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By RICK STROUD
© St. Petersburg Times, published December 31, 2000
Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb has accounted for 74.6 percent of the team's total net yards.
With Jon Runyan (6-foot-7, 330 pounds) and Tra Thomas (6-foot-7, 349), the Eagles boast the NFL's largest set of tackles.
Bucs lead the all-time series 4-3, having won the last three meetings. Tampa Bay beat Phialdelphia 19-5 at Veterans Stadium in Week 2 of the '99 season. The Bucs defeated the Eagles 24-17 in the NFC divisional playoff game in '79.
Bucs led the NFC with a plus-13 turnover ratio and ranked second in total takeaways with 41.
Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy is 2-2 in the post-season.
Eagles offensive line is one of only four units (Indianapolis, Jets, Saints) to start all 16 games.
Eagles DE Hugh Douglas vs. Bucs LT Pete Pierson. Douglas is fourth in the NFC with 15 sacks and applies constant heat on the quarterback. Pierson and backup George Hegamin will need help from tight ends Dave Moore and Patrick Hape.
Eagles QB Donovan McNabb vs. Bucs QB Shaun King. The Class of '99 passers meet in an NFC wild-card game for the right to probably play another alumnus, the Vikings' Duante Culpepper. McNabb and King are close friends and the quarterback that plays best will likely win the game. McNabb is the first Eagles passer to throw for more than 3,000 yards since Randall Cunningham in '94.
Bucs WR Keyshawn Johnson vs. Eagles cornerbacks Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor. Johnson has averaged about 95 yards receiving per game in the playoffs. Vincent is a Pro Bowler and Taylor (6-3) is one of the NFL's bigger corners.
Bucs PK Martin Gramatica vs. Eagles PK David Akers. Gramatica has to overcome the emotional miss at Green Bay last week and avoid a drop in confidence. Akers is the Pro Bowl alternate to Gramatica and was 29-of-33 on the season in field goal tries.
"I think the best defense we face is our own defense. This is a defense that really doesn't do too much as far as blitzes are concerned, recognizing and seeing it coming." -- EAGLES QB DONOVAN MCNABB.
"Donovan McNabb said that? It's a beautiful country we have." -- BUCS DT WARREN SAPP.