AT THE HALF

The Eagles hold a 4-point lead going into halftime and will get the ball to start the 3rd quarter going into the wind. They are in position to put to rest their 3-game conference title game losing streak and advance to the Super Bowl for the first time in more than 20 years.

That still doesn't mean that they will win. With 30 minutes of football still to come in the NFC Championship game, here are a few things to look for in the second half that will determine the outcome:

The running game
The elements are a factor. The wind chill at the Link is at three degrees. There are 35 mph winds swirling around inside this stadium. The bottom line is passing won't be easy. Both quarterbacks can scramble. Both teams have great backs, and a controlled running game will get the job done. The Falcons are a run-based team, and their defense is geared up to stop Eagles' RB Brian Westbrook.
ADVANTAGE: FALCONS

Field position
Because of the winds, the Eagles' Dirk Johnson and the Falcons' Chris Mohr are going to be major factors in this game. I know you're probably wondering who the hell those guys are. They are the punters in this game. Because of the wind and the cold, pinning a team deep in their own territory will be huge. But with the home field and the wind at their backs in the fourth quarter, it's touch to pick against the Eagles. Alan Rossum will do his part returning kicks for Atlanta to give Michael Vick and the offense good positioning but will it be enough?
ADVANTAGE: EAGLES

Conservative calls
In previous years, Eagles' coach Andy Reid went conservative with the play calls, and the Eagles didn't advance. If the Eagles have a chance to blow the game open, they have to take it. They need to prove to themselves that they are capable of asserting themselves as the true conference champions. Also, because Terrell Owens isn't a lock to play in the Super Bowl should the Eagles win today, the receivers must once again come up big in the clutch this week in order to maintain the swagger that TO brought to this team.
The Falcons offense is anything but conservative. In a Vick-coast offense (because you can't run the west coast offense when you have a quarterback like Michael Vick, a defense will be on its heels. If the Falcons can exploit the Eagles' defense, they will make their second trip to the Super Bowl in franchise history.
Jim Mora Jr's crew is already a run-based team so they can't really shut it down and go conservative.
ADVANTAGE: EVEN