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| Andrew Perna. 8th December, 2009 - 1:44 am
 The Philadelphia Eagles appear to have turned the corner at just the right time. After losing back-to-back games to the Dallas Cowboys and San Diego Chargers in mid-November and falling to 5-4 on the season, their playoff chances were beginning to look bleak.
Just three weeks later, the Eagles are in prime postseason position. After dismantling the Atlanta Falcons 34-7 on Sunday, with plenty of enticing side plots, the Birds sit tied with the Cowboys for first-place in the NFC East with four weeks and a head-to-head matchup left on the schedule.
Hitch: Playoff Forecast
If the season ended today, the Eagles would lose the division title to the Cowboys by virtue of their head-to-head record and slip into the postseason as a Wild Card. The rival Giants, who began the season with five straight wins, would watch from home as the Packers would grab the second at-large bid.
However, a division title isn?t out of the realm of possibility for the Eagles, who have four games to separate themselves from Dallas and New York. Philadelphia will face off against the Giants on Sunday night and the Cowboys on Jan. 3. Both games will be on the road, book-ending home dates against the 49ers and Broncos.
While winning the NFC East title would be nice, it may not matter in the grand scheme of things. The Eagles knocked off the Giants in the playoffs last season as a Wild Card and with the New Orleans Saints (12-0) and Minnesota Vikings (10-2) in the NFC, a bye-week and home field advantage is nearly impossible.
Slant: McCoy?s Navy
Lost in the big-play ability of wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin has been the admirable play of rookie running back LeSean McCoy. The Eagles have leaned heavily on the former Pitt Panther in the wake of Brian Westbrook?s lingering concussion issues and he has delivered for the most part.
McCoy has averaged 66.1 yards per game in six starts, scoring three touchdowns in the process. His yardage jumps to 79 per game if you eliminate Sunday?s start against the Falcons during which LeSean rushed for just two yards on six attempts. Philadelphia ran the ball 26 times, with coach Andy Reid opting to give Eldra Buckley eight carries in garbage time at the Georgia Dome.
If Westbrook is able to return in time for the postseason, no matter how unlikely that may seem, McCoy will be better prepared for important complementary carries with a Super Bowl trip on the line. If not, the combination of McCoy and fullback Leonard Weaver will be more than serviceable.
Post: Vick Returns Home
While it?s true that the Eagles posted their third straight win on Sunday, Michael Vick?s successful return to Atlanta was the real story of Week 13. Reid, showing that he does in fact have a heart, gave Vick his most extensive playing time of the season against his former team, allowing him to have his best game of 2009.
Vick finished with 17 rushing yards on four carries, including a five-yard touchdown scamper in the third quarter that marked his first trip to the end zone as a member of the Eagles. Taking over for Donovan McNabb with the game well in hand, Vick went 2-for-2 with 48 passing yards and yet another score, which came on a five-yard strike to tight end Brent Celek.
His time on the field likely would have extended deeper into the fourth quarter had Vick not nicked up his hand, but his time was memorable nonetheless. Perhaps it ended perfectly just how it did.
While Vick did receive a mixed reception at the Georgia Dome, his teammates were 100% with him, which despite his past transgressions, was inspiring to see. Any bogus reports of issues between McNabb and Vick should have finally been put to bed when FOX cameras caught a wide smile on the face of the former following the latter?s success.
Fade: McDermott?s Defense -- Again
The Eagles haven?t been especially stingy this season, but they have at the very least been opportunistic. They have allowed 304.1 yards (7th) and 19.6 points (13th) per game in 2009. However, they have grabbed 20 interceptions, third in the league, and recorded 33 sacks, sixth in the NFL.
Overall, their +9 takeaway ratio ranks third in the NFC and fourth overall.
It?s extremely hard to shutout a team in the NFL and the Eagles were a tipped pass away from doing so against the Falcons on Sunday.
Curl: Reid?s Extension
ESPN?s Adam Schefter is reporting that the Eagles and coach Andy Reid are very close to a contract extension. Reid?s current deal runs through the 2010 season and despite a brief period of uncertainty last fall, he has been a mainstay in Philadelphia.
He has a career record of 105-66-1 after Sunday?s win over Atlanta and his upcoming extension leads me to believe that Donovan McNabb will end his career with the Eagles.
As unlikely of a duo as they appear on the outside, these two are inseparable.
Andrew Perna is Deputy Editor of RealGM.com. Please feel free to contact him with comments or questions via e-mail: Andrew.Perna@RealGM.com. You can also follow Andrew on Twitter: APerna7. |
