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The Best 9-6-1 Team Ever?
If you didn't look at the record, and only looked at the team
statistics for the Eagles, you'd think they wouldn't be playing this
weekend. You'd think they'd have a bye.
It's actually shocking how good their numbers look. Check this out:
Offense
It's actually shocking how good their numbers look. Check this out:
Offense
- Yards per game: 350.5 (9th in the NFL, 6th in the NFC)
- Points per game: 26.0 (6th in the NFL, 5th in the NFC)
- Passing yards per game: 244.4 (6th in the NFL, 3rd in the NFC)
- Yards per game: 274.3 (3rd in the NFL, 1st in the NFC)
- Points per game: 18.1 (4th in the NFL, 1st in the NFC)
- Rushing yards allowed: 92.3 (4th in the NFL, 2nd in the NFC)
- Passing yards allowed: 182.1 (3rd in the NFL, 1st in the NFC)
- +127 (4th in the NFL, 2nd in the NFC)
It is not an exaggeration to say the Birds have the best defense in the NFC. It's not an exaggeration to say they are the best all-around team in the NFC.
The fact that they put up numbers like this and still barely made the playoffs says something bigger about the team or its coaches, but we aren't going to talk about that until the season is over.
For now, we need to realize that what happened against Dallas last Sunday and Arizona on Thanksgiving and the Giants a couple of weeks ago wasn't an anomaly. That was how games should go when you have a team this good. That's how games have to go in the playoffs.
The birds can stop anyone. They can move the ball on anyone. They have the most dynamic offensive weapon in the game at their disposal. When they put it all together they bring good teams to their knees. That's what they have to show Brad Childress, Tarvaris Jackson and Adrian Peterson on Sunday. These numbers mean something, they mean bad news or the Vikings this Sunday.
Eagles and the Colts are the most dangerous wildcard teams. It all comes down to the offense...the defense in the last month have given up 2 touchdowns...one was when the redskins had 20 yards to go because of a Mcnabb turnover and the other was to the Giants in Garbage time. The defense has been lock down, all-nfl great. The
offense when balanced has been very good as well.
No defense in the entire league has been as dominant as the Eagles D in december..not the Giants, not the Steelers, not the Ravens...NO ONE. 11 PPG in the month of december...
If ...and its a big if...Andy Reid doesnt get pass happy we should win this game handily.
Minnesota is the best team in the league against the run, I don't think that should change the Eagles' game plan one bit, but it could. They aren't very good against the pass (18th in the league). Andy could see that and draw up a plan with 70/30 pass to run. I hope it doesn't happen, but it could.
I know it is fun to look at the statistics, but you are your record, not the statistics. As good as we are on paper we must be able to finish teams out. Not only do I hope Andy doesn't abandon the run, I hope he remembers that he has Buck as well as B West. I think the key to our success will be using B West as a decoy. When he is in the game, all eyes are on him. In the last game Buck nor Celek were barely touched bc everyone was eyed up on B West. Use Buck to wear down the D then use Bwest to finish them off when they are tired. Their top D-tackle is hurt and will feel the pounding.
Agreed..Minny is great against the run with BOTH of their All pro D tackles in the game. They only have one now...the other is hurt...he may play but wont be anywhere near 100 %.
I would be shocked if Tavaris jackson can lead the Vikings to victory...
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