Dare We Suggest?

Jeff Garcia has now been the starting quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles for five weeks.  His first start wasn't one to remember, as the Eagles ended up on the losing end of a 24 point blowout.  The next week, the Eagles eked out a three-point win over the Carolina Panthers and we saw the first signs of life.

Since that point, the Eagles have won by three over the Redskins (now 5-10), by 14 over the Giants (7-8) and tonight by 16 over the Cowboys (now 9-6).

Dare we suggest that this team is now playing its best football of the year?  After all, they're winning by larger margins over better teams every week.  This win over the Cowboys, though by no means a blowout, was really a dominating performance.

The Eagles even started to take some of the luster off of Tony Romo (who from henceworth will be known on this blog as Mr. Carrie Underwood).  Woody looked OK in the first half, as the Eagles committed to first stopping the run, but in the second half he crumbled before the pressure Jim Johnson's defense was finally able to generate.

He also wasn't helped by two big drops by Terrell Eldorado Owens.  Yeah, we noticed.

I feel strangely ... contented by the results of today's game.  Not at all as elated as I expected to be after such a huge win over a hated division rival. 

I think this can mean only one thing.

I'm bought in.  I'm no longer happy with moral victories or great regular season wins.  I want a division title.  I want some playoff wins.  And I want the Eagles to be making some noise in Chicago or New Orleans a few weeks from now.

Enjoy the win, but don't go stubbing your toes against the Falcons, guys.  Please. 

-----------------------------------------------   

• Today's game should finally put to rest this idea that the Eagles are not a good running team.  Philly ran for more than 200 yards on 41 attempts.
• This is the best Eagles offensive line I can ever remember watching.  I'm not going to say we were wrong, necessarily, but while the fans were obsessing about wide receivers and linebackers, Andy Reid was quietly rebuilding a very good, very deep offensive line.
• I loved the first playcall after the Eagles' huge first-half goal-line stand.  Garcia dropped back and completed a 35-yard pass to Donte Stallworth, immediately extricating the Eagles from what could have been a difficult position. 
• You can't underestimate the power of lucky bounces.  For weeks, the Eagles seemed unable to catch a break, now they're forcing fumbles that pop right up into their hands, seeing opposing receivers drop easy completions, and generally looking like a team that's being smiled on by karma.
• Today's Wingheads line of the day, regarding Owens: "He makes Pinkston look surehanded sometimes."  Sweet.

Comments

[BGNJason]

They are certainly playing the most complete football of the year.

Where did this defense come from?

[bake]

Dare we say that this is a great offensive line that made the Cowboys defense look just plain offensive. Dare we say that we have babies on the offensive line, save Runyan, and a first rounder who isn't even playing. Dare we say that Ray Didinger is reading this blog because he's repeating the same thing I'm saying: Keep this mentality, when Mcnabb comes back, and the future is bright, very bright.
A letdown should be out of the question because they are going to come home to a hostile philadelphia crowd on New Years Eve, mind you, after winning 3 straight on the road against division rivals. Crossing my fingers on that one.
Teams that goes on rolls in December keep on playing in January. Remeber last year? The 7-5 Steelers won every game after they lost their 5th game. Remember the Ravens team from a few years ago? They won their last 8 games.
The Eagles squeezed out a win against Carolina with Lito saving the day. They beat the Redskins because the skins refused to run near the goal line even though they had Betts running it down their throats. Then they go into New York, beat the Giants nicely, dominate Dallas. The snowball started small, and now it's rolling downhill like an avalanche and this team is feeding off their growing confidence.
Dawkins with the beautiful Willie Mays catch that saved a sure touchdown by T.O.(assuming he would have caught it.) What a catch!!!
HO HO HO HO HO HO HO HO HO

[bake]

PS on the Mcnabb thing. When did Elway finally win his SuperBowls? Does anyone remember the Broncos offensive line and Terrell Davis?