In position to control their own playoff destiny after the Dallas Cowboys lost to San Diego, the Philadelphia Eagles did just that with an impressive win over the New York Giants in East Rutherford on Sunday night.
They raced out to a 14-0 lead a little more than five minutes into the game and trailed just once as took sole possession of first place in the NFC East with just three weeks left in the regular season.
Hitch: Division Crown
The Eagles, who haven?t won the NFC East since 2006, can assure themselves of a division title by winning their remaining three games. With some help from the Cowboys and Giants, they may not even need to win out to accomplish the feat.
Philadelphia has a one-game edge over Dallas and a two-game advantage on New York heading into Week 15. A win over the 49ers on Sunday, coupled with a Giants? loss to the Redskins, would allow the Eagles to clinch a playoff berth.
Slant: Hot At The Right Time
Once again, the Eagles are getting hot at just the right time. After back-to-back losses to the Cowboys and Chargers, they have won four straight (including three on the road). Over their four-game surge Philadelphia is scoring 32.5 points per game and holding opponents to 22.3 points.
The defense hasn?t exactly been dominant, aside from their Dec. 6 effort against the Falcons, but they have been very opportunistic. They have a +15 takeaway ratio and have scored six touchdowns on defense or special teams this season (only the Saints have more).
Also, the big-play ability of DeSean Jackson means that the Eagles don?t necessarily have to control the clock to be successful.
Post: Mr. Jackson
Speaking of Jackson, is there a more exciting player in the NFL right now?
He had six catches for 178 yards and two touchdowns against the Giants for an insane 29.6 yard average. Jackson now has 50 receptions, 947 yards and seven touchdowns in 2009, despite missing Week 13?s game against Atlanta and most of Week 12?s win over Washington.
Another touchdown of 50-plus yards will allow him to set an NFL record with nine in a season and he?s becoming a YouTube sensation.
In addition to his receiving touchdowns, Jackson has returned two punts for scores (including a 72-yarder on Sunday night) and rushed into the end zone (a 67-yard scamper against the Redskins on Oct .26) this season. He nearly does it all.
Fade: McNabb Attacks
While it wasn?t a playoff game, Donovan McNabb led the Eagles on a vital drive late against the Giants, despite his reputation as an interception-hurler in the final minutes.
Philadelphia?s 12-play, 91-yard drive in just over seven minutes was a thing of beauty. They didn?t face a single third quarter and had New York on their heels the entire time. It was easily the most impressive drive that the high-scoring Eagles have put together this season.
On the drive, McNabb went 6-for-6 with 67 yards and found Jason Avant for a two-point conversion that gave the Birds a 45-31 advantage.
The drive was largely no-huddle, a situation that facilitated Philadelphia?s ability to pressure New York, but also a tempo at which McNabb sometimes struggles.
He?s on pace to throw fewer than 10 interceptions for the fifth time in six seasons and post his best QB Rating since 2004, when he had a 104.7 mark for the Super Bowl-bound Eagles. That?s a good sign for Philadelphia, assuming he?s able to perform just as well in January.
Curl: The Rump Bump
It speaks for itself and the video replays Andy Reid?s sideline celebration with DeSean Jackson about 100 times with House of Pain?s ?Jump Around? in the background. I?m pretty sure that even Tom Coughlin could waste 15 minutes watching this over-and-over.
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 him on Twitter: APerna7.
