Do or die.
Sounds like the appropriate motto for the Philadelphia Eagles this season.
Although it seems as if they’ve done more dying than doing.
Sunday the Birds must tackle the only thing on their to-do list: beat the New York Giants.
There’s no sugar coating this one -- the Eagles win, the season’s still alive; they lose it’s ... what do the kids say nowadays, donezo?
Overnight it snowed, and yes it’s cold. Donovan McNabb’s now the proud father of twins and neither one of Andy Reid’s kids pulled an O.J. this week.
Good, no reason for distractions or excuses for the Eagles this time around.
The Giants (11-1) will have the advantage in East Rutherford as the G-Men look to wrap up the NFC East, a present the Eagles (6-5-1) don’t want to hand to their division foes.
After failing to convert on fourth-and-one in the finals minutes, the Eagles flopped the team’s first matchup of the season 36-31 at Lincoln Financial Field.
Philadelphia, however, chose to blame the loss on a missed call by the officials -- go figure -- when New York quarterback Eli Manning apparently threw a pass over the line of scrimmage.
Despite originally calling a 5-yard penalty that was a drive destroyer, the call was overturned. Instead of settling for a field goal and still trailing 24-23, the drive continued and two plays later Brandon Jacobs rushed the gut for a 3-yard touchdown giving the Giants a 27-24 advantage with 5:56 remaining in the third quarter.
That’s your excuse of the week.
Excuses be damned, the Birds now have a chance to overturn that loss against the best team in the NFL.
New York will have its fair share of distractions this week. And if they lose to Philadelphia, Beages fans bask in the glory of someone else besides Andy Reid and McNabb whimpering excuses less believable than “my dog ate it.”
After busting a cap in his own ass -- or thigh -- at a nightclub, Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress has been suspended for the rest of the season. Linebacker Antonio Pierce is also under investigation for apparently hiding the weapon. With the way things have been going in New York, it’s only a matter of time until reports surface the Pac-Man Jones also used the gun to pistol-whip a stripper too. Hey it’s New York it could happen.
Along with personal distractions the Giants also have the pressure of winning the conference Sunday.
Good news for the Eagles, or is it?
Before the drive-thigh shooting, the oft-injured Burress didn’t rank tops in touchdowns or receiving yards. It also looks as if Pierce will play in Sunday’s game. To further take away from Philly’s joy of New York woes, the Giants have won their last seven games including a 6-0 mark at Giants Stadium this year.
The Giants also have the NFC’s No.1 defense that will be all over a McNabb, who hasn’t beaten New York since Nov. 28, 2004 -- a four-game streak.
With the windy conditions in New Jersey, yeah the New York Giants aren’t even in New York, David Akers could have a rough time. Although he has drilled 14 straight field goals he’s only converted on 50 percent of them at Giants Stadium.
But cheer up Beages fans, although the Giants have the most dominant front four defensive linemen in the league they failed to sack McNabb, who’s own line has only given up 18 sacks all year, in the season’s first bout. McNabb also threw for three TDs that game.
There’s no hiding it, this is going to be one tough game for the Eagles. But to leave you diehards off on a good note, under Andy Reid the Eagles have an NFC East-best 12-4 record in December.
Consider it an early Christmas gift.
