How Can the Philadelphia Eagles Possibly Be Favored over the New York Giants?

How can the Philadelphia Eagles possibly be favored over the New York Giants this weekend?

Did the oddsmakers not watch the Eagles pitiful performance against the Arizona Cardinals?

Did they not see the how the Giants trashed the Panthers without either Ahmad Bradshaw or Hakeem Nicks?

Do they not know that the Eagles have turned the ball over 12 times in the first three games?

Do they not know that the Giants have scored 94 points to the Eagles 47?

Do they not know that the Eagles are on their third left tackle of the season and will be starting a center who has now started just one NFL game? Did they not see how this allowed the Cardinals to bring pressure so frequently on Michael Vick?

Do they not know that the Eagles might be starting a new long-snapper, which could cause difficulties with both the punting and kicking games?

Do they not know that the Eagles will have someone new holding for the placekicks, since punter Chas Henry was just released this week?

So why then could they Eagles be favored?

Do the oddsmakers really think that winning seven of the last eight games over the Giants gives the Eagles some sort of special edge in this game?

Could they be thinking that honoring Brian Dawkins before the game will whip the fans and team into a frenzy?

Wait a minute! I know what is going on. They are banking on another miracle finish. Could it be a last minute punt return? How about a blocked kick in overtime turned into touchdown? Or maybe a quarterback fumble while trying to run down the clock?

Herman Edwards, DeSean Jackson, Clyde Simmons and Brian Westbrook have provided previous miracles. Who is the anticipated miracle-worker this time? Could it be Damaris Johnson on a punt return? How about Brandon Boykin on a kick off? Or maybe it will be Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie on a pick six?

And, of course, to really be a miracle, any of these would need to occur in the last two minutes of the game.

With the state of disarray in the Eagles offensive line and the nutty offensive play-calling, it will likely take another miracle finish again for the Eagles to pull out a victory.

But hey, it has happened before, so it certainly can happen again.

Maybe the oddsmakers will be right after all.