Whats Wrong with Westbrook?

There are a lot of reasons that the Eagles are where they are right now. At 5-4, they are tied for last place in the NFC East. But for being tied for last place, you can't say the Eagles are not a good team. Every single one of there games could have been wins- except for possibly the Redskins. 

They couldn't get one yard against the Bears to take the lead on 4th and 1 from the goal line. They couldn't execute a single hand off against the Cowboys while trying to run down the clock. And Sunday night, with the offense clicking and driving down for the winning score, they couldn't get 3 yards- even though they got 2 tries. 

Obviously, the common factor in those plays is the running game. Who is to blame for the in ability to get the tough yard, or execute a simple play, when it comes to the run game? 

You could blame Andy Reid for continuing to call run plays in those situations, but as much as his finger prints are all over this so far dissapointing season, the players still need to go out and execute they plays. Regardless of how bad the play call, 1 yard is 1 yard. 

The offensive line could be the reason. Shawn Andrews, the pro bowl right guard, has been a non factor this season, missing most of training camp with a battle with depression, then missing the rest of the games with back spasms. John Runyan and Tra Thomas are getting older, but they have done a good job keeping McNabb safe. So the offensive line is not the problem.

The failed experiment at fullback could be it. So far, the starting fullback for the Eagles have been: Dan Klecko, Jason Davis, Tony Hunt, then Dan Klecko again. This is alot like when Reid refused to bring in a punt returner, until it came back to kill him last year. The fullback problem has been a huge one this year, and another way that Reid the GM has killed this team.

But while all of those options could be the problem, maybe the problem is with our pro bowl, brand new contract running back, Brian Westbrook. Westbrook carried us last season (as much as a player can carry a team that dosn't make the playoffs) setting a franchise record for total yards in a season. 

This year however, something is not the same. In seven games this season, he has 448 yards a 6 TD's. He also has 29 catches for 207 yards and 2 TD's. But if you break those numbers down, you will see that he hasn't scored a touchdown in the last two weeks. Also, since starting the season with 5 touchdowns in the first two games, he has only scored 3 in the next 5. He hasn't had a receiving touchdown since week 2, giving Todd Heremans more touchdown catches since week 2 then Brian Westbrook. 

In key divisional games, he had 12 carries for 33 yards against the Redskins, and 13 carries for 26 yards vs the Giants on Sunday. Of his 448 yards rushing, almost 40 percent of those came in 1 game, vs the Falcons. That also has been the only game he broke over 100 yards rushing. 

It could be that he is hurt, having missed 2 games this season with both ankle and rib injuries. But this is the reason that Eagles were hesitant to give him a extension in the off season. Bur regardless of how hurt, or how big you are, if you want to be a Pro Bowl, franchise running back, you need to get those 3 yards in two tries on Sunday night to get your team the win. 

If the Eagles want this season to turn around, it needs to start with Brian Westbrook returning to his normal Pro Bowl form. 

Eagles Season Not Over Yet

Key Game vs Washington Could Decide It

Last night at Lincoln Financial Field, the Eagles faced a huge game. It was a border line must win game in the 10th week of the season. They had the division leading New York Giants at their house. A chance to pull to within one game. A chance to pick up a game on every team in the division. 

And they blew it. 

Now, with 7 games to go, the Eagles are 3 games behind the Giants. The chance to win the division is a long one (though Philadelphia has overtook New York for the divsion lead two seasons in a row- o wait, thats baseball). They are one game behind the Washington Redskins, with one more meeting in Washington later in this season. They are also tied with the Dallas Cowboys, at 5-4.

But despite being 0-3 in the division, the Eagles can still compete for a wild card berth. 

If the season ended today, the top two teams in the NFC would be the Giants and the Carolina Panthers. The other division winners would be the Chicago Bears and the Arizona Cardinals. 

The wild card is where it starts to get tricky. The Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers are all 6-3. The Eagles are tied with the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings, all having 5-4 record.

So it all comes down to the next 7 games. These 6 teams will be fighting for 2 playoff spots. Lets look at who they have left on their schedule:

Falcons: The Falcons have there 3 hardest games at home, which is good for them. They have trailed a total of 11 seconds at home- all season. They face Denver, Carolina, Tampa Bay, and St Louis at home. They also have road games agaisnt San Diego, New Orleans and Minnesota. Combined Record: 33-30

Buccaneers: The Bucs still have the Raiders and Lions on their schedule, which should be automatic wins. The hardest game left for them is a trip to Carolina. Combine Record: 28-35

Redskins: The Redskins, coming off a bad lose to the Steelers, have to face the Cowboys next week, with Tony Romo set to return. There other remaining games of notes are a home game vs Philadelphia and a trip to Baltimore. Combined Record: 29-33

Cowboys: Who would have thought after beating Green Bay in week 3, the Cowboys would be last in the NFC East? But here they are. They have trips to Washington, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh still left, as well as home games vs the Ravens and Giants. Combined Record: 35-27

Vikings: The Vikings won a key game yesterday vs the Packers, coming back behind Adrian Peterson to pull above .500. They still have trips to Jacksonville and Tampa Bay, but also get to go to Detroit. There game agaisnt the Giants is the last week of the season, and the Giants could be playing for nothing at that point. Combined Record: 34-28

Eagles:  Lets look at the Eagles Schedule more in depth: 

At Bengals: While the Cowboys and the Redskins play next week, the Eagles get to visit the Bengals. That means they will either be tied for second with the Redskins, or be able to put the Cowboys out of their playoff picture. No way the Eagles lose to the Bengals.

At Baltimore: They will face old Special Teams Coach John Harbaugh, but more importantly, rookie quarterback Joe Flacco. The Eagles fair well agaisnt rookie quaterbacks, so this should be a win.

Cardinals: On a short week, the Eagles face the Cardinals on Thanksgiving Night. The Cardinals are talented, but they are not close to the same team on the road that they are at home. I don't see the Cardinals coming into Philadelphia and winning a huge game like this. 

At Giants: The Eagles will need this one more then the Giants. But that was the case last night to. But this one is in New York. Lets put this one down as a lose.

Cleveland: The Browns have been a dissapointment this season, and have a horrible defense. They also have a rookie quarterback, so I don't see the Eagles winning this one.

At Washington: The Redskins dominated the Eagles last time they played. This game will be huge. But the Eagles have not won a game in the division so far, and I don't see them going 0-6 in the division. On a limb, lets put this down as a win.

Dallas: This one could be sweet. The last game of the season could either be a chance to put the Cowboys super bowl dreams to rest by knocking them out of the playoffs, at the same time we clinch a spot. Or, it could be last game Donovan McNabb plays as an Eagle. The Eagles win this one.

Combined Record: 34-28

What does all this add up to? The Cowboys, who have the hardest schedule out of all the teams, will not even make the playoffs, after starting the season as Super Bowl favorites. The Vikings, another dark horse Super Bowl pick, have the second hardest schedule, as well as the majority on the road. I don't see them getting into the playoffs.

That leaves the Eagles, Redskins, Bucs and Falcons. The Bucs have the easiest schedule, with the teams left on their schedule a combined 7 games under .500. It would be surprising if they didn't make it in. The Falcons, have been a feel good story, but face a harder schedule, as well as the pressure that will be put on rookie quarterback Matt Ryan. I hope they get in over the Bucs, and I think they could, but with trips to San Diego and Minnesota, I don't see it.

That leaves the Eagles and Redskins. If the Eagles can win key games agaisnt the Redskins and Ravens (both winnable games), they could go 6-1 down the stretch. That would obviously put them in. The Redskins have the easier schedule, but not by much. I think it will all come down to December 21, 1 PM, Eagles at Redskins. A lose their would make it hard to get in. 

So while the lose last night hurt, it did not end the season. A favorable schedule down the stretch, combined with a big win in Washington would mean the Eagles will be in the Playoffs. 

Andy Reid Got to Go

I have never been a person who believed Andy Reid should be fired. He has the most victories in Eagles history. He has averaged 10 wins a season, led to Eagles to the Super Bowl, and had the Eagles the class of the NFC East for years. 

With that said, is the Eagles don't advance to the playoffs this season, Reid has to go. I say this now, because after watching Reid cost the Eagles a chance to pull to within one game of the Giants, it has never been more evident. How did he cost them the game? Lets start at the beginning.

1) LJ Smith should not have started. Brent Celek has the second most yards receiving for a tight end in Eagles history last weekend. How does Reid repay him? By sending him to the bench. Why bench him? Smith has the skills, but over all has been dissapointing. He fumbles and is always hurt. He also is on the Franchise Tag, which means he will be a free agent at the end of the year. Celek is a promising young rookie, coming off his best game. Why delay the growth process and bench him? Then, not only does Reid bench him, he then forces the ball to LJ Smith on the second drive, causing a three and out. 

2) The Starting Offense. The Eagles did score on their first possession, but that touch down was handed to them gift wrapped from the Eagles defense. In the first quarter, the Eagles held the ball a total of 90 seconds. You can blame that on the defense as well, and thats more then fair. But if the offense didn't go three and out every time at the beginning of the game, the other team wouldn't have the ball as much. The Eagles fell behind last week, and fell behind 17-7 in this game. Last week they cold overcome it, but this week (like most), they could not. 

3) Challenges. In a tight game, challenges are huge. Not only because you might need them to over turn a call, but use them and lose, you lose a time out. Tonight, Andy Reid challenged a call that was clearly correct. The call was whether or not Brandon Jacobs was down before the ball came out as the Giants were driving close to the goal line. The replays shown on TV, right after the play, were not even close. Yet there was Andy Reid, throwing the challenge flag. He lost, and it cost the Eagles a time out. This would come back to kill them.

4) Clock Management. How many times do we have to watch the Eagles lazily walk up to the huddle, slowly get to the line, and waste precious time off the clock? Did he not learn his lesson in the super bowl. With the Eagles down 5 with the ball, they ran a play, then waited 20 seconds to the 2 minute warning. Why would you not try to run a play before the two minute warning? You already only have wasted one timeout from challenging that one play, and you wasted another one on a seperate challenge. Yet still, you don't hurry up. It makes no sense. 

5) Play Calling. Play calling has always been a black mark on the Andy Reid legacy here in Philly. But tonight was typical of the Reid Era. First, Westbrook only rushes 13 times in the game. While the run game was not successful, Reid needs to stick with it. Westbrook is one of the best running backs in the league. He needs to commit to the run more often at the beginning of the game. Because tonight the end of the game, with McNabb getting the Eagles back in the game, the Eagles faced a crucial 3 and 3 with 1:55 left on the clock. Next play: A sweep run for a one yard gain. Next play? A sweep run for a 1 yard gain. Why run it then? Why all the sudden feel the need to have a power house running game, when you didn't create it for the first 58 minutes of the game? Those two play calls most likely cost the Eagles the playoffs. 

6) Andy Reid the GM. Its hard to be a head coach in the NFL. Countless hours and tasks. So to be the GM and a head coach, it takes a special person. And I think its now fair to say, Reid is not that special person. There have been first round draft busts like Jerome McDougle, Freddie Mitchell and Winston Justice. And that was when he drafted in the first round. The last two years, he has traded out of the first round. He drafted a quarterback with his first pick two years ago. The draft is where you build your team, and as the Eagles start to fade in the division, the lack of good draft picks is starting to show. 

With all that said, the Eagles can not make the change now. But when the season ends, and the Eagles don't make the playoffs, people will be calling for McNabbs head. And while I can see the reason to want to rebuild, I don't think throwing a rookie Kevin Kolb into the lineup next year will be the answer. Westbrook dosn't have many years left. Other team leaders like Asante Samuel, Sheldon Brown, and Kevin Curtis are ready to win now. The team has a better chance with McNabb at the helm then Andy Reid. That is why it is time to hire a new coach. 

Sixers 88, Magic 98

The Sixers sure will be glad to leave Florida.

A night after getting blown out by the Miami Heat, the Sixers didn't fair much better agaisnt the Orlando Magic. Another slow start by the Sixers left them down 14 at the end of the first quarter. The trimmed it down to 9 at the end of the third quarter with an impressive run, but they could get no closer.

The Orlando Magic were lead by Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu, who both chipped in 20 points. Philadelphia native Jameer Nelson also had a good game, with 16 points and 9 assisits.

Elton Brand had his worst game so far as a Sixer, with only 6 points and 12 rebounds. Andre Iguodala had a pretty good game overall, with 16 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists. Thaddeus Young coninuted to grow and impress, leading the Sixers with 19 points.

The lose dropped the Sixers to 2-4. A slow start did the Sixers in again, as they actually won the game if you take away the first quarter. The Magic are a team the Sixers need to beat, becasue they should be fighting with them come playoff time a playoff seed in the 4-5-6 area.

The Sixers schedule dosn't get any easier from here, as the Jazz come to town, followed by a rematch with the Raptors in Toronto, then a visit to the Pacers.

DeAngelo Hall Signs with Redskins

Just two days after being released by the Oakland Raiders, Pro Bowl corner back DeAngelo Hall has a new home. Sources say that Hall will sign a one year deal with the Washington Redskins. The deal is belived to be around 1 million dollers, which would be what he would have got in Oakland. The other teams believed to be interested in Hall were the Patriots, Jets, and Ravens.

Their appears to be two reasosns that Hall chose Washington. First, Washington agreed not to place the franchise tag on him this off season. That would allow him to sign a long term deal with a team for the second summer in a row. The second reason that Hall chose the Redskins is that he wants to stay there for a long time, and he was qouted as saying that he and the team are going to work out a long term deal.

The Redskins are currently 6-3, and in second place in the NFC East. They also have the fourth best defense in the league, holding teams to 272 yards per game. However, around 70 percent of those yards have been thru the air. Hall should help them with that, as he has 3 interceptions in the first 8 games of this season.

With the great wide receivers in the NFC East- Terrell Owens, Plaxico Burress, Roy Williams- the addition of the Pro Bowl corner back should give Washington a huge boost.

Giants v Eagles

In the best game of the NFL schedule this weekend, the Giants will travel to Philadelphia to face the Eagles. The Giants are 7-1, and hold a 2 game lead over the Eagles, at 5-3. A win would be huge for both teams. The Giants could take a 3 games lead over the Eagles, with only 6 games to go in the season. A win for the Eagles would pull them to 1 game back, with another matchup with the Giants this season.

Why The Eagles Will Win:

1) The Giants are 7-1, but they only have 1 impressive win on their schedule. They beat the Steelers 21-14 in Pittsburgh two weeks ago, but the Eagles beat the Steelers to. Other then that win, their wins have com agaisnt the Rams, Bengals, Seahawks and 49ers. They beat Dallas, but that was without Tony Romo, and it was in New York. The also lost to the Browns, which have a 3-5 record. This is definitly the hardest game of the year for the Giants.

2) Kevin Curtis and DeSean Jackson: Kevin Curtis, who missed all but 2 games of this season, has been impressive in those 2 games. He has 9 catches for 128 yards. DeSean Jackson, who the Giants have not seen yet, has played big in games agaisnt the divison oppenents, with 100 yards recieving vs the Cowboys, and a punt return agaisnt the Redskins

3) The Eagles can stop the run: Despite two down weeks vs the Redskins and 49ers, the Eagles have stopped the run in every game this year. The strentgh of the Giants offense is the run. I expect them to shut down the run again this week, and stop the Giants offense.

4) Its at Philadelphia: In a key divisional game, you allways want to have home field advantage. And its a night game. I think this is a huge bonus for the Eagles

Why The Giants Will Win:

1) Plaxico Burress: It seems like everytime the Eagles play the Giants, he has a huge game. The Eagles brought in Asante Samuel over the off season to help out the secondary, but he was lit up by Burress in the Super Bowl, scoring the game winning touchdown. He also had a height advantage over every one of the Eagles Corner Backs.

2) The Eagles are up and down: If the Eagles come out agaisnt the Giants like they did agaisnt the Seahawks, they will not have a chance to get back in the game. To often this season, agaisnt teams like the Seahawks and 49ers, they have let oppenents stay in games, or get off to a great start. The Giants are to good to do that agaisnt.

3) They are Super Bowl Champs: Say what you want about their championship, but the Giants are 13-1 in their last 14 games. They are simply a better team then the Eagles when you look at the record. They have won big games, and will not be intimidated by this one.

Pick:

Despite the Giants being 7-1, this is their hardest game. The Eagles have been tested by trips to Dallas, and by playing the Redskins when they were playing at their best. I don't know who will get farther by the end of the season, but I think the Eagles win this one. They need it more, its at home, and the Giants have not been tested this year.

Eagles 28 Giants 24

NFL Week 10 Picks

Here are my picks for Week 10:

Broncos at Browns: Brady Quinn will get his much anticpated first start tonight, and what a defense to get it agaisnt. The Broncos are giving up 243 yarsd per game, thats good for 17th in the NFL. Pick: Browns

Saints at Falcons: The Falcons have been the surprise team of the year. This is a great quarterback match up, with Drew Brees facing the impressive rookie Matt Ryan. The match up that will give the Falcons the win is Micheal Turner vs the Saints run defense. Pick: Falcons

Titans at Bears: With Kyle Orton at quarterback, who has had an impressive season, I might give the Bears a chance. But I don't see Rex Grossman beating one of the best defenses in the league. Pick: Titans

Jacksonville at Lions: Upset of the Week. The Lions are going to start Daunte Culpepper, who signed just 5 days ago. But I like the combination of him and Calvin Johnson, plus the Lions are at home. Plus, the Lions cant lose every game, can they? Pick: Lions

Panthers at Raiders: Poor Eagles fans. What looked to be a top first round pick when they aquired it from the Panthers on draft day is now going to be a low one. The Raiders suck, and despite being at home, have no chance. Pick: Panthers

Seahawks at Dolphins: The Dolphins are the feel good story of the year, with players like Chad Pennington and Ronnie Brown bouncing back and carrying this team to a surprising 4-4 record. Pick: Dolphins

Packers at Vikings: This is a tough one. The Packers beat the Vikings in week 1, but that was at Green Bay. But Green Bay has one of the top defenses in the league, and defense wins game on the road. I could see this game going either way. Pick: Packers

Bills at Patriots: The Bills are fading fast, having lost 2 in a row. I don't think this young team is ready to go into Foxbourough and win a meaningful division game. Pick: Patriots

Rams at Jets: After beating the Redskins and Cowboys, the Rams have fallen back down to earth. The Jets need this win, and Ill go with Brett Farve to get it done. Pick: Jets

Colts at Steelers: In Indianopolis, I might give the Colts the edge. But this one is in Pittsburgh, and it will be cold there this time of month. The Colts won a close one last week to keep their playoff hopes alive, but not this time. Pick: Steelers

Cheifs at Chargers: The Chargers have been dissapointing this season. But despite the problems they have, the Cheifs are even worse. Pick: Chargers

Ravens at Texans: Joe Flacco and Ray Rice have been great this year, contributing to the Ravens 5-3 start. All signs point to the Ravens, but on a hunch, I'll go agaisnt them. Pick: Texans

49ers at Cardinals: In a weak Monday Night Football matchup, Mike Singletary leads the 49ers into Arizona to face the division leading Cardinals. The Cardinals have so many weapons on offense, and they are alreay talking about an extention for Kurt Warner. Poor Matt Leinhart. Pick: Cardinals