1 week later

So it's been a week since the latest Eagles debacle. We've heard all week what a bunch of losers Reid and McNabb are and people concluding that they will never, ever win a Super Bowl. (Something I decided was the case awhile ago.) But one thing I've heard and read that makes absolutely no sense to me is that this Championship Game loss was the worst one ever. Sorry, there's Tampa Bay and then there's the rest.

The Eagles had home field advantage that year, had repeatedly beaten Tampa Bay in the playoffs and the regular season, it was freezing cold outside which was weather Tampa was 0 for 1,000 in, EVERYONE picked the Eagles to win, and once the game finally started the Eagles scored a touchdown less than a minute in. The rout was on! Then everything imploded. It was a black hole gravity like crushing loss.

This Arizona game I thought they should win but by no means thought that it meant they would win. Seriously, was anyone that shocked by the outcome? It's not like we haven't seen it all before. People picking the game to me seemed split 50-50.

And this loss is supposed to be extra bad because it was the Arizona Cardinals? Like Tampa Bay and St. Louis rank among the grandest NFL teams and Carolina wasn't an expansion team in only its eighth season.

What do you think?

1-5

At least the Bills lost 4 times in the Super Bowl, we're such a bunch of losers we can only manage to lose 4 times in the championship game. It's laughable actually. We can't even be the best losers. So once again another joke team with a joke, fairweather fan base defeats one of our teams. But hey, we got some bonus games and even a bonus half! Yea! But the truth is I expected it and my scar tissue is so thick I barely feel a thing. Nothing can hurt me anymore.

Standout Losers:

• Donovan McNabb - despite a great fantasy game, it was a mediocre game where it counted. Tons of blown opportunities thanks to terrible throws all well documented by Fox and the 93,803,984,902,385th time where he failed in crunch time. This game perfectly encapsulates his entire career. This game is his legacy.
• The entire defense - came up small the entire first half and then came up smallest when the entire season was on the line and let the Cardinals drive the entire field and use up almost 8 minutes to score the winning touchdown.
• The referees - Not that they lost the game for the Eagles, but they blew tons of calls all game including no interference on Avant, called that kickoff out of bounds, and the final non-call interference on Curtis. And these crews are supposed to be the best of the best.
• Quentin Demps - tons of failure and stupid, moronic plays. The worst of all was that cheap hit on Warner that helped give the Cardinals 3 points before the half.
• Greg Lewis - nice huge drop. Please football gods, I never want to see him in an Eagles uniform again. Ever.
• Shakers - nice misses. Nice extra PAT.
• The Eagles fans - for putting hopes in these clowns year after year.

Well, another year I won't be watching the Super Bowl.

As predictable as the the most predictable thing in the world

Favored in another NFC Championship game, and another pathetic loss. Except this time it's not even halftime and it's over.

The NFC Championship game is in Arizona?

1/18 6:30 PM ET	Opening	betED	Logans	5Dimes	SPORTSBETTING
Philadelphia @ Arizona	-3 48	-4 48	-3.5 47	-3 47	-3 47.5

Matchup

BONUS QUESTION: How come I'm not as confident as everyone else seems to be?

Looking Ahead - Kurt Warner

So, will it be a blowout, a nail-biter, or a disappointing loss? By the numbers, even with a big offense, the Cardinals are in the playoffs only because of the terrible division they're in; the Eagles (with a consistent Reid) are actually much stronger than their record, as the math would forecast at least an 11 and 5 season, which is probably conservative, as several close games were flat out mismanaged by Mr. Andy.

The Cards big offense is the key to the game. Warner is the key to shutting that down. Over Warner's career against the Eagles (6 games), Jimmy Johnson has nicely tamed Kurt, the NFCCG of Jan 2002 the one exception where he had a QB rating of 94.5, but where Warner only threw 1 TD. Warner's career rating vs. the Eagles is only 69.3, where he has 7TDs and 9INTs. He's only managed to average 220yds/game and 20pts/game against the Eagles along with probably many sacks (that I didn't count). That would be a big step backwards relative to what the Cardinals have averaged this season - which is less than the Rams of 1999!!!

Warner's most successful game was that NFCCG, where he didn't beat the Eagles, but instead needed a run game to help him out. This year they meet again in the NFCCG, but Warner is without a complementary back that can do the damage Faulk did. Additionally, he's playing against a McNabb with 11 vs. 3 years of experience; he's also working with an ARI defense that isn't what the Rams were in 1999. Unlike Thanksgiving 2008, expect a closer game vs. ARI this time 'round, but don't expect a loss. I wouldn't be surprised to see the score flipped from 2001's NFCCG to 29-24, Birds.

Playoffs? We're talking about the Playoffs???? Unreal! 'Member the Phightins!!! (And try to forget the CIN/BAL games this year!)

I hate NY

Eat it New York. You had a week of rest, Jacobs was healthy, you were at home, no distractions etc., and the Eagles just kicked your ass. Eli is what we thought he was. The defense held those scrubs to 11 lousy points and Manning straight up sucked. If you break it down, the first Giants field goal was set up by the kick-off return, the last field goal came off that interception from the deflection, and the defense scored 2 points from the safety. The Giants offense did NOTHING but put up 3 points on their own. The Eagles defense did EVERYTHING, the Eagles offense did just enough, and Akers made all his attempts. The refs in this game also sucked and were a factor, but the Eagles were able to defeat them as well.

Other notes:

• Nice play by Akers on the opening kick-off. Most kickers have no idea how to take an angle.
• The Giants kicker, Carney, looks like a 60 year old ugly-ass super-villian.
• 2 games, 2 Asante Samuels picks lead to TDs.
• Congrats to Reid for another QB sneak call.
• Westbrook had a terrible game.
• Even though the Giants stopped Westbrook, the Eagles still won.
• Who would have thought the 2 minute drill would be the thing to wake the offense up and give the team momentum?
• How can the refs pick up that interference flag? Oh yeah, they suck.
• Celek had 2 bad drops but redeemed himself with the TD.
• Other players that redeemed themselves during the game: Considine after his block in the back had a big hit on the next punt return and later made a defensive play on third down, Curtis after dropping a bomb made tough catches over the middle converting third downs.
• Unbelievable defensive stops on 4th down, but the offense didn't capitalize.
• Second 4th down the refs gave Jacobs almost a yard he didn't get with the spot.
• Dawkins had another good game. I love how he leads with his helmet all the time but never gets called on it.
• Avant had another good game.
• McNabb wasn't spectacular, but was probably the best individual player on the field.
• Offensive line again didn't surrender a sack.
• One thing the defense did not do was sack Eli either, but they did pretty much control the line of scrimmage when it mattered.
• I hope whoever was running commercials while the 4th quarter was happening gets fired.
• Reid called a good game.

I'll let everyone else fill in the rest in the comments.

Giant hopes

1/04 4:30 PM ET	Opening	betED	Logans	5Dimes	SPORTSBETTING
Philadelphia @ NY Giants	41 -4.5	40.5 -4	40 -4	40 -4	40.5 -4

Matchup

BONUS QUESTION: Will any road team win this weekend?

Runestones to their memory

The Eagles offense wasn't that great this game, but did just enough in crucial situations for the win. It was pretty frustrating in the first half as they failed to convert 3rd and shorts repeatedly and settled for field goals. But in the second half they started converting, made clutch plays to get out of trouble and continue drives, and had the big 71 yard screen play for a TD from Westbrook that was very reminiscent of the screen vs. the Redskins last season.

The defense was once again the strength of the team and the main reason they won. After allowing 14 points and looking a little shaky in the first half they shut down the Vikings in the second. In the first the Vikings converted 6 of 10 third downs, but just 2 of 7 in the second. Peterson only got 83 yards even with the 40 yard run. And the defense also scored a TD.

Special teams also played a big part with Akers nailing all four of his field goals, including 51 yarder "that would have been good from 61." Coverage was good on kicks and Rocca had some nice punts as well. Jackson averaged over 25 yards a return and set up Akers first field goal with a 62 yarder and had another 30 yard return that was squandered.

Overall good team win, but the offense is going to have to play better in the near future.

Other notes:

• Even though the Eagles were ahead 16-14 at the half it felt like they were actually losing.
• Pro-bowler Dawkins was great again this game.
• Pro-bowler Asante Samuels was also really good, and now has 4 interception returns for TDs in the playoffs.
• Loved the Clemens block on Jackson on the return. It was like a choke slam.
• Sheldon Brown was good but should have make that really easy pick.
• McNabb had a really quiet 300 yard game.
• Avant was great and made several really big catches.
• Celek was also really good.
• Congratulations to Reid for continuing to run the ball despite limited success.
• No congratulations for getting Big Play Buck only 2 touches.
• Tavaris Jackson played better than I thought he would, but still sucked.
• Eagles weren't getting the bounces until the ground ball snap that bounced off Jackson's shin right to Juqua Parker that basically ended any Viking hopes.
• Isn't it funny that Dawkins can drill his helmet into Peterson's facemask and bend his neck back and that's fine, but Akeem Jordan isn't allowed to reach up to block a pass and slap the QB in the helmet with his bare hands.
• Should have run that screen play earlier because the Vikings were coming after McNabb on every play.
• Great blocks on that screen by everyone, including Curtis downfield and Jackson who used his speed to run ahead and get in that one guy's way.
• Also nice run by Westbrook.
• Childress blew some calls and time outs and did other Reid-esque stuff. He learned well from the master.
• Giants are a 4.5 point favorite for next week.

Super Bowl?

Top 5 Philadelphia sports moments of 2008

According to me at least.

5. Eagles crush Dallass 44-6 to make the playoffs with help from the Raiders and Texans.
4. Phillies beat the Brewers to advance to the NL Championship Series
3. Flyers beat Montreal to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals
2. Phillies beat the Dodgers to win the NL Pennant
1. Phillies win the World Series



Happy New Year!