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That’s right – the Eagles will be the NFC East champs! Alright – maybe this is just wishful thinking, BUT the Eagles went to 5-4 after the win over the Bears this past Sunday. Admittedly, it was not always pretty as the Birds left plenty of points on the table in the first half. Too many field goals and not enough touchdowns, but a win is a win in the NFL – just ask the Dolphins!
Here is why they will win the NFC East:
They are finally getting healthier. Darren Sproles came back and so did cornerback Avonte Maddox. DT Tim Jernigan played as did safety Andrew Sendejo. That leaves just Jason Peters and Nigel Bradham still on the sidelines. With a bye week this week, maybe they will all be back for the Patriots and/or the Seahawks. Fortunately, both those games are at home and, after yesterday, the Patriots do not look invincible.
The toughest part of their season is over. They will play Washington, Miami, and the Giants twice. And their fate could rest with a home game in Week 16 against the Cowboys. That could be the game to truly determine the Division champion.
Carson Wentz is healthy. He has certainly been hindered by the lack of quality wide receivers (even Alshon Jeffery dropped passes he should have caught on Sunday), but he is throwing the ball with accuracy, has found his favorite receivers in Ertz and Goedert, scrambles as well as most, and always wins the “quarterback sneak” battle.
The running game is excellent. Jordan Howard has been a real find and Miles Sanders is becoming better and better every week. Howard gets the tough yards and Sanders, with his ability to both run and catch the ball, is their most dangerous ball carrier in the open spaces.
The defensive line and linebackers almost make up for the weak secondary. This group stops the run, pressures the quarterback, and plays extremely aggressively. If they can keep the pressure on the QB, the secondary will be helped immensely.
The coaching staff is very competent. With the injuries the Eagles have had being 5-4 right now does not seem so bad. The team plays hard with plenty of emotion, takes chances because of the coaches’ confidence, and plays as a unit. Both the defense and offense can only get better the rest of the season if they stay healthy.
Ergo (I haven’t used that word since college), the Eagles WILL win the NFC East.
ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)
- What are today’s athletes thinking? After a terrible performance by Cleveland Browns safety Jermaine Whitehead, a tweet criticized his play (rightfully so). He responded with a tweet filled with profanity and threatening comments. Did he really think there would be no consequences to that Tweet? He was let go by the Browns on Monday morning.
- There are plenty of poor football teams in the NFL and most thought the Dolphins were the worst. And then the Jets stumble into the conversation by losing to Miami. The Dolphins methodically reduced the quality of their roster to bolster their draft choices in the next two seasons. Now, it appears the Jets did it without trying! That, also, hurts the Dolphins – now Cincinnati is in the lead for the #1 draft pick.
- Nick Foles (remember him?) should be back for the Jaguars next game. Jacksonville has a bye this week and Foles practiced this past week, but did not play. He should be ready for the next game.
- Was Lamar Jackson of the Ravens the better quarterback of the night when he beat Tom Brady’s Patriots 37-20? Jackson became the youngest QB to defeat a team with an 8-0 or better record. Baltimore matched all of the offensive TDs (4) that the Patriots had given up all year.
- District XI playoffs continue this week on RCN-TV. Friday night features a double header with Parkland visiting Freedom at 7:00pm followed by Easton – Nazareth at 9:30pm. On Saturday at 7:00pm it’s a 4A semifinal with Central Catholic traveling to Northwestern.
GARY’S GUESSES (LAST WEEK – 9-5) (YEAR-TO-DATE) – 93-40-1 70%)
GIANTS
NEW ORLEANS
BALTIMORE
RAMS
MINNESOTA
