Birds Should Soar Over Lesser Skins
By DAN STAMM
Updated 11:15 PM EST, Fri, Nov 27, 2009
Eagles fans might not think so but their team is in the driver’s seat for a playoff spot.
Entering Sunday’s match up against the Washington Redskins (as a nine-point betting favorite) the Eagles would be a Wild Card were the season to end this week. The craziest thing is that they would remain at worst as the sixth seed even if they lose to the Skins.
What a difference a year makes. Last season the Eagles needed the miracle of all miracles to slide into the NFC playoffs. This season they are in much better shape.
The biggest reason is that the 6-4 Eagles own many of the tiebreakers like head-to-head, division record and conference record over other Wild Card wannabes like Green Bay, Atlanta and the Giants.
A win this week and the Eagles keep their NFC East title hopes alive, as they would remain only a game behind the Cowboys.
For now let's forget the playoffs and look towards Sunday instead.
The Birds should win easily even if almost every member of their defense is on the injury report.
They should overcome this week even if Asante Samuel, Jeremiah Trotter and/or Sheldon Brown can’t go.
The thing with this team is that a healthy offense can carry a broken defense. Yes, running back Brian Westbrook and wideout Kevin Curtis were already ruled out Sunday but the only other listed offensive players on their injury report were tackles Jason Peters and Winston Justice and fullback Leonard Weaver -- all three practiced all week and were expected to play.
So the game will rest solely on the shoulders of No. 5. If Donovan McNabb plays well and spreads the ball to DeSean Jackson, Brent Celek, Jason Avant and Jeremy Maclin then the Eagles should pull a repeat performance of their first-half beat down of the Skins last month.
Washington (3-7) must depend on inexperienced (and it shows) QB Jason Campbell to try and match McNabb. And even though the Birds must turn to rookie RB LeSean McCoy they still probably hold the advantage in the backfield over Washington’s third-string back, Rock Cartwright who will be thrust into action.
Andy Reid’s Birds should be eating Thanksgiving seconds off Jim Zorn’s Redskins and this one shouldn’t be close.
Our prediction: Birds 32 -- Skins 13
First Published: Nov 27, 2009 10:59 PM EST
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