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Eagles' fast start puts them in catbird's seat
by Larry O'Rourke
At 4-1, the Eagles can get to 10-6 by going 6-5 the rest of the way.
That so-so finish would make the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants go 8-4 the rest of the way just to put division championship tiebreakers into play. And the Washington Commanders would have to go 8-3.
The educated guess here has the Giants with a chance to go 8-4, and that has to concern the Eagles after that blown 17-point lead and loss in Week 2.
With the Cowboys, it's more likely we'll actually hear Bill Parcells refer to Terrell Owens by name or initials before the season is over than it is they will go 8-4. (And so far, Big Bill is sticking to ''him'' and ''his'' and ''he'' and ''the player'' in referencing the Cowboy who has 25 million reasons to live.)
The Commanders, to put it in terms Joe Gibbs might hear over on the NASCAR circuit, will end up as lapped traffic.
You a say a 6-5 jog to 10-6 and a playoff berth isn't good enough for the populace of Birdsland?
After 6-10?
Terrible thing to gloat about, but I find it interesting I'm no longer getting cards and e-mails telling me how there is no reason for the Eagles to ration their use of Brian Westbrook. No longer being told how it's preposterous anyone could think the 5-8, 203-pound running back might have trouble staying in one piece while playing running back during a 16-game regular season.
Keep an eye on Hank Baskett, Brodrick Bunkley, LaJuan Ramsey and Matt McCoy. Maybe Todd Herremans, too.
They are rookies — or, in the cases of McCoy and Herremans, second-year players and first-time, full-time starters — playing significant roles. And they are now 10 games (five preseason, five regular season) into a season that still has the equivalent of the average college season left to play.
In the next five or so games, it's likely one or more hits the wall that so many young players hit.
Figure the boost of confidence Baskett got from his 87-yard TD will push the wall back a bit for him, and figure Herremans saw just enough action last season to battle through.
The Eagles had the football for just 23:01 — almost 14 minutes less than the Cowboys had it — and won. Of course, starting the first two scoring drives at Dallas' 12 and 14, and later getting a first-play 87-yard TD pass kind of skewers the time of possession figures.
Philadelphia has an NFL-leading 23 sacks despite playing the last three games without Jevon Kearse.
Jerome McDougle has played three games without a sack, so the 2003 first-round pick is still stuck on two for his career (23 active games). Makes you wonder if maybe if Jim Johnson would be better off activating forgotten man Sam Rayburn and sliding Darwin Walker into McDougle's backup role at defensive end.
Heard an ESPN commentator (might have been Mike Ditka) saying how the Donté Stallworth-Mark Simoneau trade was one of the rare deals that helped both teams. And he's right; Stallworth has helped the Eagles when he's played, while Simoneau has 27 tackles (15 solo or primary) for the Saints.
Don't be surprised if we learn somebody other than Dirk Johnson got to show off his punting leg this week behind closed doors, just in case Johnson continues to kick at less than pre-2005 injury form.
In case you were wondering, a certain fancy football player person still had that catchy tune ''I'm back'' playing on his personal Web site Tuesday. And on his My Space page.
Surprisingly, nothing about 38-24 and three catches for 45 yards being the media's fault. But the week's still relatively young.
Bourbon Street should be interesting as always. But still not sure how this trip is going to feel, knowing how many lost so much last year.
larry.orourke@mcall.com
Eagles' fast start puts them in catbird's seat
by Larry O'Rourke
At 4-1, the Eagles can get to 10-6 by going 6-5 the rest of the way.
That so-so finish would make the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants go 8-4 the rest of the way just to put division championship tiebreakers into play. And the Washington Commanders would have to go 8-3.
The educated guess here has the Giants with a chance to go 8-4, and that has to concern the Eagles after that blown 17-point lead and loss in Week 2.
With the Cowboys, it's more likely we'll actually hear Bill Parcells refer to Terrell Owens by name or initials before the season is over than it is they will go 8-4. (And so far, Big Bill is sticking to ''him'' and ''his'' and ''he'' and ''the player'' in referencing the Cowboy who has 25 million reasons to live.)
The Commanders, to put it in terms Joe Gibbs might hear over on the NASCAR circuit, will end up as lapped traffic.
You a say a 6-5 jog to 10-6 and a playoff berth isn't good enough for the populace of Birdsland?
After 6-10?
Terrible thing to gloat about, but I find it interesting I'm no longer getting cards and e-mails telling me how there is no reason for the Eagles to ration their use of Brian Westbrook. No longer being told how it's preposterous anyone could think the 5-8, 203-pound running back might have trouble staying in one piece while playing running back during a 16-game regular season.
Keep an eye on Hank Baskett, Brodrick Bunkley, LaJuan Ramsey and Matt McCoy. Maybe Todd Herremans, too.
They are rookies — or, in the cases of McCoy and Herremans, second-year players and first-time, full-time starters — playing significant roles. And they are now 10 games (five preseason, five regular season) into a season that still has the equivalent of the average college season left to play.
In the next five or so games, it's likely one or more hits the wall that so many young players hit.
Figure the boost of confidence Baskett got from his 87-yard TD will push the wall back a bit for him, and figure Herremans saw just enough action last season to battle through.
The Eagles had the football for just 23:01 — almost 14 minutes less than the Cowboys had it — and won. Of course, starting the first two scoring drives at Dallas' 12 and 14, and later getting a first-play 87-yard TD pass kind of skewers the time of possession figures.
Philadelphia has an NFL-leading 23 sacks despite playing the last three games without Jevon Kearse.
Jerome McDougle has played three games without a sack, so the 2003 first-round pick is still stuck on two for his career (23 active games). Makes you wonder if maybe if Jim Johnson would be better off activating forgotten man Sam Rayburn and sliding Darwin Walker into McDougle's backup role at defensive end.
Heard an ESPN commentator (might have been Mike Ditka) saying how the Donté Stallworth-Mark Simoneau trade was one of the rare deals that helped both teams. And he's right; Stallworth has helped the Eagles when he's played, while Simoneau has 27 tackles (15 solo or primary) for the Saints.
Don't be surprised if we learn somebody other than Dirk Johnson got to show off his punting leg this week behind closed doors, just in case Johnson continues to kick at less than pre-2005 injury form.
In case you were wondering, a certain fancy football player person still had that catchy tune ''I'm back'' playing on his personal Web site Tuesday. And on his My Space page.
Surprisingly, nothing about 38-24 and three catches for 45 yards being the media's fault. But the week's still relatively young.
Bourbon Street should be interesting as always. But still not sure how this trip is going to feel, knowing how many lost so much last year.
larry.orourke@mcall.com
