The Home Stretch

While this was a rare Sunday sans Eagles, there was plenty of football to go around with notable battles in the AFC East and North Divisions and important matchups for the NFC South.

But as stated in yesterdays Monday Hangover post, our official season preview has had some hits, and well, some misses. Regardless, I think the NFL game that spoke the most volumes this weekend was last night's dismantling of the New York Jets.

Sidenote: as an Eagles fan, I'm supposed to hate every other team in the league, right? And when the Eagles are playing those teams, I do indeed hate them. But I'm also somewhat of a misnomer, because I enjoy watching the New England Patriots. The underdogs of the early 2000's, no one ever talks about the Patriots (outside of their year of perfection) and they almost always fly under the "experts" radar. You hear more about the Colts and Cowboys at the beginning of the season than you do about the Pats. I hear Brett Favre's name more than you ever hear Tom Brady's. You just do. That's why I kinda like the Pats. They sneak up on you. Then with just four games left, they're "suddenly" the best team in the NFL.

Now when the Eagles and Pats met in the Super Bowl a few years back, I of course, rooted for the Eagles. No doubt about it. But still, it irks me when no one ever gives a thought to this team despite winning 3 championships in the decade and narrowly missing another.

With that Pats embarrassment of the "pretender" Jets last night, I think the only true elite teams in the AFC are the Pats and Steelers.

The NFC is more a conundrum. The Eagles, Falcons, Giants, Saints, Bears, and Packers have all separated themselves from the rest of the league. Unfortunately, due to the lowly NFC West, one of these teams will miss the postseason entirely. I don't think there is a clear elite, but unfortunately, for those thinking the Eagles are that team, think again. The defense has been exposed for a few weeks in a row now and the Eagles could easily lose to the other five teams I mentioned if they met those clubs in the playoffs. Also, I'm sticking with my gut and I think the Packers are still the best team in this conference. Despite the rash of injuries and inconsistent play throughout the season, I think they have the scariest team and most legitimate shot at reaching the Super Bowl.

Getting Up For The Letdown

As Turkey Day has come and gone, the push to the NFL playoffs has officially begun, and the Eagles are in a position few expected them to be in at the start of the season. They currently lead the division after a hard-fought victory over the New York Football Giants, and at 7-3, are just a game back of top-seeded Atlanta in the NFC. Football fever is in full force in Philadelphia, with Michael Vick leading what is arguably the most exciting young group of players us Birds fans have ever seen.

You would expect me to be just giddy about how the Eagles are doing right now - and I am excited - but a significant part of me is also very hesitant and skeptical. I've seen this routine too many times before, the Eagles cruising along, getting all of our hopes up, only to leave us shaking our heads and muttering and questioning why we still put ourselves through the torture of being Eagles fans come January. I am reminded of a lyric from a song of a classic EA Sports soundtrack (Madden '07) by the band Cartel, in which they warn us all that we're "just getting up for the letdown." If you want to enjoy this pop-punk masterpiece, feel free to indulge:



It's a well-known fact (at least between myself and R. Scott) that EA soundtracks hold many pieces of invaluable wisdom, and I'm worried that such is the case here. You can't help but get excited about this Eagles team, which is almost a lock to at least make the playoffs, and which has the national media (as usual) jumping all over their bandwagon. Who could forget 2002, when the Eagles were seemingly a lock to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, playing at home in the NFC title game against Tampa in the good old sub-40 degree weather, only to leave the Vet with the lasting memory of Ronde Barber racing down the sidelines? Or 2003, when little-known Ricky Manning Jr. picked off Donovan McNabb three times in a game where the Eagles offense mysteriously declined to show up? How about 2004, when the Eagles finally broke the NFC championship game curse, only to waddle down the field on a touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter, wasting a ridiculous amount of time and killing any hope of a comeback against the Patriots?

Let's not forget 2008, when after a turbulent middle of the season that saw Donovan McNabb get benched, the team blazed through the rest of the season. Even after a disappointing loss to Washington in Week 16, they destroyed Dallas in the season finale and then upset the G-Men in the divisional playoffs, only to be bested by the underdog Cardinals in the title game. Then there was last season, when a six-game winning streak was abruptly interrupted by two back-to-back embarrassing losses to the hated Cowboys to end the season. It's just the way things go as an Eagles fan.

So, no matter how good things get down the stretch here for the Eagles, I will always have these haunting memories in the back of my head, reminding me that there's always another one waiting around the corner. Like most fans, I hope for the best and expect the worst, while trying to enjoy the ride along the way. I look forward to seeing what Vick and the Eagles do in another big matchup this weekend against a tough Bears team in what could be another huge statement game, cementing the team as a top contender in the NFL. But, as Cartel warns us, I always remind myself that I'm probably just getting up for the letdown.

Gearing Up for Big Blue

The Eagles will play what is easily the biggest game of the season so far tonight when the division rival Giants visit the Linc for a Sunday night matchup. Though there is often a deeper hatred amongst Eagles fans when it comes to the Dallas Cowboys, the proximity of the cities and the similarities between the Eagles and Giants and their fans make it a better rivalry in my opinion. The series was back and forth during the past decade, with the Eagles ending with a slight 13-10 advantage and currently having won the last four (including a playoff game).

The Giants had the Eagles' number for a while after their Super Bowl run in 2004, winning 6 of 8. Then, things changed, and its not a coincidence that the Giants haven't beaten the Eagles since Plaxico Burress was dismissed from the team midway through the 2008 season. Burress was an Eagle killer, and when the Giants had their running game going, he was a tough matchup for any defense. Though the Giants have picked up some other nice young receivers in Steve Smith, Hakeem Nicks, and Mario Manningham, none of them have the game-changing presence that Plax did, and with a less effective running game, the Giants have been easier to defend lately.

Of course, the Eagles D vs. Giants O isn't the part of the game that most of America is going to tune in to see. No, what they want to see is Michael Vick, coming off one of the best performances by a quarterback I've ever seen, against a much more formidable defense in the Giants. The G-Men are tops in the league in fewest yards allowed per game. The Eagles are 3rd in yards gained, and are 2nd in points scored. Something has to give. What isn't getting much press is the fact that the Giants actually have the second-ranked offense in the NFL based on yards gained, and will be a formidable challenge for the Eagles, but what can you expect when Mike Vick is on the opposing squad?

Vick will be facing a sometimes-dominating defensive line that has a combination of size and athleticism that the Eagles haven't seen this year. It will be a great test for a quarterback with a level of athleticism that has never been seen before in the game of football. Michael Vick has an opportunity to dispose of the "yeah, but who has he played" argument that exists when speaking about his success this season. If the Eagles handle the Giants and Vick has a big game, they can instantly catapult themselves to the favorites in the NFC, having already beaten the 7-2 Falcons, which is hard to believe considering what most of us thought of the team's prospects in the preseason. If not, there are going to be some doubts about whether this a Super Bowl caliber team as opposed to just a playoff team.

Everything is clicking right now on the offensive side of the ball (I know, brilliant observation on my part after they scored 59 points last week), and the Giants are coming off a terribly disappointing loss to a 1-7 Dallas team at home. As mentioned before, they haven't beaten the Eagles the last four tries. What does that mean? They're going to be fired up. Fired up to end the streak, to prove that last week was the exception and not the rule, and to do what no team thus far has been able to do - contain number 7. On top of that, it's a top tier division rivalry in the NFL. NBC must be giddy with excitement thinking about the ratings this primetime matchup will generate.

If the Eagles win the game, however, they will do it on the defensive side of the ball. I think Vick and the offense will score their points, but can the D contain what has been a very solid Giants offense this year? One thing that favors the Birds is the Giants' injury situation, as they are banged up to say the least. Among the wounded are O-lineman Shaun O'Hara and David Diehl, who, along with WR Steve Smith and FB Madison Hedgecock, will be out for the game. TE Kevin Boss was limited in practice, but is probable to play. Oh, and wait, there's one more; yes, our old buddy, Shawn Andrews is questionable with a (shocker) back injury. Boy, that sounds awfully familiar. Andrews, though, says he is "extra amped" about this one, as I'm sure he can't wait to exact revenge on the team that dealt with over a year of his injury drama, personal issues, and Michael Phelps songs before finally cutting him this past offseason. Andrews better be amped if he's in the game, because I'm sure there are some Eagles D-linemen who wouldn't mind teeing off on the guy who pulled the team through what seemed like a never-ending roller coaster ride over the past two years. While part of me is happy for the guy that he is able to play football with all the issues he's had with depression and his back, it's nice how he managed to pull it together AFTER the Eagles finally gave up and cut him.

So, with that all said, Sunday night promises to be a fun one. Plenty of storylines, first place in the NFC East on the line, and Michael Vick's true chance to show that he is back as an elite NFL quarterback. The Eagles are poised to thrust themselves into Super Bowl-contender status with a win, and to prompt a blog post from me featuring a classic Madden tune. Exciting, huh? Just another reason to hope the Eagles win.

Everybody Makes Mistakes

So said Donovan McNabb in the Redskins' post-game celebration after beating the Eagles in Week 4, after his spectacular 8 for 19 performance for 125 yards and a TD. Yes, that was completely sarcastic. He did nothing whatsoever after the first quarter, and despite the Eagles playing their worst game of the season, they were still a Jason Avant ridiculous catch away from snagging a win. But, of course, Donovan just couldn't resist getting a shot in.

Of course, that "mistake" the team made in trading him away has led to the "Michael Vick Experience 2: This Time He Can Pass" (in theaters everywhere). While McNabb and the Skins have fizzled out since that game, the Eagles have been nearly unstoppable with Vick at the helm. Despite this, some other Redskins felt the need to stoke the fire before the game Monday night, I guess thinking they could actually replicate their performance in the first matchup against a very different Eagles squad. According to several Eagles players, Redskins DBs Laron Landry and DeAngelo Hall were making sleeping motions, putting their hands next to their heads, taunting Desean Jackson and the horrific concussion he suffered a few weeks ago. Landry apparently had some verbal shots along the same lines, and while he of course denies it, this story has been confirmed by many players as well as an independent source, FOX's Jay Glazer. According to Desean, Landry specifically told him "I'm going to put you to sleep again."

Now, that's just wrong in any context, making light of a serious and possibly life-threatening injury, but what makes it worse is that Landry is an overrated glorified linebacker who is known only for his physique and occasional big hits, and is a total liability in coverage. He also seems to be lacking upstairs, because why you would try to fire up an Eagles team playing incredible football and coming in for a revenge game is beyond me. The entire team took note of the comments made to Jackson in the locker room after a skirmish on the field before the game, and the result was a first play that put Landry in his place, to say the least.

An 88-yard TD bomb from Vick to Jackson that left Landry sprawled on the Fed-Ex field grass. Though no one will outright say it, there are reports that some of these pre-game festivities led to the coaching staff's decision to pour it on rather than maybe let up on the gas pedal a little. Then again, why shouldn't they pour it on? These are professionals playing against professionals, so if the Redskins didn't like it they should have stopped it.

But back to McNabb. Eagles center Mike McGlynn (who was very talkative after the game, also claiming that Landry spit in his face twice during the game) alluded to the fact that McNabb's comments after the first matchup may have provided some added fuel for the Eagles, saying “We got fired up. Donovan had said some things after they beat us that fired us up, saying how they made a terrible decision and everybody makes mistakes. I think we’re happy with where we are right now.” In case you didn't see it, here's the clip of McNabb's speech (skip to about the 0:50 mark):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mD5JEkHw-0c

Ahh. Donovan, Mr. Class, just couldn't resist throwing that little barb in there, knowing full well that he was on camera and that the clip would be shown all over by the media. I don't have a huge problem with the comment, except for the fact that he had a horrible game, and if anything his performance served to justify the decision the Eagles made to trade him. You're right, Donovan, everybody makes mistakes. Especially people like Laron Landry and Daniel Snyder. But it doesn't appear the Eagles did. Things are working out quite nicely with #7 running the show, and if McNabb, Landry, and the Skins are smart, they might keep their mouths shut in the future.