Eagles Poised To Make a Move, but in Which Direction?

With the euphoria subsiding, but a healthy glow of a World Series Championship and parade still emanating from its citizenry, the Philadelphia sports fan once again turns his attention back to the Eagles. And just in time to see blur going in the other direction.

Was that the Cowboys?

Yes, I'll admit, after an amazing run by the Phillies—combined with an bye week for the Birds the week before—I arrived last Sunday with no idea of the Eagles' opponent or even start time.

Now you have to realize, I have the times of EVERY Eagles game in my Outlook calendar at work.  I always know when the games are and who we're playing.  That's how wrapped up I was with our 2008 World Champion Phillies (Man, I love typing that!).

And now that my focus is squarely back on the boys in midnight green, here at the halfway point of the season, the thought occurs to me—why not two championships?

I know, I know, don't get greedy.

But let's think about this for a moment. The pressure is off. The weight of expectations is lifted. And the "most competitive division in football" is showing some cracks.

Dallas is not the same without Tony Romo, and currently sits a half-game back of the Eagles in last place (ooh, that's almost as nice as typing World Champion Phillies!).

The Redskins just got embarrassed on national television by the Steelers—a team the Eagles have already beaten.

That leads us to the World Champion Giants (okay, that statement makes me want to barf), the next obstacle in the Eagles' path.

Much was made after the Eagles first NFC Championship loss against the St. Louis Rams about how Donovan McNabb stayed on the field to watch the celebration.  He also saw the Patriots celebrate a three-point victory in the Super Bowl.

Now, he's seen what a victory party looks like in Philadelphia—only it wasn't his team that was the subject of fans' adulation.

The man has been desperate to validate himself since the infamous draft-day "booing" he received. Of course, he always says the right things, and has suffered his fair share (or more) of slings and arrows. 

But McNabb wants to win.

I loved seeing No. 5 sporting the Phillies colors during the World Series. He got a taste of just how amazing a championship could be in this city. Perhaps now, he truly is one of us.

If we've learned nothing else about McNabb over the past eight years, it's that he always responds to a challenge. And no more than Jamie Moyer seeing the 1980 championship parade and wanting to be the one on the float, D-Mac wants a parade.  Of his own.

So now comes the last NFL team to win a championship—a hated division rival that most thought weren't that good last season. Yet somehow, they won a Super Bowl. 

Eli Manning got a parade.

This season, the Giants are showing that perhaps they weren't a fluke. It's a good test for an Eagles team that has been wildly inconsistent but has shown flashes of what could be.

A win against New York on national television could start the ball rolling. Or, it could show the world that they're not quite ready for prime-time.

But McNabb must be ready.

The dreaded "window of opportunity" could be closing—not on the team, but on him. His possible replacement sits there on the sidelines, clipboard in hand.

Watching. Learning. Waiting.

So McNabb needs to succeed.  But he needs some help from his surrounding cast, just like the Phillies did.

McNabb needs Andy Reid to channel his inner Charlie Manuel, and make decisions that are best for his football team. 

Decisions like giving Brent Celek another opportunity to shine.  Oh, I've read the company line that the defense didn't plan for Celek. 

Fine.

But watch Celek catch the ball.  Then watch L.J. Smith.

Celek catches the ball in-stride, and—get this—KEEPS RUNNING!

How many times have we seen L.J. catch the ball and then flop to the ground? Well, not too often lately because L.J. hasn't been catching many these days. 

Yes, he's been injured. So play the healthy guy. Reid needs to put his BEST team out there if they are to succeed. 

That also might mean less of Reggie Brown.  Again, injuries have hampered the man.  Fine.  Play the healthy guys: Jackson, Curtis, Avant.

Reid always talks about "putting guys in better positions to win" after a loss.  Perhaps it's putting better guys in positions to win?

Why all this harping when the Eagles stand at 5-3, having won three straight? Because the talent is there to do something special, if it all comes together.  And this group may not be together much longer.

Westbrook, McNabb, DeSean Jackson.

The Phillies showed what can happen, if only you can get to the postseason.

For the Eagles, the final push begins Sunday night.  It won't decide who gets a parade, but it may decide who doesn't.