The Eagles have just cancelled the trip to Jax for the SB......

[maverick2112]

Seems to me that no one is giving them much of a chance to win this game. So why even bother showing up.

I see a 15-3 Philly team that basically mailed in the last 2 games of the season........with an all-pro qb, great coach, great defense with names like Kearse,Dawkins, Simon, Trotter etc., a team that has basically been on top or close to the top of the NFC for 4 years not getting much respect.

I give major kudos to the Pats and what they have achieved but looking at these 2 teams before the playoffs even began I would have made NE maybe a 2 point fav on a neutral site..............now I see 7.......I didnt really see to many teams running the ball successfully against these eagles. I also have think its helps philly to have a mobile QB like McNabb........i keep thinking about NE playing mobile qb's and Tennessee's McNair and Oaklands Gannon come to mind and they had some success aginst NE in the playoffs. I really think McNabb has to make himself a threat to run in this game. I really think the team that makes the fewest mistakes will win this game but I sure dont see a blowout.........I think Philly has a decent chance at an outright win......a lot better chance than Carolina had last year. I think Carolina was just happy to be there where Philly wants to finish this thing right now.

 

[sportsbet]

I like it! Good analysis maverick.


sb

 

[BossTown]

5 turnovers by NE and a Philly defensive touchdown. That's what it will take for the Eagles to win this game - or even makie it competitive.

We've had some recent close games in the SB - but historically the game has often been a blowout.

My heart's with the Eagles - but my $$$ will be on NE.

 

[Avalanche88]

NE by 17 points -- jmho

 

[Berlino]

Granted they have a chance, but their defense is far from great.

4.3 yards per carry allowed.

118 rushing yards allowed per game.

These are very mediocre numbers.

New England's defense started out the season playing relatively poorly. Perhaps they were suffering from a Super Bowl hangover.

However down the stretch they've been playing much better, as illustrated by early season results compared to their later season rematchs.

Rushing Yards Allowed Game One Versus Game Two

IND 202,46
BUF 130,50
NYJ 106, 46 (NFL Rushing Leader C. Martin only 33 yards.)
MIA 81,52
PIT 221,163

Note that most of Pitt's 163 rushing yards came in the 2nd half when New England was playing pass. Bettis and Staley combined for 90 yards in game two, after having racked up 195 yards in game one.

 

[ElIguana]

One could argue that the Eagles haven't had a big challenge for several weeks. Looking at the box scores for most of their games, they got the lead early and managed the clock from there. Philly held the high-powered Vikings offense to 16 and 14 points in their two games. They game with Atlanta was never really in doubt. Andy Reid rested players and put on the brakes in the last 2 weeks of regular season. Pitt did blow them out, but that seems now like a different Pitt team than the one who basically lost to the Jets and did lose to NE.

My point is, it looks like Philly is capable of a lot more than they have shown us this season. NE is great at scoring first and then piling up the points to insure a victory. Philly has gotten small leads and then played well enough to win, often giving up late TDs for a backdoor cover. (Baltimore, Washington, Dallas come to mind--the games look close by the final scores, but Philly was in a commanding position late in those games with points to spare.) Do they lack the killer instinct, or is Reid content to play "just well enough" to win?

 

[sportsbet]

Granted they have a chance, but their defense is far from great.

4.3 yards per carry allowed.

118 rushing yards allowed per game.

These are very mediocre numbers.

New England's defense started out the season playing relatively poorly. Perhaps they were suffering from a Super Bowl hangover.

However down the stretch they've been playing much better, as illustrated by early season results compared to their later season rematchs.

Rushing Yards Allowed Game One Versus Game Two

IND 202,46
BUF 130,50
NYJ 106, 46 (NFL Rushing Leader C. Martin only 33 yards.)
MIA 81,52
PIT 221,163

Note that most of Pitt's 163 rushing yards came in the 2nd half when New England was playing pass. Bettis and Staley combined for 90 yards in game two, after having racked up 195 yards in game one.

Don't ever look at YARDS when weighing how good this team defense is. They have always given up a lot of yards per game...the key is the points scored on them. That's where they have always been stellar. They have played better lately holding that Vick/Dunn/Duckett group down to a shell of their former selves in the NFC Championship Game. No one has run on them well since Trotter was put in the starting lineup (in fact they are allowing around 80 ypg on the ground since the Pittsburgh debacle).

Just keep it in mind...ypg always looks bad with this team but they always keep em out of the end zone. :howdy:

sb