by Judd Zulgad, Sports Xchange

Super Bowl Central

Steelers 27, Cardinals 23 Recap | Box | Play-by-play

Inside the game:

• Kriegel: Holmes steals show from Fitz
• Marvez: Harrison cited for going 100
• Behrendt: Loss wins Cards respect
• Video: Online OT reviews SB XLIII
• Steelers celebrate 6th Super Bowl
• Big Ben rises to occasion
• Fitz breaks out too late
• Polamalu beaming after Super win
• Respected Rooneys bask in No. 6
• Kurt Warner mum on future

Outside the game:

• Vote on 10 best, worst ads
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• Steeler fans rush to the streets
• President Obama 1-for-1 on SB picks
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Super Bowl history:

• NFL on FOX Super Bowl reflections
• Best teams | Games | Performances
• Worst teams | Games | Performances
• Chokes | Scandals | Media day moments
• SUPER BOWL CENTRAL | VIDEO

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But not even two months later Reid is still employed, McNabb is still going strong and the Eagles are still playing football. Philadelphia extended its season by at least another week with a 26-14 wild-card victory over the Minnesota Vikings at the Metrodome on Sunday.

"We have a good team," said Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel, who returned his NFL-record fourth career postseason interception for a touchdown. "I think we are dangerous. So we just have to see how it plays out."

The Eagles will now travel to play the top-seeded Giants next Sunday at Giants Stadium. Interestingly, the Eagles are trying to take the same route the Giants did last season when they won the Super Bowl after making the playoffs as the No. 5 seed.

And for anyone who thinks the Eagles don't have a chance, you need only recall that many felt the same way about the Giants when they faced the undefeated Patriots in the title game.

Much like their NFC East rivals, the Eagles also are attempting to ride the wave of a hot streak that began after the debacle in Baltimore. Philadelphia won four of its final five regular-season games — including a 20-14 victory over the host Giants on Dec. 7 — and made the playoffs only because they were able to crush Dallas on the final day of the regular season after Houston beat Chicago and Oakland beat Tampa Bay in earlier games.

The Eagles have the one thing any team that is going to make a run in the postseason needs: a hot quarterback. McNabb completed 23 of 34 passes for 300 yards with one touchdown, one interception and a solid 92.8 passer rating against the Vikings.

"Donovan put us on his back and carried us," Eagles running back Brian Westbrook said. "That's what you expect from a superstar quarterback."

McNabb's lone touchdown pass actually went to Westbrook and turned out to be a huge play. With Philadelphia holding a slim 16-14 lead in the fourth quarter and the ball on the Eagles' 29-yard line, McNabb dumped off a little screen pass on first down to Westbrook.

Westbrook had done little in the game but that quickly changed as he cleverly weaved his way through Minnesota defenders, avoided an ankle tackle by cornerback Antoine Winfield and took off for a 71-yard touchdown and a 24-14 advantage. That was the Eagles' first offensive touchdown of the afternoon.

Up to that point, they had gotten three David Akers field goals and a 44-yard interception return for a touchdown by Samuel.

"It was the first screen that we ran all game and it exploded into probably the most important play of the game," McNabb said. "Any time you get the opportunity to give the ball to a guy like Westbrook, if you're given that opportunity in space against any of the defenders you feel confident about that matchup and time and time again you give him that opportunity he makes plays for you."

Samuel, who signed a six-year, $57 million deal with the Eagles last offseason after spending his first five years with New England, also got into the playmaking act. The Vikings had a third-and-4 from their own 35-yard line in the second quarter, when Tarvaris Jackson dropped back to pass and looked to the right side for Sidney Rice. Jackson let fly with a ball that landed in Samuel's hands. He had clear sailing into the end zone.

Samuel's contribution was all the more impressive because he had suffered a hip injury in practice last Thursday and was listed as questionable on the injury report. Samuel was able to start but left the field after aggravating the problem with 11 minutes, 26 seconds left in the second quarter. His touchdown came shortly after he was able to return.

The Vikings also will have to wait to see how things play out, but in this case it will be behind closed doors and not on the field.

Jackson's subpar performance on Sunday — he threw for only 164 yards with no touchdowns and a 45.4 passer rating — brings up more questions about the Vikings' quarterback position. Jackson was benched after the Vikings lost their opening two games against Green Bay and Indianapolis.

Veteran Gus Frerotte took over and went 8-3 as a starter but was injured on Dec. 7 at Detroit. Jackson came in and rallied the Vikings to a 20-16 victory. The following week, he threw four touchdown passes in a 35-14 victory at Arizona. That was enough for Childress to keep Jackson as his starter even after Frerotte's lower-back injury had healed.

Jackson finished the season with a 2-4 record as a starter, including the playoff loss.

After the defeat, Childress wasn't willing to say much about who will be his starting quarterback in 2009. There would appear to be a good chance Frerotte won't return, and if Jackson isn't the guy the Vikings will need to look outside the organization for help at that position.

Money usually isn't an object for Minnesota owner Zygi Wilf, who spent big bucks to add Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen (14.5 sacks), wide receiver Bernard Berrian (seven touchdown catches) and safety Madieu Williams last offseason.

"There are decisions all across the board, and some are tougher than others," Childress said when asked about his quarterback situation. "Suffice it to say that we will evaluate the whole roster. Don't make any of those decisions right this second."

Judd Zulgad covers the Vikings for the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.