Eagles vs. Patriots: Nationally-Televised Nightmare?

by Nick Takach

From 0-10 to 10-0.

The records of the winless Miami Dolphins and the undefeated New England Patriots stand in stark contrast when placed next to each other, bringing a brutal reality to the 2007 Philadelphia Eagles season. The Eagles are not that good.

In fact, no team in history has had to go against an undefeated team with this many wins the week after you beat their winless AFC East counterparts (I guessed on that one, but how could that not be true? It sounds crazy).

The Eagles, however, are afforded that luxury after meagerly defeating the Dolphins 17-7 at the Linc last Sunday.

So what chance does the team have to win this week?

None.

And that's exactly why they have a chance.

Wait. No, I'm just kidding. We really have no shot against them. But doesn't it sound funny when broadcasters say that?

The Birds have a quarterback in Donovan McNabb who is on the mend… again.
With a sprained ankle and a thumb injury, McNabb is only a game-time decision for this Sunday night’s extinction of the birds.

The sad fact is they desperately need him to play if they want any chance of making the playoffs. As for the rest of the team, it’s hard to find match-ups that work in the Birds’ favor.
The Eagles starting wide receivers, Curtis and Brown, are as inconsistent and sub-par as any group in the league, with no true number one go-to guy. The defense has been walked up and down on all year long and while not giving up a lot of scores, the once-decorated group has really grown into a shadow of itself. A pressure defense that no longer has the players or the will, or both, to create any pressure.

And with this large black cloud emanating over the Eagles this year, they sssstill have a chance to soar on to the backend of the playoffs.

Holding the sixth playoff spot are the Detroit Lions, who the Eagles are one game behind, yet beat handily in Week 3, 56-21. Detroit, with games against the Cowboys, Chargers and Green Bay, have a much tougher schedule than the Eagles.

All in all, the Eagles might actually be the sixth best team in the NFC, which equates to 25th, if you count the AFC. And that's the problem with the NFL this year. The gap between the Patriots and everyone else in the league is too large to overcome. It takes away the surprise and unpredictably that the NFL used to have in abundance.

The Eagles will get beat by at least 23 points (that was my guess before I heard about the 23.5 point spread) and they will still have a shot to get in the playoffs.

Just remember, covering the spread is not a moral victory.

So if you get bored with the game this week, here are some other programs to watch this Sunday once the game is out of hand.

8:45
Last 15 minutes of The Amazing Race CBS or The Simpsons - FOX
9:00
Old Slutty Housewives - ABC
The Brady Bunch Movie – Comedy Central
8:00-11:30
A Shot at Herpes with Tila Tequila – MTV