We are approaching a defining moment.

Not the inauguration of Barack Obama. We’re talking Eagles. Specifically the Andy Reid era.

This is pretty simple. If Reid and his trusty sidekick of 10 years, starting quarterback Donovan McNabb, can march into the Meadowlands Sunday, defeat the Giants, and advance to the NFC title game, all will be forgotten.

All the pass-happy West Coast offense. All the smugness. All the arrogance. All the talk of gold standards. All the balls thrown into the ground or over the heads of open receivers.

The truth is this Eagles team has no business being in this game. They got a miracle – actually several of them – just to get into the playoffs. Last week they showed they know what to do once they get there.

So it doesn’t matter what else they do this season, if they win on Sunday. They can lose to Carolina, or lose in the Super Bowl, and this bizarre will still be a success.

All they have to do is something they have already accomplished this season, beat the Giants in North Jersey.

Lose, especially if they lose badly, or via one of those agonizing fourth quarters where they appear to have no sense of urgency as the game ticks away, and all the questions will rise up, only louder. And heaven help us should they squader timeouts and then have time expire on them as they drive toward a potential game-tying or winning score.

It’s in their hands.

Actually, it’s not. It’s in the foot of David Akers. I’ll talk about that tomorrow with my “dreaded Saturday Eagles pick.” Make sure you stop back and check it out.