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At this point in the season, every Eagles fan in the country has hit the panic button. Many have completely given up and the calls for Kolb and a new coach are increasing every day. I am hearing, “Thank God for the Phillies,” every day...

Eagles Fans: This Team Is Going to the Playoffs

by Bryn Swartz (Senior Writer)

51

340 reads

Opinion

November 18, 2008


At this point in the season, every Eagles fan in the country has hit the panic button. Many have completely given up and the calls for Kolb and a new coach are increasing every day.

 

I am hearing, “Thank God for the Phillies,” every day. And I don't get it. Our season is over, just like that? I don't think so.

 

Why is everyone giving up? Why are we so convinced that our season is over? Not one Eagles fan I have talked to believes we have a legitimate chance to make the playoffs. WHY?!

 

Because we're not playing like a playoff team...right now? Why did nobody make a big deal when we knocked off the 49ers, Falcons, and Seahawks by a combined 46 points?

 

We did just tie the Bengals. That's terrible. But we didn't lose. We have a winning record.

 

We're 5-4-1 right now. Five wins, four losses, and one tie that should have been a loss. We're sitting in last place, exactly where we finished last season and in 2005, and where we almost finished in 2006 (thank you, Jeff Garcia).

 

The NFL is an up-and-down sport. One week a team is a playoff lock. Two weeks later, fans are counting them out. Two weeks later, they're considered NFC favorites.

 

The Eagles have the third best point differential in the entire NFL. The Giants are first, the Titans are second, and the Philadelphia Eagles are third.

 

Point differential nothing in the win-loss column. A win is a win, and a loss is a loss. But it does make me feel better about this team.

 

The Eagles don't win close games. They win blowouts. We haven't won a close game since we knocked off the 12-1 Cowboys in December of last year (a four-point win that would have been 11 if Brian Westbrook hadn't kneeled down on the one-yard line.).

 

We haven't lose a blowout game since the Cowboys clobbered us in Philly last November (38-17).

 

The Eagles have lost four games this year and not won a fifth. These have come by a combined 19 points. Take 21 points off the Rams game from week one, spread them out, and the Birds are 10-0. This isn't possible, obviously, but what it should do is open your eyes to the fact that this team is not as bad as we think.

 

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51 comments Last one added 6 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Isaac Barrow 7 months ago

    as much as i agree, i dont think were gunna lose to u guys sunday.

    check this article i wrote like 2 months before the season:

    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/37659-philadelphia-eagles-should-make-run-at-the-playoffs

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  2. Orlando Morales 7 months ago

    You're not cray, this team has a legit shot at the Playoffs. I don't agree that the Browns game is a virtual lock, remember, this is the NFL, any team can beat anyone on Any-Given-Sunday. I certainly hope that the Bengals game was a wake-up call though. the Defense played good enough to win, Donovan just had a bad game. Oh and one thing I never mentioned, McNabb has been solid all year long and now that he finally has his one bad game, all of the cynics are calling for his head. Great job as usual Bryn.

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    • Bryn Swartz 7 months ago

      The Browns are a bad team, though, and the Eagles don't lose to bad teams. I can't remember a loss to a bad team, especially in the AFC. Maybe Tampa Bay, in the 62-yard field goal game. But they weren't that bad, even though they were 4-12.

      You know your quarterback is good when he throws just 3 interceptions and critics call it the worst game of his career. Peyton threw 6 picks last year. Romo threw 5. McNabb's never thrown 4.

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    • Orlando Morales 7 months ago

      well with this team we can't be overlooking anyone....not even the temple owls.

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    • Orlando Morales 7 months ago

      well what I meant to say was, the way this teamis playing right NOW and the situation they're in...they can't afford to overlook anyone.

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  3. Bob Cunningham 7 months ago

    there's a shot. and trust me, im hoping for a win-out like in '06.

    but uh.. oh boy. no one will be happier than me if that pans out.

    GO EAGLES!!!

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    • Bryn Swartz 7 months ago

      I'm not necessarily even expecting for a win-out, but four out of six should be good.

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    • Bob Cunningham 7 months ago

      4 of 6 doesnt get us in the playoffs.

      winner of the NFC North.
      Cardinals
      2 from the NFC South (im guessing Bucs and Panthers)
      2 from the NFC East (Giants and 2nd place)

      so we need to finish second to even have a shot. and even then, we might only get in because of tie-breakers with Atlanta.

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    • Bryn Swartz 7 months ago

      I think that if we beat Washington and Dallas we will finish in second. And if we beat Washington and Dallas, and also finish 9-6-1, we will make the playoffs. And if the tiebreaker with Atlanta is the only reason we get in the playoffs, I'm fine with that. Aren't you?

      Check out the rest of the other team's schedules. They're all difficult. I think the Bucs will fade. I wish I had the courage to pick them to lose to Detroit this Sunday, because I think they might.

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    • Bob Cunningham 7 months ago

      Valid point, sir.

      I think we need 10 wins though. minimum. I think beating dallas guaruntees us third, im not sure we move ahead of Washington with a split decision though.

      HERE'S TO HOPING!

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    • Bryn Swartz 7 months ago

      I've also realized that it's not about how many wins, it's about who we beat. We can go 9-6-1 and not have a chance if the losses are Dallas and Washington. But if we beat Dallas and Washington, but lose AFC games to Baltimore and Cleveland, then I think we will be in.

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    • Bryn Swartz 6 months ago

      9-6-1!!!!

      I'm so happy right now!

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    • Bob Cunningham 6 months ago

      ah ha!!!!

      i cant believe everything panned out the way it did!!!

      and now that we're in, nothing else matters. everyone is 0-0 in the playoffs and everyone has an equal shot, regardless of seeding. just think, all we need is 4 wins...

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  4. Cody Swartz 7 months ago

    If anything, we can afford to lose to the two AFC teams, but we NEED to beat the rest of the NFC, especially the NFC East the second time around, and Dallas and Washington for sure.

    I think we will beat the AFC teams, and Arizona, and win two of the three NFC East matchups, including the Week 17 matchup against Dallas. And that will give us the wild card and send them home.

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    • Bryn Swartz 7 months ago

      I agree. Week 17 against Dallas doesn't scare me as much as it probably should. Because the Eagles have whipped Tony Romo twice, on the road, in December, when they were the better overall team.

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  5. Craig Swartz 7 months ago

    Love your optimism, Bryn. However, I don't see it happening. Right now, there are four teams ahead of us in the wild card race. I don't think we can afford to go less than 5-1. This Sunday we play Baltimore. Jim Harbaugh coached under Andy Reid. With Reid's offense as predictable as it is, Harbaugh ought to be able to write Reid's play calling script for him. I'm not necessarily saying we'll lose Sunday, but I'm not feeling real good about it. Then we play a good Arizona team and have rematches in the NFC East where we've yet to win. The other game is Cleveland at home but you know, over the years, Reid has had extreme difficulty with AFC teams.

    January football is the funnest time of the year. I don't see the Eagles being part of it.

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    • Bryn Swartz 7 months ago

      Maybe you're right, but AFC teams don't scare me that much. We're 14-6 in our last 20. We haven't lost to an AFC team that won a game since 2006.

      I would be very surprised if 9-6-1 missed the playoffs.

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    • Bryn Swartz 7 months ago

      I just realize I meant "lost a game" not won a game.

      You probably knew what I meant though.

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  6. William Pieczara 7 months ago

    Bryn I am with you all the way. The Eagles are definitely a team that has a lot of potential. And I most definitely believe that when the Birds get their stuff together, and I mean all of them,: O, D, Special Teams, then the Eagles will be contenders. They have got to get seious and start believing in themselves. Once that happens------------------LOOK OUT! Birds all the way!

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  7. William Pieczara 7 months ago

    Birds-the-Word!!!

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  8. Clark Miller 7 months ago

    I think to make the playoffs in the NFC teams will need to win 10 games and I don't see the Eagles winning 5 out 6. I think that the Eagles will lose one against the Ravens, Cardinals, Browns, or Cowboys. Then at the Giants and at the Redskins are going to be extremely tough games and I'm hoping we win one of those games. The Eagles are 2-2-1 on the road and the teams that we beat (49ers, Seahawks) are having all sorts of problems this year. But this is the NFL and anything can happen.

    I think the Panthers, Packers, Giants, Cardinals will all win the division. The Redskins will easily get the first wildcard spot but the second one is kind of up in the air. I think the Falcons will fall out of the race and Cowboys will finish the year 3-3. I think the Bucs will finish 10-6 and get the last wildcard spot. I think the Eagles will finish 9-6-1 and just miss the playoffs.

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    • Bryn Swartz 7 months ago

      Interesting perspective. I find it surprising that you pick the Redskins to easily get a playoff spot. I think that they could easily finish last. I agree that the Falcons wil fall out of the race--look at their schedule--and I think Dallas will finish 9-7 as well, because we will beat them in the last game of the year. But I think Tampa Bay will fail to finish with more than nine wins. They just lost Earnest Graham for the year, and I don't think they were that good to begin with.

      I would be surprised if 9-6-1 missed the playoffs, but I guess we'll have to wait and see.

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  9. Christian Karcole 7 months ago

    Nice optimism here...I just don't see it.

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    • Bryn Swartz 7 months ago

      It's a stretch. But we've been in way worse scenarios. 2006 specifically. In 2002, people counted us out as soon as we lost Donovan, even though we were 7-3.

      I'm just tired of hearing that our season is over. We have 4.5 losses. Half a game back. It's not over.

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    • Christian Karcole 7 months ago

      See that's the thing...in 2006, we were dead, we lost Donovan, and all of a sudden the replacement did better...2002, we lost him, still played great...Tadah! That's the answer!

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    • Bryn Swartz 7 months ago

      I think it was in 2006. In 2002, the defense stepped up.

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    • Christian Karcole 7 months ago

      What I mean is...good without McNabb! That's the answer!

      Actually, no, I'm just being sarcastic. He isn't terrible, just time to move on.

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    • Bryn Swartz 7 months ago

      I still feel he is our quarterback. At least right now. I've been criticizing him like crazy lately, but I don't want him to leave. Sort of how we felt for Pat Burrell....

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    • Christian Karcole 7 months ago

      Not really....Pat was still succeeding...Donovan is just wearing out and is no longer a good enough QB. He's too erratic...add to that his inability to be a very good leader and strong teammate in my opinion....time to move on.

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    • Bryn Swartz 7 months ago

      I feel that Donovan is still a top seven or eight quarterback in the NFL. But we as Eagles fans used to feel that he was a top two or three quarterback and we're unable to deal with the fact that he has declined. That's why we're the greatest phans in the world. Because we expect the best from our players, and once we've seen what they can do, we want that every year. But sometimes, we're not all going to get it.

      Another example is Ryan Howard. After 2006, he was already a legend. He'll never do that again. But we still hope for it every year, and even though he's still an MVP candidate, we're a little disappointed because we know what he is capable of.

      But at this point, I just don't think there's another quarterback out there that we could get, better than Donovan. If we get Kevin Kolb in as the starter, he'll be terrible. We're not ready for that. Plus that is completely giving up on this franchise, and guys like Dawkins will never again reach the playoffs in their tenure as an Eagle.

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    • Christian Karcole 7 months ago

      Dawkins will be done very soon...and getting rid of Donovan and Reid is in the best interest for the team...we've seen over the past four years a 24-23-1 record (I believe). We need to realize our time is done, it's time to rebuild. I would love to see Kolb in there for the rest of this season. It won't happen, but I would hope it would. We just can't hang on to the past anymore. We've got to realize it's over. There's no signs of life in this squad anymore. Westbrook is too worn down, Donovan isn't Donovan, and Reid isn't Reid. Then add in Dawkins wearing down and you lose your four guys who pulled you through those years...it's going to be tough, but it's time to move on.

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    • Christian Karcole 7 months ago

      Wait no, their record over the last three are 29-28-1 I believe. (the first record I said was what I saw somewhere, then I did it in my head. 6-10, 10-6, 8-8, 5-4-1.)

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    • Bryn Swartz 7 months ago

      21-20-1 with Donovan. 8-8 without him. Not a difference unfortunately.

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    • Christian Karcole 7 months ago

      Haha, no I didn't mean that...I just meant the overall team is 29-28-1 in the last four seasons...time to move on.

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    • Bryn Swartz 7 months ago

      I think that the unfortunate thing is that if Donovan goes, so does Reid. They are treated as a package. I would like to see Donovan go and not Reid. But that'll never happen.

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    • Bryn Swartz 7 months ago

      No no no no.....

      I want Donovan to STAY and Reid to GO. That's what I meant.......

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    • Christian Karcole 7 months ago

      I would rather see Reid stay...

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    • Bryn Swartz 6 months ago

      Haha, here's the opposite of what you were saying. I think we're in. You don't.

      So happy right now.

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  10. Dan Parzych 7 months ago

    There's no doubt in my mind that we can still make the playoffs. We still have games left against every team in the NFC East. Look at 2006 when the Eagles were 5-6 and everybody counted us out of the playoffs. Enter Jeff Garcia: Eagles win the next 5 games (beating the Cowboys, Giants, and Redskins in the process) to win the NFC East and make the playoffs. Awesome job as always Bryn.

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  11. William Pieczara 7 months ago

    The EAGLES can and will make the POs. Changes ned to take place all around. Possibly head coach, possibly QB, and quite possibly defensive LBs and Backs. This is inevitable. Time will dictate how it comes to pass. For now we need to focus on building self confidence in AR and his belief in the offenive package. His line and backs. They are all caliber players. We know that, the question is--- does the coaching staff?

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    • Bryn Swartz 7 months ago

      Not the linebackers or defensive backs. I like these guys and they're young and good. Head coach yes, quarterback no as of now.

      And our coaching staff is unwilling to admit that any player on the team is not Pro Bowl-caliber.

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  12. Michoel Botwinick 7 months ago

    Nice article! Two quick things:

    1) Did you hear that Andy Reid held a special rallying meeting to get his team back together yesterday? And guess who spoke? B-Dawk!

    2) The Redskins are also a great December team, and I think we're going to have to beat them out to snatch the wildcard.

    HERE'S TO HOPING!!! E-A-G-L-E-S, EAGLES!!!!!!!

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