Eagles Ready to Soar Against Broncos

In Sunday afternoon's game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Denver Broncos, the odds seem to be in the Eagles' favor.

From Gather.com:

The Eagles have hit full stride, developing into a team that should be more feared than the New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings in the playoffs. Philadelphia has playmakers on both sides of the ball and veterans who have been battled tested in the playoffs before. The Eagle offense, headed by quarterback Donovan McNabb and second year stud, wide receiver DeSean Jackson, has an abundance of youth and speed which presents matchup problems for opposing defenses. 

... Ultimately, the offensive arsenal of the Philadelphia Eagles will prove to be too much for an inconsistent Denver Broncos team. The Eagles should have no problem beating Denver at home and should drop the Broncos to 8-7. Don’t look for this game to be close.

And from NFLGridironGab:

Let’s face it: the Broncos will have to play a perfect game to leave Philly with a victory this Sunday. Perfection has not been in the Broncos repertoire this season (at least after the week 7 bye). The Eagles still have to play hard as the Cowboys and Giants are both still alive for a playoff spot and or a division title.

To put it simple the Eagles need this game just as much as Denver, only difference is the Eagles are playing at home and seem to be peaking as the regular season is coming to an end. The Broncos are still trying to find themselves at the week 16 mark.

Broncos fight hard but fall, 31-17  

But then there's the Dawkins factor. As in Brian Dawkins, the Eagles' safety for 13 years before he joined up with the Broncos.

As noted by the Salt Lake Tribune, the Broncos will enter the game as considerable underdogs, although in Dawkins there is hope.

Maybe Dawkins, perhaps the first-ever new kid on the block to immediately become leader of the Dove Valley neighborhood, can inspire his Broncos teammates to bring their "A" game today. 

But, as Dawkins himself tells the Tribune, "this is not a win one for the Gipper."

"We need this game for us. Obviously, going back to where I grew up as a professional player, I would love to win this game. But it's not for anything other than the Denver Broncos need this game," he said.

Yeah, right. But the Eagles are still going to win it.