Busy weekend with JP and Abby's wedding now in the books. I admittedly did not watch a whole lot of football this weekend. OK, I didn't watch any save for the 2nd half of the Falcons and Packers (just long enough to watch the Pack finish off the comeback...can they be stopped? I don't really think so). I just have a couple comments on the goings ons from this past weekend.
For the first time in however long I can remember, I actually wanted the Philadelphia Eagles to win. I was really hoping that the Bills would revert back to their old losing ways and give the Eagles a chance to feel good about themselves. Four Michael Vick interceptions later, the Bills won 31-24 and the "Dream Team" is now officially a nightmare. Philly is now 1-4 and in total desperation mode. With a trip to DC this week, the Skins can effectively end the competitive portion of the Eagles' season. As a Redskins fan, this is EXACTLY what I want right? Sure it is...there's just one problem. I don't see any possible way the Redskins win this game on Sunday. Not only that, but I see Philly running away and hiding.
OK, Negative Nancy...Debbie Downer...what is your problem. Why all of a sudden are you being such a pessimist? The short answer is that that's what good Redskins fans are...OK, not so much. I hope I'm so wrong. I hope I have never been more wrong in my life. That doesn't change the fact that I am fully aware of history. Last season when Philly came into DC, the roles were somewhat similar. The Redskins were not in first place, but Philly was reeling. Michael Vick had just come back from injury and the Redskins had already beaten the Eagles in Philly. What happened? Let's not revist THAT disaster, but that memory is still fresh in my mind watching the Eagles score touchdown after touchdown after touchdown. 59 points later, the competitive portion of the Redskins' season was over. I don't forget games like that, and my hope is that this Redskins team doesn't have memory loss either. I want all 53 of those guys to have that game fresh in their minds, eager to get revenge.
But that's the problem. This team will not have that mindset on Sunday. They just won't. Sure, they'll SAY all the right things this week. "We take them very seriously." "They're much better than their record indicates." "I remember that game like it was yesterday." They'll talk a good game, but you can't convince me for one second that every guy in that locker room already feels like they have won. They're 4-1 and Philly is toast. I will say that the locker room is a much better place now that dudes like #92 are out of the picture, but I'm not convinced that this team has enough pride, even at 3-1 and in 1st place, to do what they SHOULD do to the bunch of wounded ducks that the Eagles have become. This game will be the classic matchup of desperate and cocky...and desperate usually wins. Just think back to last year. Before that game even started, LaRon Landry tried to pick a fight with some of the Eagles before they went to the locker room after warm ups. All that did was inspire Philly. We were cocky and got smoked big time.
This game will define the season for the both the Redskins and the Eagles. If you follow the blog, you would know that I don't usually pick the Redskins' games officially, and that will continue this week, but if I did, I would pick the Eagles...give me whatever line you want. If the Redskins were to somehow come out and win, they would grab a stranglehold of the NFC East and end the competitive portion of the Eagles' season...not to mention exact sweet revenge for what the Eagles did to the Skins last November. I don't see that happening. I see the Eagles being the desperate team and doing what desperate teams do...winning at all costs.
I hope I'm wrong, and I'll be cheering hard that I will be...really hard.
You are wrong. The Redskins will beat the hell out of the Eagles. Why? Because the Eagles can't tackle, and can't help but make mistake after stupid mistake. Just the way it goes. It will be Andy's final year, I hope. A 3-13 season will clear out the bad blood.
ReplyDeleteWell...as much as I would love to agree with that assessment, the Eagles will get up for this one. They always play their best when the Skins are on the schedule.
ReplyDeleteNo matter how pumped up they are, they still can't stop the run, if we don't get down big early, I think we grind out the win.
ReplyDeleteI think that's exactly the problem though, Jim. I agree that although we SHOULD be able to run down their throats, the Eagles will just go deep all night just like the last time. Our secondary can be exposed, and other than OJ Atogwe, we didn't really improve in that area. The Eagles game plan should be to go deep early and often and try to duplicate last November. I don't think the Skins will be ready for that. We'll get behind early, and Grossman will feel like he's got to carry the team on his shoulders or something like that...and that's when Bad Rex comes out to play....
ReplyDeleteAgain, I realllllllly hope I'm dead wrong.
Total pressure on the Skins. If they are for real they MUST not just kill but bury this Divisional arch rival! The distance between Washington and Philadelphia has to be more than a two hour drive - it has to be a definitive 14 point win! Hail Skins!
ReplyDeleteHaha, it's a pessimism off! Honestly, I think Nick is right - the Eagles are in desperation mode, and I don't think the 'Skins are as good as the Bills are. Also, I think Nick is right about the Iggles' receiving corps outclassing the 'Skins secondary. My only reluctance comes from the fact that this is a bit of a revenge game for Landover, as incapable as they may be in avenging that 59-point debacle last year. I also enjoy how a "14 point win" counts to a Redskins fan as "not just kill[ing] but bury[ing]" the Eagles. Hahaha. How depressed has this team made you people over the last fifteen years?
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