Cyd wrote in his weekly analysis:

[quote]The Eagles slaughtered the Bucs this week, knocking them out of the playoffs for a second consecutive year. Look for them to fall flat on the road, despite their proficiency on the road this season, against the Bears.

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Fall flat? That's what they did last year. They got all pumped up over winning a playoff game and fell flat against a weak Giants team. The Eagles are taking a businesslike attitude. They want more than just a playoff win, and they're going against a Bears team that's been out of the playoffs for some time. While that doesn't guarantee an Eagles win, to say they'll "fall flat" is a bit much. The X-factor is Donovan McNabb. If he can make things happen, the Eagles win--and perhaps win easily.

I, naturally, predict an Eagles win...just as long as there's no fog!!!

Saturday forecast high 31, low 20, partly cloudy ,
nothing about fog, remember that fog game though

Disagree with Cyd 100%. Bears may win, but I certainly do not expect Philly to "fall flat." I think this will be a great game. Hard to pick a fave. Personally, I think Philly is the better team (despite Bears' better record).
And I do not think weather is a factor at all. Philly players still have plenty of the memories of playing in weather that more closely resembles shit.
And the January forecast in Sausage Town is always "Mostly shitty, with chance of snow."

I'm not an Eagles fan, but I'd love to see them defeat Chicago, so that with a Rams defeat of Green Bay, they set up a rematch of the season's early contest between the two teams.

Donovan McNabb, Duce Staley, and quite a few of the other Eagles are incredibly goodlooking, it should be said.

The Eagles-Rams game was in week one. Rams won on a FG in overtime. A rematch would be exciting. On the other hand, if Green Bay wins, an Eagles win would bring the NFC title game to the Vet.

Today's Philadelphia Daily News has a playoff preview section wrapped around the paper. On the cover of the playoff preview (front and back) is a composite photo of Chicago icons such as Roger Ebert, Mike Ditka, Ernie Banks, Sammy Sosa, Al Capone, Ferris Bueller, Mrs. O'Leary's cow and Michael Jordan's statue...graphically altered so that they're all wearing headbands saying "GO EAGLES!"

Well, I picked Philly to win and it looks like it's going to happen. I said all season the Bears were frauds and two lucky plays (SF and Clev) kept them from being a wild card and out last week. Philly dominated the game and will be tough in the NFC title game. McNabb was great.

I'll be cheering for the Iggles in New Orleans now!!!!!!!! Woohooooooooo!

[ January 03, 2003: Message edited by: Ump25 ]

Go Iggles!!!!

I was quite surprised by he outcome of that game. By the third quarter the Bears were totally inept. They let the Eagles quarterback have way too much time to throw the pass.

First of all, WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO--HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Secondly, what was with the Bears' playcalling? With all the talk about how they should be able to run on the Eagles' defense, they THROW on all three plays on their first possession in BOTH the first and second half! That's no way to establish the run. If you have a strong offensive line and strong runners, you gotta run and run and run, and get a rhythm, and wear down a smaller defense. The Bucs could've done that last week but gave up on it early, and the Bears didn't even start out running.

I shudder to think what would have happened if it weren't for all the penalties, and the fact that the Eagles had to settle for field goals on their first two drives...but even so, what happened to the Bears defense???

And if the Packers manage to beat the Rams, they come to the Vet!

After watching the Eagles eviscerate the T-Bay Bucs and then make the 2001-02 Bears look like their 2000-01 namesakes, I have only one question for those of you who have been watching the Eagles all year:

HOW THE HELL DID THIS TEAM LOSE FIVE GAMES ... including four at home????

They may not be the best team in the NFC (we'll find out next weekend), but clearly they are better than 11-5. And better than a team that went 4-4 at home.

Maybe the 4-4 home record is because they just all fell into a collective funk at the thought of having to play 60 minutes at the Vet ... on the (new and improved!) concrete turf ... in front of Philadelphians. Other than that, I have no theories. This team is much better than their 11-5 regular season record ... especially when you consider what a god-awful division they were playing in.

The Eagles were very impressive today...or was it that the Bears succumbed to playoff pressure? McNabb did a great job on keeping the playoff momentum going. At the start of the playoffs, I thought the Eagles or Bears would have no chance against the Rams or even the Pack, but now, I think they have a shot at the Super Bowl. I still think the road to the Super Bowl will go through St. Louis.

So, if you're an Eagles fan, do you want the Rams to win so the Eagles play another game on the road (packing that incredible road record)...or do you want the Pack to win & have the Championship game at home, even though they look like a mediocre team at home?

Who else thinks the first coach to be fired next year will be Dick Jauron? This game was, frankly, typical of a lot of their games this year. A lot of the games they won, they could have easily lost.

Good luck can only be pushed so far.

The Bears, unless they make some serious moves on offense in the offseason, will not make the playoffs next season. Philly's D is not doubt good, but the Bears O was just awful.

[quote]Originally posted by Charlie in the Trees:

HOW THE HELL DID THIS TEAM LOSE FIVE GAMES ... including four at home????

Maybe the 4-4 home record is because they just all fell into a collective funk at the thought of having to play 60 minutes at the Vet ... on the (new and improved!) concrete turf ... in front of Philadelphians...

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As I've said before Donavan McNabb is normally so composed that I'd vote for the guy for mayor. Though he gamely claims he doesn't let the home "fans" bother him, I don't believe it for a minute.

He could be the best quarterback in the league if not for the 'butterflies' he gets here; imagine him with targets like those Kurt Warner has (and can anyone operate better than McNabb out of the pocket, except maybe Kordell Stewart?)

Oh and don't forget everybody in the league knows what to expect in Veterans stadium, so that doesn't excuse the Eagles poor play at home.

[ January 20, 2002: Message edited by: sportinlife ]

The Bears were not good because they lack a decent quarterback and no offensive game plan with no tools (i.e. QB, WR, TE, etc). GM Angelo should go out and get either Drew Bledsoe or Chad Huntington as a free agent for QB and signed a decent TE and FB.

I think that Jauron is a good coach and a first-class individual; however, he is a defensive specialist not an offensive genius. The Bears have relied upon Shoops for their offensive game plan and he is limited in experience from going to a part-time assistant who reviews film, to a quarterback coach who controlled an out-of-control egomanic, overrated qb (McNown), to an interim offensive coordinator to a full-time coordinator within three years.

I don't see the Bears replacing Shoops as the offensive coordinator as Jauron is very loyal to his assistants (i.e. just like Tony Dungy). I do see maybe Shoops going back to being a quarterback coach if the Bears do recruit an offensive coordinator like Mark Trestmann.

The Bears' defense was the key component of this year successes ... and boys, they were not flukes or lucky wins. Greg Blanche had these young guys playing at 110% intensity and the Bears were in the game until the 4th quarter unlike Tampa Bay's meltdown in the first 3 series against the Eagles.

Once again, it was the qb position and lack of arm strength that hurt the Bears especially the interception in the 4th quarter. In the first 3 series for the Eagles, they only scored 2 FGs and 6 points compared to 2 TDs and 1 FG against the Bucs. McNabb was the key player in this game as he made the plays when they needed it. McNabb escaped from last minute sacks and made many big plays based upon his intelligent, speed, and arm strength.

[quote]Originally posted by Charlie in the Trees:
After watching the Eagles eviscerate the T-Bay Bucs and then make the 2001-02 Bears look like their 2000-01 namesakes, I have only one question for those of you who have been watching the Eagles all year:

HOW THE HELL DID THIS TEAM LOSE FIVE GAMES ... including four at home????

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First loss, at home, was to the Rams in OT. The Eagles rallied from a 17-3 deficit with 2 late TDs, and could've won it had they fallen on a fumbled kick after that--but instead they tried to pick it up and run, and St. Louis recovered and went on to win.

Second loss, at home, to Arizona on a last-second play. Poor play-calling, failure to run out the clock, and the so-called "prevent" defense which usually doesn't prevent anything.

Third loss, at home, to Oakland--the score was 20-10 but it wasn't that close. The Raiders were on a roll at the time.

Fourth loss, at home, to Washington. Completely inexplicable. McNabb was awful.

Fifth loss, at San Francisco. Defense kept the 49ers quiet all day but offense couldn't score a TD, especially when they had 6 shots from the one-yard line.

The prevailing theory (which Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb will deny to their graves) is that McNabb wasn't running enough to keep the opposing defenses off-balance. After the loss to the Redskins he began to run a little more, and really picked it up in the division clincher against the Giants.

[quote]Originally posted by Joe in Philly:


First loss, at home, was to the Rams in OT. The Eagles rallied from a 17-3 deficit with 2 late TDs, and could've won it had they fallen on a fumbled kick after that--but instead they tried to pick it up and run, and St. Louis recovered and went on to win.

[snipped]

The prevailing theory (which Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb will deny to their graves) is that McNabb wasn't running enough to keep the opposing defenses off-balance. After the loss to the Redskins he began to run a little more, and really picked it up in the division clincher against the Giants.

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The Rams and Eagles match up well, I think, but that first game involved two teams finding their footing. Both Warner and McNabb have had several bad games, though overall Warner is the better QB, and McNabb is more mobile. The Rams have more offensive weapons in general; both Faulk and Canidate, as well as the entire receiving corps, outstrip Philadelphia's, and the pressure is always on McNabb to make something happen. Several of the Eagles' drives came late. That Washington game was *inexplicable.* As far defense goes, the Eagles may be slightly better than the Rams, but they match up well, and the Rams have more speed at their disposal. It'll be an exciting game!

The Bears lost their starting QB and they weren't able to get into gear as a result. I think this was far more devastating than most people realize. Jauron did a great job all season and while Chicago was lucky in 2001-2002, but they also did play well and pulled out victories, which is what good teams do. Philadelphia just had more weapons--or rather, one key weapon, Donovan McNabb (doesn't anyone else think this brother is incredibly handsome?) and a defense that came to play. That's all it took last week and this week. Next week will be another story.