Winding Down or Winding Up? (orginally posted on December 28, 2006)

On Thanksgiving weekend, Eagles fans throughout the Delaware Valley were being talked down from balconies and ledges. Shoelaces and belts were confiscated, as families and friends knew that the glazed look on our faces was a bit more severe than an extended post Thanksgiving hangover.

On Christmas night, the Eagles returned to the playoffs after a year long absence.

The Eagles played very well. Well enough that, for the first Eagles game in about 17 years, I didn't once lose my temper. Of course, they were playing against a team that had nothing to play for. The Cowboys had clinched a playoff berth the week before, and by the time of the game on Monday night, the Saints had clinched a first round bye and the number two seed in the NFC playoffs. On the other hand, the Eagles had everything to play for.

The good:

Brian Dawkins - a very difficult over the shoulder interception, to end a Cowboys scoring threat.

The Eagles rushing attack - Brian Westbrook is running fast and strong. Correll Buckhalter is contributing 8 - 10 strong carries every game. Even Garcia is picking up key first downs with his feet. Andy Reid must stick with his running game - it keeps the clock running, and the defense well rested and off the field.

The game plan: The Eagles held on to the ball, threw smart passes, kicked high percentage field goals, and played smart. Rather than throwing the ball constantly and trying to win by 40 (and extending the game for an extra 45 minutes), they were satisfied to win by 16 against a good football team.

The bad:

Nothing, although it must be noted that the Cowboys had nothing to play for. A motivated Cowboys team (especially say, in a first round playoff match-up) will be a different matter entirely.

This weekend, the Eagles face the exact same situation as the Cowboys did last weekend. The Eagles, having clinched their playoff berth, are facing a desperate team fighting for its own playoff spot. And the Atlanta Falcons are the very definition of desperate. The team needs a win to clinch a playoff spot. Jim Mora needs a win and a playoff spot to keep his job. Michael Vick needs a win and a playoff spot to ensure that he gets to continue playing quarterback - a new regime could move him into a Kordell Stewart / Crash role. Along with their melodrama, the Falcons bring the best rushing attack in the league - they can out run you, overpower you, and simply wear you down. They come inside, outside, and sideways. And an unmotivated Eagles team could fall into a very serious trap.