* The Eagles still aren't getting love. Before the games yesterday Michael Strahan ( an overrated guy, both as a player and analyst and TV personality) said Green Bay and Atlanta were the best teams in the NFC. Tony Dungy, another moron who is past his time, likes Green Bay, even without Aaron Rodgers ( more on Rodgers later). Even some local broadcasters have Kansas City as the overall No. 1 club in the NFL, despite their loss to Pittsburgh yesterday.
The Birds should get more exposure now with Rodgers out. Expect more flex time into prime-time, especially the Denver game in early November.
As I wrote last wee, who can beat the Eagles? How can Atlanta blow a 17 point lead to Miami in Atlanta, thus losing two straight home games? How are the Packers better without Rodgers? No matter how much dopes like Dungy say that the Pack are still a good team, and that back-up QB Brett Hundley will be alright, he's not Rodgers.
Beating Washington next Monday night gives Philly a 6-1 record and three wins in the NFC East. They will have swept the Redskins as well. Beating Carolina is also a key tie-breaker game.
Everything is breaking the Eagles way. Are they a team of destiny?The Giants still suck, even though they surprised the Broncos last night.Dallas is about to lose Zeke Elliot for six games. No one else in the NFC scares me. If the Eagles have home field advantage and a bye in the playoffs, who can beat them?
* So, Rodgers went down with a broken collarbone. He is likely out for the season. The Packers are lucky that the NFC North isn't that great.Detroit is still unpredictable. The Bears are showing promise, but do you really think Chicago will make a run at the division? Minnesota is 4-2 but in flux at quarterback. Sam Bradfords' knees are so bad he may be done for good.
Green Bay may win the division but I can't see them going deep in the playoffs without Rodgers and if they are on the road.
Should Green Bay go out and get another quarterback? Let's be real- Hundley can't take the Packers anywhere. They will tread water with him, because they have to. But as far as a playoff run is concerned, no way.
Who would play in Green Bay then? Would Tony Romo leave his cushy job as an analyst for CBS? He is form Wisconsin. How about Colin Kaepernick? Nah, he's not that good, plus he just filed a grievance against the NFL( he needs to give it up already, but as long as his name is in the news, why should he?).
If the Pack offered a second round pick for Nick Foles, I would do that in an instant if I were the Eagles. Foles has a sore arm, plus he doesn't play ( he didn't even play in a pre-season game). Back-up QB is an important position, but the Birds could find a back-up in exchange for getting a high draft pick back.
Would the Giants trade Eli Manning to Green Bay? They are cooked, no matter what they did last nigh tin Denver. They need to start rebuilding, and getting high picks from the pack would kick-start that process.
I'm thinking Green Bay won't do anything. They wills tick with Hundley and lose. If they don't, what kind of faith does that show in Hundley? They are in a tough spot here. It's too early to throw the season away ( they are tied for first place in NFC North). I say they stand pat and hope for the best.
* Loser Andy Reid. He can't beat Pittsburgh. And he choked yet again in a big game.
Down 12-3 in the second half, and with a 4th and goal at the 2-yard line, Reid elected not to kick a field goal ( making it 12-6). Instead he threw the ball for an incomplete pass. not taking 3 points there came back to haunt the Chiefs, as they lost yet again to the Steelers.
I don't care how good Kansas City is. Every year they screw up somehow in big games. And they will again this year. They will probably end up winning AFC West but they have a big psychological hurdle to get over in beating Pittsburgh.
* A big reason for the Eagles success so far are tight end Zach Ertz and wide receiver Nelson Agholor.
Ertz is finally having the breakout season long hoped for. He is Pro Bowl bound if he keeps it up. He has become Carson Wentz' favorite target and his safety valve. Having a consistent running game, along with a deep threat opens up the middle for Ertz to roam. I don't know why it takes educated football people so long to figure that out. Ertz has room underneath to make plays, when guys like Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith stretch the field and backs like LaGarrette Blount pound the rock.
Agholor, after seasons of disappointment, dropping too many passes and being labeled as a headcase, has finally found confidence and a home as a slot receiver. He can make quick cuts, catch slant passes over the middle, and with his speed, can prove to be a mismatch for linebackers trying to cover him.
He is also catching the ball much better, and Wentz seems to have faith in Agholor when he throws his way. The Eagles don't miss Jordan Matthews now as Agholor is starting to live up to his status of being drafted as a first round pick.
* I like Al Michaels. I'll never forget his call in the 1980 Winter Olympics, when he uttered the immortal phrase "Do you believe in miracles? Yes!" as the United States hockey team upset the powerful Russians. Now I like him doing NFL Sunday Night football, much better than a Jim Nance or Joe Buck. But he made a costly mistake last night, and it didn't even involved football.
He tried to be funny when he quipped something stupid like" the Giants were having a bad week like Harvey Weinstein ( Weinstein is the disgraced movie mogul who is accused of sexually harassing numerous actresses over the years)..
He quickly apologized ( after hearing it form his superiors, but then offered an awkward statement and muttered something like, "Let's move on."
Guys try to be cute and funny and end up making asses out of themselves. You don't joke about sensitive subjects like rape or sexual harassment.
I'm sure NBC will move on with Michaels and all will be forgiven and forgotten. let's see if this slip of the tongue gets Michaels into even more hot water or if NBC sweeps it under the rug.
No comments:
Post a Comment