Martin Frank's 4-down territory for Eagles' game against the Vikings in the NFC Championship game, with a prediction. Wochit-Martin Frank/The News Journal
Nick Foles and Vikings QB Case Keenum were teammates with the Rams in 2015. Martin Frank/The News Journal
Jalen Mills, Ronald Darby, Jay Ajayi on Eagles’ playoff win. Martin Frank/The News Journal
Pass rush on Matt Ryan forced errant pass, he said. Kevin Tresolini, The News Journal
Nate Sudfeld on life as backup QB, and right guard Brandon Brooks on making Pro Bowl for first time. Martin Frank/The News Journal
Martin Frank's 4-down territory, with prediction, in previewing Eagles' game against the Rams. Wochit-Martin Frank/The News Journal
Carson Wentz discusses the Eagles spending the week in the Los Angeles area, and his matchup against Rams QB Jared Goff. Martin Frank/The News Journal
Jason Kelce, LeGarrette Blount and Carson Wentz after the 24-10 loss to Seattle. Martin Frank/The News Journal
Also, Lane Johnson assesses the upcoming two-game West Coast trip, and Alshon Jeffery on facing his former team. Martin Frank/The News Journal
Kamu Grugier-Hill, Derek Barnett and Ronald Darby after Eagles' win over Cowboys. Martin Frank/The News Journal
Jay Ajayi on learning the plays and veteran tackle Will Beatty on signing with Eagles. Martin Frank/The News Journal
Eagles CB Ronald Darby is returning after missing eight games with an ankle injury, and DT Tim Jernigan on his new contract. Martin Frank/The News Journal
Jay Ajayi on his TD run and Carson Wentz on Ajayi's Eagles' debut. Plus, Alshon Jeffery and Rodney McLeod. Martin Frank/The News Journal
Martin Frank's 4-down territory in previewing Eagles-Broncos game, with prediction. Wochit-Martin Frank/The News Journal
Jay Ajayi and LeGarrette Blount discuss Ajayi's acquisition and what it means for the Eagles. Martin Frank/The News Journal
Dogs and Eagles living together for a Super Bowl trip
Foles on facing ex-teammate for NFC title
Eagles’ Jalen Mills on game-saving play
Brandon Graham discusses Falcons last play
Meet Eagles backup QB Nate Sudfeld
Who's the better QB, Wentz or Goff?
Eagles practicing in Angels' stadium
Eagles on the mistakes in loss
Jenkins on Eagles' TD celebrations
Eagles LB on filling in at kicker
Jay Ajayi crams Eagles plays
Ronald Darby on Eagles return; Jernigan on contract
Ajayi, Wentz, others on Eagles' win
Ajayi to the rescue for the Eagles?
Ajayi, Blount on Eagles' RB plans
PHILADELPHIA – Mychal Kendricks isn't a math guy. His major at the University of California, Berkeley, was social welfare. He's traditionally leaned toward the theater and the arts instead of the numbers.
So the linebacker was left wondering Friday what the probability was. What are the chances that he could be standing in front of his locker stall talking about playing against his little brother, Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks, Sunday for a chance to go to the Super Bowl?
"I lived in a room with this kid for 17 years," Kendricks said. "We’ve pretty much lived the same lives on opposite sides of our state (Eric attended UCLA). Now we’re on different teams, in the same scenario, playing the same position. It’s crazy.
"I really want to know the odds. Anyone out there who is a mathematician and wants to entertain themselves with this, let me know the odds. It’s crazy."
The odds are probably a little better than he thinks. There have been nearly 400 documented sets of brothers who have played professional football, according to a list put together by the Pro Football Hall of Fame last year that includes brothers who reached the NFL, AFL, and the old All-American Football Conference.
But this exact scenario? Being key members on defensive units that got their team to where they are? With what's at stake? Well, this is a newspaper, and we don't specialize in advanced probabilities much, either.
HISTORY: Happiness and heartbreak: Eagles NFC Championship has more of the latter
MORE: Eagles' Agholor, from country Trump disparaged, keeps working hard
The last time brothers faced off for a shot at the Super Bowl was in 2015, when Chandler and Arthur Jones met in the AFC Championship when Chandler's New England Patriots advanced and eventually beat the Seattle Seahawks in the title game.
The California boys, two years apart in age and each a second-round draft pick separated by two seasons, last spoke on Sunday, Mychal said, after the Vikings pulled off an improbable last-second win against the New Orleans Saints.
With their busy schedules during the season, it's not unusual for the pair to go a few weeks without talking. But Kendricks said before last season's regular season game, when the Eagles beat the Vikings, 21-10 (Eric had a team-high nine tackles), the vibe was much different. There was talking and texting before the game and after the game. They hung out with family on the Saturday before the game.
"I don’t see it happening before the game or after the game or Saturday night," said the older brother, 27. "This is the biggest game of our lives, to this date, and nothing else matters.
"When you put things in perspective, it’s another game. It’s a faceless opponent. Even though he’s my brother, that can be a huge distraction, right? No, he’s just another opponent over there.”
Mychal said he isn't sure exactly who his family will be rooting for on Sunday. He said he could see his mother, Yvonne Thagon, and sister, Danielle, wearing a mixture of green and purple. One thing was certain, though. Being that the game is an Eagles home game, family members will be sitting on the Philadelphia sideline.
“I always make jokes, I feel like my brother gets a little bit of an advantage as far as who the family roots for because he’s the firstborn,” 25-year-old Eric, Minnesota's leading tackler, told the Star Tribune earlier this week. “But it’s all love."
"I’m the oldest. I came first," Mychal joked when asked about the favoritism Friday. "I’m the trailblazer."
Each of the Kendricks brothers will play a critical role in their respective team's success Sunday. The game is expected to be dominated by defense, and whichever unit cracks first is likely to come up short.
MORE BIRDS: Foles nearly retired 2 years ago; Eagles glad he didn't
COX ON A MISSION: DE welcomes challenge Vikings bring in NFC title matchup
And then there are the brotherly bragging rights that come along with it. Eric, picked 45th overall in the draft to Mychal's 46th, briefly had the upper-hand before last season's Eagles victory over Minnesota.
Sunday will certainly tip the scales.
Mychal was reminded of the time the Harbaugh brothers, John and Jim, famously went some time without speaking to one another after the head coaches were opponents in the 2013 Super Bowl.
"I can see that happening," Mychal said. "I can see that happening. We both want it for the same reason. We’re trying to get to that big one."
Only one of them can.
Contact reporter Jeff Neiburg at (302) 983-6772, jneiburg@delawareonline.com or on Twitter @Jeff_Neiburg.