The Eagles versus America! (originally posted on January 10, 2007)

When does a win not feel like a win? If you're an Eagles fan during the NFL Playoffs, of course. The Eagles beat a very tough Giants team on Sunday, earning the right to go to New Orleans, and to assume the role of the latest villain in the Saints storybook quest to reach the Super Bowl for the first time ever. Out of the frying pan, and into the Superdome. Last week, the Eagles were a feel-good underdog story, now they are simply yet another speed bump for this year's "team of destiny."

Of course, even getting to this point was a minor miracle, especially after their 5 - 6 start. Last Sunday's game had all the makings of tight contest, and certainly did not disappoint. The Giants, seemingly dead and buried, had begun a mini resurgence the week before in their playoff clinching win against the Redskins and were much closer to the warriors that had beaten the Eagles in week 2 than the dysfunctional team that had imploded right before our eyes in week 15. Record, situation, location - none of these matter; an Eagles - Giants game is ALWAYS a war.

The good:

Brian Westbrook - Quite simply, he took the Eagles offense and placed it squarely on his back. His 49 yard touchdown run woke up the offense, and he was able to gain chunks of yardage consistently for the rest of the game. He even ran back a punt return for a touchdown , which would have truly put the game out of reach had it not been called back by a holding penalty. (I'm not a huge fan of the Westbrook as punt returner strategy; I know it's the playoffs, and they need to pull out all the stops, but any strategy that calls for the team's best player to be standing still, waiting to catch a high punt while 11 opposition players are taking a 30 yard running head start at him needs to be rethought.)

Reggie Brown - an oft repeated play on Sunday: Jeff Garcia throws a difficult pass to Reggie Brown at the sideline. Reggie Brown, with nowhere to go, gets crushed by multiple defenders. Reggie Brown holds onto the ball. While he didn't have an explosive day, he caught a number of critical (and poorly thrown) passes, taking tough hits and allowing the Eagles to extend their possessions. The Eagles need a possession guy? Throw it to Brown. The Eagles need a deep threat? Throw it to Brown. He is quickly progressing from complementary player to offensive focal point.

Koy Detmer - As long as he's not actually on the field playing quarterback, it's always good to have the Koy Wonder hanging around.

The bad:

Jon Runyan - Why, why, why did he have to take that cheap shot? He very nearly got ejected, and his absence for most of the game would have been the difference between an win or loss. And now the officials will be keeping an even closer eye on him this week - never a good development for one of the NFL's dirtiest players. I'd say the over under for holding calls on Runyan will be three, unless he gets ejected in the first quarter for blocking someone. (see below.)

The loss of Lito Sheppard - (also see below.)

This week:

The Eagles have overcome a great deal of adversity during their improbable 6 game winning streak. But this week, the deck is truly stacked against them, and the dealer is not be playing fair. Consider this:

The Eagles have lost Lito Sheppard for this game, and likely for whatever season remain to them. Sheppard had an interception in their previous encounter with the Saints and has had a penchant for miracle game saving interceptions this year. Conversely, Drew Brees led what was arguably the NFL's best passing attack over the past year. He threw for 510 yards against the Bengals, which is about 60 short of the all time NFL record for passing yardage in a game. Already notoriously vulnerable to the run, the Sheppard's injury makes the Eagles even more susceptible to the pass as well. Roderick Hood and Williams James must play well in relief.

The short week. The Eagles, having played on Sunday, are faced with a short week, the only team of the eight remaining playoff teams to go into their next game with less than 7 days of rest. Furthermore, the Saints had a bye week, and were able to rest their players in the final regular season game. In effect, the Saints will have rested their key players for 21 days, and have not played a meaningful game since their 30-7 win over the Giants on Christmas Eve.

There is absolutely no reason that the NFL could not have scheduled the Bears / Seahawks game for Saturday; the Bears, of course, had a bye week, and the Seahawks had played on the previous Saturday, which meant that they would have received their full seven days of rest. Then again, this is the same mindset that forced the Eagles to play three divisional road games in December - the only time a team has EVER had to do that.

Then, there is the New Orleans factor. The Saints have become America's team. And in the NFL, when a team does become America's team, "karma" takes over. And sometimes that karma takes the form of phantom holding calls, or mysterious pass interference calls, or even botched replays.

And in case that was too subtle, what I really mean is that the Eagles will get jobbed by the officials, just like their first game against the Saints, and just like practically every single other team that has gone to New Orleans this year. Listen, NFL - Saints have proven themselves to be a great team; they don't need your help to win games.

With the exception of the Super Bowl against the Patriots, this is the first time the Eagles have been postseason underdogs since 2001. Being labeled as post season favorites for so many years led to the Eagles arrogance and complacency, as evidenced by their three straight NFC Championship game losses. Now, they are exhausted and beaten up, and suffering under the weight of a decade of missed opportunities and failed expectations. That arrogance and complacency has long since been replaced by an air of frantic desperation. And that desperation may be the only real chance this team has in New Orleans.