Brodrick Bunkley – run stuffer.

EAST RUTHERFORD: Is this the year of the underdog in the NFC?

It must be when two teams with just nine wins during the regular season are going to strap it up for the NFC championship.

The Arizona Cardinals (11-7) and the Philadelphia Eagles (11-6-1) disposed of the top two seeds over the weekend, both in convincing fashion.

The game is Sunday, 3 p.m. Eastern time in Arizona (FOX). The winner advances to Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, February 1 against the winner of the Baltimore Ravens – Pittsburgh Steelers AFC Title game.

The Cardinals smashed the Carolina Panthers, the No. 2 seed, 33-7 and the Eagles pounded out a 23-11 victory over top seeded and defending Super Bowl Champion New York Football Giants (12-5).

For the Eagles it was sweet redemption. The Eagles hit rock bottom after games 10 & 11 when they tied a pathetic Cincinnati Bengals team and got blown out by the Baltimore Ravens in a game that saw five-time Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb benched at halftime.

There was also talk after those game, it would the end of the Andy Reid-Donovan McNabb era.

After those two disastrous games, the Eagles were 5-5-1 and were seemingly out of the playoff race.

But the Eagles – with a rejuvenated McNabb and a shut down defense – have reeled off six victories in their last seven games including two in the playoffs.

The Eagles are now in their fifth NFC title game in the last eight years and one win from their second Super Bowl in the last four years.

Talk of Reid and McNabb leaving now sound ridiculous.

“I’ll tell you what; I’ll take this one,” said Reid, obviously emotionally affected by the moment at his post game press conference. “It’s great to be back in the NFC Championship game. We’ll enjoy this one for a little bit…we have to get our mindset for Arizona, who did a heck of a job against Carolina yesterday. They are a tremendous football team.”

Mistakes were the theme of the first quarter. The Eagles special teams allowed a 65-yard return of the opening kickoff by Ahmad Bradshaw to the Eagles 35-yard-line.

The Giants moved the ball to the four-yard line but the drive stalled and Big Blue had to settle for a 22-yard yard field goal by John Carney.

After a short drive by the Eagles that stalled, the Giants started their next drive at their own 13, courtesy of a penalty by Kenny Phillips on the return.

Eli Manning went to pass on first down, was pressured, and threw an easy interception to Asante Samuel who zigzagged his way 25 yards to the Giants’ two.

Four plays later Donovan McNabb punched in a TD on a sneak from the one and it was 7-3.

The second quarter continued to be a defensive struggle, each team taking turns at trying to move the ball without much success.

The Giants defense produced two points when McNabb was flagged for intentional grounding in the end zone. Giants defensive end Justin Tuck beat tackle Jon Runyan to put pressure on McNabb, forcing the safety.

The teams trade long drives to nowhere then, with 3:58 left in the half, the Giants were able to mount a drive that went 63 yards on seven plays resulting in a 34-yard field goal to take a lead by the unusual score of 8-7.

With just 1:24 left in the half, the Eagles countered with a surgical drive that went 68 yards on 12 plays and ended with a 25-yard David Akers field goal.

The Birds led at halftime 10-8.

The Eagles got great field position to start the second half thanks to a return by Quintin Demps.

The good feeling did not last long as McNabb’s pass was deflected by Chase Blackburn and intercepted by defensive tackle Fred Robbins who lumbered 17 yards. The 6-foot-4, 317-pounder was tackled by of all people, 5-10, 175-pound wide receiver DeSean Jackson.

The Giants were again unable to sustain a drive and had to settle for another Carney field goal.

The Eagles went back in front 13-11 on their next drive but gave away four points when McNabb hit a wide-open Kevin Curtis who had the bounce off his face mask. It was a sure six had he made the easy catch.

Curtis did step up with after that drop with four catches for 40 yards including several tough ones.

Those catches were part of two scoring drives that started at the end of the third quarter and into the fourth.

The Eagles went 63 yards on 10 plays that ended with a one-yard pass to tight end Brent Celek t make the score 20-11.

The Giants, now with their backs to the wall, began to press and it blew up in their face.

On two ill-fated drives the Giants went for it on fourth down only to have the Eagles defensive line – led by Brodrick Bunkley – stuff the attempts.

Manning threw an interception to safety Quintin Mikell on the Jints last real chance to get back in the game.

In all, the Giants committed three turnovers, the capitol sin in the playoffs.

Giants veteran guard Rich Seubert said their defense did its job.

“It is disappointing and you can blame it all on the offense,” Seubert said. “Our defense played its heart out. We have to get touchdowns. I feel bad for the guys on defense because they played well. We just couldn’t get it done.”

McNabb – who was 22 of 40 for 217 yards, a TD and 2 Ints and 1 rushing TD – said the Eagles recent success came from learning how to enjoy the game again. He also pointed to the recent birth of his twins in a pregnancy that was difficult.

“Guys were pressing and that includes myself,” McNabb said. “With the birth of the twins I had a lot on my mind. It may have affected the way I thought or I played. But I felt like as a team, we needed to get back to guys just flying around making plays, congratulating each other, giving guys opportunities to make plays and score touchdowns.

“You saw that in that Thanksgiving game (a win over Arizona) and we just continued to feed off that each week. No matter what play was called, it was going to be a big play.”

Al Thompson can be reached at al.thompson@footballstories.com