Meltdown Against Minnesota Raise Red Flags

The MVP talks for Vick may have just gone out the window with his mediocre at best performance.

We had gotten used to it by now haven't we? Every year the Eagles have games that they have no business losing to far inferior competition. However, after shipping out Donovan McNabb, surely things would be different this year right? Surely Michael Vick would cement his MVP status once more?

Unfortunately, things in this organization remain largely the same. The Philadelphia Eagles just blew a game against the Minnesota Vikings, led by rookie Joe Webb, and a chance at a 1st round bye and the 2nd seed. When the hype for the team couldn't have been higher, the flying high Eagles seemed to crash and burn in this one and have now again raised questions about the team.

If Reid fails to rally the team once more, he will be on the hot seat here in Philly.

The game was simply awful and the Eagles did not get it done in any category. Whether it was special teams, passing the ball, running the ball, the play of the O-line, the pass D, the run D, coaching, it was hard to believe we were watching the 2010 Eagles last night. And then, of course, the costly penalties returned, putting the Eagles in bigger and bigger holes.

Clearly, the biggest weakness of the Eagles is their tendency to collapse, as they did last season against Dallas (sorry for bringing back the memories) and this season against the Titans and now the Vikings. Hopefully, Andy Reid will take advantage of the opportunity to rest his starters in preparation for Green Bay or the Giants in round 1 and hope that we can bounce back after a week to rest.

Thoughts on Eagles

The 9-4 Eagles are currently tied atop the NFC East with the 9-4 New York Giants. While the Eagles hold the tiebreaker, that could mean little if they do not win the game against New York tomorrow afternoon. On paper, it will be a tough match up, as the Eagles are away and we all know how New York's defense was able to limit Michael Vick.

However, unless Vick gets knocked out of the game (totally possible with Osi, Tuck, and Pierre-Paul) the Eagles should win big. Many are surprised by my prediction, but the truth is the Eagles are simply a superior team. While New York's defense is certainly superior, the Eagles hold now the best offense in the league and second best offense in points per game. In the last meeting, it was a close game but the Eagles outplayed the Giants and were instead set back by their own mistakes. As December is when Andy Reid and co. historically play their best football, I have confidence that my team can get it done Sunday.

The Eagles will need rookie Jamar Chaney to step up to help contain bruising back Brandon Jacobs

New York will certainly make it a point to neutralize DeSean Jackson, so expect Maclin and Celek to see more grabs. However, with Asante Samuel's return, I believe the Eagles can hold New York to under 20 points and force Eli Manning into a mistake or two or three. And that should be enough for this offense to put the Giants away.

Of course a great deal will depend on the play of rookie Jamar Chaney, filling in at MLB. Bradley has been far from stellar this season but has always been excellent at stopping the run. Let's hope Chaney can keep up the great performance he had last week and help shut down Jacobs and Bradshaw.

So much for ushering in a grand new era in Washington.

In other thoughts, the benching of Donovan McNabb to me was a complete disgrace. Sure, McNabb is no longer the player he once was, but the failures of the Washington Redskins certainly cannot be placed on his head. Anyone who has seen Redskins games this season will know that McNabb often kept games close with his big plays, something Jason Campbell often failed to do. Sure he wasn't accurate, but accuracy has never been his strong point. And a 58% completion rating to go along with his receiving corps. and joke of an O-line could be far worse.

As many players have vocally criticized this decision, it is clear that McNabb is being used as a scapegoat. Upon arrival in Washington, the Shanahans have done little but divide that locker room and create unnecessary drama.

As an Eagles fan, however, I rejoiced at the news. Not because I am a McNabb-hater. I was/am Donovan McNabb's biggest fan. But now he will get a chance to play somewhere where he can be successful (Arizona? Minnesota? Perhaps even Cincinnati?) And now the threat of having McNabb in our division will be non-existant next season. And the way Mike Shanahan has been handling things, let's hope he keeps his job in D.C. as long as possible

Eagles Flying High

Even with a pedestrian performance by Vick, the Eagles still managed to cool down a red-hot Cowboys team

9-4 and with an opportunity to nab a first round bye? Who would have ever expected this from the 2010 Eagles! This team has shown again what I've been saying since week 3, they are Super Bowl contenders.

Of course we still have issues. The red-zone offense is still not solid and the red zone defense? Don't even get me started... The passing defense is also shown to be mediocre at best without Asante Samuel. But with Samuel returning soon, expect the passing defense to be much more effective and more turnovers generated.

Samuel's return is much needed in the rematch with the Giants

The news about Stewart Bradley and Brandon Graham could be better, but also could be much worse. As much as it hurts to hear this Eagles fans, Bradley has been an average MLB this season, nowhere near his 2008 form. If Jamar Chaney plays like he did last night, while he is certainly a downgrade the defense should not miss too much of a step. Graham also will not be missed that much with the return of Jacqua Parker, as well as having the likes of Daryll Tapp to fill in for him.

Without the leader on the defense (I believe it is Samuel at this point) and with Vick playing only an okay game, the Eagles were still able to cruise to a win over a red-hot Dallas Cowboys team. Next week will be a challenge, but the game against the Giants is a must-win. Especially if the Giants lose to the Vikings, it could very well clinch the division. With a win over New York, the Eagles would have the momentum to win out the remaining schedule (Minnesota, Dallas, both at home) and with the way the Bears are looking I believe they would seize the 1st round bye.

The Eagles may be the only team in the NFC capable of stopping the Patriots from earning their 4th Super Bowl victory.

Not that it would matter that much in the long run, as so long as the Birds make postseason, barring an injury to Vick or Jackson I can't see us not advancing to at least the NFC Championship, as I don't see a team that could stop us on paper except the Falcons with their homefield advantage. But who knows? Maybe a 1st round bye and extra week of rest is what will rejuvenate the team and allow Vick to do away with his former team. And the Eagles are likely the only team with a potent enough offense to stop the Patriots, who I believe will make their 5th Super Bowl appearance under Bill Belichick.

Random Thoughts and Such

Vick is having an MVP worthy season

So after 12 games of football, the Eagles are 8-4, a remarkable feat considering the team's expectations prior to the season. One can make a case for Andy Reid as coach of the year with his decision to play the resurgent Michael Vick.

While the Eagles lost a tough game against the Chicago Bears, the Eagles bounced back with a win over Houston and remain in the driver's seat in the NFC East. At 8-4, and with the Eagles entering a period when they historically play their best football and getting healthier, while this may be premature it may be safe to say the Eagles will make the playoffs.

Is Andy Reid the coach of the year?

However, the remaining schedule is no longer the cakewalk it appeared to be a week or two ago. Dallas remains to be played twice and is finally translating the talent they have onto the field under Jason Garrett. Anyone who has followed the Eagles in 2009 knows how much of a potential spoiler Dallas can be. The Giants are coming up in week 15 and while the Eagles triumphed in their past meeting, the Giants were the first team to find a strategy to slow Vick down (although still allowing over 250 yards in the process). Minnesota even remains as a potential spoiler with the improved play since Childress' firing.

While this schedule is not a breeze by any means, every game on that schedule is a game the Eagles should win. Therefore, if they play to their potential, the Eagles at 12-4 would likely take the 2nd seed and a 1st round bye, as the Bears have a tough schedule ahead (with Patriots, Jets, and Packers all remaining).

The return of Samuel will do wonders for the leadership on defense.

The return of Asante Samuel will be crucial to our chances of winning out. It's not just his improved coverage abilities, but Asante is an important leader for the defense. I think few people are noticing the continued impact of the loss of Brian Dawkins 2 years ago. Since Dawkins' departure, his void has not been effectively filled. It has been a combination of more vocal players on the field making up for the loss in leadership. As a result, the loss of any such leaders has substantial consequences. Vick is the undisputed leader of the offense, but the return of Samuel will be crucial to the defensive chemistry.

And after throwing 15 touchdowns this season with only 2 INTs and leading the Eagles atop the NFC East, is Michael Vick MVP worthy? I believe he is but it will be difficult, as many others are just as worthy, such as Philip Rivers, Tom Brady, and Matt Ryan. One thing is for sure though, if officials continue to ignore late hits and personal fouls against Vick, he may not last long enough to be eligible for such talks.

Eagles Have Super Bowl Potential (Now and Beyond)

The Eagles remain undefeated when Michael Vick starts all 4 quarters.

For the first 8-9 weeks it seemed like a consensus to most that the AFC was far superior to the NFC. However, that idea seems to be changing. The Defending Super Bowl Champ Saints defeated the Steelers on Sunday Night Football week 8. The Packers shut out the Jets 9-0 that week as well. We all remember, of course, the Eagles edging out the Colts in a game most experts predicted against them. And finally, the Atlanta Falcons defeated the Ravens.

All 4 of those teams were deemed Super Bowl contenders and among the most dominant teams in the NFL. They were also all AFC teams. However, now that they all feel to NFC opponents, it is clear that the NFC has just as much potential as the AFC and that this season's Super Bowl will still be unpredictable.

Yet, despite the renewed faith in the NFC, experts continue to rave about how the Falcons, Packers, Saints, and Giants all have championship aspirations. But aren't they forgetting someone?

Why not us? Why not Philly?

Vick and Jackson make the Eagles among the league's most potent offenses.

Do experts fail to realize that the Eagles have one of the most explosive offenses in the game? Averaging 376.2 yards (4th in the NFL) and 137.5 rushing yards (5th in the NFL) per contest? And that these stats were still the result of having Kevin Kolb instead of Michael Vick at the helm for about 4 games? Have they witnessed the Eagles shut down elite running backs week after week? Have they swept under the rug the fact that the Eagles are currently 3-0 when Michael Vick starts a whole game?

Of course, there are many holes on this team that remain. The offensive line is still too porous and must gel to help prevent another Vick injury. The defense, at 12th in the league, is by no means poor, but must make major strides if it wants to make this team a dominant one, including limiting big plays, which they have done excellently against Indianapolis and Atlanta. And of course, there is the question on everyone's mind. Can Vick stay healthy? Is it a matter of time before another big hit sidelines him for the season?

With LeSean McCoy and Vick leading the way, the Eagles have the 5th best running game in the NFL.

Maybe, and that is another issue at hand. If Vick can play more carefully though, this offense is and will remain a headache for all opponents.

This Eagles team has had a rough first half of the season, but have shown enough promise and bright spots to land us at 5-3, a record experts would never have dreamed of in the off-season. And if history tells us anything, Andy Reid knows how to mastermind second half rallies to make a playoff bid. And we all know that Andy Reid is a genius when it comes to deep playoff runs. (although unfortunately, not finishes).

In conclusion, if the Eagles continue to play Philadelphia Eagles football, why not us? When the Eagles are at their best, they can beat anyone in the league. Their biggest obstacle is and always has been themselves.

The gelling of this defense may be the difference between a jump for the Eagles from a good team to a dominant one.

This week, another obstacle to overcome will be Donovan McNabb and the Washington Redskins. While last week was quite the statement win, this is indeed also a significant game for Philly. A win here would put us at 6-3 and do much to prove experts and pundits wrong and show everyone, as I have here, that we have just as much a shot at the Lombardi Trophy as anyone.

Vick Continues to Show Why He is the Short-term and Long-term Future

At this point, letting Michael Vick walk in free agency would be a big mistake.

"Don't call it a comeback, I've been here for years"

So to anyone who had a doubt before that Vick was the correct call at quarterback, you have been proven wrong for the 4th time this season. In every one of Vick's starts he has been phenomenal and is every bit the dynamic playmaker he was in Atlanta, if not better due to his improved passing abilities. He has yet to throw a pick all season long and continues to lead the league in passer-rating, as well as making huge plays with his legs.

Don't get me wrong, Vick was not necessarily the reason we won. The defense stepped up tremendously, limiting the greatest quarterback in the league, Peyton Manning, intercepting him twice, and consistently getting pressure on him. They were able to salvage a much-needed win for the Birds even after a series of poor calls by the refs that all could have cost the Eagles this game.

Vick gives the Eagles a chance to win every week and makes this whole offense better.

While the defense may be the main reason the Eagles came out with a W, Michael Vick's play is not far behind. Vick was clutch on almost every third down and continues to turn negative plays into positive ones, doing much to draw attention away from the abysmal offensive line.

Also, did anyone catch the post-game locker room celebration? It is clear that Vick has the unanimous support and respect of everyone on that 53-man roster. They truly believe that with him at the helm, the Eagles have a chance to win every single week. And the truth is with DeSean Jackson back as well and with the defense continuing to step up, that may very well be a reality.

The return of Jackson and Vick make the Eagles arguably the most dangerous offense in the league.

Obviously, there are still issues with this team. There are too many costly penalties. The red-zone offense still has problems. And while Vick has yet to throw an interception, that stat is a bit misleading, as he has had his share of careless throws. And the Eagles face a challenge ahead at the Washington Redskins. McNabb will be playing with a chip on his shoulder as he was benched for no reason against the Detroit Lions for the lowly Rex Grossman. If history teaches us anything, next week will be when he plays his best football (remember the Arizona game after the Baltimore benching?).

If the Eagles want to advance to 6-3, they cannot afford to underestimate Donovan McNabb next week.

Do the Eagles still have a shot at victory? Of course. On paper, Philly is by far the superior team, especially considering the Redskins have one of the worst pass-defenses in the league. But if the Eagles keep playing like they did on Sunday, this will be a long day for Donovan McNabb and co. If we can shut down Peyton Manning, McNabb should not pose too huge of a threat.

Week 8 Predictions

This is a bye that is very much needed by this Eagles team, as Vick and Jackson can get the rest they need and the defense can try to get itself straightened out. It's going to be boring this weekend without an Eagles game to watch, but to keep myself distracted, I decided to start doing week to week predictions and see how I am at this. Here goes!

Byes: Bears, Browns, Eagles, Falcons, Giants, Ravens

Dolphins (3-3) @ Bengals (2-4)
The Bengals are a mess of a team and their talent is not reflecting on the field. Dolphins

Jaguars (3-4) @ Cowboys (1-5)
As much as I would love to pick the Boys to go 1-6, they certainly are not as bad as the Jaguars, even with Jon Kitna taking over. Cowboys

Redskins (4-3) @ Lions (1-5)
This looks like a freebie for the Skins, as they move into NFC East title contention. Redskins

Bills (0-6) @ Chiefs (4-2)
Last week was a fluke. The Chiefs have a solid defense this season and will hold the Bills offense at bay and take advantage of their abysmal defense. Chiefs

Panthers (1-5) @ Rams (3-4)
Sam Bradford continues to show that he is the real deal and an emerging star QB in this league. Rams

Packers (4-3) @ Jets (5-1)
The Packers have been quite the disappointment this season. The defense has not been quite as solid and the loss of Ryan Grant has given the Packers virtually no success running the ball. Why they did not pick up another back such as Larry Johnson or Lynch is beyond me. But the Jets can shut down a team that relies primarily on passing the ball. Aaron Rodgers may face problems with his weak O-line. Don't be surprised if this game exposes Green Bay for the team they are. Jets

Broncos (2-5) @ 49ers (1-6)
Neither team is very good, but the Broncos slightly edge the niners in my book. Broncos

Titans (5-2) @ Chargers (2-5)
I have always liked the Chargers, and Norv Turner usually needs a half season or so before he gets things rolling. Something tells me San Diego will bounce back this week. Chargers

Bucs (4-2) @ Cardinals (3-3)
Terrible game, but somebody has to win. Bucs

Vikings (2-4) @ Patriots (5-1)
Even without Randy Moss, the Patriots look like they haven't missed a step. Favre continues to hurt his team on and off the field. Patriots

Seahawks (4-2) @ Raiders (3-4)
The Raiders have talent and will continue show that without JaMarcus Russell they can win games. Raiders

Steelers (5-1) @ Saints (4-3)
If the Browns could get 3 picks from Drew Brees, the most dominant defense in the league will have its way with the defending champs. Steelers

Texans (4-2) @ Colts (4-2)
I think this will be the season the Texans prove they can win within the division. Colts are a shell of the dominant force they were last season, especially after all the injuries. Texans