Philadelphia Eagles' Bye Week Came at the Perfect Time This Season

With injuries to quarterback Donovan McNabb, running back Brian Westbrook, and wide receiver Kevin Curtis, no team needed to take advantage of the bye week more than the Philadelphia Eagles in Week Four.

So far, the Eagles are off to the type of start many expected from them in 2009. With strong performances against the New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs—and a horrendous game against the New Orleans Saints—the team has found ways to get by with the help of backup quarterback Kevin Kolb and running back LeSean McCoy.

Despite their 2-1 record, the Eagles have dealt with more injuries than they would have liked to so far this season. However, the bye week came at a perfect time to help these key players receive enough rest to return Week Five against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The extra week allowed McNabb to rest the fractured rib that’s kept him out since opening week against the Carolina Panthers. Westbrook was able to rest his injured ankle–the same one he had surgery on during the offseason. Curtis took advantage of the bye week to rest a knee that had been bothering him the first two games.

The good news for the Eagles is all three players are expected to start Sunday against the Buccaneers, who sit at the bottom of the NFC South and are searching for their first win under new head coach Raheem Morris.

In three games (two of which McNabb sat out), the Eagles are averaging 31.3 points per game, which ranks them second in the NFL behind the Saints. With McNabb most likely starting Sunday after practicing for the first time  this week since his injury, the team has every reason to believe these numbers will continue to be just as great—if not better.

The bye week could not have come at a better time for the Eagles this season considering all of the injuries they’ve dealt with. With players such as McNabb, Westbrook, and Curtis well-rested and returning from injury, this team has an opportunity to take advantage of a favorable schedule in October and make a statement in the NFC.