Reasons Why The Eagles Will Be a Top Contender In The NFC

Ok, I have seen everybody talking about their teams and why they will be big contenders in the season and in the playoffs.

Here are some of my thoughts on Philly.

First off, let's take a look at our playoff history.

We are 7-5 in the playoffs since 2001 and are 17-17 in playoff history. This club is obviously no stranger to NFC Championship games, let alone the playoffs. Andy Reid has done this team well.

Secondly, look at what we have on both sides of the ball.

Offense

While we lack HUGE star power (Tomlinson, Moss, Owens, Chad Johnson etc.), we still have:

A healthy Donovan McNabb, a great running back in Brian Westbrook, a good tight end in L.J. Smith, a hell of an offensive line in Tra Thomas, Todd Herremans, Jamaal Jackson, Shawn Andrews, and Jon Runyan, an underestimated speedy Kevin Curtis, a young, flashy DeSean Jackson, and a great target when called upon in Reggie Brown.

Defense

While losing Jevon Kearse and Takeo Spikes may hurt...we still have an impressive defense, with: 

A young LB corps of Omar Gaither, Chris Gocong, and Stewart Bradley; the scariest (in my opinion) secondary in Brian Dawkins, Sheldon Brown, Quintin Mikell, and the INT king Asante Samuel; and D-linemen Trent Cole, Mike Patterson, Broderick Bunkley, and Juqua Parker are good enough to stand their ground.  

Last but not least, thanks to our division rivals, the NY Giants, everyone can now see that the impossible/improbable is now probable.

You don't need a bunch of stars on your team to be Super Bowl Champs, all you need is to have a team that knows each other and knows how to make those key plays in the clutch. THAT'S IT.

If you don't believe me, look at Eli Manning managing to get out of a sack and bombing it to David Tyree, which put them in position to take over the game. 

Eli Manning isn't a Tom Brady and David Tyree is no where near Randy Moss. But they knew how to make key plays in the clutch. 

Philly knows how to do just that. If you don't believe me on this one, then go back to McNabb's 14-second scramble and completed pass to Freddie Mitchell vs. Dallas a few seasons ago.

Clutch plays, not stars.

That's all that matters.