Why the Eagle playing well actually benefits us

[Secondary2None3141]

I didn't watch the entire game last night, but what I did see during the first half was a strong Eagles defense, and an impressive performance by McNabb and Buckhalter.

Naturally, being a Cowboys fan, that might be cause for concern as I'd rather every NFC East team without a blue star on their helmet look as incompetent in the Preseason as the Commanders do. Obviously, that isn't the case. The Cowboys and Eagles look to be the most battle-ready teams in the NFC, based on what we've seen so far.

Now, this is why I'm actually happy the Eagles are playing well:

It fills Andy Reid with false hope.

Think about it. Reid never went out and got a quality running back or quality receiver in the early 2000's because he always believed that the Eagles were a good enough team and didn't need them.

What they proved to be, however, was only good enough to get to Championship games, where they, and their QB in particular, would choke the game away.

Having a game changing runner or receiver would change that.

Now, this offseason, the Eagles have been rumored to have been interested in Ashley Lelie, Javon Walker, Stephen Davis, and TJ Ducket, and Duce Staley.

They didn't get any (although Davis is still out there for the taking), and now Deion Branches name is the latest "big name" receiver that is currently available.

It is my belief that last nights performance will be enough to keep Andy Reids team at the status quo.

They will not pursue Branche, or any other talented skill position player, because he will believe his team will be good enough as it is.

And for right now, they might be.

But I'm willing to bet at some point during the grueling 16 week season, Buckhalter re-injures his made of glass knees, and Pinkston re-aggravates his achilles.

At that point, the Eagles depth on offense will be depleted, and McNabb has already shown he will collapse under the pressure.

One last off topic thought:

Is it me, or is Donovan McNabbs continuing to verbally proclaim himself as the team leader eerily similar to Quincy Carter?

I mean . . . if you're truly the leader, and the team knows you are, why do you have to keep saying it over and over again?

Who you trying to convince?

 

[Alexander]

Is it me, or is Donovan McNabbs continuing to verbally proclaim himself as the team leader eerily similar to Quincy Carter?

No, it isn't just you.

He is trying desperately to say that whenever he gets the opportunity. That screams insecurity.

 

[LaTunaNostra]

He is trying desperately to say that whenever he gets the opportunity. That screams insecurity.

either that or that's how he drums up the endorsements. ..it certainly hasn't been on good looks or clutch play.

 

[ZeroClub]

No, it isn't just you.

He is trying desperately to say that whenever he gets the opportunity. That screams insecurity.

He just doesn't seem to handle the controversy very well.

It seemed like he did good job a few years ago when Rush Limbaugh said the stupid thing about McNabb.

But then McNabb had his unfortunate moment in the Super Bowl and followed that with letting himself get all out of sorts just because Owens was talking too much.

Not to psychoanalyze McNabb, but maybe that failed gut check in the SuperBowl is what has rattled his confidence. He seems to be pressing.

Then again, he did play through a lot of physical pain last season.

 

[Alexander]

it certainly hasn't been on good looks or clutch play.

You don't find him attactive?

:laugh2:

 

[Alexander]

Not to psychoanalyze McNabb, but maybe that failed gut check in the SuperBowl is what has rattled his confidence. He seems to be pressing.

Then again, he did play through a lot of physical pain last season.

He had those same problems with confidence before that. He has always had that problem. He has been consistent in the way he has struggled in high pressure football games against quality opponents. His terse play contributed to each of the three losses in the NFC championships before Atlanta.

 

[ZeroClub]

He had those same problems with confidence before that. He has always had that problem. He has been consistent in the way he has struggled in high pressure football games against quality opponents. His terse play contributed to each of the three losses in the NFC championships before Atlanta.

You know, that's a good point. And sometimes those things sort of build on themselves, snowball, getting steadily worse over time.

I think he'd benefit from a change of scenery - a chance to start over. Not that it is likely to happen anytime soon.

 

[VACowboy]

If you're truly your team's leader you don't need to say so.

 

[ghst187]

Now, this is why I'm actually happy the Eagles are playing well:

It fills Andy Reid with false hope.

It is my belief that last nights performance will be enough to keep Andy Reids team at the status quo.

and McNabb has already shown he will collapse under the pressure.

One last off topic thought:

Is it me, or is Donovan McNabbs continuing to verbally proclaim himself as the team leader eerily similar to Quincy Carter?

I mean . . . if you're truly the leader, and the team knows you are, why do you have to keep saying it over and over again?

Who you trying to convince?

I said some very similar things in another post last night. I also think that the eagle's arrogance is going to be their downfall. They truly believe that last year was an anomaly and was all the fault of TO and Mcnubb's injury. However, they have more serious problems outside of those two things.
You're right, no way any of their RBs last all season. I doubt Pinkston does and its not like he's a gamechanger anyway. Another problem they have is that they run a limited offensive scheme that hasn't changed in 6 years and while it worked when the rest of the division was garbage...it aint gonna work anymore....0-6 in the division last year with and without TO was a lot more on the mark than they'd like to believe. Their pride and joy, their defense, should be better along the DL but what they refuse to believe is that their divisional foes can't be manned up by their DBs. The eagles still think its 2003 and they can man up every WR in the division and blitz 8-9 guys. Back in 2003, the eagles had better CBs and everyone else had CRAP for WRs so it was feasible. Terry Glenn showed what happens nowadays when their best CB is left all alone one on one while the rest of the d blitzes. Now...Moss, Glenn, TO, Shockey, Plax, Witten, and Cooley are going to hurt you now if you leave them one on one too often. Meanwhile, the eagles now have one of the worst, perhaps THE worst, WR corps in the NFL. And one of their top 2 (Pinkston) may or may not play much, if at all.
Seriously, if you shut down their shovel passes, screen passes, and LJ Smith....how are they going to get any yards? They don't like to admit it, but TO won them at least 2 games that they shouldn't have won (KC and Denver) last year. And I think they stole one from Oakland. This year's schedule is tougher (Indy, Tampa, Carolina) and the rest of the division is a LOT tougher.

The eagles refuse to believe that anything has changed since 2003. I could see another 6-10 (0-6 division) for them. I think its obvious that Mcchoker has developed some serious confidence issues. I also think its obvious that he isn't ever going to get a team a Lombardi. Now they should start out with a decent chance to win a few games with Houston, San Fran, Gay Bay, and New Orleans early but I'm curious as what Mcchoke will do if they and he start struggling and losing. Will he exaggerate another injury? Will the front office stick with him? I think Philly is in for a RUDE awakening by the end of this season....

 

[Alexander]

how are they going to get any yards? They don't like to admit it, but TO won them at least 2 games that they shouldn't have won (KC and Denver) last year. And I think they stole one from Oakland.

You forgot San Diego as well.

 

[ghst187]

You forgot San Diego as well.

oh yeah, that was a joke...
they should have only won 2 or 3 games last year. Arguably, they should've beaten us in the second game.

 

[Alexander]

oh yeah, that was a joke...
they should have only won 2 or 3 games last year. Arguably, they should've beaten us in the second game.

They outplayed us in that game. Were it not for McNabb's gift, we would have lost.

 

[Secondary2None3141]

They outplayed us in that game. Were it not for McNabb's gift, we would have lost.

Not from what I remember . . .

From what I remember, we dominated that game . . .

Of couse . . . what I remember is largely based from me watching and re-watching the final three minutes of the game, thanks again to my Tivo.

I don't even remember the kick-off.

As I recall . . . the game just started when Al Michaels said: And its going to be intercepted by ROY WILLIAMS!

 

[ghst187]

They outplayed us in that game. Were it not for McNabb's gift, we would have lost.

I agree. They definitely outplayed us for 3 quarters and all but 5 minutes of the 4th.
I thought we would get the ball back again though even if Mcchoke didn't throw that pick. And oddly enough, we had found some mojo on offense finally. Shepperd couldn't stay with Terry. I honestly thought we still had a chance if we got the ball back with a minute or so left. We had some momentum and looked energized after TGs TD.

 

[Alexander]

Not from what I remember . . .

From what I remember, we dominated that game . . .

Of couse . . . what I remember is largely based from me watching and re-watching the final three minutes of the game, thanks again to my Tivo.

I don't even remember the kick-off.

As I recall . . . the game just started when Al Michaels said: And its going to be intercepted by ROY WILLIAMS!

I have watched that game several times from start to finish and even though I know what happened, I still am amazed we won. We truly were dead at one point. Thanks to the idiotic shovel call and Nguyen's smarts, we were able to rebound.

 

[Future]

erm...forget about false hope and all that jazz. it is never good for dallas for the eagles to be playing well imo