By Mike Lopresti
Gannett News Service

PHILADELPHIA - The extended weather forecast for Philadelphia next Sunday predicts temperatures in the 30s. Just in case the Tampa Bay Buccaneers wanted to know.

Here comes the Super Bowl's final cut, and location seems to mean everything.

In the NFC, the Buccaneers have to pack their parkas and play in front of the inmates at Veterans Stadium.

In the AFC, the Tennessee Titans must thicken their skins and cover their ears in preparation for Network Associates Coliseum in Oakland, where the crowd douses its guests in abuse, mockery, scorn, ridicule and obscenities.

And that's just from the senior citizens' sections.

In other words, it's going to take a funny bounce or two for Super Bowl XXXVII to be anything else but the Eagles against the Raiders.

Not that the cause is hopeless for the visitors. Tennessee has won 11 of its past 12 games. Tampa Bay's defense is Roman-numeral worthy.

But both are headed in harm's way. Home teams are 7-1 so far in this postseason. The hosts for the conference title games just won their divisional playoffs by a combined 50-16.

The Titans lost in Oakland in September. They gave up 52 points.

And you absolutely want to say prayers for the Bucs.

It's not just that the wind-chill factor will be waiting for them.

And it's not just that their history on the road in the playoffs reads like an accident report. They are 0-6, by a combined 152-42. They have been to Philadelphia in the postseason the past two seasons and are still waiting to score a touchdown.

And it's not just that they were in the Vet in October and lost 20-10, when Brad Johnson was sacked more than milk in a grocery store.

But this will be the last Eagles game ever played in the Vet, which somewhat reminds you of a cave. So the locals will be particularly aroused and malevolent.

"They'll be out of their minds," Eagles coach Andy Reid said, trying not to rub his hands together.

Home games are always good in Philadelphia. Look how many sociopaths they keep off the streets for three hours.

The Bucs will get Donovan McNabb at full speed from his broken ankle, now that he has had his shakedown cruise against the Atlanta Falcons.

"He was really calm in the huddle, doing like he always does," Philadelphia receiver James Thrash reported. "Cracking jokes, calming us down."

Said McNabb: "It is all about instinct."

Last year, McNabb forced himself to stay on the field after the Eagles were beaten in the NFC title game, to watch the St. Louis Rams celebrate, and sear the moment into his mind.

Now he understands just what he is after this week. "Unfinished business," he said of the Atlanta win.

The Eagles defend with such passion, any opposing quarterback who comes back for more receives instant admiration. Such as Atlanta's Michael Vick, after Brian Dawkins' tackle Saturday night nearly separated him from his larynx.

"I know Dawk tried to kill him down on the goal line. He really took his head off," Philadelphia tackle Corey Simon said. "(Vick) just popped back up. They are going to win a championship with him, no doubt about it."

But not this season. The Eagles have other fish to fry, and his name is Brad Johnson.

Meanwhile, Oakland will try to keep rolling by having - among other things - 37-year-old Rich Gannon throwing TD passes to 40-year-old Jerry Rice.

The Eagles and Titans have never won a Super Bowl. The Buccaneers have never been to one. It's been 19 years for the Raiders, back in their Los Angeles days.

So it's a hungry final four, but only two get home cooking. The last place a visiting team would want to be next Sunday is Oakland. Unless it was Philadelphia.

Return to Bengals front page...