So here DC after months of endless rah-rah over how well the 'skins are gonna do this year, it was fun to show up at the gym this a.m. to see how deflated expectations are suddenly among the fans there.

Saturday they played their first string offense all the way through the 3rd Q -- they didn't reach the redzone until the 4th. Like I said, when you start a 60 year QB, gonna be hard to win.

{Big dilemna for me will be who to root for in the opening Skins vs. Vikes game ...}

My predictions:

1. Cowboys
2. Giants
3. Skins
4. Iggles

The Eagles just got WR Donte Stallworth from New Orleans for LB Mark Simoneau and a conditional 4th-round 2007 draft pick (contingent on both players passing physicals).

P.S. The Eagles will either be a wild card or the NFC East champs this season.

Bucky,
I'm surprised by your choice of the Cowboys.What are you basing that on?????

I don' think the Cowboys will finish ahead of the Giants. The Giants are stacked at every scoring offensive position (RB, WR, and QB) and they just bolstered their defense this off-season. The Cowboys did get TO but haven't yet addressed their O-line and QB problems. Except for the top two rankings, I agree with your prediction. The Eagles will probably finish last. Yeah, they got Stallworth at WR (a very good and speedy receiver) to go with Reggie Brown, but with Pinkston and Jeremy Bloom out, and Westbrook not a 100%, I doubt Stallworth and Brown will be enough of an offensive punch to get them past the Skins, Giants, and Cowboys.

[ August 28, 2006, 04:52 PM: Message edited by: Thomas ]

The Eagles won't need to score tons of points, though they won't exactly get shut out game to game. Westbrook will be ready for the opener, and they have McNabb back and healthy. He is easily the best quarterback in the division.

And they were never counting on pretty boy Bloom, by the way -- he hasn't been on a football field in 2 years, so if anything he was only going to be a kick returner this year. Since he can't get healthy he's most likely going to be on injured reserve for the entire season.

The defense will be a larger factor than the offense in their success. The defensive line is loaded, they'll get a strong pass rush without having to blitz on every single down. That'll help the rest of the defense and the secondary in particular.

All those things could be true, but it doesn't change my mind. Still think the Eagles will finish behind the Giants, Dallas, and Skins. I checked the 2005 defensive stats. That Philly D to which you refer finished last in the NFC East in points scored against; last in rush defense, and next to last in pass defense (behind the Giants). Nope, not buying it, FireCharlieManuelNow. Jerome Kearse is as good as they come at DE, and I know Darren Howard is good because I've watched him play in New Orleans, so the D-line is probably okay. But, FootOutsiders has ranked your 2006 linebacking core as last in the NFC East again this year. With the Giants' recent acquisition of Lavar Arrington, and the Dallas Cowboys with a year's wortyh of experience in their newly installed 3-4 defense, I don't see how the Eagles D can finish anywhere but last in the NFC East again this year.

As for the offense, all the Eagles have is Donte Stallworth and Donovan McNabb. Westbrook is a decent back, but not a star or prime time playmaker. It won't take long for opposing defenses to figure out how to stop Stallworth, then your new look 2006 offense will look exactly like your old and ineffective 2005 offense. There's not a sane football fan in America that believes the Eagles will outscore the Giants; that team is stacked with high quality RB, WR, and QBs. The Cowboys now have TO, and if they can do something about that porous O-line and keep Bledsoe off his ass long enough to find him, that's enough in itself to ensure at least a second place finish in the NFC East. The Skins just got Antoine Randle EL and T. J. Duckett to bolster their offense. So, I don't see how that Eagle offense can do anything but finish last in the NFC East again this year either. FireCharlieManuelNow, if you think the Eagles will finish better than 3rd or 4th in the NFC East this year, you are fan-dreaming, Bro. There's no way such an improvement can happen, given the tools they have to work with.

[ August 29, 2006, 07:43 PM: Message edited by: Thomas ]

Y'all keep believing that. 2005 is so long ago. Nothing that happened in 2005 is carrying over to 2006 for the Eagles.

Thomas...just want to point out that half of the Eagles D was on IR last year for about half the season.

My prediction:

1. Cowboys
2. Eagles
3. Giants
4. Redskins

I don't knw. I always defer to hometown knowledge. Afterall, you were there. But something went badly wrong. During the 2004 season, the Eagles D gave up 16.2 ppg while the offense averaged a healthy 24.1 ppg. But last year (2005), the D gave up 24.2 ppg while the offense averaged an anemic 19.1 ppg. So, what went seriously wrong from 2004 to 2005? If the defense was hurting lasting year, that could explain the defensive downfall in 2005, but the offensive scoring was also way down last year. You really think that the off-season moves and physical fitness of the Eagles players have improved enough in 2006 to overtake the Giants and Cowboys? Sorry, fellas, but I'm just not seeing it.

[ August 31, 2006, 06:14 PM: Message edited by: Thomas ]

The scoring numbers died at the end of the year when Mike McMahon was the QB, McNabb was gone, Westbrook was gone, the cancer Owens was gone, etc.

The Eagles rebuilt the d-line, and their first-team defense has dominated almost every minute of every game of the pre-season. Most of the injured players on both sides of the ball are healthy again and they got a WR to replace the cancer.

Last year was an abberation for the Eagles beginning with the T.O. meltdown, McNabb missing half the season, and injuries to Westbrook and Shepherd among others.

Imagine for a moment removing Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison from the Colts for half a season, that is similar to what 2005 was like for the Eagles.

It would be better to compare this team to the 2003 team that had worse receivers than this years edition. That team really won with defense and that is what the 2006 team is counting on.

I believe this years Eagles can at least compete for the wildcard spot if they are injury free.

[ August 31, 2006, 09:24 PM: Message edited by: phillyrunner ]

And don't forget the injuries to Akers.

The NFC East is clearly a tighter division than in many years but to discount the Eagles based on last year doesn't make sense.

They have excellent management, a great coaching staff and reasonably healthy players.

And if you don't trust us, Thomas, perhaps Giants' GM Ernie Accorsi will change your view...

Accorsi's thinking that no wild cards will come from the division is the opposite of the view of Sports Illustrated's Dr. Z (the original Dr. Z, not the lame auto pitchman) -- he says that all four teams will finish 9-7, with the Redskins finishing first and the Cowboys and Giants getting the wild cards.

The Redskins??? His pick for this division appears to be incredibly wrong.

[ September 01, 2006, 02:58 PM: Message edited by: FireCharlieManuelNow ]

I see this as the Giant's division. They have addressed the weakness in the defensive line, and offensively they are very strong. I look for Eli Manning to become the man this season, and that will be the difference in the conference race. My picks:

1. Giants
2. Cowboys
3. Eagles
4. Redskins

I'd reverse #2 and #3 there. Here's my prediction for what I see as a very competitive NFC East this fall:

1. Dallas
2. Washington
3. New York
4. Philadelphia

OK, NFC East fans. Here’s a position-by-position ranking of the NFC East, as determined by the Madden Player Rankings . I think we can all agree that Madden knows what he’s talking about. Right? I looked at each player’s Madden position ranking and assigned the player with the highest ranking a value of 1 and continued until the player with the lowest ranking was placed at #4. Then I summed the Madden numbers (in parenthesis, after the name) for all offensive players and all defensive players on each of the four teams in the NFC East and rank their offense from first to last. Although this is a lot of work, it seems like a fair way to get some idea of which NFC East team has the best talent, and therefore which team is likely to have the better record (not subject to such intangibles as injuries, suspensions, etc). OK? The Madden numbers are in parenthesis, immediately following the player's name.

OFFENSE:
QB:
1) Donovan McNabb (99), Eagles; 2) Eli Manning (88), Giants; 3) Drew Bledsoe (87), Cowboys; 4) Mark Brunell (87), Skins.
Wide Receivers:
1) Terrell Owens (97), Cowboys; 2) Santana Moss (92), Skins; 3) Plexico Burress (90), Giants; 4) Donte Stallworth (86), Eagles.
Running Backs:
1) Tiki Barber (95), Giants; 2) Clinton Portis (94), Skins; 3) Brian Westbrook (91), Eagles; 4) Julius Jones (87), Cowboys.
Tight End:
1) Jeremy Shockey (95), Giants; 2) Jason Whitten (92), Cowboys; 3) Chris Cooley (90), Skins; 4) L.J. Smith (87), Eagles.
Center:
1) Casey Rabach (86), Skins; 2) Shaun O’Hara (84), Giants; 3) Hank Fraley (84), Eagles; Andre Gurode (80), Cowboys.
Right Guard:
1) Marco Rivera (95), Cowboys; 2) Randy Thomas (94), Skins; 3)Chris Snee (89), Giants; 4) Shawn Andrews (87), Eagles.
Left Guard:
1) Kyle Kssosier (85), Cowboys; 2) Todd Heremanns (82), Eagles; 3) David Diehl (82), Giants; 4) Derrick Dockery (79), Skins.
Right Tackle:
1) Jason Jansen (91), Skins; 2) Jon Runyan (90), Eagles; 3) Kareem Mackenzie (89), Giants; 4) Jason Fabini (87), Cowboys.
Left Tackle:
1) William Thomas (94), Eagles; 2) Chris Samuels (93), Skins; Luke Petitgout (89), Giants; 4) Flozell Adams (89), Cowboys.
Kicker (Field Goal):
1) David Akers (95), Eagles; 2) Mike Vanderjagt (94), Cowboys; 3) Jay Feely (87), Giants; John Hall (81), Skins.

Total Cumulative Madden Offensive Talent in the NFC East (summing all ten Madden numbers at each offensive position, including the field goal kicker, although I used only one wide receiver and one running back):
1) Eagles, 895; 2) Cowboys, 893; 3) Giants, 888: and 4) Redskins, 887.

DEFENSE:
Middle Linebacker:
1) Jeremiah Trotter (93), Eagles; 2) Antonio Pierce (91), Giants; 3) Lemar Marshall (87), Skins; 4) Akin Ayodele (86), Cowboys.
Left Outside Linebacker:
1) Marcus Washington (93), Skins; 2) LaVar Arrington (90), Giants; 3) Dhani Jones (86), Eagles; 4) Bobby Carpenter (82), Cowboys.
Right Outside Linebacker:
1) Carlos Emmons (88), Giants; 2) Demarcus Ware (86), Cowboys; 3) Shawn Barber (86), Eagles; 4) Warrick Holden (83), Skins.
Cornerbacks (the top two from each team):
1) Sheldon Brown (89) and Lito Sheppard (88), Eagles, Total = 177; 2) Anthony Henry (89) and Terence Newmann (87), Cowboys, Total=176; 3) Shawn Springs (91) and Carlos Rogers (83), Skins; Total = 174; 4) Sam Madison (91) and R.W. McQuarters (81), Giants, Total = 171.
Strong Safety:
1) Roy Williams (94), Cowboys; 2) Michael Lewis (92), Eagles; Adam Archuleta (89), Skins; Gibril Wilson (87), Giants.
Free Safety:
1) Brian Dawkins (98), Eagles; 2) Sean Taylor (95), Skins; 3) Will Demps (86), Giants; 4) Keith Davis (76), Cowboys.
Defensive Tackles (the top two from each team):
1) Darwin Walker (87) and Mike Patterson (85), Eagles; Total = 172; 2) Cornelius Griffin (90) and Joe Salave’a (71), Skins, Total = 161; 3) Jason Ferguson (85) and Montavius Stanley (69), Cowboys, Total = 154; 4) William Joseph (78) and Dumane Duckett (74), Giants, Total = 152.
Right Defensive End:
1) Osi Umenyiora (92), Giants; 2) Darren Howard (89), Eagles; 3) Greg Ellis (87), Cowboys; 4) Phillip Daniels (87), Skins.
Left Defensive End:
1) Michael Strahan (97), Giants; 2) Jevon Kearse (93), Eagles; Andre Carter (87), Skins; 4) Marcus Spears (83), Cowboys.
Punter:
1) Jeff Feagles (85), Giants; 2) Dirk Johnson (77), Eagles; 3) Matt McBriar (72), Cowboys; 4) Derrick Frost (70), Skins.

Total Cumulative Madden Defensive Talent in the NFC East (summing all eleven Madden numbers at each defensive position, including the punter):
1) Eagles, 1063; 2) Giants, 1039; 3) Redskins, 1026; and 4) Cowboys, 996.

I was debating whether to post Madden’s numbers here, since frankly, they are hard to believe. I am a little surprised to find his system projects the Eagles with more Offensive and Defensive Talent than the other three NFC East teams. But, unlike many, I do trust statistics. It’s just that I don’t know how Madden arrives at his numbers. I think I’ll work up the NFC East again using data from Football Outsiders, since I understand their numbers better. And I also have to verify that these players are still on the team’s current rosters. But I suppose I could be wrong about the Philadelphia Eagles winning this division, since there is no doubt that Madden has forgotten more football than I will ever know.

You can see the Madden Player Ratings for free at this website: http://www.simsportnet.com/madden/ratings?...ings.asp?Pos=QB

[ September 03, 2006, 01:57 AM: Message edited by: Thomas ]

Hello, NFC East. How are you tonight? Feeling poorly because you all lost this week?

What's that? One of you didn't lose this week? Oh. Pardon me. My faux pas. I guess that means that the team that won this week is in first place.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Gee, is it possible that Madden was right after all? The Eagles? Who woulda thunk it?

Week 3 is over, the Eagles are back in first place by themselves and Jeremy Shockey says the Giants were outcoached. The loudmouth with the fine ass can think it, and it may be true, but it might not be such a good idea to say.

And what's this I hear about Plaxico Burress being benched during the game? Where'd his heart go?

I agree it's not a good idea to trash your coach in public, but I can understand their frustration. That was a horribly played game yesterday and let's face it, the Giants barely pulled it out last week. Hopefully they can take this next week off and pull themselves together before they face the Skins in a couple of weeks. Then again, since I'd rather see the Skins win that game, maybe not!

Anthony (and while it's great that the Redskins finally found their offense, let's not forget it was against the Texans)

I didn't get to watch the Giants game, only listen to it, but based on the announcers assessments, Coughlin is not to blame.

I don't think Coughlin was the one with the false starts, when we had a makeable 3rd and 1.
I don't think Coughlin was the one who left Seahawks receivers wide f**king open almost every f**king ball that got thrown teir way
I don't think Coughlin was the one who dropped a ball that turned into an INT and another one that was a fumble
I don't think Coughlin was the one who couldn't get a pass rush on Hasselback at all.

Sorry, but when you are trailing 42-3, you can't blame the f**king coach. Shockey is a moron, who hasn't made one key contribution in an important game since he's been here.

Josh

I, for one, agree with Shockey (last Sunday) and with Tiki (last year in the play-offs): I think Coughlin was out-coached in both games. Neither Coughlin's offensive or defensive schemes fit the team's personnel. So, I agree with them; he was out-coached. Coughlin sticks with the same formations and plays every game. It's hard to win like that, since opposing coaches and players know his tendencies. You have to change both offensive and defensive formations during the game to keep opposing teams off your ass. Coughlin does not do this. Look at the wrinkles that Saints' coach, Sean Peyton, threw at the Falcons early on in last Monday night's game. The Falcons weren't expecting them, and those wrinkles helped the Saints get out to a quick 7-0 lead, which they never reliquished.

Well, T.O. is going to play his old team, Philadelphia. This is a game I am just waiting with gleeful anticipation to see.

You and the rest of America, apparently.

As a Dallas fan I must say that this is just another game guys. TO does not define our
organization just as Deion Sanders didn't. I think that the difference between Dallas and
Philadelphia is that the Cowboy organization can deal with distractions (hookers, coke,
anger management) and still win Super Bowls. We are special. And in that regard TO
is just another player in a long line of players who'll hopefully help us win. Dallas doesn't
have time to neurotically obsess over his moodiness and psychological problems. Go 'Boys!

P.S. - The Giants should trade Shockey to Denver. He'd work well with Jake Plummer.
I only suggest this because it makes for a great locker room fantasy. Gay Jay signing off.

I can hear the puking sounds all over the world.

Thanks Joe!

I for one cannot wait for it just to be over. The media coverage of this TO vs. McNabb "feud" got out of hand weeks ago -- a million times worse than the "Is Favre gonna retire?" stuff during the off-season. (and at least that was about a QB who actually has won a Super Bowl )

I'm much more looking forward to seeing how Lavar Arrington does against the 'skins.

What's wrong with you, Bucky? The game is so big that the Eagles said that Al-Jazeera requested press credentials, reported the Phila. Daily News yesterday.

Let's review the standings!

1. EAGLES 4-1
2T. Giants 2-2
2T. Cowboys 2-2
4. Redskins 2-3

Great game by the Giants today.

You would have liked to see more TD's in the red zone, but overall they looked very sharp.

At 2-2, there is still time to reel off a good run and make the post season.

Josh

The Giants did look good in what I saw of their game yesterday. They were very efficient and in-control, and the defense, which had been awful, looked strong. More importantly, both their wins are against NFC East opponents, which so far will put them in good stead in the likely event of tiebreakers being used to clear up the logjam in the division at season's end.

Ah Joe...

You see that is why you Philly fans always crash so hard; you over invest.
Just be patient and let's see how the season turns out. Good game. Jay

I don't know what you're talking about. I merely took a look at current events. I'm not thinking of the future or looking at the past.

The future is now Phills. I just didn't want you to be depressed when the Eagles performed
like they did yesterday. You have to just be steady. Not too high, not too low. Think Splenda.

No, now is now. The future is the future. Live in the moment.

I tried to convince you guys that the Giants were a good team. Maybe now, more of you will agree with me.

Sorry, but no. The Falcons aren't that great. I'm not too impressed by the Giants beating them.

You're singing to the choir here-- but What makes a good team is the ability to come back from diversity and get the job done no matter how messy that may be.... At 3-2 let's remember, we lost to Indy & SEA--both top of heap. SEA was horrible-- agreed--but look at how hard the GMEN fought back in the last quarter. Considering the schedule we have-- I say the NYG is doing all right. If we keep improving the secondary, get rid of "Where's the ball Dane" and keep Tiki, Shockey-Ass, Plexico, and company healthy-- Eli can lead this team to win the NFC EAST and have a shot at the NFC championship. You like DC or Philly better?

F**king unbelievable bad game for the Eagles. If you would tell anyone someone not named Vineteri would kick a 62 yard field goal to beat you I would have called you crazy.

McNabb should have never thrown three INTs in this type of a game where the Eagles offense was dominating. Donovan still had enough to take a lead late in the fourth. At the end of the half the Eagles left points on the field by not trying a field goal and completing a pass short of the goal line with time running out. Finally third game in a row that an awful penalty helps the Eagles give the game away, this time McDougle with a face mask and an unsportsmanlike resulting in a 30 yard penalty leading to a field goal by the Bucs.

Kind of a typical loss for the Eagles. Stupid mistakes, dropped passes, loss of composure (McDougle kicking the flag -- if Reid wanted to send a message to the rest of the team he'd cut McDougle and not even let him fly back here on the plane), clock mismanagement at the end of the first half, etc.

They've wasted the "easy" early part of the schedule by going 4-3. It's unacceptable.

Can't turn the ball over and its as simple as that. Look at the stats! 500+ yards of offense from the Eagles compared to about 200 for the lowly Bucs. But there were 3 interceptions and 1 fumble I believe...one of those interceptions run back for a touchdown. McNabb's foolish last second throw NOT into the endzone with no timeouts left before the half preventing a field goal that would've made a huge difference at the end. Still the Eagles came back and you felt it was in there hands. Then the penalty came and even with that you're thinking 62 yards???? No way!!! Yes way!!!

You can't turn the ball over no matter how good of a team you are. Bucs had no turnovers and the Eagles had 4 and thats the story of the game really. Philly has had some crushing losses this year. The NY game that they blew in the 4th, last week's Saints game that was close, and this unbelievable field goal kick from Tampa Bay. As much as it pisses me off...you have to take your hats off to that...62 yards!!! Unbelievable!! Gotta love football.

The penalty you're referring to, if it's the one I think you're referring to -- the double penalty on that MORON Jerome McDougle for kicking the penalty flag and getting an added penalty -- happened before the Eagles took the lead. It was on the prior drive when that 30 yards helped the Bucs get a field goal for a 20-14 lead. On the final drive the kickoff was two yards into the end zone and the Eagles allowed a return to nearly the 40. So many terrible mistakes all day.

yeah...that is the penalty i was talking about. Big time mistakes that the Eagles can't afford to make. Their schedule does not get easy going down the stretch and the difference between the playoffs could very well come down to these 3 losses so far...losses that have come on the last play of the game. UGH!!!!

Drew Bledsoe gets the boot and Tony Romo gets the start on Sunday.

While I agree with this move, I think it was a bad move to replace Bledsoe mid-game on Monday night. Thank God I was listening to the radio broadcast on Sirius and not the ESPN crew. I don't know what I'd do if I really did have to hear them talking.

Yeah, but all those sideline shots of a helmetless Bledsoe with his hands hanging on his collar were almost worth it. What an absolute hunk.

Bledsoe's game has been bleeding for quite a while. He just doesn't seem to have the personality of a guy who really wants to win more than anything else. That was true with the Pats, Bills and now the cowboys.

The guy looked devastated but held up bravely during the game and the post-game interview. I hope he can settle into a back-up role. He still has a lot to contribute to the game.

Wouldn't surprise me if Bledsoe got his starting job back sooner rather than later. Romo doesn't impress me at all. A typical rookie. Sure, he moves better than Bledsoe, but Bledsoe possesses an infinitely better football IQ. It's too bad Drew has two lead feet and moves like a tackling dummy. Why doesn't this dude just throw the damn ball away or go down? What's he trying to prove? The Cowboys O-line is bad, but not even the Pats O-line could provide the kind of time in the pocket that Bledsoe seems to need. Throw the ball away or throw it to a hot receiver. All those sacks are completely unnecessary. Sometimes I can't tell the difference between him and Herrington. Both are way too indecisive.

Philly will be fine once they get their playmakers back. Wouldn't count them out just yet. The offense is hurting right now, and, in my opinion, the defense has become predictable (it doesn't matter how much you blitz if the opponents knows you're going to; they'll just gameplan to take advantage of it). My pick to win that division, the Giants, however, are playing extremely well.

Here's what Jerry Jones thinks about the swap of Romo for Bledsoe. Interesting that this is all being played out in public, and not being kept in the owner's office instead.

Huh? They're #1 in the league in total offense, #1 in passing, #3 in scoring, even #8 in rushing, the one thing they have trouble doing. Where exactly are they "hurting"?

The troubles they're having have been more on defense and special teams -- and a recurring penchant for ill-timed stupid mistakes like McNabb's at the end of the first half on Sunday.