Onetime backup QBs knock on glory’s door

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The quarterback matchup is so unlikely, even Case Keenum playfully referred to it last week in his media availability with reporters covering the Vikings.

“I know this is what all of you guys predicted back in the day: a Foles versus Keenum NFC championship,” he said, referring to Eagles quarterback Nick Foles. “So good job to all you guys who predicted that.”

Of course, 0.0 percent of prognosticators could have foreseen Keenum and Foles, both former Rams signed as insurance plans before the 2017 season, would have their teams one win from the Super Bowl.

But they will be the focus Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, along with two smothering defenses.

Whereas Keenum has had a tremendous season stepping in for the injured Sam Bradford in Week 2, Foles has been shakier since replacing injured MVP candidate Carson Wentz in the second half of a Week 14 game in Los Angeles.

Keenum counts Foles among his closest friends.

“A really, really solid guy,” Keenum told reporters. “Great faith, great family. My wife and his wife are great friends . ... Prepares well, extremely talented, big arm and he’s really athletic too. I know he’s got a lot of confidence, and I’m looking forward to playing against him.” Philadelphia has gone to the dogs.

With the Vikings favored by three, the Eagles are home underdogs for the second week in a row. They are embracing that status and last week Lane Johnson and Chris Long pulled on rubber German Shepherd masks as they walked off the field after the victory over the Falcons.

They got the masks on Amazon, and the vendor promptly sold out once word spread. Johnson seized on the opportunity to harness the underdog theme to do good in the community and at last count had raised more than $100,000 for Philadelphia schools with the sale of “home dogs” T-shirts.

Eagles fans were none too pleased last week when the NFL ran an advertisement on its Facebook page for a Super Bowl ticket contest. The ad featured action shots of the Patriots’ Tom Brady and Keenum flanking the Lombardi Trophy. Maybe that will be the matchup, but there are a couple of important games to be played first.

The Eagles are at home, and Keenum makes bad mistakes from time to time, so anything can happen. But the Vikings are more reliable on both sides of the ball, and Foles will have a hard time consistently moving the ball against that defense.