Here we sit on the front-end of another big season in the NFL. Hell, they’re all big seasons, right? Everyone is posting projected records, division winners, playoff odds, and of course, who they think will win the conferences and SB XLIV.
You know me, I bleed green, but I am also wearing my red heart on my sleeve. Like so many of you, I was sure, certain, absolutely resolved that our Birds would be the team to break our championship drought. I won’t dredge up past efforts. Time for optimism.
It even looked like our boys might get it done, kind of unexpectedly, last season when they punched the G-men in the mouth and advanced, it felt like the World F#@king Champions had ended the drought and the Eagles were going to put up back-to-back parades!
Sadly, we all know what happened in Arizona on Championship Sunday.
With each new season, comes new hope, and a long road for 2 teams that will head to the big game. Vegas is saying the Birds are the NFC’s favorite to end up in Miami in February. I am not as confident as the odds makers, but know that this team can and will contend.
I keep going through the schedule, coming up with a record of 11-5, but feel like 10-6 is more likely. Here’s what I’ve got:
@Carolina – Win on road to start season
Saints – Loss
Chiefs – Win
Bucs – Win
@Raiders – Win
@Redskins – Win on MNF
Giants – Loss
Cowboys – Win
@Chargers – Loss
@Bears – Win
Redskins – Win
@Falcons – Win – could go either way, Loss makes them 10-6
@Giants – Win
49ers – Win
Broncos – Win
@Cowboys - Loss
I’m no big-time prognosticator, but I follow this team, like you do, and think I know more about the way things go, on a day-to-day basis, than 95% of the national guys. But reporters like Sal Paolantonio and Ray Didinger know more than other TV analysts because, like the local press guys who cover the team, they live with the Eagles. So, I listen to them, spend time with 950ESPN’s Brian Seltzer (a bright, young football mind) and read the local writers who I respect the most, and figure stuff out from there.
I am sure we have a very good football team, but here are my three main areas of concern:
The O Line – Duh, right?!? Sure, having Herremans out at the start of the season is a big concern, but it’s the fact that none of these guys have played together before that really raises a red flag. That, and the fact that The Big Kid is more worried about getting his “Michael Phelps on” than he seems to be about pan caking people. With his aching back still an issue, despite medical clearance, I wonder if Shawn will ever again reach the status he enjoyed at the start of his career. The other guys are fine (Stacy Andrews, Jamaal Jackson, Jason Peters), but I’d rather see Nick Cole in for Herremans long before Jean-Gilles or McGlynn see playing time.
Safety – Victor Harris may be Macho, but he is young, and could be a weak spot for the first weeks. Quintin Mikell should be fine, unless he spends half his time worrying about the rookie. There’s depth there for Andy to make a move, need be, if Harris keeps getting torched.
The Running Game – Is BWest back? Is he ready? Can he be the Westbrook we know and love? All valid questions. The good news; LeSean “Shady” McCoy got a chance to show he is something special, and Eldra Buckley is a mad man on a mission. I like that about him…
D-line is solid and deep, and I can say the same for the cornerbacks. We’ve got more receivers than Radio Shack, Tight End is shaping up (although losing Ingram is a set-back), Reid has addressed “the fullback problem,” and despite the loss of Double Nickels, Stewart Bradley, I think having Omar in the middle will be a good thing.
And I am relieved to see there is no QB controversy; Big 5, Kolb and Vick, in that order, to start the season, works for me. Just a little worried about not having a #3 guy the first two weeks, but if we need one, we’re in bigger trouble than I can figure right now anyway.
So, let’s cross our fingers, get a cold beer and some hot wings, and settle in for Week One in the NFL.