Dec 22nd 2008 7:34AM by JJ Cooper (author feed)
Filed under: Bears, Broncos, Buccaneers, Chargers, Colts, Cowboys, Dolphins, Eagles, Falcons, Jets, Giants, Panthers, Patriots, Ravens, Steelers, Titans, Vikings, NFL Playoffs
This was the week when seemingly everyone decided they didn’t want to go to the playoffs. For three weeks, the injury-ravaged Broncos could have earned a playoff spot by simply winning one game. But here we are with a week to play and the Broncos still need one win.
In the NFC wild card race, Dallas came into the weekend controlling its own destiny, but they lost. That then put the ball in the Falcons and Bucs’ court. Atlanta did come through with a win to clinch a playoff spot, but the Bucs also punted their chance with a loss to the Chargers. That meant that the Eagles could put themselves in the driver’s seat with a win over the Redskins (the same team that just lost to the Bengals). Of course Philadelphia lost that game, which means that Dallas is right back where they began the weekend–win next weekend and the Cowboys are in the playoffs.Continue Reading
Dec 16th 2008 1:43PM by JJ Cooper (author feed)
Filed under: Bears, Broncos, Buccaneers, Chargers, Colts, Cowboys, Dolphins, Eagles, Falcons, Jets, Giants, Panthers, Patriots, Steelers, Titans, Vikings, NFL Playoffs
The playoff scenarios get a little bit clearer, but what’s remarkable with two weeks to play is how a 10-6 record may mean very little this year. Usually 10-6 is enough to wrap up a playoff spot, and it is this year if you play in a weak division. But if you’re aiming for a wild-card spot, 10-6 might leave you sitting at home.
But while scenarios are clearer this week than last week, it’s still pretty complicated, especially in the wild-card races, where four 9-5 AFC teams and three 9-5 wild-card contenders in the NFC ensure that there are plenty of tiebreakers to check out.
Probably the most surprising thing that jumped out when running through this week’s scenarios is how the Giants could go from a sure-fire No. 1 seed to playing next week to stay out of the first week of the postseason if they lose this week. And Minnesota has gone from a likely January vacation to a shot at a first-round bye.
Continue Reading
Dec 16th 2008 2:25PM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: Chargers, Eagles, NFL Media Watch, NFL Rumors
Kendra Wilkinson is a pretty good catch (actually, no, it intended) for Eagles wide receiver Hank Baskett. I say that because, well, she’s really attractive. Also, because he’s Hank Baskett. And I suppose, after listening to a recent interview she did with FOX Sports, it’s because she’s really, really, really smart.
There’s any number of reasons why you should think that (and I recommend taking Daulerio’s advice and DO NOT LISTEN to the podcast, unless you really love killing brain cells) but here’s a few, in bullet form:
Hank blows her kisses after catches ‘every game’.
They are NOT getting married at the Playboy mansion anymore. Presumably because Hank hasn’t met Hugh.
When the Eagles play the Chargers next year, Kendra will NOT wear an Eagles jersey in Qualcomm.
‘Play-calling’ and ‘Norv Turner’ are to blame for the Chargers stinking it up this year.
Fire Norv and bring back Marty Schottenheimer would be her first move as owner.
She finds John Madden funny. Wow.
She is ADD. NO. WAY. OMGLOLZ.
Hank Baskett does not have the Sunday Ticket. Most likely because he’s working then.
She asked Donovan McNabb to throw Hank the ball more at the Eagles’ Christmas party.
But, surely you get the point. She’s an attractive lady, she’s been in , she’s been on television many times and she’s married to an NFL player. So she’s going to get lots of attention (guilty as charged here) but good gravy … I’m not entirely sure that any amount of sex appeal can overcome what Hank has to deal with on a day-to-day basis.
Of course, on the other hand, no one else in America has seen his wife-to-be naked, so there’s that.
Dec 15th 2008 5:15PM by Enrico Campitelli (author feed)
Filed under: Browns, Eagles, NFC East, NFL Fans
Forty years ago today — December 15th, 1968 — is a day that lives on in Philadelphia sports infamy. It was a cold day when a pathetic Eagles team, playing out the final days of the Joe Kuharich era, was getting beaten on their home turf at Franklin Field. And then a makeshift Santa, pulled out of the stands and trotted onto the soppy field, was showered with snowballs and boos.
The rest, as they say … is written about by every sports journalist, blogger, and website commenter from Beantown to Hollywood and every other mediocre sports town in between.
Yes, Kornheiser, they do boo Santa Claus.
The football world will turn their eyes back towards the City of Brotherly Love this evening, as comes to Philadelphia with the Cleveland Browns facing the Philadelphia Eagles at the friendly confines of Lincoln Financial Field.Continue Reading
Dec 15th 2008 6:26PM by Chris Burke (author feed)
Filed under: Browns, Eagles
In a matter of two weeks, Philadelphia’s outlook has completely changed. On Nov. 23, Baltimore absolutely dismantled the Eagles, 36-7 — dropping the Eagles to 5-5-1 overall, 0-2-1 in their last three and to the edge of postseason life.
Then Philly smoked Arizona on Thanksgiving night and followed that win up by beating the Giants in New York. As it stands now, if the Eagles win their final three games (including over Dallas in Week 17), a loss by either Tampa Bay or Atlanta would send Philadelphia to the playoffs.
Cleveland’s outlook is not nearly as optimistic. The Browns have lost three straight — not reaching double digits in any of those games — and are now feeling some heat from Cincinnati for third place in the AFC North.
Continue Reading
Dec 15th 2008 8:00PM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Browns, Eagles, AFC North, NFC East, NFL Fans
The Eagles are fighting for their playoff lives tonight against a Browns team that gave up on the season sometime around Halloween. That said, if Philly somehow figures out a way to lose to the Romeo Crennel All-Stars, fans might show Andy Reid some brotherly love by chucking a stadium full of shoes in his direction.
Here’s to hoping it doesn’t come to that.
Whatever transpires, we’ll be live-chatting it up. Fun starts at 8:20-ish EST PM unless Walt Coleman overturns it.Continue Reading
Dec 12th 2008 5:30AM by Sportz Assassin (author feed)
Filed under: Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, Redskins, NFC East
You want the best drama? Forget TNT, FX, HBO or Showtime. Just keep tabs on the four teams that comprise the NFC East.
Many people feel the NFC East is the best division in the NFL (the NFC South may disagree with that). There is no debate that the division leads the league in controversies this year.
Where do we start with the Dallas Cowboys? Whether it’s Pacman Jones, Tony Romo’s injury, or Jerry Jones’ and Terrell Owens’ mouths, the team has always been in the news. This week alone has featured everyone dumping on Romo after his game-losing interception on Sunday, Jerry Jones calling out Marion Barber’s toughness, Pacman’s neck injury in his first game back after his suspension and now the news that T.O. is jealous of the Romo-Jason Witten power couple (is it “Romitten”?).
Oh yeah, this was supposed to be the hands-down best team in the NFC this season. Now they are staring at the team that has taken that title … the New York Giants … in a game that the Cowboys really, really need to win. Just imagine an offseason in Dallas if the team fails to make the playoffs.
Continue Reading
Dec 12th 2008 10:55AM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: Cowboys, Eagles, Giants
In my appearance on New York’s WFAN last night, we started off by discussing the Dallas Cowboys’ latest drama with Terrell Owens allegedly not invited to sit at the plastics’ lunch table with Tony Romo and Jason Witten. I think the Cowboys were a team built to win in 2007, and if they lose to the Giants on Sunday night, they’re going to miss the playoffs and will need to make some pretty big changes in the offseason.
We also discussed the Eagles’ game plan for beating the Giants, which was a good game plan — except that not every team has a Brian Westbrook to give the ball to on offense or the defensive personnel to match up with the Giants’ offense.
Here’s the audio:
Dec 9th 2008 10:00AM by JJ Cooper (author feed)
Filed under: Bears, Buccaneers, Colts, Cowboys, Dolphins, Eagles, Falcons, Jets, Panthers, Patriots, Steelers, Vikings
Before we know it, the NFL regular season is going to be done. Three more weeks and there will be no scenarios to map out and no hypotheticals to think through.
But for now, the Jets’ collapse and the Cowboys’, Bucs’, and Falcons’ losses make for a very jumbled playoff picture.
Here’s the short-hand version, with a chart to help.Continue Reading
Dec 7th 2008 2:43PM by Chris Burke (author feed)
Filed under: Eagles, Giants
I reached a conclusion during the first half of today’s Philadelphia-New York game: When Brian Westbrook plays, Donovan McNabb takes care of the ball and the Eagles defense shows up, then Philly is still a pretty solid team.
The Eagles played a great opening two quarters in New York today. Up until the last play of the half - when the Giants blocked a David Akers field goal attempt and ran it back, turning a possible 13-0 Philadelphia lead into a mere 10-7 advantage — Philly did everything it needed to in order to take down arguably the NFL’s best team.
The whole show started with the Eagles’ defense. Philadelphia never managed to sack Eli Manning, but the secondary stepped up and held him to a 5-for-15 first half through the air. The Giants ran for 59 yards, 43 of them coming from Brandon Jacobs, but Philadelphia seemed content to let that happen, so long as Manning never got hot. Philly even managed to take away New York’s near-automatic kicker John Carney, packing a long field goal attempt to keep the Giants off the board.Continue Reading
