Eagles first top seed to open as underdog

like Jeff Hostetler and make everyone forget about the season-ending knee injury MVPcaliber QB Carson Wentz suffered. That’s easier said than done, especially in a place they call Wentzylvania.

Tackle Lane Johnson boycotted the media a month ago when he sensed a perception change surrounding the Eagles when Wentz got hurt. But now he’s talking again, sounding a lot like Rodney Dangerfield.

“What bothered me is we were 12-2, and we got treated like we were the Browns,” Johnson said this week. "I don't like it, but I think it's a good motivator. We come in, and Nick Foles is the new quarterback. He's not putting up 400 yards passing, so people panic.”

Panic might be one word for it. One caller to WIP sports talk radio in Philly simply fell apart and started crying when Wentz got hurt. The city has been an emotional wreck ever since.

It's a strange time in Philadelphia when they look to the Giants for inspiration. Hostetler replaced the injured Phil Simms in December 1990 and led the Giants through the playoffs to a Super Bowl XXV win against the favorite Buffalo Bills. The Eagles hope Foles can muster the same kind of magic.

So far, Foles is 2-1 since replacing Wentz. The last time he started a playoff game was 2013.

Eagles head coach Doug Pederson, whom they still aren’t totally sold on in Philly, was asked this week if he’s confident his team has finally moved on from the Wentz injury.

“I am very confident in that, just by the way the guys have handled their business the last two weeks, the way we practiced last week and the way we prepared this week,” he said. “Does that guarantee anything? No. We've still got to go out and play, but just the attitude of the team and focused on the opponent this week.”

And the point spread.