A Bright Side To Every Silver Lining

We typically get blowouts right.  When the Eagles destroy some hapless rebuilding project like the Chiefs, we usually see that pretty clearly.  And when they get undressed by a steamroller on a hot streak like the New Orleans Saints, few people go around handing out moral victory points.

It's all the games in between that give us trouble.

Last-second loss against another team in the muddling middle?  These guys suck -- and it was probably McNabb's fault. 

Run out to a nice lead but then struggle to put away a clearly mediocre group?  Startin' to come together, Pepper, startin' to come together.

It is, unfortunately, an often unacknowledged fact that the same effort can lead to two different results, depending upon the opponent being played.  I guess that's what makes us fans.  No point in moping around this week after a win when we had to spend the last two weeks being pissed about losses.

And yet, there was something important and meaningful that came out of last night.

For guys like Donovan McNabb and Sheldon Brown, last night was just another game.  They might have provided the two guttiest performances on their respective sides of the ball, but they've been through dozens of these games.  There's not much they're going to take away from this other than that they needed a win and they got one.

But for guys like LeSean McCoy and Jeremy Maclin, and even DeSean Jackson and Brent Celek and Jason Peters, last night's game was important.  Blowout wins are easy and fun, but it's in the crucible of close games that young guys learn what it takes to win in pressure situations. 

It would be really nice to watch the Eagles win their next six games by multiple touchdowns.  That would be the 2004 ghost type of statement that would suggest these guys are for real.

On the other hand, that might honestly not be the best outcome.  A bunch of blowouts would be nice, but to build long-term, playoff-winning character, a few more close wins might be even better.  

After next week.  Let's go ahead and blow out the Redskins first.  Then build some character later.