This is why the Eagles went out and dumped all that money in the lap of Asante Samuel.

And this is what makes him so different than Sheldon Brown and a long list of Eagles who have had the opportunity to shine on a national stage, and instead shied away.

Make no mistake, Sheldon Brown played a very good game yesterday, consistently breaking up passes and providing a menacing, physical presence to Vikings’ receivers.

But Samuel is a difference maker. The playoffs are his stage. And he relishes in the moment.

Samuel did not practice on Friday, having tweaked his hip. Not that his presence during Sunday’s wild-card matchup with the Vikings was ever in doubt.

Early in the game, it appeared Samuel had tweaked that bum hip, lying on the turf inside the Metrodome, then limping to the sideline.

That was shortly before he stepped in front of an ill-advised throw from Tarvaris Jackson and headed for the end zone. His touchdown deflated the Vikings and provided the Eagles with an advantage they never relinquished.

Late in the second half, with the Vikings desperate to make a play, Jackson threw another pass directly into the hands of an Eagle defender. It clanked off Sheldon Brown’s hands.

Samuel set an NFL record yesterday. His 44-yard return for a TD was his fourth career postseason touchdown.

Jackson signed with the Eagles in the off-season when they dangled a six-year, $57 million deal in his face.

Anyone want to argue whether he’s worth the money?