* The Eagles play two games this week- at home against Arizona on Sunday and on the road with Carolina on Thursday night. What will their record be this time next week?
5-1.....Beating both the Cardinals and Panthers would solidify the Eagles first place standing in NFC East. 10 wins will probably qualify the Birds for the playoffs, and winning both games this week gets them halfway there.
Beating Arizona won't be easy. Larry Fitzgerald always kills Philly, and if Carson Palmer has time to throw, and the Cards win the turnover battle, Arizona will upset the Eagles.
Philadelphia. needs to jump out early and force the Cards to throw, then tee-off on Palmer. Either way it will be a shoot-out.
Winning in Carolina will be a much harder task. Cam Newton and co. will be psyched to be back in prime-time.
4-2...More realistic. Win on Sunday against Arizona, lose to the Panthers on the road. 4-2 still keeps you on or near the top of the division. Home games ahead vs. Washington and San Francisco after the bye.
3-3...Not a disaster but would be a disappointment, especially losing a home game to the Cardinals. With the tougher part of the schedule due after the bye, 3-3 after six games- after starting 3-1- would be a letdown. The season would still be alive, but why let the Cowboys, redskins and even the giants have life?
Nice to know the Birds are tied for the best record in the NFC so early. Great to get into the playoffs, but in order to go far, it would be nice to get one of the two byes and a home game. Wild card teams do go onto and win the Super Bowl, but one less game to play means so much. So does playing at the Linc on a cold January day in front on 60,000 crazy, passionate fans.
That's why winnable games such as the two this week are so important down the road.
* It's a good thing that we haven't seen back-up quarterback Nick Foles play yet. The only way Foles will see any action is if Carson Wentz gets hurt or the Eagles are involved in a blow-out game .Foles having a sore throwing elbow was a big deal in the pre-season. Nobody is talking about it now, even though Foles is one hard hit away from playing.
Foles didn't play even one down so far, including exhibition games. With all the rest he has gotten, hopefully Foles would be ready to step in if needed. But let's hope that never happens.
* I'll be a the Linc on Sunday and will write about it in the blog on Monday. From the tailgating and pre-game festivities, to the game, and afterwards. It's supposed to be a warm, sultry October afternoon. the fans dressed in t-shorts and shorts rather than the usual fall attire of sweatshirts, hoodies and jackets.
We visit the WIP Sportsradio booth, we hit the Pro Shop, we soak in the excitement outside the stadium before going inside for food and watching introductions and warm-ups. It should be a fun time in South Philly this Sunday.
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