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!

Eagles to Fans: Suckers!

I have no one to blame for this situation other than myself. A few weeks ago, after the Eagles tied the Bengals, I wrote this year, and potentially the entire Reid/McNabb era, off. I was done with the disappointment and was ready to move on...at least for this year. And then, I let my guard down and they sucked me back in with consecutive wins against the Cardinals (terrible team), the Giants (pretty darn good team), and the Browns (terrible team). So even though I had no expectations for their game against the Redskins yesterday, I was a believer again. I started fantasizing about them making the Playoffs, and heck, maybe even making the Super Bowl with a late season run comparable to what the Giants did last year.

Even though 2 of the 3 wins they had were against bad teams at home, the Eagles did some things offensively during their little winning streak that they weren't doing previously. People on all sides of the ball were making plays. Far fewer passes were dropped, when a few extra yards were needed for a first down, someone picked them up, when they needed to run the ball, they could. The protected the ball, created turnovers, and kept penalties to a minimum. You don't need to be an expert to know that those are the ingredients for success in the NFL. It's obvious.

So, WTF happened yesterday? First of all, we should all give credit to the Redskins. They had nothing to play for, and they came out prepared and executed well throughout the entire game. It honestly seemed like they were the ones playing for the playoffs, not the Eagles.

The Eagles, in losing 10-3, had one of their worst offensive games of the last 10 years. They did not score a touchdown. There were 7 dropped passes (2 by LJ Smith, 4 by DeSean Jackson), many of which would've been for first downs, or big gains. They had no commitment to the running game, and it showed with only 16 attempts. The Defense played a great game and held the 'Skins to fewer than 250 total yards, but Asante Samuel didn't make a play he needed to when he dropped an interception late in the game.

The day's only touchdown came on a 16 yard drive by the Redskins after McNabb lost a fumble. And when the Redskins went into a Prevent Defense, the Eagles moved the ball late in the game, only to fall inches short after a 17 yard completion from McNabb to Reggie Brown fell just shy of the goal line as time expired. As the clock expired yesterday, so did the Eagles season, most likely. If you don't make plays, you don't win in the NFL. Period.

Sure, the Eagles still have a mathematical chance to make the post season. With the Falcons playing like a Playoff team and beating Minnesota on the road yesterday, there's only one Wild Card spot left. For the Eagles to win that spot, they of course have to beat Dallas next week at home. Coincidentally, even though I hate the Cowboys, their fans might be the only other fans in the NFL right now who can relate to us. Talk about disappointment. But that's a story for another day. In addition to beating Dallas, Tampa has to lose to the Raiders, and Chicago has to lose one of their final two games (tonight against Green Bay, next week at Houston). It's not improbable, but I'm not holding my breath, and I certainly won't be disappointed if it doesn't happen. I'm at the depths of my disappointment with this team right now.

I have a lot to say, particularly about what this team should look like next year, but I'll save that for sometime after next week, when the season is officially over.

This, my friends, is the essence of being an Eagles fan. I said this at the beginning of the year, and it continues to be true. They rip your heart out, they suck you back in, and then they rip it out again just for fun. It honestly does feel like the team treats its fans like a bunch of suckers. Or maybe it has nothing to do with them, and we're just suckers for having hope.

Some Advice to Donovan: Don't Say Sh*t to the Media

Over the course of his 10 year career in Philadelphia, there's always something with Donovan. It could be the fans booing his selection by the Eagles in the draft (good job Eagles fans), the controversy with Rush Limbaugh, the TO situation, feeling under-appreciated, this year's benching, etc. I love that Donovan is the face of the franchise, and I want both him and Ried back next year. But in analyzing his situation as the franchise QB in the City of Brotherly Love, Donovan would do well to take some advice from the Michael Jordan School of Media Training. Don't say anything. Be bland, give stock answers to questions, end press conferences as frequently as possible, and never, ever, talk about your feelings.

Donovan's a good natured guy, and I think he probably would prefer to not make the media's job any harder then it is, so he talks. But everytime he opens his mouth, something comes out that the media then spins and turns into a story. The same thing happened after last Monday's game against the Browns, in which the Eagles took care of business by beating the hapless Browns 30-10. For much of the second half of the game, the commentators had nothing to talk about. The game was over, the Browns QB and coaching situations only take a few minutes to dissect, so they talked about a "fissure" between Andy Reid and Donovan. And they talked and speculated, and kept on doing so, endlessly, through the post-game interviews. Most notably, the one with Donovan.

Donovan really didn't say anything controversial, but the fact that he said anything at all gave the media something to spin. There's a fissure, there's going to be an off-season chat, are Eagles fans really ready for the Kevin Kolb era, why is Donovan so underappreciated, etc. All of this could have been avoided, and the media would've had to gone back to the drawing board for the next day's stories if McNabb said this: "Andy is my coach, I respect him, I believe we can win a Super Bowl together, and I want to finish my career in Philadelphia." Period, end of story. But instead, he let the post game commentators egg him on, and he ended up saying some things that were better left for intimate, soul-bearing conversations with his family, not with the rabid media.

So Don, I know your focus is on Football. But do yourself a favor. Go watch a few press conferences from Michael Jordan's career. He never said sh*t, and the media still loved him.

Eagles Get No Help During Week 15

The Birds have yet to play this week--they host Cleveland tonight--but they got no help from yesterday's games, mathematically making it a little harder for them to make the playoffs. Without going into all the possibilities, here's the jist of it:

SUMMARY: The current Wild Card participants are the Buccaneers (9-5) and the Cowboys (9-5). The Bucs lost in OT to Atlanta (also 9-5) in a game they should've won. The Cowboys overcame their dysfunction to beat the suddenly vulnerable Giants pretty handily in Dallas. Both these teams have an opportunity to win 11 games, unlike the Eagles, so if they both win-out, the Eagles will not make the playoffs.

THE BUCS: Their final two games are at home. Next week against the inconsistent and underachieving Chargers, and then the Raiders in the final week of the season. On an unrelated note, isn't it curious that the Eagles last two games are against division rivals, and the Bucs get to finish up against two AFC teams? Anyway, the Chargers are still playing for something, but who knows what team will show up. And then in Week 17, the Bucs should destroy the Raiders, who forced Gruden out of town earlier this decade. I would not be at all surprised if the Bucs win their next two games and hold their Wild Card spot.

THE COWBOYS: Next week, they face a tough Ravens D in Dallas, and then finish against the Eagles in Philly. Romo is beat up, so that should work in our favor, but don't expect Dallas to fall easily next weekend. They played very well last night against the Giants, despite the alleged distractions from last week. No matter what happens, Week 17 in Philly will be a battle. So, if they win-out, they too hold their Wild Card spot. In terms of the Eagles chances, however, which rely on them winning out, I'm counting Week 17 as a loss for the Cowboys.

THE FALCONS: The Falcons are definitely the real-deal, holding on to beat a tough Tampa team in OT yesterday. Next weekend, they travel to Minnesota to play the division leading Vikings, who need to win to hold off the Bears. I don't expect the Falcons to win this game on the road, but you never know. They've played like winners all year. And then they're lucky enough to finish the season against the Rams at home. They won't lose this game. Because the Falcons still sit a half game ahead of the Eagles, we need them to lose one of their final two games or we don't have a chance, even if we win-out.

OTHER SCENARIOS: Chicago is quietly only a game behind the Vikings, and they finish against Green Bay at home, and then Houston on the road. Chances are, if the Bears end up winning the division, it will not affect the Wild Card, but who knows. If Atlanta wins-out, and Tampa doesn't win again, the Eagles still have a shot, but I don't expect that to happen. Who knows though. It's great for fans and the league that there are so many different outcomes this late in the season. That's why the NFL is king.

Tonight's game against the Browns should be fun. Here's hoping that the good Eagles show up.

Woohoo! TO Showing True Colors in Dallas

I love it! TO the sociopath is back. ESPN's Ed Werder wrote a long article about the dischord that's brewing in Dallas. You can read the full piece here.

As someone who's been through it before, I have no sympathy for the Cowboys. They knew what they were getting. Yes, one of the most talented players in NFL history, but also one of the biggest head cases this side of Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

Keep going TO. Spread that cancer in Dallas as far and wide as you can. Don't stop until they release or suspend you. You're right! You do deserve the ball more, so do whatever you need to get what you want. Don't hold back. Attack everyone. Wine, pout, scream and shout. Dog it in practice. Bitch during the games. Call a meeting with the coach and GM. You are righteous and worthy.

Yes you can and Yes you should!