Daily News picks: Hard to go against rested Super Bowl champs

Les Bowen

In my mind, this game is more about the Giants than about the Eagles.

I think I have a decent idea of what the Eagles can do. Good defense, OK offense that could use a healthier Brian Westbrook, an offense that could do a better job of blocking for him most games. Capable, on the right day, of beating anybody, in an NFL that lacks a truly scary, dynasty-level team.

But if the NFL has anything close to a truly scary, dynasty-level team, that team would be the Giants. If the Giants that were on a 15-1 run before they last faced the Birds happen to show up Sunday, those Giants will win. The December Eli Manning, and the December Giants, who lost three of their last four? Not so much.

But it isn't December anymore, and the Giants had the bye week to get healthier. The Eagles' bumps and bruises are really starting to add up.

As interesting as things would get if the Eagles won this - I don't think I would pick them to lose to anyone else, in the NFC Championship or the Super Bowl, if they could win this game - I can't bring myself to say I think it's likely. GIANTS, 17-16

Ed Barkowitz

While the Eagles have a real shot here (sorry, Plax), the bye week the Giants had could be the difference. One example of the benefit: Brandon Jacobs got a full week to rest his injured knee while Brian Westbrook had to play on Minnesota's artificial turf.

There's a chart somewhere in this section that shows the No. 6 seed has played the No. 1 seed 11 times and lost 10. It's tough to get past that; almost as tough as it will be getting past the defending Super Bowl champs in their house. GIANTS, 24-17

Bill Conlin

There is no tougher game to win in sports than as a wild-card-round survivor, battered and bruised, going against the rested No. 1 seed, sitting at home with batteries recharged by a week of rest.

But there will be an X-factor at work for the Eagles in the Meadowlands. The Giants have not been quite the same team since deluxe wideout Plaxico Burress shot himself out of the postseason. That said, if the Eagles run for fewer than 100 yards, they will lose. GIANTS, 20-17, in OT

Paul Domowitch

For me, this one comes down to Brian Westbrook.

He has battled through knee and ankle injuries much of the season. He doesn't have the quickness or the explosion he had last year when he led the league in yards from scrimmage. His numbers are way, way down.