Finally, the game we've all been waiting for is here. T.O. has returned to the scene of the crime and Eagles phans are chomping at the bit to "welcome" him. However, in true Philly fashion we're bringing a bunch of knives to a gun fight. B West, Stallworth, Lito, and Rod Hood (again, a very underrated porn name) are either hobbling or out this week. Considering that D Mac's main weapons and our CB's are front and center this week in this gigantic showdown with the Pokes and T.O., I'm not feeling overwhelmingly confident.It seems that the only hope the Birds have of shutting down their offense is to pressure the error prone Bledsoe, but since the Dallas offensive line has held up pretty well so far, this is easier said than done. The key to our defensive performance is our defensive tackles. If Patterson, Bunkley and Co., can get early pressure in Bledsoe's face, I like our chances. However, I haven't seen anything to date from our DT's to expect this to happen with any regularity today. Without quick pressure, it's not going to be easy for our DE's and blitzers to get to Bledsoe, which could leave T.O., Glenn, Whitten, etc one on one with our beleaguered DB's.
As for our offense, I think the most overlooked story this week is that the Dallas defense is pretty good and we haven't exactly done real well against the 3-4 defense with Big Red and D Mac at the helm. Without B West and Donte at full strength, it may difficult for us to move the ball as we have so far this season. D Mac is going to have to do it all today if we are going to pull this one out.
Here is one prediction though...our fans will do something bad, but not really serious and the media will over exaggerate it into a huge issue and give the city another black eye. Of course it will be in response to something T.O. does, but I'm not really stepping out on a limb there. If he does score, I'm guessing he does the D Mac "Michael Jackson" dance. I also predict that the biggest hit on T.O. will come from Matt McCoy.
I realize that I haven't painted a rosie picture here, and I think you can tell where I'm going with my pick, but here's one caveat: As of 11 am, every NFL pundit this morning that I've seen has picked the Cowboys. (Of course, if my buddy Mister Nascar wasn't in the Bahamas, he'd tell you that everyone is picking the Birds, but he'd fail to tell you he's only listening to the knuckleheads on 610 and the guy in the Camden Communist Post.) As I indicated in my Flyers preview, I really try to avoid going with the side that every single "expert" has taken. Unfortunately, I don't have enough on field support to go any other way than taking the Cowboys to win 27 to 20.
God, I hope I'm wrong.
4 comments:
Now I am bit confused. Does the "Phan" part of your blog name really mean "Phanatic" or does "Phan" actually stand for "Phantom", as in you are a phantom Cowboys "Phan"? To actually pick the coyboys this week after experiencing first hand what happened monday night is just irresponsible. One part of your game analysis that could have used a little more thought was a reflection on who the teams had played prior to this week 5 contest. Instead the Blog read like it was composed by a scared little "boy". To know you is to love you, but seriously, who would have killed you if you had picked the E-A-G-L-E-S??? Lastly, since you picked the "boys" you are not allowed to actually enjoy this most excellent victory. Maybe next week.
All I can say is that I try to be objective...Did you expect Hank Baskett to look like John Stallworth, or Lito to come back from the injured list and conjure up memories of Dick Night Train Lane, or that we'd get a dominating performance from Darwin Walker (although I did say that insider pressure would be key).
You're right though...I need to drop the objective view and go more w/ my heart.
All this being said...I was at that wedding yesterday w/ an IPOD listening to the game....I am a Phanatic.
Did I expect those performances? Maybe not from those specific players, but I DID expect that some in key positions WOULD step up and I knew (barring injury) that 5 would play a good game at a minimum. Props for finding a way to at least hear a game. Weddings happen only once or twice in a person's life and are indeed magical, thus I don't blame you at all in agreeing to attend on Sun and missing probably one of the greatest regular season games in Eagles history, because they come around soooooooooo often. Just to add injury to insult, Clinton was looking for you on Saturday as an extra tix came up. I told him of your prior commitment - - to which he giggled.
Eagles Tix - Zero Dollars
Parking - $10
Beer - $150 (provided by me for everyone at the tailgate)
Food - $26
T.O. Jersey's burned - 27 (actually viewed)
Actually being in the stands and watching Lito run back a pick 102 yards - PRICELESS
That's just wrong...I feel so great about going to the wedding now.
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