EAGLES: The past three weeks, Packers quarterback Brett Favre has overcome the sudden death of his father, Irvin, and seen his team squeak into the NFC playoffs on the final play of the Vikings season.
Sunday, the Packers earned a trip to Philadelphia when former Eagles cornerback Al Harris intercepted a pass by Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and returned it for an overtime score.
These kinds of occurrences make people start talking about destiny and mystique.
Yet Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb showed no fear when he was asked about a Packers team that will roll into Lincoln Financial Field riding a five-game winning streak and the Hall of Fame arm of its quarterback.
"It's been exciting for those guys (the Packers) to do what they've been able to do over the past couple of weeks with the situation Brett and his family have been through," McNabb said. "As a player and as a human being, I'm excited to see that those guys have been able to put that behind them, move forward and do it for (Favre's) father.
"But we're going to have a little motivation as well."
PACKERS: Edgar Bennett discovered that coaching in the NFL can be as hazardous as playing.
The former Green Bay running back injured his right knee when he was bowled over by defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila and practice squad member Jason Jimenez, who scuffled after the whistle at practice.
"I haven't been hit like that in a while," Bennett said.
Gbaja-Biamila, the only Packer to record double-digit sacks in three straight seasons, pushed Jimenez several yards to an area where players and coaches stand behind the line of scrimmage.
Bennett, a former FSU standout, was talking to running back Tony Fisher when he was hit.
"I never really saw them coming," Bennett said. "I was talking to Fisher about the previous play and the next thing you know I was going down. There's a man down."
Bennett said he was going to have the medical staff look at his knee after practice.
RAMS: Security will be ratcheted up for Saturday's game at the Edward Jones Dome, with bomb-sniffing dogs inside, concrete barriers outside and extra police officers all around.
Getting to the seats could take longer. Security officials will use extra scrutiny, such as thoroughly checking heavy jackets and having police examine questionable bags or packages.
Despite the nation's heightened state of security, NFL officials insist there is no reason to believe that postseason games are likely terrorist targets. But league officials say stadium security has been their top priority since Sept. 11.
