Why Every Eagles Fan Should Be Proud of the 2008 Season

Seven lead changes.

The highest scoring game in the history of the Eagles-Cowboys rivalry.

The sixth highest-scoring game in the history of Monday Night Football.

I remember I was joking with a friend that day this would be the Super Bowl (obviously impossible).

One of the most memorable games in this fierce rivalry. Even though we lost, it made me feel the Eagles were unstoppable.

Rookies played an important part on both sides as well.

Felix Jones' impressive 98-yd return and DeSean Jackson's back-to-back 100-yard games to start an NFL career (first since Eagle Don Looney did it in 1940).

Of course what I will remember forever as Jackson's contribution was the infamous drop at the 1-yard line. But hey, let's call that a rookie mistake and hope he's not a Terrell Owens in the making (You have no idea how much I want him to be more of a Jerry Rice than a T.O., but only time will tell).

"Off the X-ray, it's not fractured," Reid said.

He was referring to Brian Westbrook, and we felt a false relief that would only last for a bit. Westbrook struggled with injuries for the rest of the season.

For me, this was a memorable moment for the 2008 Eagles mainly because of two things.

First, the backup players stepped up.

What a game Buckhalter played! He scored the lone touchdown with an acrobatic hurdle over one of the toughest defenses in the NFL.

87 yards on 16 touches for a backup RB says a lot. And if you're backing up Westbrook, it says even more.

Hank Baskett made his share too, with eight catches for 85 yards.

Also, the defense won at the line of scrimmage.

Games are won in the trenches. And when you have a marshal like Jim Johnson, this takes a lot of meaning.

They held the Steelers to only two of 13 third-down conversions. Willie Parker gained only 20 yards. They forced three turnovers and a safety. Ben Roethlisberger was punished so much he left the game in the fourth quarter. And they held the Steelers to 180 total net yards.

A ton of muscles, fat, and bones dancing synchronized in a field. Pure art.

No matter what I do, I can't forget these games. I hope someday to tell my children about the great Donovan McNabb and that every hero has his low points, too.

But in November, all I did was question McNabb, as we all did.

How can you be a professional football player and not know you can tie? Come on!

That shows zero commitment to the game (Thank god he has 100 percent commitment to the team despite any controversy).

This was a point where weeks two and three seemed so far away, and the 19th game seemed even further.

For two weeks the world of sports was flooded with McNabb news; almost everyone wanted his head and Andy Reid's as well, but what makes us love them again was still to come.

What a Thanksgiving! With only four days passed since the infamous benching of McNabb, we were given 437 yards on offense, Westbrook rolling up 130 of them, including four touchdowns.

I just couldn't believe it. I opened my eyes more, pinched myself, and I even called a friend to check if I was in fact watching the actual game.

McNabb played perfectly, completing 27-of-39 passes, throwing no interceptions, and getting sacked only once.

He played like the McNabb we all love: an athletic man who is not afraid to scramble, make a pass on the run, and will do whatever it takes to win, all while having some fun.

Even though Westbrook was still sore, he gave one of his best performances ever, and that's saying something.

As for the Cowboys game, trying to explain this with words would be an insult.

After such a rare season, playoff hopes seemed almost impossible, and I say almost because of the outcome. No one thought we had a chance. I will only describe this in one statement:

When you put your heart on the things you're doing, and you try so hard that you not only achieve your goal, but make it so good it can be seen from space, that's when miracles happen.

This is a small tribute to one of the best the NFL will see: Jim Johnson.

After the New York Giants had such a season, everyone believed Derrick Ward and Brandon Jacobs would pound us. But the reality was different.

We dominated the Giants offense, stopping them on a crucial 4th-and-1 and 4th-and-2. Asante Samuel showed why he was brought in, leaving the ball on the two-yard line. Just beautiful.

Akers was perfect, three of three in field goals.

McNabb snuck in for a one-yard touchdown.

What a game this was, and what a season...

After the Cardinals game, I was so angry. This was supposed to be our season. If the Eagles would have won the Super Bowl this year, it would be the stuff movies are made of.

Heroic moments, standing up after falling down, Johnson coaching while battling with cancer, winning the most crucial games against the feared rivals.

I was so angry I couldn't sleep that day. And somewhere between 3 and 5 a.m., I became retrospective of this season. And that's when I saw that there were so many things to thank my Eagles for. It was almost impossible to stay mad.

Their campaign was "Believe in green." The real campaign should be "Be green" because this season made me more green than before.

Now my skin is midnight green and I couldn't be any more proud.

I never saw the Super Bowl though. I have it on tape. Some day I will, but not today.