"Something tells me we'll see a replay of last years Packers/Eagles playoff game with potentially different results."
You did see what Brian Westbrook did to the packers, right?
Over 200yds from scrimmage.
Green Bay has not won in Philly since 1962, and Brett Favre has never won a game in Philly(0-4 lifetime).
The only team that scares me at all in the NFC is the Falcons.
They're the only playoff team with any defense at all in the NFC besides the Eagles and the Redskins(who are out of the picture now only because Gibbs stuck with Brunell for so long).
The Vikes, Pack, Seahawks, and whoever else might qualify by default all have just glaring weaknesses on defense.
As bad as the Vikes D is, the Pack D is even worse. The Eagles will hammer the Pack again(but not as bad) if there's a rematch. Wanting revenge is great and all, but when you've got no defense to speak of it doesn't mean much...
The Eagles will activate rookie 3d round draft pick Billy McMullen, 6'-4", 225lbs to 'replace' TO until he can come back. He has pretty good speed for a big man, and reportedly has pretty good hands. We'll see...
WR T.Pinkston has caught a lot of heat lately for his alligator arms, but he's having his best year as a pro, and is a legitimate deep threat(he has something like 9 receptions of 40yds or more), and F. Mitchell is a solid possession reciever. McMullen will be the big X factor, but he looked really good in the preseason, and in his press conference today Reid said he's look solid in practice of late.
If it wasn't for the Eagles dominating Defense i admit i'd be pretty panicked right now...but the Eagles D leads the league in Sacks, points allowed, and are right at the top in turnovers forced and INTS. Since Trotter moved to the starting lineup the Eagles D is surrendering under 100 yds/game rushing, despite the fact that in the last month the Eagles have played a lot of backups late in the game to reduce the injury risk to starters.
The Eagles D is playing much better now than when the Vikes visited in week 2, which is understandable considering how many new players came to the team this year, and because Trotter is now the starter and is having an all-pro caliber year. Kearse may only have 7.5 sacks, but he has been an absolute terror moving around the D and applying pressure from everywhere. The double teams he's faced have allowed the other Eagles defenders to get the sacks that he creates.
Since Trotter moved to the starting lineup the Eagles have faced Tiki Barber, C.Portis Twice, J.Jones, Eddie George, and Ahman Green...some of the finest in the league.
Only Barber hit 100 yards, and only barber averaged more than 3.5yds a carry in that span.
I figure the Eagles have 7 players on defense that are playing at an all-pro level(not that they'll all make the pro-bowl, but that all of them are playing at that level).
FS B.Dawkins
SS M.Lewis
CB L.Sheppard
DE J.Kearse
MLB J.Trotter
SLB D.Jones
DT C.Simon
And there is also the fact that the Eagles running game is MUCH better than the statistics would lead one to believe. Reid just doesn't like to run, but regardless of the opponent when given the opportunity this year Westbrook has run extremely well, breaking off a lot of long runs. It's scary to think the kind of numbers he'd have put up this year if he'd been given 25 carries a game all season(he averages about 10).
Facing the Ravens, Redskins twice, Packers(who have an excellent run D, but that's about all), Westbrook has gone up against most of the Leagues top defenses, and he's averaged well over 4 yds/carry against all of them.
<b>"You got me all wrong Mudd...i don't like anyone.</b><img src=newicons/saevil.gif border=0 align=middle>"
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