PHILADELPHIA — Some of his teammates couldn't watch David Akers when he lined up for the winning kick, preferring to let the crowd's reaction tell them the outcome.

Given recent events around the NFL, nobody could blame them.

The fans' roar gave them the news — snap, hold and kick were perfect this time.

Akers hit a 38-yard field goal with no time remaining to give the Philadelphia Eagles a 23-20 victory over the New York Giants in a wild-card playoff game yesterday.

A day after Dallas lost to Seattle when quarterback Tony Romo fumbled the hold on what could have been a go-ahead field goal, snapper Jon Dorenbos and holder Koy Detmer executed the seemingly routine play that has cost teams important games in recent weeks.

Akers got some encouragement from punter and former holder Dirk Johnson before he went out to attempt the kick on a sloppy field in a steady rain.

"Dirk said, 'Those posts look big, don't they?' " Akers said. "I said, 'Don't worry. We're going to be celebrating in a minute.' "

Brian Westbrook, playing through stomach cramps that often sent him to the sidelines, had 141 yards rushing, including a spectacular, slashing 49-yard TD run in the second quarter. His 65-yard punt return for an apparent score in the third quarter was nullified by a penalty on rookie Torrance Daniels.

Jeff Garcia threw for 153 yards, one touchdown and played efficiently enough to win for the sixth time in seven starts since replacing an injured Donovan McNabb.

Eli Manning threw two touchdown passes to Plaxico Burress, including an 11-yard strike that tied it at 20 with 5:04 left.

In his last game, Tiki Barber ran for 137 yards for the Giants. A three-time Pro Bowl running back, Barber plans to retire after 10 seasons in the NFL.

"This was one of the hardest places I've ever played in," Barber said. "It was fitting to come down here and play my last game."

The Eagles are far from finished, though.

Counted out after a knee injury ended McNabb's season in Week 11, the Eagles (11-6) have won six straight games. They'll play at New Orleans (10-6) next Saturday night.

Detmer, the longtime backup quarterback signed this week specifically to be the holder, had no trouble putting the snap down for Akers' winning kick

"Being a holder for the amount of time I've been, you realize there's nothing given," Detmer said. "None of them are guaranteed. You have to make it happen."

Led by Garcia and a rejuvenated defense, Philadelphia turned its season around after a 24-point loss in Indianapolis, captured its fifth division title in six years and earned the No. 3 seed in the conference.

Meanwhile, the Giants (8-9) fell apart after a 6-2 start.

Manning was 16 of 27 for 161 yards, two TDs and one interception. Garcia was 17 of 31.

The Eagles went ahead 17-10 late in the second quarter on Garcia's 28-yard TD pass to Donte' Stallworth.

Akers kicked a 48-yard field goal — the longest in the playoffs in team history — to give Philadelphia a 20-10 lead with 2:37 left in the third quarter.

Jay Feely's 24-yarder cut it to 20-13 early in the fourth.

The Eagles got going in the second quarter when Westbrook's long TD run tied it at 7, and Akers' 19-yard field goal gave them a 3-point lead.

Barber's 41-yard run to the Eagles 3 put New York in position to go ahead. But Philadelphia's defense tightened and Feely kicked a 20-yard field goal to make it 10-10.

New York's offense was crisp at the start. Manning capped a 67-yard drive with a 17-yard TD pass to a wide-open Burress across the middle for a 7-0 lead.