Eagles stun Giants to reach NFC Championship Game

"I knew I was going to get the double-team. I just hoped to get low and push as hard as I can, hopefully shut down one of those lanes Eli was going to try to get through," Bunkley said afterward.

"Everybody stayed down low; don't let 'em get underneath you, keep on pushing," Patterson said.

After a Sav Rocca punt, the Giants started moving and again faced fourth down, with 2 yards to go, from their 47. This time Manning handed off to Brandon Jacobs, New York's most effective weapon, who finished the day with 92 yards on 19 carries. This time, though, Jacobs got maybe a yard. He did not get the first down.

"Everybody just held their ground, the linebackers were able to get back there [in the backfield]," Patterson said. "It's exciting for a defense."

The Eagles had to figure the Giants weren't going to sneak again, with 2 yards needed, and the sneak already having been snuffed.

"I saw Jacobs get the ball, and I just tried my best to fill in the gap," Bunkley said. "You just got to read keys - I look at eyes, the offensive linemen, you kind of get a clue from that. Look in the running back's eyes, you kind of get a clue from that."

Under the pile, Bunkley said he couldn't see the sticks, but he knew what they would show.

"I felt [Jacobs] on my back. I knew they didn't get any movement," he said.

"It was hard to see much [from the sideline]," Reid said. "it looked like a mosh pit in there, but we got penetration."

Andy Reid knows from mosh pits? Hey, if he wins two more games this season, Big Red can crowd-surf down Broad Street.

"It's great to be back in the NFC Championship Game," Reid said.

And it would be even greater to win it. *

For more Eagles coverage and opinion, read the Daily News' Eagles blog, Eagletarian, at www.eagletarian.com.