"Stars shine, as the saying goes, when the spotlight is at its brightest.

Think Michael Vick against Washington on Monday Night Football, toying with the Redskins with a near-perfect performance and announcing to millions of prime-time viewers that he is indeed back and better than ever.

Think Aaron Rodgers needing to break a fourth-quarter tie against Chicago or the Packers' season would be over. So what does he do? He looks for another star - receiver Greg Jennings - and they hook up for a 46-yard pass that sets up the game-winning touchdown.

Vick and Rodgers are just two of the stars that will be colliding for the Eagles and Packers when the teams meet Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field in the first round of the NFC playoffs. It's a safe bet that when a big moment arises, one of those playmakers will be at the center of the action.

It's been that way all season for the Eagles. Vick and receiver DeSean Jackson have been the team's shooting stars, producing one big play after another. Who could forget the Vick-led comeback that set up Jackson's scintillating, game-winning punt return against the Giants?

There are other budding stars on offense - running back LeSean McCoy and receiver Jeremy Maclin, to name two. But Vick and Jackson make the Eagles go, just as cornerback Asante Samuel and defensive end Trent Cole drive the Eagles' defense.

When Samuel missed three games with a knee injury and Cole wore down from countless double teams late in the season, the Eagles' defense crumbled like week-old bread.

The Packers' defense also revolves around a two-man show - linebacker Clay Matthews and cornerback Charles Woodson. The names are familiar, but when the game is on, the easiest way to identify them is by their numbers - 52 (Matthews) and 21 (Woodson). It's how opposing coaches often refer to ball hawks after hours and hours of watching film.

"Yeah, 52 and 21, both of them," Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said. "Those are two of the very best players in the game on defense. You have to be aware of where those two are every snap.""