of course Mcfatty HAS to say crap like that....and as someone pointed out...when players are saying stuff like that in public, it usually means they need to feel good about themselves because they are secretly really worried.
I haven't looked at their schedule but I'm sure its close to what ours looks like and I really don't see more than 6-7 wins for them this year. I just don't know where their offense is going to come from, esp given their 4-play tecmobowl-like playbook.
1) Mcnabb is too fat nowadays to really hurt teams running and I do remember pre-TO Mcnabb not that long ago philthy fans wanting to bench him. I could see that happening again.
2) TO is gone and they have absolutely nothing at WR, probably the worst corps in the entire league
3) Westbrook will probably get injured (its almost inevitable) and he's about 70% of their offense. Also, rest assured teams will load up to stop him.
4) LJ Smith is about the only threat they have
5) Teams have figured out they only have a few plays in the book, esp without TO...Mcnabb scramble, screen right to Westbrook, short throw to LJ, screen left to Westbrook.
What everyone also needs to realize is that the Eagle's D dominated the division when the offensive talent of the rest of the division was absolutely horrible. Now that the offensive talent in the division has significantly improved, philly's D has declined. More than a coincidence there. They have always just blitzed everyone into oblivion...which worked when guys like Quincy Carter and Patrick Ramsey and a broken, washed up Kurt Warner were running the opposing offenses and WRs like Amani Toomer and Michael Westbrook were the biggest threats. Now guys like Plax, Terry Glenn, and Santana Moss with guys like Brunell, Bledsoe, and Manning will burn your blitz enough times to beat you.
I just see the eagles as a non-factor this year. They'll be lucky to steal 2 division games.