Eagles - Pats

Well, the game is almost here. Three years ago this was for the Super Bowl...boy how far have the Eagles fallen since. In 2005, the Eagles failed to make the playoffs, in 2006 the Eagles needed a shot in the arm from Jeff Garcia to help win six in a row to win the NFC East. Now in 2007, the Eagles playoff chances are on life support with maybe the best team in the history of the game looming.

Here are thoughts on the game:

1. McNabb will not play - A.J. Feely will make his first start of the season for the Eagles and sadly he might give the Eagles a better chance to win the game (maybe 2% chance as opposed to 0% with McNabb0 and here's why. Andy Reid for some reason refuses to allows McNabb to run the ball and Brian Westbrook is the best player by far on the field for the Eagles even with McNabb on the field, Westbrook is the best player on the field, give him as many touches as you can.

2. Q. Mikell is out, J.R. Reed will start - This is the worst news the Eagles could have gotten. I would play Sheldon Brown at safety and take my chances with Will James and Hansen at CB. But Reed is not a real safety and you know the Pats will target him right off the bat. If the Pats run the ball 15-20 times during the game I would be surprised.

3. Pressure - The Eagles have to get pressure on Brady, but they havent been able to get it on anybody elsek, which gives me no reason to believe they can vs. New England. Javon Kearse will return this week after getting a week to rest up, maybe he gives them a little spark, but I doubt it. If I am Jim Johnson, I send Gocong and Spikes all day, let Gaither hanlde Ben Watson and hope Bunkley and Patterson can generate some pressue up the middle. If they can get pressure up the middle that should take the double team off Cole and give him a chance to get some pressure. Also sending Gocong and Spikes should give the ends more freedom. Forget the run...dont even try to think about stopping it, cause I doubt New England is even thinkning about using it. PRESSURE, PRESSURE, PRESSURE is your only shot on D.

Other then that, I really dont have a lot to add, I dont think the Eagles have much of a shot in this game and I never really have that feeling. I always think the Eagles under Andy have been a well prepared team with the talent to compete with anyone in the league. I am losing that feeling and I think this one gets ugly..I hope I am wrong...but.

New Eangland 52 - Eagles 17

Here is a question....if the Eagles win, do you believe they are a NFC contender again ?