Parity in the NFL

As we prepare for the NFL's Conference Championship games, it's worth noting that Pittsburgh is the only #1 or #2 seed remaining in the Playoffs, as the Eagles beat the #1 Giants, the Cardinals beat the #2 Panthers, and the Ravens beat the #1 Titans. When you get down to the Divisional round, I wonder if there's just so much parity in the NFL that momentum for the winning team from the Wild Card round cancels out or even supercedes any home field advantage/rest/extra planning that the #1 or #2 seeds might have? I accept Pittsburgh from this analysis given the conditions, their #1 Defense, and the fact that the Chargers are a warm weather team. Regardless of whether I'm right, I think the Championship games are gonna be awesome.

Time for Reid/McNabb Haters to Shut Up For Good

With the Eagles surprising run into the second round of the playoffs, their bandwagon has suddenly gotten crowded with Reid/McNabb bashers who can only marvel, like the rest of us, at how well the team is playing headed into the game against the Giants. Regardless of the outcome of this game, it's time for the haters among us--fans, media or both--to shut up. This is the greatest era in Eagles history, and as the team has proven since Thanksgiving, there's still some fuel in the tank.

I have to admit, I thought the era was over after McNabb was benched during the Baltimore game (which surprisingly was a 12-7 game going into the 4th quarter, and we lost 36-7). This season has been full of ups and downs, but the Baltimore game was rock bottom, and even the biggest McNabb supporters, like myself, thought it was over. Maybe not for Reid, but definitely for McNabb. He was playing some of the worst football of his career, and the team was sinking fast.

Despite the clunker against the Redskins in Week 16, the team won 4 of its last 5 games, and snuck into the playoffs after the lowly Raiders beat the Buccaneers, and we demolished the Cowboys. Everyone from the coaches to the players deserve some credit for the run they've gone on, but most importantly, Reid has proven himself (again) to be a great CEO of this organization, and Donovan McNabb has proven himself (again) to be one of the best QBs in the game.

Again, others (especially Jimmy Johnson) deserve credit, but the coach and QB deserve the most. This is the 7th time Reid has led his team to the Divisional Playoff round (all but one with McNabb as QB). Before Tom Coughlin won the Super Bowl last year, he'd achieved nowhere close to this level of success in his career--and now he's a hero. This isn't to say the team shouldn't change anything for next year (more on that after the season), but Reid should be the coach, and McNabb should be the QB, regardless of what happens in the Giants game. That combo gives us our best chance to compete for a Super Bowl, which is what we all want so very much.

Sunday's game against the Giants will be tough, and I can guarantee you that the haters will come back to life if the Eagles lose, but once and for all, please, find something else to complain about. Reid and McNabb are here to stay.

3 Keys to Beating the Giants

As I said in my previous post, I'm keeping my expectations low for this Sunday's Eagles-Giants matchup. Nevertheless, I have strong views on what the Eagles need to do to win the game. 1)Stop the run, 2)Don't give away points with big mistakes, and 3)keep the time of possession in balance. If we do these three things, we will win the game. If we falter on any of them, we will lose. Here's why.

Regarding stopping the run, this one is obvious. This is a January matchup of NFC East rivals. If you can't stop the run, and run the ball yourself (or otherwise keep time of possession in balance), you will lose. When the Eagles gave up 219 yards to the Giants in Week 10, we lost, despite scoring 31 points. When we held the Giants to 88 yards rushing in Week 14, we won the game 20-14. I think any chance the Eagles have to win the game hinges on this. If the Giants can march down the field by running the ball down our throat, we will lose the game. Biggest reason? Because we don't have the capacity to do that back to them. We'll end up having to throw the ball more predominantly than we'd planned, they'll tee off on McNabb, and we'll have a bunch of 3 and outs.

Regarding #2, in the regular season, you can win games even if you allow pick-6's or other game changing mistakes. In the Eagles Week 14 win against the Giants, a blocked FG was returned for a TD, yet we still won that game. I guarantee you that if either team on Sunday has a game changing play like this in their favor, they will win the game. Plays like that are rare, but they happen. And if they happen in the playoffs, they are fatal.

And finally, on offense, the Eagles must find a way to stay on the field by picking up first downs and keeping the time of possession in balance. Our typical flurry of 3-and-outs after 3 incomplete passes isn't going to cut it against the defending Super Bowl champs on their home turf, because the Giants can wear you down with their running game. We need to keep our defense fresh and stay competitive in the field position battle. Logic says that we'll need to run the ball to be able to do so, but in all actuality, a balanced approach is our best bet at getting it done. McNabb's gonna make some plays, but Westbrook and the O-line need to do so as well.

Maybe all this is obvious, but barring something unforeseen, if the Eagles do the above 3 things, I think they will win the game. If they fail with even one, they will lose.

Don't forget. The Giants are the defending Super Bowl champions and this year's #1 seed. They will not fall easily on their home turf.

Regardless of the outcome, here's hoping that Mr. Hyde has been terminated.

PS--The Giants have failed to sack Donovan McNabb thus far this year. I'm sure they're hungry--especially after losing 3 of their last 4 games--so the Birds will have to be ready for an onslaught of blitzes and QB pressure.

Eagles Getting Good At Exceeding My Low Expectations

As I did for Week 17, I kept my expectations very low going into last weekend's Wild Card game in Minnesota. Of course I rooted my heart out for the Birds, but if you have low expectations, you cannot be disappointed. And given the crazy world of bad news we're all surrounded by these days, I don't think I can handle any more disappointment--especially not from the 2008 Philadelphia Eagles.

Fortunately, when you have low expectations, it's also not hard to end up feeling elated, as I did with the Eagle's very solid win against the Vikings. The Defense played fantastic, shutting out the Vikes in the second half. And #5 kept his cool throughout and guided the Eagles to victory. Everyone did their part--the players played well and the coaches game-planned and coached well. Some people are upset about the lack of TDs by the offense, but this is the playoffs, where shootouts are rare. Winning in the playoffs means good field position, avoiding big mistakes, converting key 3rd downs on offense, getting stops on key 3rd downs and stopping the run. The Eagles did all of this, Akers had a great game, and we broke a big play in the second half. We did everything it takes to win in the playoffs.

While I'm happy with the effort and results from the Vikings game, I don't think that'll be good enough to beat the Giants. Don't get me wrong--I have no complaints about our performance against the Vikings--but we'll need to play our best game to beat the G-men.

Nevertheless, just a few weeks ago, I had no expectations that the Eagles would even be in the playoffs, so I'm a happy fan.

Give Aikman Some Tissues and Tell Him to Shut Up!

Come on Troy. "Many people still believe the Cowboys are the most talented team in the league." For real? Please, enlighten us as to who, besides you, thinks that. First of all, it's not true. Second of all, talent means jack. This is the NFL we're talking about. Winning playoff games is what matters. It is what you're judged on. And at least until next December, both Tony Romo and Wade Phillips' 0-for-the-Playoffs streaks will continue. That means that to this point in both their careers, they've been failures. Oh, and guess when the last time was that TO won a Playoff game? When he was on the Eagles.

Unfortunately, depending on how the Eagles play, I may have to suffer through one or more games with you and Joe Buck this year. That blows, but I'll deal. So please, take some tissue, wipe away your tears, and go home. At least until you get your assignment for next week.

P.S. With 14:44 remaining in the 4th quarter, the Eagles are up 44-3.

Through the First Half, Dr. Jekyll Dominates

Thankfully, the NFL Gods blew some pixie dust the Eagles way during the early games (Raiders and Bears lost), and Dr. Jekyll decided to keep Mr. Hyde under wraps through the first half of the Eagles/Cowboys game. Through the first two quarters, the Eagles are dominating the Cowboys 27-3. The Birds are making plays on all sides of the ball, and it feels like the Cowboys are on the brink of complete emotional self-destruction. It's utter joy from a game I completely expected to mean nothing for the Eagles.

I also have to mention how much I hate when Troy Aikman commentates Eagles/Cowboys games. I don't blame him for being a homer--the Cowboys were the only team he played for in the NFL, and they won 3 Super Bowls. But he doesn't have to commentate every meaningful Eagles/Cowboys game. It makes me sick and he says the dumbest things. Today, so far, he said he expected DeMarcus Ware to have a shot at 4 sacks in their loss last week against the Ravens, he blamed Roy Williams and not Tony Romo for that terrible chuck that was intercepted by Sheldon Brown, and he said that Pacman Jones stinks because no one in his life has ever wanted to "coach him up." You're brilliant Troy--keep it up.

Here's hoping Mr. Hyde stays away and the Eagles close this one out.

Eagles v. Cowboys for the Final NFC Playoff Spot: As Good As It Gets!

I said after the Eagles-Cowboys met on Monday night during Week 2 that it was likely that the Week 17 rematch in Philadelphia very well could be for a playoff spot. Believe me, I didn't predict that the season would play out like it did. But with Tampa and Chicago both losing today, this game is a Playoff game for all intents and purposes. Whoever wins is in. It doesn't get any better than this. I expect the Eagles to lose, but I'll be rooting for them like there's no tomorrow.

Here we go!