Philadelphia Eagles Are Finally Finding Ways To Win Again Before the Bye Week

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid has one of the most impressive resumes in the NFL (even though he’s still waiting to add Super Bowl Champion to it).

A 99-66-1 career record in his 11th season. A 10-7 record in the postseason. Five trips to the NFC Championship game in eight years (including four straight from 2001-2004). An appearance in Super Bowl XXXIX.

When his time comes to an end with the Eagles, there’s a good chance Reid may go down as one of the best head coaches in franchise history.

However, even the best coaches may have a certain weakness. In Reid’s case, one of his weaknesses throughout his career has been his history of losing games prior to the bye week.

Wait, what history of losing before the bye week during the Andy Reid era?

Here’s a Philadelphia Eagles trivia question for the readers out there: How many games has Andy Reid won before the bye week during his 11-year tenure with the team?

Five games.

Before anyone says anything, there is an explanation behind Reid’s five games he’s won. I’m aware, five games won in 11 seasons isn’t a bad statistic at all and this writer is erroneous on all accounts. However, it’s the number of games won by Reid between his first and last two seasons with the Eagles that is the focus of this article.

Here is a list of the 11 games Reid has coached prior to the bye week over his 11-year career:

1999: Eagles 24 Patriots 9

2000: Eagles 35 Browns 24

2001: Eagles 20 Cardinals 21

2002: Eagles 25 Jaguars 28

2003: Eagles 10 Patriots 31

2004: Eagles 19 Bears 9

2005: Eagles 10 Cowboys 33

2006: Eagles 6 Jaguars 13

2007: Eagles 3 Giants 16

2008: Eagles 40 49ers 26

2009: Eagles 34 Chiefs 14

Before the last two wins against the Chiefs and 49ers, the Eagles had lost seven of their last eight games prior to the bye week with Reid as their head coach. Even with all of the successful seasons by the Eagles this decade, how could one team struggle in such a category?

There really is no explanation behind the Eagles unsuccessful performances heading into the bye week. Maybe some of the players were rested a week early to gain two weeks of recovery instead of one. Maybe the team was worn out and the bye week was needed for rest.

No matter how many excuses are made about the Eagles performance prior to the bye week, the only real explanation that makes sense is this statistic is nothing more than a coincidence. However, this so-called “coincidence” may be over considering their success the last two seasons against the 49ers and Chiefs.

Despite playing without quarterback Donovan McNabb and running back Brian Westbrook, the Philadelphia Eagles had no trouble getting past Matt Cassel and the Kansas City Chiefs in a 34-14 win last Sunday.

However, the thought of the team’s history of struggles was in still fresh in the minds of players and fans. Remember, on any given Sunday, any team has the potential to pull the unthinkable and win.

Lucky for the Eagles, the “Any Given Sunday” theory did not apply towards them in their win against the Chiefs. Out of all 32 teams in the NFL, they may have needed the bye week more than anyone considering how much they need McNabb and Westbrook to recover from their injuries and get healthy.

Congratulations to the Philadelphia Eagles. They have won before the bye week two seasons in a row.

Does this mean the struggles before the bye week are over?

It’s still too early to tell considering it may be a few years before we find out, but at least the Eagles appear to be on the right track.

Here’s to a 2-1 record and the hope of the bye week paying off for their players to rest up and get ready for a Week Five matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Dan Parzych Is the Eagles Fan Voice for NFLTouchdown.com