Monday, October 25, 2004
Eagles-Browns notes...
And then there were two…
The Eagles survived the Browns 34-31 in OT to stay alive as one of the NFL’s two unbeaten teams. “Survived” is the best word for the Bird triumph because the team had a lot of flaws that were exposed in the game and their victory was not a sure thing. A few thoughts:
-The Steelers have the luck / misfortune to face both of the NFL’s undefeated teams in the coming weeks: Halloween brings the Patriots to Heinz Field, followed by the Eagles, provided they defeat the Ravens. Crisis or opportunity? The Steelers could make their season and gain valuable momentum by beating both teams.
Or they could suffer two tremendous losses. Either way, the next two weeks are critical to the Steelers season.
-Well, who thought that the Eagles would be 6-0? Few, I bet. This is the Eagles best start under Andy Reid (note: the Eagles have lost the previous three season-openers under Reid, to the Rams in ’01: 20-17, to the Titans in ’02: 27-24, and to the Buccaneers in ’03: 17-0). This means, coupled with the Giants 28-13 loss to the Lions, that the Eagles hold a two game lead on the Giants and a four game lead on the Cowboys and Redskins. The division race is hardly over, but if the Eagles go into the Monday Night game against the Cowboys 7-1 then that stretch of games, where they play the Cowboys, Redskins and Giants, should essentially clinch the division for them.
As long as the Eagles go 7-3 down the stretch they will finish with a 13-3 record, the best in the franchise’s history: Reid has finished 12-4 twice, and the Eagles went 12-4 under Dick Vermeil in 1980, when they last reached the Super Bowl. 13-3 (or 14-2) would be new territory for this team.
Oh, I stated the other day on Wingheads that the Eagles had never gone 6-0 before and someone was kind enough to point out the inaccuracy: the Eagles went 6-0 in 1981, before losing 35-23 to the Minnesota Vikings. The Eagles went on to go 4-6 and lose to the New York Giants in the wildcard round. This team will face adversity. Let’s hope they respond better than the ’81 team did.
-Was it me, or did the Eagles offense function better with Dorsey Levens in the backfield? Levens came up with some big runs between the tackles in the fourth quarter after Westbrook left the game.
-I’d complain that T.O. only had four catches if it weren’t for the fact that two were for TD’s and McNabb spread the ball around well: ten Eagles caught passes in the game.
-That roughing the passer call on Brian Dawkins was ridiculous: he barely touched Garcia, and there was no head-to-head motion or shoving on Dawkins part. The ref who called that should be ashamed and disciplined because it nearly cost the Eagles the game.
-The rushing defense turned in a sub-par effort out there. I thought Green and Suggs were going to run right through them, but they toughened up late and held them in check. Still, it was a pretty discouraging sight.
-McNabb continues to have a monster season: 28-43 (65%), 376 yards, 4 TD’s … So far this season he’s completing 65% of his passes, and has a TD-INT ratio of 13-3. If Donovan continues at his current pace he’ll throw for a little under 4,700 yards this season. His previous career high in yardage was the 3,365 yards he threw in 2000, a number he is halfway to eclipsing already.
Why so little MVP talk? Donovan is third in the NFL in QB rating. He will probably throw for 3,500 – 4,000 yards this season, and due to the Eagles anemic ground game, he is the focal point of the Eagles attack. Donovan was runner-up in the MVP voting in ’00 because he was the Eagles entire offense. He’s dramatically improved this season in accuracy and he’s a bigger play threat now.
-Next: the Ravens. Snort. No offense to Baltimore fans, but this team is incompetent on offense. Even with Jamal Lewis they look terrible. Without, they look worse. Call this one:
Eagles 24
Ravens 3
Other games: I was disappointed to see the Jets fall to the pats 13-7. I really thought that they’d have momentum and win it … What was the deal with the Falcons? They play well on defense and then give up eight rushing touchdowns? Yikes! … And the Seahawks! 3-0 and looking good, leading the Rams by 17 with five minutes left, and … POOF! There their season goes. They are 3-3 right now and fortunate that the Rams lost to the Dolphins yesterday. Suddenly the NFC playoff picture looks a little murkier: the Rams and Seahawks look weak, the Falcons looked awful, and Packers are struggling back into the hunt … the only strong teams in the NFC right now are the Vikings and Eagles. If they turn out to be competing for home-field, that Week 2 Monday Night win is going to loom large.
I hate to say it, but the AFC is a lot stronger: the Jets, Pats, Steelers, Jags, Colts and Broncos are all elite teams. The NFC teams look a lot weaker.
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The Eagles survived the Browns 34-31 in OT to stay alive as one of the NFL’s two unbeaten teams. “Survived” is the best word for the Bird triumph because the team had a lot of flaws that were exposed in the game and their victory was not a sure thing. A few thoughts:
-The Steelers have the luck / misfortune to face both of the NFL’s undefeated teams in the coming weeks: Halloween brings the Patriots to Heinz Field, followed by the Eagles, provided they defeat the Ravens. Crisis or opportunity? The Steelers could make their season and gain valuable momentum by beating both teams.
Or they could suffer two tremendous losses. Either way, the next two weeks are critical to the Steelers season.
-Well, who thought that the Eagles would be 6-0? Few, I bet. This is the Eagles best start under Andy Reid (note: the Eagles have lost the previous three season-openers under Reid, to the Rams in ’01: 20-17, to the Titans in ’02: 27-24, and to the Buccaneers in ’03: 17-0). This means, coupled with the Giants 28-13 loss to the Lions, that the Eagles hold a two game lead on the Giants and a four game lead on the Cowboys and Redskins. The division race is hardly over, but if the Eagles go into the Monday Night game against the Cowboys 7-1 then that stretch of games, where they play the Cowboys, Redskins and Giants, should essentially clinch the division for them.
As long as the Eagles go 7-3 down the stretch they will finish with a 13-3 record, the best in the franchise’s history: Reid has finished 12-4 twice, and the Eagles went 12-4 under Dick Vermeil in 1980, when they last reached the Super Bowl. 13-3 (or 14-2) would be new territory for this team.
Oh, I stated the other day on Wingheads that the Eagles had never gone 6-0 before and someone was kind enough to point out the inaccuracy: the Eagles went 6-0 in 1981, before losing 35-23 to the Minnesota Vikings. The Eagles went on to go 4-6 and lose to the New York Giants in the wildcard round. This team will face adversity. Let’s hope they respond better than the ’81 team did.
-Was it me, or did the Eagles offense function better with Dorsey Levens in the backfield? Levens came up with some big runs between the tackles in the fourth quarter after Westbrook left the game.
-I’d complain that T.O. only had four catches if it weren’t for the fact that two were for TD’s and McNabb spread the ball around well: ten Eagles caught passes in the game.
-That roughing the passer call on Brian Dawkins was ridiculous: he barely touched Garcia, and there was no head-to-head motion or shoving on Dawkins part. The ref who called that should be ashamed and disciplined because it nearly cost the Eagles the game.
-The rushing defense turned in a sub-par effort out there. I thought Green and Suggs were going to run right through them, but they toughened up late and held them in check. Still, it was a pretty discouraging sight.
-McNabb continues to have a monster season: 28-43 (65%), 376 yards, 4 TD’s … So far this season he’s completing 65% of his passes, and has a TD-INT ratio of 13-3. If Donovan continues at his current pace he’ll throw for a little under 4,700 yards this season. His previous career high in yardage was the 3,365 yards he threw in 2000, a number he is halfway to eclipsing already.
Why so little MVP talk? Donovan is third in the NFL in QB rating. He will probably throw for 3,500 – 4,000 yards this season, and due to the Eagles anemic ground game, he is the focal point of the Eagles attack. Donovan was runner-up in the MVP voting in ’00 because he was the Eagles entire offense. He’s dramatically improved this season in accuracy and he’s a bigger play threat now.
-Next: the Ravens. Snort. No offense to Baltimore fans, but this team is incompetent on offense. Even with Jamal Lewis they look terrible. Without, they look worse. Call this one:
Eagles 24
Ravens 3
Other games: I was disappointed to see the Jets fall to the pats 13-7. I really thought that they’d have momentum and win it … What was the deal with the Falcons? They play well on defense and then give up eight rushing touchdowns? Yikes! … And the Seahawks! 3-0 and looking good, leading the Rams by 17 with five minutes left, and … POOF! There their season goes. They are 3-3 right now and fortunate that the Rams lost to the Dolphins yesterday. Suddenly the NFC playoff picture looks a little murkier: the Rams and Seahawks look weak, the Falcons looked awful, and Packers are struggling back into the hunt … the only strong teams in the NFC right now are the Vikings and Eagles. If they turn out to be competing for home-field, that Week 2 Monday Night win is going to loom large.
I hate to say it, but the AFC is a lot stronger: the Jets, Pats, Steelers, Jags, Colts and Broncos are all elite teams. The NFC teams look a lot weaker.
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