Doomsday101
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'Tis the time of season when postseason plans are derailed by a team with virtually nothing to play for. It happened last weekend when the Baltimore Ravens played the spoiler to the Minnesota Vikings' playoff hopes.
Come Sunday, the Eagles can revel in the unfamiliar role as spoiler against an NFC East foe. Philadelphia has ruled the division for much of the Andy Reid era and the team could make life miserable for the red-hot Commanders.
"There's no way in the world I ever would have thought we would be in this position that we are in right now," free safety Brian Dawkins said.
But the Eagles have been beset by injuries and mistakes this season, while the Commanders find themselves riding a four-game winning streak with a shot at the NFC East title or a Wild Card spot.
"I don't try to look at it as a spoiler; I just want to win a game," said placekicker David Akers. "Whatever happens with their outcome is their deal."
Akers, Dawkins and many of their teammates spoke about the importance of winning the season finale and going into the team's longest offseason period since the end of the 1999 season on a positive note.
Reid's inaugural season back in '99 ended with back-to-back wins over New England and St. Louis, the latter of which went on to win the Super Bowl. The following year saw the franchise's most dramatic turnaround, as the Eagles finished 11-5 and won a playoff game. The next four years saw the team reach the NFC title game and then last season, the Super Bowl.
That said, it's understandable why a veteran like Akers places a great deal of stock in this final game.
"[Back in '99] we built the last couple games for something for the future and then we went on a nice run to the NFC Championship game four years in a row," Akers said. "I think that's huge for your morale to start the next year.
"We are just trying to win games around here and get back on track, hopefully start 2006 off right."
With a win Sunday, the Eagles would enter the offseason having won two of their last three games and would have done so with many reserves playing key roles, including quarterback Mike McMahon.
"In this case, I don't really care who is in the playoffs; I just want to win," McMahon said. "I think the more important thing is not trying to spoil someone else's season, but ending your season on a high note. I think it does carry over for a more positive attitude in the offseason."
The role of spoiler suits defensive end N.D. Kalu just fine. A former Commander, Kalu said Washington once relished such a role.
"When I was with Washington and we knew we weren't going to the playoffs, our whole battle cry was to be spoilers. That's what we're doing now," said Kalu, an unrestricted free agent who could be playing his final game in Philadelphia. "You want to play good, you want to win; but it gives you that extra incentive to know that you're keeping somebody else from going to the playoffs.
"Misery loves company."
The last two weeks the Eagles have played teams that had nothing on the line. Prior to that two-game stretch, the Eagles gave the division-leading Giants all they could handle and nearly pulled out the upset win at Lincoln Financial Field.
Homefield advantage could again be a factor on Sunday.
"You know what they're trying to do," cornerback Rod Hood said. "You don't want a team to think that they can come in your house and beat up on you."
Washington posted impressive wins over Dallas and New York the last two weeks and have themselves positioned for a postseason run. The Commanders could win the division if the Giants lose at Oakland on Saturday and they beat the Eagles. At the very least, a Commanders win Sunday would lock up a playoff berth. However, a loss to Philadelphia means Washington would only get in if Dallas loses to St. Louis on Sunday night.
"I guess for some guys, they can use that as a little fuel to put in their tank; but for me, it's about winning," Dawkins said. "I want to win this last game and have a decent feeling going into the offseason about what we accomplished in the last game.
"You don't just chalk it up and say that winning or losing this game does not make a difference. I don't see us doing that, but if guys want to use this as motivation, then they can."
No question that this is a different challenge for the Eagles, especially at this time of the year. But it's about playing for pride.
"Anytime you step on that field you're not only representing yourself, but you're representing the Philadelphia Eagles," said tight end L.J. Smith. "Like Coach [Brad] Childress said, this is a business about winning. We have to go out here and try to win a football game.
"It's not so much about us spoiling them; I think it's just more about us winning a football game."
Come Sunday, the Eagles can revel in the unfamiliar role as spoiler against an NFC East foe. Philadelphia has ruled the division for much of the Andy Reid era and the team could make life miserable for the red-hot Commanders.
"There's no way in the world I ever would have thought we would be in this position that we are in right now," free safety Brian Dawkins said.
But the Eagles have been beset by injuries and mistakes this season, while the Commanders find themselves riding a four-game winning streak with a shot at the NFC East title or a Wild Card spot.
"I don't try to look at it as a spoiler; I just want to win a game," said placekicker David Akers. "Whatever happens with their outcome is their deal."
Akers, Dawkins and many of their teammates spoke about the importance of winning the season finale and going into the team's longest offseason period since the end of the 1999 season on a positive note.
Reid's inaugural season back in '99 ended with back-to-back wins over New England and St. Louis, the latter of which went on to win the Super Bowl. The following year saw the franchise's most dramatic turnaround, as the Eagles finished 11-5 and won a playoff game. The next four years saw the team reach the NFC title game and then last season, the Super Bowl.
That said, it's understandable why a veteran like Akers places a great deal of stock in this final game.
"[Back in '99] we built the last couple games for something for the future and then we went on a nice run to the NFC Championship game four years in a row," Akers said. "I think that's huge for your morale to start the next year.
"We are just trying to win games around here and get back on track, hopefully start 2006 off right."
With a win Sunday, the Eagles would enter the offseason having won two of their last three games and would have done so with many reserves playing key roles, including quarterback Mike McMahon.
"In this case, I don't really care who is in the playoffs; I just want to win," McMahon said. "I think the more important thing is not trying to spoil someone else's season, but ending your season on a high note. I think it does carry over for a more positive attitude in the offseason."
The role of spoiler suits defensive end N.D. Kalu just fine. A former Commander, Kalu said Washington once relished such a role.
"When I was with Washington and we knew we weren't going to the playoffs, our whole battle cry was to be spoilers. That's what we're doing now," said Kalu, an unrestricted free agent who could be playing his final game in Philadelphia. "You want to play good, you want to win; but it gives you that extra incentive to know that you're keeping somebody else from going to the playoffs.
"Misery loves company."
The last two weeks the Eagles have played teams that had nothing on the line. Prior to that two-game stretch, the Eagles gave the division-leading Giants all they could handle and nearly pulled out the upset win at Lincoln Financial Field.
Homefield advantage could again be a factor on Sunday.
"You know what they're trying to do," cornerback Rod Hood said. "You don't want a team to think that they can come in your house and beat up on you."
Washington posted impressive wins over Dallas and New York the last two weeks and have themselves positioned for a postseason run. The Commanders could win the division if the Giants lose at Oakland on Saturday and they beat the Eagles. At the very least, a Commanders win Sunday would lock up a playoff berth. However, a loss to Philadelphia means Washington would only get in if Dallas loses to St. Louis on Sunday night.
"I guess for some guys, they can use that as a little fuel to put in their tank; but for me, it's about winning," Dawkins said. "I want to win this last game and have a decent feeling going into the offseason about what we accomplished in the last game.
"You don't just chalk it up and say that winning or losing this game does not make a difference. I don't see us doing that, but if guys want to use this as motivation, then they can."
No question that this is a different challenge for the Eagles, especially at this time of the year. But it's about playing for pride.
"Anytime you step on that field you're not only representing yourself, but you're representing the Philadelphia Eagles," said tight end L.J. Smith. "Like Coach [Brad] Childress said, this is a business about winning. We have to go out here and try to win a football game.
"It's not so much about us spoiling them; I think it's just more about us winning a football game."