Strong at the corners

Larry Fitzgerald is tough to handle. Ditto Anquan Boldin if he is able to play Sunday in the NFC Championship. Good thing the Eagles have perhaps the best cornerback tandem in the NFL.

Asante Samuel has proven the last few weeks why he is considered on of the league's most explosive, playmaking cornerbacks. He breaks on the ball as good as anyone, and always seems to be in the right position. Samuel rarely gets beat for big plays.

Sheldon Brown is almost as effective, even though he's not picking off passes on a regular basis like Samuel. Brown is just steady, physical and gets the job done. He oftens remains in obscurity. But when you're a cornerback in the NFL and nobody hears your name, it means you're doing a good job.

All this bodes well for the Eagles on Sunday when they try to slow down one of the league's most potent passing attacks, led by quarterback Kurt Warner, Fitzgerald and Boldin. The Eagles, unlike the Carolina Panthers, who have no Samuel or Sheldon to boast, have the capability to do it. And they will have to on Sunday if they want to make the Super Bowl.

Joselio Hanson and maybe even Lito Sheppard will help as well when the Eagles use all their available resources to shut down the Cards' passing game. The Eagles' secondary depth is a huge advantage heading into the NFC Championship Game. 

"It's the deepest secondary [I've ever had], there's no question about it," defensive coordinator Jim Johnson said last week. "With Lito in the backup role and Joselio in the nickel, and the safeties, it has very good depth."

With wide receiver Steve Breaston also a force and Boldin seemingly ready to return, the Eagles are going to need that depth to make the Super Bowl.