Former AFL star Sav Rocca is two matches away from a dream appearance in the NFL Superbowl.

But he may have to battle first with another ex-Australian footballer, Ben Graham, in what could be a repeat of their US showdown two years ago, only with much more at stake.

Rocca was instrumental in the 26-14 victory by the Philadelphia Eagles over the Minnesota Vikings in Minneapolis on Monday (AEDT).

In a game where field position was critical, the ex-North Melbourne and Collingwood forward produced four giant punts, driving the Vikings back inside their own 20-yard line each time.

Rocca recorded an average distance of 44.3 yards, with his longest punt a 58-yard floater in the first quarter which drew this remark from the television game commentator: ``That's a good punt, that's a real good punt''.

Rocca's Eagles now have the daunting task of tackling defending champions the New York Giants, who won the Superbowl last year when they handed the New England Patriots their only loss of the season.

While New York will be refreshed after a week off, Philadelphia are not without a chance, as the Giants are battling injuries and limped into the post-season losing three of their final four games.

The Eagles are 1-1 against their divisional rivals this season and beat the Giants 20-14 in their most recent clash in week 14.

Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens also moved from the first round of NFL playoff action, defeating the Miami Dolphins 27-9 in an American Conference wild card game.

They'll now face the Tennessee Titans.

Graham's Arizona Cardinals on Sunday defeated the Atlanta Falcons 30-24, setting up a clash with the Carolina Panthers next week.

Graham, the former Geelong captain, also performed impressively, punting six times for an average of 39.8 yards and made the Falcons start from inside their 20 yard line four times.

If the Eagles and the Cardinals both win in next week's divisional playoffs, they will clash in the NFC championship game.

The last time Rocca and Graham opposed each other in the NFL was in October, 2007 when the Eagles outpointed the New York Jets, for whom Graham was punting.

In that game, Rocca's two punts averaged 47 yards while Graham's three kicks averaged 37.3 yards.

Aussies in the NFL

More than 40 years after the first Australian crossed to the American National Football League, former AFL stars Sav Rocca and Ben Graham are the latest players to change their boots.

The idea was initiated by Victorian Colin Ridgway, who played reserves for Carlton and competed in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics as a high jumper.

Ridgway, who was murdered at his home in Texas in 1993, aged 56, was recruited by the Dallas Cowboys in 1965 but played just three games as the running drop kicks used in Australian Rules at the time did not translate to the American game.

Like all but one of the Australians who moved to the US to play gridiron, Ridgway was a punter.

The punter's role is to stand behind the line of scrimmage in a game, catch the long snap from the centre, and kick the ball.

He generally goes on the field in on the fourth play, called a ``down'' and aimed at moving the ball at least 10 yards towards the opponents' end zone.

The punter is used to boot the ball as far as possible into the opposition territory so they have more distance to make up when they gain possession of the ball.

Ridgway, Rocca, Graham, Victorian Darren Bennett and Mat McBrier and Colin Stotts from Sydney all played in the NFL.

Bennett, who played for West Coast and Melbourne in the AFL, played in the US from 1995-2005 and was generally regarded as the best punter in the competition in the 1990s.

He is also credited for the introduction into the NFL of the ``Aussie rules kick'' or drop punt as it is known in the AFL.

Australians who have played in the American National Football League:

SAV ROCCA

Born: Melbourne

Age: 35

AFL Career

Collingwood 1992-2000 (156 games), Kangaroos (2001-06) 101 games.

NFL Career

Punter; Philadelphia Eagles 2007-present. Punts 138, yard average 43.0

BEN GRAHAM

Born: Melbourne

Age: 35

AFL Career:

Geelong 1993-2004 (219 games)

NFL Career

Punter; New York Jets 2005-08, New Orleans Saints 2008, Arizona Cardinals 2008-present. Punts 255, yard average 43.5

DARREN BENNETT

Born: Sydney

Age: 43

AFL Career:

West Coast 1987 (4 games) Melbourne 1989-93 (74 games)

NFL Career

Punter; San Diego Chargers (1995-2003) Minnesota Vikings (2004-05). Punts 836, yard average 43.4

MAT MCBRIAR

Born: Melbourne

Age: 29

NFL Career

Punter; Dallas Cowboys 2004-present. Punts 275, yard average 44.7

COLIN SCOTTS

Born: Sydney

Age: 45

NFL Career: Defensive end; St Louis Cardinals 1987

COLIN RIDGWAY

Born: Melbourne 1937-1993

AFL Career:

Carlton Reserves 1960s

NFL Career: Punter; Dallas Cowboys 1965

Other NFL action

In the Eagles-Vikings showdown on Monday, Asante Samuel returned an interception 44 yards for a touchdown and Brian Westbrook added a 71-yard score on a screen pass to boost Philadelphia to their playoffs win.

It was Samuel's fourth career playoff interception return for a touchdown - the most in NFL history.

David Akers added four field goals for the Eagles, who won their last game of the regular season but still needed two other teams to lose last Sunday just to book their playoff berth.

Adrian Peterson had 20 carries for 83 yards and two touchdowns in his first post-season appearance for the Vikings.

The game was still up for grabs in the middle of the fourth quarter, when the Eagles took possession on their 29-yard line.

In Miami, Baltimore's vaunted defence lived up to its billing to deny the Dolphins another chapter in what had been a storybook season.

Ed Reed returned an interception for a touchdown and the Ravens pressured quarterback Chad Pennington and the Dolphins into a string of turnovers.

Pennington's four interceptions were more than half his regular-season total of seven.

The Dolphins had won the competitive AFC East division in a dramatic turnaround from a miserable 1-15 campaign in 2007.

History

AAP

NFL playoff results

  1st rd

American Conference

At Miami

Baltimore 27 Miami 9

Played Saturday

At San Diego

San Diego 23 Indianapolis 17 (OT)

National Conference

At Minneapolis, Minnesota

Philadelphia 26 Minnesota 14

Played Saturday

At Glendale, Arizona

Arizona 30 Atlanta 24