Cardinals at Eagles

After last weeks debacle agaisnt the Ravens, the Eagles look to keep there very slim playoff hopes alive. The schedule is hard, and it starts tonight when the Arizona Cardinals come to the Linc. Donovan McNabb reclaims his starting role and will try to get an offense on track that hasn't scored a touchdown in 6 quarters.

Why The Eagles Will Win:
1) Cardinals on the road: As loaded with talent the Cardinals are, that has never seem to translated to the road. They are no where the same team on the road as they are at home. their biggest road victory was at Seattle- and people were excited about that one. It'll be crazy in Philly tonight, and I don't know if the cardinals are ready.

2) Cardinals Schedule: The Cardinals have lost to the Giants, the Panthers and the Redskins. Those were the 3 hardest teams on the schedule. Their division has the 49ers, Rams and Seahawks in it. Those are 6 easy wins right there. So who knows how good this team really is.

3) McNabb: Afrer being benched last week, maybe McNabb will respond and return to his old form. He has to, because this is his last chance.

4) The Defense: As bad as the offense played last week, the defense played well. The 37 points let up is misleading, as the offense was pretty much responsible for all but 7 of them. As good as the Cardinals offense is, if the Eagles can get to Kurt Warner, who isn't mobile, they could really rattle the offense.

Why The Eagles Will Lose:
1) Asante Samuel hurt: The strentgh of the Cardinals are the wide recievers, with young wideouts Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin topping the group. Asante Samuel is the Eagles best cornerback, and is doubtful for tonight. If he can't go, the Eagles are in trouble.

2) Franchise in Dissaray: The Eagles are a mess right now. The head coach and the quarterback hate each other. Starters are being benches everyweek. This is not a team ready to go out and win a big game.

3) Injuries: Injuries have been one of the reasons that the Eagles season has gone the way it has. Tonight, Asante Samuel, Brian Westbrook and Correll Buckhalter are all hurt, and Samuel might not play. Buckhalter might not play either. That means alot of Lorenzo Booker and Dan Klecko. Is that getting anyone excited? Just the Cardinals

Prediction: Last week, I went with the Eagles in a homer pick, ignoring all the obvious. I can't do that this week. The Eagles are playing the worst football this franchise has played in awhile. Could the Eagles turn it on tonight and beat the Cardinals? Possible. Could the Cardinals choke under the pressure and come to Philly and lay an egg? Yeah. But nothing about the way the two teams are playing makes you think that would happen. The only reason the Eagles get respect anymore is because of their name, not their play. Tonight, I think McNabb will play better, but in the end, they lose a close one to put an end to their season.

Pick: Cardinals 27 Eagles 20