Monday, December 28, 2009

Young Receivers Lead Eagles Over Broncos

Denver Broncos v Philadelphia Eagles

Jeremy Maclin made a spectacular catch to move the Eagles into field goal territory and David Akers pounded home the game winner with 4 seconds remaining to run the team's winning streak to six. A couple other young receivers shined earlier in the game to give the Eagles a large lead as Donovan McNabb carved up the 2nd rated Broncos defense, but their fortunes changed on an Asante Samuel interception in the 3rd quarter. After racing to a 27-10 lead and looking poised to make the game a blowout, the offense stalled and rookie Macho Harris' difficulties forced the Eagles to engineer a late game drive to prevail 30-27.


Like a week earlier, the contest was pretty much all Eagles in the first half. Despite facing a Broncos defense that was ranked 2nd against the pass, McNabb played masterfully, firing strikes all over the field while rolling up 242 yards. Brian Westbrook made his return and flashed a fresh set of legs that could prove highly beneficial in the post season, and his rookie mentor LeSean McCoy seemed inspired as he made a Westbrook-like sensational run on a screen pass.


Besides McNabb's impressive play, the biggest story in the half was Brent Celek's 121 yards receiving, including a 47-yard touchdown. With the Eagles already leading, Celek shook free on a double move, caught the ball in stride and raced down the right sideline to the end zone. DeSean Jackson, who was blanketed by All Pro cornerback Champ Bailey all day, managed to get free for a short TD catch.


After a Broncos field goal, the second half looked like it was going to be more of the same. McNabb led the Eagles on another touchdown drive, culminating with a 15-yard pass that Jason Avant snared after being tipped. With lead now extended to 27-10, Samuel thwarted a Broncos drive by picking off his 9th pass of the season and returned it to mid-field. Unfortunately, Harris was called for a late hit and the penalty brought the starting point all the way back inside the Eagles 5 yard line.


Just when it was looking like it was going to be a blowout, the momentum shifted dramatically. With little operating room, the Eagles went three and out, followed by a shanked Sav Rocca punt that gave the Broncos the ball on the 25. Five plays later the score was 27-17.


On the ensuing kickoff, Harris fumbled the ball away on the Eagles 16 and just 2 plays later the lead was narrowed to 27-24. McNabb and the offense lost the edge that they had earlier and could not get anything going. The Broncos eventually knotted the score 6 minutes into the 4th quarter after another shanked Rocca punt.


With the offense sputtering, the Eagles defense forced the Broncos to put and they took possession on the Broncos 42 with 1:41 remaining. One play later, McNabb hit the diving Maclin on a deep out that was initially ruled incomplete. After a booth review, the call was reversed as replays showed that Maclin caught the ball and drug both toes, resulting in a 28-yard completion. A few plays later, Akers connected on his third field goal to give the Eagles a dramatic win.


Denver Broncos v Philadelphia Eagles

Overall, the Eagles defense played better than the score might indicate. The two short punts, Harris fumble and a McNabb interception provided a short field for the Broncos, leading to 20 points. After bottling up the running game and quarterback Kyle Orton, the Broncos reverted to multiple flanker screens and short passes to move the ball and force the secondary to make tackles in space.


Of course, the biggest story line of the day was the return of one of the all-time great Eagles players, Brian Dawkins. His fire and physicality were present throughout the game, but otherwise, did not have a standout game. He clearly did not refrain from deploying his trademark hard hitting style.


The win keeps the possibility of the #2 seed open with a Vikings loss, but the NFC Eastern crown and gaining a bye will all ride on next week's finale in Dallas. The Cowboys took advantage of a Redskins team playing out the string last night to clinch a playoff spot and maintain their hopes of wresting away the division and possibly even getting a bye if the Vikings crash and burn.


Sunday, December 27, 2009

Denver Broncos v Indianapolis Colts

Brian Dawkins and the Denver Broncos come to town with a hold on an AFC playoff spot, but their grip is a little tenuous at best. The Broncos surprised the football world by breaking out to a 6-0 start under rookie coach Josh McDaniel, but a 2-6 record since then has them hanging onto the final wild card slot. They still control their own destiny with the biggest obstacle standing in their way being the Philadelphia Eagles.


Having already clinched a playoff spot, the game appears to present a little less urgency to the Eagles; however, it could prove critical towards gaining the NFC's second seed. They will need the Vikings to lose another game, but considering the controversy surrounding the team and their declining performance, the probability has surely risen. Moving past the Vikings in the playoff seedings would give the Eagles the luxury of a week off and at least one home game.


No matter what happens, the day will be filled with emotion due to the beloved Dawkins return to the Linc. Fans, former teammates and Dawkins himself will be emotionally charged, but it will all be a little bittersweet with the safety wearing orange and blue. It could prove to be Dawkins last visit to Philadelphia in uniform.


Although they have struggles since their opening sprint, the Broncos will still provide a difficult test for the Eagles. They possess one of the NFL's toughest defenses, including the 2nd ranked pass defense. Considering the Eagles preference to put the ball in the air, this match-up would seem to favor Denver. If Philadelphia opts to keep the ball on the ground more, they will be bolstered by the return of Brian Westbrook now that he has been cleared to play.


The Eagles continue to come together as injured players heal and would love to put another solid all around effort together for their final home game in the regular season. Donovan McNabb has been playing at a high level and will look to use all his weapons to keep the Broncos defense off balance. Jeremy Maclin appears to be feeling better and should play a bigger role of taking pressure off playmaker DeSean Jackson. Brent Celek, Westbrook, LeSean McCoy and Leonard Weaver will all continue to be a big part of the passing game. It is likely that all three running backs will equally share running duties.


The Broncos will look to establish the run with high draft pick Knowshon Moreno and former Eagle Correll Buckhalter sharing the load. QB Kyle Orton will then keep a heavy focus on troubled receiver Brandon Marshall who set an NFL record for catches a couple weeks ago. The Eagles will look to get pressure on Orton and bait him into a couple turnovers.


On defense, the Broncos will rely on the NFL's sack leader, Elvis Dumerville, to get pressure on McNabb, which will likely force him to use his feet to buy time. He has been doing that very effectively and even scrambling for gains. Another means to counter the heavy pass rush will surely involve the Eagles top notch screen game.


Look for the Eagles to prevail in a hard hitting game. The Broncos should limit their high flying offense a bit, but not enough to prevail. The bottom line is that the Eagles are the better team and are just now peaking.


Broncos 17

Eagles 24

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Brian Dawkins and Broncos Come to Town

Denver Broncos v Indianapolis Colts

Brian Dawkins and the Denver Broncos come to town with a hold on an AFC playoff spot, but their grip is a little tenuous at best. The Broncos surprised the football world by breaking out to a 6-0 start under rookie coach Josh McDaniel, but a 2-6 record since then has them hanging onto the final wild card slot. They still control their own destiny with the biggest obstacle standing in their way being the Philadelphia Eagles.

Having already clinched a playoff spot, the game appears to present a little less urgency to the Eagles; however, it could prove critical towards gaining the NFC's second seed. They will need the Vikings to lose another game, but considering the controversy surrounding the team and their declining performance, the probability has surely risen. Moving past the Vikings in the playoff seedings would give the Eagles the luxury of a week off and at least one home game.

No matter what happens, the day will be filled with emotion due to the beloved Dawkins return to the Linc. Fans, former teammates and Dawkins himself will be emotionally charged, but it will all be a little bittersweet with the safety wearing orange and blue. It could prove to be Dawkins last visit to Philadelphia in uniform.

Although they have struggles since their opening sprint, the Broncos will still provide a difficult test for the Eagles. They possess one of the NFL's toughest defenses, including the 2nd ranked pass defense. Considering the Eagles preference to put the ball in the air, this match-up would seem to favor Denver. If Philadelphia opts to keep the ball on the ground more, they will be bolstered by the return of Brian Westbrook now that he has been cleared to play.

The Eagles continue to come together as injured players heal and would love to put another solid all around effort together for their final home game in the regular season. Donovan McNabb has been playing at a high level and will look to use all his weapons to keep the Broncos defense off balance. Jeremy Maclin appears to be feeling better and should play a bigger role of taking pressure off playmaker DeSean Jackson. Brent Celek, Westbrook, LeSean McCoy and Leonard Weaver will all continue to be a big part of the passing game. It is likely that all three running backs will equally share running duties.

The Broncos will look to establish the run with high draft pick Knowshon Moreno and former Eagle Correll Buckhalter sharing the load. QB Kyle Orton will then keep a heavy focus on troubled receiver Brandon Marshall who set an NFL record for catches a couple weeks ago. The Eagles will look to get pressure on Orton and bait him into a couple turnovers.

On defense, the Broncos will rely on the NFL's sack leader, Elvis Dumerville, to get pressure on McNabb, which will likely force him to use his feet to buy time. He has been doing that very effectively and even scrambling for gains. Another means to counter the heavy pass rush will surely involve the Eagles top notch screen game.

Look for the Eagles to prevail in a hard hitting game. The Broncos should limit their high flying offense a bit, but not enough to prevail. The bottom line is that the Eagles are the better team and are just now peaking.

Broncos 17
Eagles 24

NFL Power Rankings-Top 15....Week 16

San Diego Chargers v Tennessee Titans

While one team fell from the undefeated ranks, and another continued in its path of perfection, two teams furthered their upward ascension. The San Diego Chargers doubled down, adding two more wins to extend its winning streak to 10. In the NFC, the Eagles ran their streak to 5, clinching a playoff berth along the way.

The New Orleans Saints were soundly defeated by a Dallas Cowboys team motivated to change its recent late season trend of futility. Along the way, they provided a glimmer of hope to other NFC hopefuls by making the Saints look a little less invincible. The win also restored faith amongst its fan base and positioned the Cowboys for a shot at winning the NFC East if they can win out.

Besides the Saints, the Vikings came back to the pack as well after falling badly for the second time in three games. This time they lost to a struggling Panthers team and had problems on both sides of the ball. Additonal warning alarms were sounded when an ongoing tension between Brett Favre and Brad Childress became publicized after the contest. Although both parties claim to have things patched up, the underlying power tug-o-war surely could surface as the team heads into a post season that now seems a little more treacherous.

The rest of the NFC hopefuls include Arizona, Green Bay and the surging New York Giants. With memories of last year's post season run still present in many minds, the Cardinals can not be discounted despite a disappointingly inconsistent season. Although they lost to the Steelers on the final play in possibly the game of the year, the Packers have the ingredients to be a force in the playoffs. And, many are still not writing off the Giants who have looked unstoppable on offense for the 2 1/2 games.

In the AFC, the undefeated Colts appear poised to run the table depenedent upon their level of caution. They surely are keeping their eyes on the Chargers, who have been their nemisis in years past. None of the other AFC teams appear to have the consistency or balance to threaten either team.




  1. Colts (14-0)- Poised for undefeated season if regulars play
  2. Saints (13-1)-Cowboys needed the game a little more
  3. Chargers (12-3)- Two more wins makes 10 straight
  4. Vikings (11-3)-Lost 2 of 3 with Favre and Childress feuding
  5. Eagles (10-4)-Offense leads team to 5th straight win
  6. Packers (9-5)-Looking strong despite Steelers last gasp win
  7. Cowboys(9-5)-Confidence soaring after big win in N'Awlins
  8. Bengals (9-5)- Last second loss pales to loss of Henry
  9. Cardinals (9-5)-Clinched division, but still up and down
  10. Giants (8-6)-Offense rolling keeps them as media darlings
  11. Patriots (9-5)-Playoff worthy, but have holes
  12. Ravens (8-6)- 79-10 past two weeks, is it them or opponent
  13. Broncos (8-6)-Hanging on for playoff spot after 6-0 start
  14. Dolphins (7-7)- Tough loss, but still in contention
  15. Jacksonville (7-7)-Two tough losses could put them out of race





Maybe the Glass is Half Full for the Eagles

Giants vs. Eagles

Philadelphia fans had high hopes for the 2009-2010 Eagles team. There was good reason for optimism considering the team's run to the NFC Championship game where they narrowly lost to a red hot Arizona Cardinals team. They struggled throughout the first two thirds of last season and then pulled together to play well in phases of the game over the balance of the season. Then, in the off season, they seemingly continued their on the field run, off the field with free agent signings and a draft that was lauded by fans and football pundits.

On paper, the Eagles appeared to have bolstered their weaknesses and made a promising team, even better. For once in the Jeffrey Lurie/Andy Reid era, the Eagles took action that aligned with public sentiment, particularly by adding more playmakers to an offense that had historically lacked explosiveness. Logic suggested that a team that came within a couple completed passes of the 2009 Super Bowl, with some young players maturing into difference making performers, and further strengthened  with a brilliant  cadre of moves, would be at least the NFC Super Bowl favorite.

This was solid reasoning, and if everything had fallen into place as they hoped, the Eagles had a legitimate shot at a great season. Unfortunately, life, and particularly NFL life, can quickly veer off course. For the Eagles, that started to happen from the outset of training camp and continued into the regular season. In particular, injuries took a steep toll on both sides of the ball.

Stewart Bradley and Akeem Jordan, two of their young linebackers, were rapidly evolving into the strong playmakers the defense needed to compliment their secondary and defensive line. As they matured and gained confidence a year ago, the defense gained momentum. Regrettably, Bradley tore his ACL early in camp and was lost for the season. Jordan was a strong presence early in the season, but then, he too hyperextended his knee and missed several weeks. Additionally, CB Ellis Hobbs was lost for the season with a neck injury and emerging nickel back, Joselio Hanson, was suddenly suspended for taking a weight loss pill.

On the offense, the line was hit hard with injuries throughout the preseason and into the regular season. What appeared to be a strength with the signings of tackles  Jason Peters and Stacy Andrews, along with the return of former pro bowler Shawn Andrews, turned into a patch work unit. Shawn was placed on IR before the season due to lingering back problems and Stacy has not been able to recover from off season knee surgery. Peters has been hurt off and on, while Todd Herremans missed a large chunk of time with a knee injury.

Along the way to the Eagles rolling to an opening game blowout in Charlotte, a Panthers defensive lineman piled onto Donovan McNabb in the end zone and took some luster off the win when it was determined that his ribs were broken. McNabb would have to sit out a couple games. And, starting running back Brian Westbrook and starting wide receiver Kevin Curtis have been largely unavailable or limited due to injuries.

This is the NFL and things happen. But, the pre-season prognostications were based on the team assembled on paper, not the patch work team that Andy Reid has had to piece together for much of the season. Clearly, these events have negatively impacted the Eagles and played a significant role in the team getting off to a 5-4 start. Although the team has had a penchant for starting out slowly and finishing strong, many fans figured that another promising season would end in disappointment.

Since a depleted Eagles team lost to the surging San Diego Chargers to start the second half of the season, they have weathered the storm and gained momentum each week. Donovan McNabb issued his much debated "must win" proclamation for the next week's game in Chicago in an attempt to instill a sense of urgency amongst his young teammates. Commingled with that statement was his own recognition of a void left by departing veterans and transformation into a more overt leader on the team. This has been a big part of the current 5-game winning streak that began in that "must win" contest in Chicago.

When the run began, the team was starting to come together on the offensive line, but the defense was largely in disarray. Key players were missing, meaning that inexperienced teammates needed to be put onto the field while others shifted into other unaccustomed roles. McNabb realized and accepted added responsibility on the offensive side of the ball to out score opponents while the defense struggled. Veterans like Sheldon Brown and Asante Samuel played through injuries, and although at times limited, found ways to make plays.

In striking contrast to a year ago when a confluence of events allowed the Eagles to slip into the playoffs in the season's final week, this year Andy Reid's team has already clinched a spot, but two important games remain. A win in Dallas to end the regular season would give them the NFC Eastern Division title. A Cowboys loss and Eagles win this week would accomplish the same thing, but expecting the Redskins to knock them off after their melt down against the Giants on Monday night would seem to defy the odds.

Tomorrow's meeting with the Broncos, though, has added importance due to the recent decline of the Minnesota Vikings. Another loss opens the door for the Eagles to seize the second seed in the NFC playoffs, which of course, comes replete with a bye and home field advantage in the second round. A few weeks ago, this possibility would seem almost unreachable, but seems reasonable considering the Brett Favre, Brad Childress bickering and the team's overall diminished performance.

So, the promising team that seemed headed for another year of disappointment finds itself surging at the right time and in an enviable position. The offense has averaged 31 points in the current streak, and more importantly, is demonstrating both the type of explosiveness and consistency that will strike fear in any post season opponent.  Adding a healthy Brian Westbrook to an offense led by McNabb, DeSean Jackson, Brent Celek and others could be a juggernaut. Although their struggles in the Meadowlands two weeks ago raised many concerns, the defensive unit's performances around that have been much more encouraging. A return to similar form from a year ago as the defense gets healthier, would surely make the Eagles a formidable playoff team and bring them full circle to a legitimate Super Bowl contender. After an unforeseen and bumpy path, the glass may just be half full.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

I'm just saying....

Dallas Cowboys v Philadelphia Eagles

I'm Just Saying......


A weekly collection of random thoughts and observations for you to consider.


  • I'm still confused by the NFL's decisions on fines as they seem a bit incongruous, but we are starting to piece together the price list of various transgressions.
Doing the Captain Jack pose after a TD....$10,000
Throwing on a sombrero after a TD...$30,000
Shoving a guy at the end of the half...$50,000
301 pound lineman piling on and breaking a QB's ribs.....priceless (or $0)
  • As well as Ruben Amaro has done in his first year as GM of the Phillies, I can't help but fixate on the notion that trading Cliff Lee is a tremendous faux pas. He could have achieved the required expense control by trading Joe Blanton for one high level prospect, continued to work at signing Lee with a home town discount and gotten two high draft picks if he walked. That approach would have the Phillies positioned as clear World Champs favorites for 2010 and provided for the future.
  • Furthermore, it is hard to believe that the three underwhelming prospects the Phillies received in exchange for Lee is the best they could have gotten for the Cy Young pitcher who wowed the baseball world with his mastery just weeks earlier.
  • First Tar Heels Coach Roy Williams admonishes fans for not coming to see his team, then he has an opposing team fan ejected during a game for saying "Don't miss" to one of his players. I wonder if King Roy also has the authority to re-allocate repaid TARP funds?
  • Apparently Andy Reid doesn't watch the Sunday Football Night in America Game of the Week or didn't hear the fallout regarding Bill Belichick's famous decision to go for it on 4th and short on his own 29. Reid elected to replicate that decision, turned the ball over on downs, but dodged a bullet when the Niners fumbled the ball back. All's well that ends well, but that decision falls into the same category as a game opening onside kick- "Things Not to Do."
  • Based on recent reports, Brett Favre seems to have more authority than his coach, but it is strange that Brad Childress would even be thinking about pulling his QB in a 7-6 game with playoff implications. Simply, there must be more to the story than a couple changed audibles and a few sacks.
  • Although fans still long for the first Lombardi Trophy, Jeffrey Lurie has done a remarkable job transforming the Eagles franchise into perennial winners, which all started with mapping out an organizational philosophy. But, sometimes it is wise to slightly veer off that course as is the case with Sheldon Brown. It would be a "win, win" to creatively renegotiate the substantially below market contract of a very good, highly dependable, "leader-by-example" player. It would keep him in the fold and send a great message to players that there are rare exceptions for loyal soldiers who out play their contract.
  • Speaking of loyal soldiers, this is the week that Eagles fans have had circled on their calendar since the off season. Brian Dawkins comes into town with the Denver Broncos, which will be bittersweet for so many in the Linc that day, including Dawkins. It will be fun to see him, but I can't help but to think if he were still in midnight green, there would be a great deal more confidence about the Eagles chances to win it all.
  • The Sixers would seem to have a lot better talent than 7-20.
  • I love the Braves trade of Javier Vazquez to the Yankees for Melky Cabrero, at least for the regular season. This would seem to weaken the Braves and help the Phillies quest to repeat as NL East Champs, but of course, it appears to strengthen the current favorites to win it all in 2010. The Yankees will simply throw some money to pick up a new center fielder as good as Cabrero.
  • What was John Fox thinking on Sunday night when he elected to throw a "Hail Mary" instead of kicking a 52 yard field goal at the end of the first half? Kicker John Kasay had just easily cleared the bar with a 47-yarder that was nullified by a penalty.
  • And, speaking of field goal decisions, what was Jim Zorn thinking last night when he elected to try a ridiculous "not so trick" play at the end of the half rather than kick a mid-range field goal?
  • Since we are talking about the Redskins, was last night's sorry effort against the Giants the players way of saying to brand new GM Bruce Allen "Get Me Outta Here!"
  • Happy Holidays!

Monday, December 21, 2009

Eagles Clinch Playoff Berth, Now Focus on East Title

Eagles vs. Niners

On the "frozen tundra" of Lincoln Financial Field, the Eagles braved the elements to defeat the San Francisco 49ers 27-13. The Eagles seized control of the game early, fell into a lull in the 3rd quarter, but then finished strong to register their 5th consecutive win. The victory, along with the Cowboys upset in New Orleans on Saturday night, assured the Eagles of a playoff spot. Their attention now goes towards winning the NFC Eastern Division title and potentially grabbing the 2nd conference seed.


Once again the Birds were led by Donovan McNabb and DeSean Jackson, but this time, their defense returned to form. Overall, the team did a better job of wrapping up on tackles, but most importantly they pressured Quarterback Alex Smith into 3 interceptions and maintained tight pass coverage. Pro Bowl running back Frank Gore was able to rack up 107 yards rushing, but some of this was due to the Eagles often deploying only two linebackers in favor of using a defensive back to cover tight end Vernon Davis. It was a trade-off they were willing to make to avoid Davis chewing up big chunks of yardage in the passing game.


Quintin Demps got the Eagles off to a good start by returning the opening kickoff 48 yards. McNabb took over from there and five plays later found Jackson in the end zone for a 19-yard touchdown strike. Holding a 7-3 lead late in the first quarter, Andy Reid strangely elected to go for it on 4th and 1 at his own 29, but the Eagles failed. They dodged the proverbial bullet when Sheldon Brown forced a fumble at the 8 yard line that was pounced on by Asante Samuel. McNabb then engineered a long drive, highlighted by a 43 yard connection to Brent Celek and culminating with his own 8-yard scamper into the end zone.


By now, the Birds defense was getting a lot of heat on Smith and Samuel took advantage to pick off his 8th interception of the season. The Eagles turned this into a short field goal after they stalled on the four to make it 17-3. After McNabb lost another scoring opportunity by tossing an interception in the end zone, Tracy White got the ball back two plays later when he stepped in front of another Smith pass to grab the defense's 3rd INT in the half. They settled for another short field goal when Leonard Weaver wasted their last chance to take a shot in the end zone by arguing with a Niners player.


Fiery coach Mike Singletary must have given his young team an earful at half-time as they played with greater intensity in the third quarter. A long kickoff return and a couple Smith passes got them in range for a field goal to cut the lead to 20-6. After an ill advised McNabb pass was intercepted, Smith went 4-4, including a 12-yard TD pass to Josh Morgan.


The Eagles offense finally got going again to start the fourth quarter when McNabb hit Jackson with a 59-yard pass to get into the red zone and set-up LeSean McCoy's short touchdown run. Other than a 44-yard pass interference penalty against Sean Jones, the Eagles turned up the pressure on Smith to shut them out the rest of the way.


Despite the 49ers intent on shutting him down, Jackson again proved that is almost impossible as he grabbed 6 passes for 140 yards. Weaver and McCoy hit the holes to keep the chains moving, combining for 100 yards. And, although he threw a couple passes to the team in red, the fact that McNabb threw for over 300 yards on a cold, blustery day should not be overlooked. He extended plays with his feet and possesses the requisite arm strength to enable the team to stick with an ariel attack in less than ideal conditions.


The most encouraging aspect of the game, though, was the play of the defense. Coming off a dismal performance a week earlier when they were torched for more than 500 yards and 38 points, they looked much more like the unit that has periodically flashed dominance this year and was considered a strength coming into the year. With the offense looking to be potentially the NFL's most explosive and now able to complement that with a methodical attack as well, the key to post season success will be the play of the defense.


Last evening, the Minnesota Vikings were soundly defeated by the struggling Charlotte Panthers to drop their record to 11-3. The events of the day opened up the possibility of the Eagles stealing away a first round bye, although it would probably require them to run the table against two teams that currently would make the playoffs if the season ended today. They would need the Vikings to lose, but considering Brett Favre's ongoing historical difficulties down the stretch and his possible power struggle with the head coach, the probability has gone up.


The team and Philly fans have good reason to be optimistic, but the challenges get stiffer from here. Both the Broncos and Cowboys will be fighting to make the playoffs (and the latter likely to win the NFC East.) If Dallas can beat the last place Redskins next week, the season finale sets up as the NFC Eastern Division championship game. Coming off their most impressive outing of the year against the Saints on Saturday night, that appears likely.


Once they get into the post season, the playoff field looks particularly strong. As it stands now, the Saints are 13-1, the Vikings have faltered of late but are considered to be the most talented, the Packers have been on a roll, the Cardinals are NFC defending champs, and the Cowboys are the Cowboys. And, of course, the AFC favorites are the undefeated Colts. All of this is to simply highlight that if the Eagles hope to realize their goal of a Super Bowl win, they will need their defense to play at a consistently high level to go along with the offense and special teams. Yesterday was one step forward against a team that is better than its record.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Eagles Need to Take Care of Business

Philadelphia Eagles DeSean Jackson catches a 60 yard touchdown in the third quarter against the New York Giants at Giants Stadium

After falling to 5-4 and out of first place, the Eagles have strung together four consecutive wins to regain the NFC Eastern Division lead. Considering that they face playoff contenders the last two games of the season, including a trip to Dallas, it is very important that the Eagles take care of business against the "also ran" 49ers. As they demonstrated Monday evening against the NFC reigning champion Arizona Cardinals, the Niners can pose a much greater threat than their 6-7 record might indicate.


Even if the Cowboys lose tonight against the undefeated New Orleans Saints, they can still finish at 10-6 defeating a struggling Redskins team and then the Eagles in the season finale. An Eagles loss tomorrow or the following week against the Broncos would set up the equivalent of a playoff game in Dallas as the winner will finish ahead of the other for the NFC East title or a playoff spot. A win tomorrow and next week would clinch the NFC East with a Cowboys loss tonight.


San Francisco has been particularly tough at home, but has won in Arizona and lost very close games in Minnesota, Houston, Indianapolis, Green Bay and Seattle. They are literally a few plays away from being a strong playoff contender. On Monday night, they dominated the Cardinals by forcing 7 turnovers while Frank Gore ran wild.


Intense coach Mike Singletary would like to use a similar formula against the Eagles, but will probably have less success consistently running the ball. Gore could hit a couple long runs, though, if he breaks through the box as the Eagles secondary is forced to make tackles. This will be fresh in everyone's mind as the Eagles are coming off possibly their worst tackling performance of the season last Sunday night against the Giants.


Singletary would love nothing more than to see his defense aggressively pursue the ball to get take-aways. Conversely, the Eagles are good at ball protection, so a repeat of the previous game is unlikely. Donovan McNabb will likely put the ball in the air to expose a vulnerable pass defense, but has been adept throughout his career at avoiding interceptions.


DeSean Jackson is coming off a spectacular game last week, and should be a focal point again this week with Jeremy Maclin sitting things out with Plantar Fascitis and Brian Westbrook still not cleared to play. McNabb will look for Jackson often, especially down the field. The Niners will try to limit him with double and triple coverage, so McNabb will find opportunities to hit Brent Celek and Jason Avant underneath.


The fact that the Niners can be tough against the run is just one more reason for Andy Reid to skew towards a heavy pass to run ratio. LeSean McCoy has been stifled the past two weeks, but Leonard Weaver has nicely picked up the slack, so expect to see both runners rotate throughout the game. Michael Vick is starting to find his legs and will likely be used more, especially in the passing game.


The Eagles defense is coming off a poor performance that is pause for concern. They surrendered more than 500 yards and 38 points after almost pitching a shutout the week before. Defensive Coordinator Sean McDermott is surely going to want to get the team back on track and hopes that last week was more an aberration than a true indicator of ability. Shoddy tackling was the main culprit, so wrapping up was a key theme on the practice field.


Former #1 draft pick Alex Smith is back behind center after being removed last season for poor play. The time watching from the sidelines appears to have done him good as he is playing much better. He has a quick release and is best in the short to medium passing game. The Eagles would like to get into his face to create a couple turnovers, but he will counter by hitting short strikes to tight end Vernon Davis and wide receiver Michael Crabtree. Both were high draft picks (6th and 10th, respectively) and are flashing the type of ability that had scouts drooling over them. Davis leads all tight ends with 11 touchdowns.


The bad news for the Eagles is that they continue to very poor at covering tight ends, so Davis could have a huge game. He will have ample opportunity, especially with attention diverted by the explosive tandem of Gore and Crabtree.


This will be a hard fought game that could be determined somewhat by the weather. Today's snow storm is forecasted to taper off before game time, but there still will be a fairly stiff breeze. McNabb's arm strength and experience plays to the Eagles favor as well as their secondary's ball hawking style.


Expect McNabb, Jackson, Celek and company to keep the points coming, while their defense picks off a couple Smith passes. In between, Gore and Davis will keep the Niners close.


Eagles 27

49ers 23


NFL Power Rankings Top 15 Week 15

Cowboys vs. Chargers
As the NFL heads into the final weeks of the regular season, teams are starting to separate themselves as legitimate Super Bowl contenders. There are two clear powers in each conference led by the two remaining undefeated teams. The Vikings still have the best overall talent and balance throughout their team, but are ranked 3rd because they have not been able to translate that into victory each and every week. Right behind those three teams are the hard charging Lightning Bolts, who registered their 8th consecutive win and could run the table in their remaining regular season games.

The Colts had a productive 5 days winning twice to preserve their perfect season. The extra rest and remaining schedule would favor a 16-0 finish, but it will likely depend on how much first year coach Jim Caldwell plays his regulars now that they have clinched home field advantage.

In the NFC, the Saints face their biggest challenge to regular season perfection this evening when they host the Dallas Cowboys. Although they have dropped the past two games to fall into second place in the NFC East, they head to New Orleans with both a feeling of desperation and a belief they can win. Conversely, the Saints have less urgency to win, but they still feel the push from Minnesota. The 'Boys also have the extra motivation of proving critics wrong about their tendency to fold late in the season over the past dozen seasons.

The next three teams in the rankings would appear to be the only true remaining Super Bowl contenders, but still appear to have some holes. The Packers, Eagles and possibly the Bengals could potentially make some noise in the post season and are capable of knocking off the favorites. Green Bay has come together defensively, led by the spectacular play of Charles Woodson and a strong linebacker corps. Additionally, Aaron Rodgers continues to mature into a top flight quarterback.

The Eagles went to the Meadowlands last Sunday Night for a rematch with the Giants and the NFC East lead on the line. Although the NBC pundits all predictably predicted that the Giants would prevail, the Eagles seized control early and scored at will to win a shoot out. The Donovan McNabb led offense keeps getting better, but the key to the team's hopes will be whether they can pull the inconsistent defense up to a similar level of play. No team will want to face the Eagles prolific offense and attacking defense in the playoffs.

The Vikings easily handled the upstart Bengals last Sunday, whose offense is struggling a bit. After a hot start, Carson Palmer's spotty play over the past several weeks has observers wondering if he is injured. The defense was torched for 30 points by the Vikes, but they have been strength most of the year.

The Cardinals, Broncos and Cowboys all lost in Week 14 and continue to hang on the fringes. They are playoff caliber teams, but appear too bi-polar to make a run for the Super Bowl. Of course, Arizona looked that way a year ago and then came within one last minute spectacular catch of winning it all. They can be scary on both sides of the ball, but catching lightning in a bottle two years in row is probably too much to ask, though.

The remaining teams in the Top 15 are hanging on by a whisker and might need to win out. Based on their schedules, the Ravens and Giants appear to have the best shot at landing the final Wild Card spot in their respective conference. With Eli Manning and Brandon Jacobs playing better, and the Giants last game coming against a Vikings team that will likely be meaningless for them, a 10-6 record appears probable.

  1. Saints (13-0)-Biggest remaining obstacle tonight vs 'Boys
  2. Colts (14-0)- 2 wins in 5 days has them 2 from perfect
  3. Vikings (11-2)-Rebound with dominating win over Bengals
  4. Chargers (10-3)- 8th straight win, could run the table
  5. Packers (9-4)-They're for real, but face desperate Steelers
  6. Eagles (9-4)-Win shoot out in Jersey to take 1st place
  7. Bengals (9-4)- Crushed by Vikes, now face Bolts
  8. Cardinals (8-5)-Same old story of up and down play
  9. Broncos (8-5)-Still looking like a 10 win team
  10. Cowboys(8-5)-So far another December to forget
  11. Patriots (8-5)-Remain perfect at home, but have issues
  12. Giants (7-6)-Media can't hype them to 1st place in NFC East
  13. Dolphins (7-6)- Hanging in race despite losing QB and top RB
  14. Ravens (7-6)-Have potential, but can't find any consistency
  15. Titans (6-7)-Remember the Titans, they could still sneak in
  16. Jacksonville (7-7)-Two tough losses could put them out of race

Friday, December 18, 2009

Halladay is Great, But Really Sorry to See Lee Go

ROCKIES -- PHILLIES

So, its official. The hotly rumored tandem of deals have become reality. The gleam in the Phillies eyes has finally culminated in getting the pitcher they wanted all along. Sadly, it came at the price of parting ways with the next best thing and a quick fan favorite.


There is no debating the fact that Roy Halladay is one of the very best pitchers in baseball, possibly even the best. His body of work over the past decade makes a strong case without even having to have witnessed his commanding presence. Toronto teammates will attest, though, that he was even better than his numbers might suggest as they watched the masterful way he dominated hitters. When he took the mound, the bullpen pretty much felt like they had the night off.


Does this sound reminiscent? It sounds an awful lot like the pitcher the Phillies acquired at the end of July who stormed onto the Philadelphia scene and then finished with an other worldly post season run. No, not Pedro, who was good until something came undone in the World Series finale, but rather Cliff Lee.


Like many fans, it was almost a case of "love" at first sight when Lee joined the team last year. Most were aware of his remarkable accomplishments a season earlier when he went 22-3 and won the AL Cy Young award; however, few had actually seen him in operation a great deal since he played in Cleveland.


My wife might call it a "man crush", but regardless of the label, it was quickly apparent that Lee was a special player. Besides the array of pitches that he aggressively mixed to confound hitters, he also brought a no nonsense demeanor and intensity that was the perfect blend for Philadelphia fans and teammates. He was a gamer through and through, the exact right mixture of talent and competitive spirit to fit in perfectly on this team and in this city.


Lee started phenomenally, hit a rough patch for a few games and then finished the season with a flourish. On baseball's biggest stage, from the opening act in the NLDS to the NLCS to the World Series, Lee validated that he was the type of big time pitcher the team needed to have at the front of its rotation. Lee was the one constant throughout the post season in leading the Phillies to a second straight World Series performance, amazing all baseball fans and pundits with his pitching mastery throughout.


Now, suddenly, he is gone. Lee was simply a stretch run rental, like so many players in this economic era of baseball. To be fair, the Phillies did get some young talent back for him, so in a way, they rented him for the debatable differential between the four minor leaguers they shippped to the Indians and what they got back from the Mariners plus Ben Francisco.


This is generally true, but it would seem that they ended up paying more for Halladay in the off season than what they were prepared to do in July. The Phillies parted ways with "untouchable" Kyle Drabek, their future replacement for Carlos Ruiz and probably the most accomplished and "sure thing" player in their minor league system in Michael Taylor. Conversely, both young pitchers from the Mariners bring greater uncertainty due to previous arm troubles and/or performance. Using the Blue Jays as a guage, the two are less valuable together than Drabek alone or the Phillies would have substituted them for an "untouchable" player.


All trade analysis and subjectivity aside, it is tough to see Lee depart. It is also tough to hear how it all came about and the manner in which it was handled. Major League Baseball is surely a business, and unless its the Yankees or perhaps the Red Sox, economics and strategy often transcend sentimentality.


Accordingly, Lee was traded to manage down the payroll and replenish the farm system that was being further depleted in the deal to obtain Halladay. To a certain degree, fans can make rational sense of it all, but the necessity to trade Lee and the scenario around it are questionable and unsettling.


In an interview with ESPN yesterday, Lee's surprise and anquish over the deal came through loud and clear. He went from having his agent negotiate an extension to finish his career in a Phillies uniform one day to being shipped to join Ichiro in the Pacific Northwest a couple days later. In between, he was told by the Phillies not to believe the rumors and that he wasn't going anywhere.


Again, business is business, but in his short stay with the team, Lee would have seemed to have earned the right to different treatment. Of course, the Phillies might offer a different perspective on the proceedings, but there is little reason to question the balanced and straight shooting Lee's creditability or accounting of the events. Ruben Amaro has been superb as GM thus far, but in this case, it should have been handled differently.


In regard to the need to make the deal with Seattle at all, the gnawing feeling still persists that there could have been a way to keep Lee in the fold. The Phillies have payroll expense rolling off next year that could have funded an increase for Lee in a contract extension. If they could not ink a new deal, two compensatory picks in lieu of 3 players who are years away from the majors at best would be worth another year of his services.


With the Blue Jay's picking up a portion of Halladay's salary next season, if controlling expense was an absolute necessity, trading Joe Blanton for one good prospect would have gotten the team to a very similar financial place for 2010. And, despite the tough economic times, fans would probably choose paying a couple bucks more for tickets and concessions if that would translate into a Halladay, Lee, Hamels, Happ led rotation- and the favorites for another World Championship.


Halladay is a great pitcher, is thrilled to be a Phillie and appears to be a solid citizen. He should prove to be an excellent contributor on a championship caliber team for the foreseeable future.


But that aside, Lee is the special type of talent that does not come along very often, with a personality that was made for Philadelphia. It is difficult to see him slip away, especially after he wowed fans and players alike, and seemed sincere in his desire to play out his career in red pinstripes. Now we are left only with the dream that somehow, someway the Phillies sign him as a free agent next offseason.

Monday, December 14, 2009

DeSean Propelled Eagles Too Much for Giants

Giants vs. Eagles

After sitting out a week with a mild concussion, DeSean Jackson exploded back onto the scene to lead the Eagles to a 45-38 win over the arch rival Giants. On a night that the NBC experts were predicting would end with 3 NFC East teams standing at 8-5, the Eagles kept lighting up the scoreboard to prove them wrong and take sole possession of first place with a 9-4 record.


Jackson put on a show, scoring twice more from greater than 50 yards to add to his growing collection. Last night's effort tied an NFL seasonal record of 8 touchdowns of that length, with 3 games left on the schedule to add on further. First, he grabbed a punt, momentarily stepped backwards and then exploded up the left sideline 72 yards into the end zone. Later, seconds after the Giants had fought from behind to take a 31-30 lead, Jackson sprinted past defenders on a post pattern and took a 60 yard pass from Donovan McNabb in stride, back peddling the last 15 yards into the end zone.


Neither defense offered much resistance, but both offenses also looked sharp. The combined point total was the highest in 150 meetings over the long history of the match-up. The Giants controlled the ball for almost 35 minutes and racked up 512 yards in a losing effort. While the Eagles accumulated less yardage, this mainly traced to the punt return TD and a defensive score by Sheldon Brown taking them off the field.


With strong protection all night, Eli Manning played far differently than in the team's previous two meetings. Manning hit on 71% of his passes for 391 yards and 3 TD's. The Eagles defense aided his cause with some shoddy tackling, allowing both Hakeem Nicks and Domenik Hixon to score on long catch and run plays. On the flip side, Manning completed some passes as he was being tackled and had a few excellent long throws dropped by his receivers.


As good as he was, Manning did hurt his own cause with a pair of fumbles, the first of which was very costly. After the Giants picked off a McNabb pass while trailing 30-24 in the 3rd quarter, Manning fumbled the ball back on the very next play at the Eagles 15 yard line. Upon getting the ball back, though, he hit Hixon for a 61 yard scoring strike that gave the Giants their first lead at 31-30.


This could have been a major turning point and sent many teams into a downward spiral after surrendering a pair of 14 point leads. McNabb showed his frustration when it occurred, but promptly took the field and fired the bomb to Jackson, and just 15 seconds later they were back on top.


At this point, the defenses stiffened and the teams traded 3 punts, the last of which pinning the Eagles back at their own 9 yard line. After deploying a deep passing game all evening, the Eagles proceeded to use a short passing game and ground attack to methodically move the ball down the field. They chewed up a large amount of the clock before Leonard Weaver pounded the ball in from the one to re-establish a 14 point lead.


For the second consecutive week, Michael Vick was a significant contributor both running and passing. Looking more athletic and faster like his days before being suspended, Vick connected with Jackson for 32 yards on a tight pass on their first drive and ran around left end for a touchdown in the 2nd period. The formation and Vick are both starting to show some promise that could prove helpful down the stretch.


McNabb had another solid game, accurately spreading the ball around, but clearly enjoyed having the home run hitter Jackson back in the line-up. For the game, the speedy receiver hauled in 6 passes for 178 yards. He now leads the NFL averaging a hefty 18.9 yards per reception and 17.8 yards per punt return. He is quickly establishing himself as one of the premier playmakers in the league.


Although the big win gives them sole possession of first place in the NFC East, both the Cowboys and Giants still have a shot. The former due to hosting the Eagles in the season finale, and the latter due to their schedule. It is easy to envision the Giants winning out as they play two losing teams finish with a Vikings team that will probably have no incentive to win. With their previous win in Philadelphia, the Cowboys would hold the tie breaker if they were to defeat the Eagles and end with the same record.


Giants vs. Eagles

This Eagles offense is looking to be playoff worthy, and with continuing consistency and the possible return of Brian Westbrook, could prove to be Super Bowl worthy. Last night's performance on defense, however, will still keep Andy Reid and staff up at night if they want to have a shot at beating high powered teams like New Orleans, Minnesota or Arizona. The hope would be to get players settled back into normal roles with the return of missing players, but 500-plus yards and 38 points would suggest they have a lot of work to do. After all, as good as he is, it would be unreasonable to expect Jackson to be a highlight show every game...or maybe not.


Saturday, December 12, 2009

Sixers Continue Free Fall, Face Critical Stretch

Sixers vs. Pistons

Any hopes the Sixers had for the season are quickly getting away as they continue their free fall. Last night's defeat to the Houston Rockets makes an even dozen, as they have now registered their 12th consecutive loss. It also marked their third straight loss since re-acquiring Allen Iverson.


If they cannot get a win Monday night against the struggling Golden State Warriors, things have the potential to get even uglier. The next two games are against the powerhouse Cavs and Celtics. The Sixers then host the perpetually lackluster LA Clippers before heading on their annual west coast holiday tour after a quick stop in DC. Even if they find a way to break the losing streak, they face the specter of being totally buried by the time they return home in the new year.


After advancing to the playoffs for a second consecutive year and playing pretty well against a tough Orlando team, the organization viewed the young team as an up and comer. President and GM Ed Stefanski opted to pass on signing veteran Andre Miller and hang onto his big ticket purchase from a year earlier, Elton Brand. He then decided that Eddie Jordan and his Ivy League system were the right formula to cultivate his young team. And, with no true point guard on the roster, Stefanski elected to draft a 19 year old project in the 1st round of the draft.


It would be safe to assume that if Stefanski had to do it all over again, he would have made different decisions, starting with Brand. The high priced free agent has been a large disappointment and encumbered the team financially. Jordan has done nothing to make Sixers fans forget Billy Cunningham and Larry Brown- or Doug Moe and Roy Rubin for that matter. It still remains to be seen how his latest move of signing Iverson will work out.


The Sixers got off to a bad start last season as well and then were able to recover enough to qualify for the playoffs, so it may seem premature to write off the season. In theory, the Sixers could still start to get the hang of their new system and roles. Players such as Marreese Speights and Lou Williams could return from injury and provide a boost. Brand could regain the form of his glory years as a Clipper. Once he gets his legs under him and loses the inhibitions associated with trying to prove himself a good teammate, Iverson could move from being "The Question" to "The Answer."


Right now, though, the odds do not appear to be with them. They do not have a big inside presence, they still lack perimeter shooting and do not distinguish themselves on defense. The Sixers appeared to be at their best over the past couple seasons when they used their athleticism and pushed the ball up the floor, yet are not organized to capitalize on those strengths.


Unfortunately, the team appears to have a major identity crisis. They are not sure what they want to be and are a collection of pieces that do not necessarily fit together. They have some talented players, but no rain makers.


The pressure mounts to turn losses into victories as the hole gets deeper. Although there was some risk in letting Miller walk, the return of Brand and Jason Smith as well as the experience gained by young players last year had the team thinking optimistically. As this season's attendance would suggest, fans were obviously less bullish.


The upcoming stretch of games will likely define the course of the season. Registering enough wins to see outside light from the deep hole in which they currently stand might have them trying to meld the team around the two A.I.'s. Conversely, no more than a couple wins might have the team throwing in the towel, releasing Iverson and " going young" for the balance of the season. Heck, they might even abandon the "Princeton Offense."

Eagles Need Selective Amnesia Against the Giants

DeSean Jackson celebrates his touchdown against the Giants in Philadelphia

Several weeks ago, the Eagles and Giants kicked off an unique day/night, football/baseball doubleheader in Philadelphia. It might be more apt to say that the Eagles kicked the Giants all over the field in the opener, striking early and often in rolling to a 40-17 victory and move ahead of them into a tie for first place in the NFC East. The final score actually understated the Birds total domination of their division rival.


Fast forward to today and the two teams are preparing for another game with significant playoff implications. A key for the young Eagles team will be to engage in a little selective amnesia as they get ready and then take the field tomorrow in the Meadowlands. The memories of the easy, decisive just weeks ago can sometimes cloud thinking and delude players into thinking this game will be more of the same. In all likelihood, it will not.


Just two weeks prior to the first Giants game, the Eagles suffered an embarrassing loss in Oakland to a Raiders team that was reeling and in disarray. The same team that rung up 40 points in Week 8 could not push the ball across the goal line even once and settled for 3 field goals in Week 6. By all appearances, the Eagles went into the game flat and not fully prepared, seemingly being caught looking past a struggling team.


Surely, the Giants are much more familiar to them and will have more of their attention. Also, they are coming off a big win against the division-leading Cowboys and lurk just one game behind the Eagles. But, human nature is what it is, so as much as logic suggests that the team will not take them for granted, sometimes the sense of urgency and challenge at hand can be dulled in the minds of players after a recent lopsided win. This is especially true considering the relative inexperience of many players on this Eagles team as well as the transition of leadership that has had to occur with the departure of several influential veterans.


On the opposing sideline, the Giants players seem to enter the contest with renewed hope after a dismal stretch whereby they lost 5 of 6 games. They had started the season 5-0, primarily through the soft portion of their schedule. Nonetheless, football pundits were singing their praises and mentioning them in discussions about the best team in the league and Super Bowl predictions. Fans and experts became increasingly enamored with Eli Manning, loved their running game and marveled over their defense. Then the opponents got tougher and their fortunes took a dramatic turn downward.


After a quick start, Manning has battled a foot injury that has hindered his performance. He went through a particularly rough patch in the middle of the season, completing less than 50% of his passes and tossing 6 interceptions over 3 weeks. He has been playing considerably better of late, and will be looking to redeem himself after two poor games in a row against the Birds.


Brandon Jacobs has been a large disappointment for the Giants this season, both literally and figuratively. After rushing for more than 1,000 yards and a 5.0 yards per carry clip each of the past 2 years, the 264 pound running back is running more with worse results. This year he is averaging less than 4 yards per carry, including only 2.9 yards over the past 3 weeks when he accumulated just over 100 yards in total.


Meanwhile, the once vaunted Giants defense has been giving up points in bunches. Opponents have averaged more than 30 points per game against them over the last 7 seven games. Surprisingly, they are currently 5th best in the league in terms of yards surrendered, yet 25th in points allowed. This is somewhat of a conundrum, but ultimately leads to losses.


Andy Reid's challenge gets a little bit easier with the return of several players. On offense, the team will have wide receiver DeSean Jackson back from a mild concussion along with tackle Jason Peters, who has battled an ankle injury all season. On the other side of the ball, the Eagles will have both talented linebacker Akeem Jordan and nickel back Joselio Hanson back on the field, and improved health for Sheldon Brown and Asante Samuel.


This should be the tough NFC East type game everyone expected in Week 8 and will likely go down to the wire. Playing at home with a scent of the post season, the Giants will be pumped up and looking for revenge. If the Eagles can ward off any level of complacency, they will be a stronger version of the team that has strung together 3 consecutive wins.


Both teams will attempt to lean on their more reliable passing games, especially since they have struggled at times on the ground. As usual, Donovan McNabb will look to stretch the field with Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, work underneath with Brent Celek and Jason Avant, and run screens with LeSean McCoy and Leonard Weaver. Manning will primarily look to his trio of three young receivers, Steve Smith, Mario Manningham and Hakeem Nicks, who have impressively filled the void left by Plaxico Burress. He will also look to his large target Kevin Boss down the middle, particularly since the Eagles defense is one of the worst in the league in defending tight ends.


The difference in the game should come down to McNabb being a little better than Manning and the Eagles bolstered pass defense. Defensive coordinator Sean McDermott will continue to use a proven formula by keeping pressure on Manning and testing his arm strength and mobility with a series of stunts and blitzes. This should allow the secondary to jump some routes and pick off a couple passes that are lacking in velocity. The Giants rugged front line will also put pressure on McNabb, but he is one of the NFL's best at ball protection.


Philadelphia Eagles v Atlanta Falcons

In their first meeting, the Eagles hit on several big plays, but will likely be limited in opportunities due to adjustments made by Giants' coach Tom Coughlin and staff. Jackson should still be able to slip free for a long score; otherwise, McNabb will do a better job of grinding out more methodical drives. The Eagles hope to force Manning to do the same and look for turnover opportunities along the way. Expect a close, hard hitting game punctuated by three McNabb TD passes and a big game by Celek, with the Eagles running their winning streak to 4 games.



Eagles 24

Giants 20