Eagles WR DeSean Jackson said he would be the difference-maker. With a 62-yard touchdown catch to give the Eagles a 25-24 lead, he very well might be.

Willie McGinest was just saying, “Watch the slant, watch the slant,” as the Cardinals were driving with 3:30 to go in the first half. What happened? Kurt Warner threw the slant, Eagles CB Asante Samuel wasn’t in the right place in coverage and got a “P.I.” (that’s what Willie calls pass interference). On the next play, Warner found WR Larry Fitzgerald on the other side of the end zone for a touchdown.

Eagles QB Donovan McNabb talked earlier in the week about living in Phoenix during the offseason. Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt is a neighbor, as are DE Bertrand Berry and S Adrian Wilson. Well, Wilson sure isn’t acting too neighborly today, with two sacks and a forced fumble.

The Eagles defense and coordinator Jim Johnson are completely ineffective so far against the Cardinals. Arizona is throwing all of its plays out there. They are keeping the Eagles off-balance by running the ball, spreading them out, running crossing routes, screens to the tight ends and receivers, trick plays and the halfback toss that went back to the quarterback and then was thrown for a touchdown.

In the NFC Championship Game’s first wrinkle, the Cardinals lined up S Antrel Rolle as an offset running back and sent him in motion — left to right — on their opening drive. The play was a counter handoff to Edgerrin James, who broke off a 16-yard run. The Eagles definitely were surprised.

The Cardinals have a stationary bike on the sideline so wide receiver Anquan Boldin can keep his sore hamstring warm on the sidelines. Here are a few other notes just before kickoff in Glendale, Ariz.

Willie McGinest is pictured here with Eagles FB Dan Klecko, who dubs himself the “Lucky Marshmallow.”

As the teams take the field for pregame warmups, here are a few observations from University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.