matchup between Andy Reid and former Eagles offensive coordinator Brad Childress.
Yesterday morning, it seemed unthinkable that the Eagles, who needed both for Oakland to beat Tampa Bay and either Minnesota or Chicago to lose, would get the help they needed. But just before the 4:15 p.m. kickoff, the fans at the Linc, including the predominantly pessimistic governor, had serious reason to hope.
After the Raiders had sacked Jeff Garcia one final time to seal their improbable comeback from a 10-point second-half deficit, the Eagles ran through an inflatable helmet onto the field with fireworks exploding overhead and the fans cheering deliriously.
Sitting in his car, Rendell heard the booms of the fireworks and knew that just as last week, the Eagles' future was in their own hands.
"My theory," Rendell said, "is either one of two things is happening here. Either the Lord is playing with the emotions of Philadelphia and wants to get back at us for some reason and is having all this set up and wants us to lose the game and it's just going to be the worst . . . or maybe the Lord is a Mormon. Who knows?"
The worst-case scenario, Rendell said, would produce "the biggest downer in Eagles history." So said the man hailed with shouts of "Guv" as he walked to his seat in the stands.
Earlier in the day, the parking lots surrounding the stadium were full, but not necessarily festive. Clusters of fans crowded around televisions rigged by the industrious to watch the Bucs host the Raiders. Oakland, a dismal team all season, had nothing to play for, but the Eagles had everything riding on the Raiders.
