How the Eagles Turned It Around

Aside from the pixie dust the NFL Gods blew the Eagles way in Week 17, it's interesting to look at how the Eagles have managed to turn their season around.

First off, when s**t goes bad, the QB, especially our QB, takes the lion share of the blame. Therefore, when things go well, he deserves the lion share of the credit as well, hence the media onslaught of "McNabb is back" stories over the last few weeks. Yes, McNabb has elevated his game since Thanksgiving, but people are overreacting. He's actually been pretty consistent this year. He's part of the reason they're playing so well, but by no means the only one.

First, let's take a quick look at McNabb's season. His 2008 regular season stats are telling, but don't reveal the entire story. 3900+ yards, 23 TDs to 11 INTs, 60.4% completion rate with an 86.4 QB Rating. He had more pass attempts and more yards than he's ever had in his career, and his completion percentage was his 3rd best. All solid numbers, but nothing spectacular.

The low points of the season were Week 4 against the Bears, Week 5 against the Redskins, Week 12 against Baltimore, and Week 16 against the Redskins.

In Week 4, McNabb threw 41 passes in a relatively tight game against the Bears in Chicago. This was the game in which the Eagles could not convert a 1st and 4 from the Bears 4 yard line in the 4th quarter. Earlier in the game, they had to settle for a FG after 2nd and 4 from the Chicago 6. And don't forget, Kyle Orton looked like Tom Brady in this game. A week later against the Redskins, the Eagles jumped out to a 14 point lead in the 1st quarter, but the team attempted only 18 rushes throughout the game, and the Redskins rushed for 189 yards.

The team then went on a run and won 3 of 4, losing only to the Giants in a game where we gave up 200+ rushing yards and 36 points.

Then came the next series of low points. First, the now infamous tie in Cincinnati. McNabb threw 58 passes in that game and even with 5 full quarters of play, the team only attempted 16 rushes. 16. When any NFL defense knows exactly what you're going to do on offense (run v. pass), it's very hard to win. The following week in Baltimore, McNabb was benched after an 8/18 half in which he threw 2 INTs, yet the team was losing only 10-7 at halftime. Baltimore is arguably the team that screws up opposing QBs more than anyone, so only being down 3 points at halftime on the road was not a crises. McNabb was benched though, and the Eagles went on to lose 36-7. They attempted a whopping total of 16 rushing attempts in this game.

Beginning on Thanksgiving, the Birds started yet another run beating the Cardinals, the Browns, and the Giants. The resurgence was no doubt led by the Defense, as they had 4 TOs against the Cardinals and held them to 25 rushing yards. The next week, they held the Plaxico-less Giants to barely more than 200 yards offense and 14 points. The following week, they held the Browns to 10 points.

They were back in the Playoff hunt, ready for a Week 16 game against the out-of-it Redskins. The results? A 10-3 loss in which the only TD came on an 18 yard drive by the Skins after a McNabb fumble. Rushing attempts by the Eagles this game? 16. Seemingly, they were out of the Playoffs.

And then we all remember what happened in week 17. We destroyed the Cowboys, led by 2 defensive touchdowns and 5 turnovers.

Through it all, and even into the playoffs, McNabb hasn't been perfect, but he's been consistent, especially given that he generally does not have the chance to run a balanced offense. When he does--like he has more or less since Thanksgiving--the results are clear. The Eagles are 6-1 since that game. And they are 9-3 since their Week 6 win in San Francisco.

The team, however, has not been as consistent, hence them being out of the playoffs going into Week 17. The won games against good teams, and lost some games they should've won. The D periodically hasn't been able to stop the run. We've gotten almost no production from the TE position. And our WRs have far too many dropped passes. In the games we lost, all these factors came into play. And in the games we won, they didn't.

Last, but certainly not least, is the Offensive Line--the group that is typically the most unsung in the NFL. Without Pro Bowler Shawn Andrews all season, the O-line managed to only give up 23 sacks. By way of comparison, in 10 games in 2006, they gave up 21 sacks, and in 9 games in 2005, they gave up 19. The OL is protecting their QB, and McNabb has learned how to take advantage of that protection..

So there you go. Donovan's is back--he's healthy and confident and playing the way he did before TO and injuries killed a couple years there. But football is a team sport in every sense of the word, and all units of the team (all aspects of the organization, actually) are doing their jobs very well.

Kickoff of the NFC Championship game is just about 72 hours from now. My expectations are low, but I'm excited as heck. No one expected the Eagles to make it back after the year they've had, and they've pulled it off. I love it!