Eagles vs. Packers: Old teams, new players

The Packers and the Eagles are the only two teams in the NFC to make the playoffs in three of the last four seasons. Since 2000, the Eagles have the best record in the conference and the Packers have the second-best. There have been only two seasons since 1992 that did not include either the Eagles or the Packers in the playoffs, and since realignment in 2002, no NFC team has been to the playoffs more times than these two teams that will face each other Sunday in a wild-card game.

So why does this all feel so new?

The helmets and logos may be the same, but gone are many of the familiar players who helped the two franchises achieve such steady success. Gone from the Eagles are stalwart starters such as Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook and Brian Dawkins. The Packers' lineup will be nothing like it was when the two teams met on opening day, mostly because 15 players landed on injured reserve, including past playoff pushers Ryan Grant and Jermichael Finley.

"I'm just trying to do what I'm capable of doing, and that's playing good football," Eagles quarterback Michael Vick said. "Doing it with a young group, a lot of people didn't expect us to be in this situation and give us a chance or had doubt that we would make it. Yeah, it's a new era, so we're just trying to go out and make our mark and play good football."

Of the Eagles' four main offensive weapons - Vick, receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, and running back LeSean McCoy - only Jackson has played in a winning playoff game for Philadelphia. Vick, whose production is a major storyline of the NFL's season, is making his first playoff start since 2004 (and in exactly the same place; his Falcons lost to the Eagles in Philadelphia in the NFC title game that season).

"It's new and exciting," Andy Reid said of this year's playoffs, which will be his ninth as coach but first without McNabb. "You know how I feel about those guys [from the past]. I mean, they left their legacy here that will always stand and it's a phenomenal one, every one of [them]. But it's new and I like it. I liked it when the other guys were here, this is a little different, and heck, I'm fired up."

Speaking of new eras and replacing legacies, Aaron Rodgers has been reminded at nearly every turn this past week that despite three full seasons as the Packers' starting quarterback, he has yet to win a playoff game. He's played in just one, of course, and that was last year's wild-card game on the road in Arizona. He threw for 423 yards and four touchdowns in that game but also was sacked five times, threw an interception and lost a fumble in the 51-45 overtime loss.

"Playoff wins are more team goals, and I understand the way everybody wants to put those types of things on the quarterback," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "Aaron Rodgers needs to be himself. He's established a brand of football at the quarterback position that's pretty damn good, and I'm glad he's our quarterback . . . Aaron staying true to his standard of play, his brand of football, everything else will take care of itself."