* For the Eagles to win Sunday vs Dallas, and more importantly in the playoffs in two weeks, QB Nick Foles needs to be more aggressive. He needs to allow his receivers to make plays. Not throw the ball up for grabs and make stupid plays, but push the ball down the field. Yes, the Birds should run the ball,e specially in the cold Philadelphia weather. But I wouldn't change the offense too much. Defenses will put eight men in the box if it appears Foles can't go over the top with the ball.
Foles talked about needing to play better yesterday in a press conference. He also remarked that he needs to "check down" and not take sacks and make better and quicker decisions.
Check down even more? He exclusively threw to his tight end and running backs in the Oakland game. His wide outs also need to trust Foles more. He ain't no Carson Wentz, and the team needs to get over that. The offense seemed snail-slow agains tthe Raiders. Was it Foles' fault that there seemed to be no spark or energy?
The Eagles may never get this opportunity again, having home field advantage through-out the NFC playoffs. it's the perfect scenario tor each the Super Bowl. Foles or not, they need to take care of business and win the two home games ahead of them.
For Sunday, the Eagles are underdogs, mainly because of Foles and the fact that Philly has already clinched their first-round bye and home field. Chances are the starters will only play a half or so. Even if the Eagles have the lead going into the second half, the Cowboy starters will play the entire game and overtake the lead in the end.
I have it as Eagles 20 Cowboys 17, just because the Birds would love to set a franchise-record of 14 wins in a season; sweep the NFC East ( 6-0);and remain perfect at home ( 8-0).
Giving the starters rest, avoiding injury will be keys in Sunday's game. Hopefully the team shows more than they did against Oakland, especially moving the ball with Foles. Defense wins in the playoffs, but the birds will need to score points if they hope to keep up with the Rams or Saints.
Don't play scared, Eagles. Teams have to come into the Linc and win to reach the Super Bowl. You hold your destiny in your hands. Be aggressive! Hopefully Coach Pederson doesn't turtle-up either, as he has done in other spotlight games during the last two years.
* The Sixers blew another big lead, this time coughing -up an 18-point bulge in Portland last night, eventually losing by four to the Trail Blazers. This team needs to learn how to win and how to close out games. They still lack a killer instinct. They are young.They will learn how to win, after playing to lose all these years .Psychologically, it's tough to go from tanking games to suddenly being expected to win those same games, but not sure how to do it.
The calls for Coach Brett Brown to be fired will grow. It's true- the team is entering a new phase and may need a fresh, more positive voice to guide them through this part of The Process. The team plays in Denver against the Nuggets tomorrow night.
* The Flyers remain inconsistent, losing their third game in a row, 3-2 last nigh tin Florida. Tonight is an even tougher task at league-leading Tampa Bay. The chants for Coach Dave Hakstol to get the ax will also grow louder, rightfully so. Is the team getting any better? Are the young players improving?
* I love WIP Sports Radio, but around the holidays is the worse time to listen to that station. Interns and part-time hosts are filling in for the regulars, especially overnight. Thank goodness Howard Eskin and the team of Glen Macnow and Ray Didinger are still on every Saturday morning . I don't miss Big Daddy overnight ( I'm not a fan), but I do miss Angelo in the morning.
The hosts replacing him this week have been awful. Joe Gigilo, John Barchard and Jon Johnson earlier in the week; Marc Farzetta and Hollis Thomas today. Farzetta is the worst. I don't know what WIP sees in him. Maybe because he is a Temple grad like morning sidekick Rhea Hughes? Whatever the reason, he thinks he is too cool, doesn't have his facts straight, doesn't work hard enough to get his facts straight, and basically, doesn't know his Philly sports.
Thomas is a mumbling, stuttering unlistenable guy, who couldn't cut it in the prime-time afternoon slot with the departed Josh Innes. Other than football, he can't relate to any other sport.
Why isn't a guy like Seth Joyner on the air, someone who does know football, will offer a strong opinion and someone you can actually understand speak?
I know it's all-Eagles all the time now, especially with the playoffs looming, but I do hope, as spring training nears, we hear from guys like Ben Davis again. Sonny Hill is a refreshing change of pace Sunday mornings and whenever Keith Jones is on, it's a funny and different perspective.
Anyway, I can't wait for Angelo to return next week. The station recently picked up his option, which is good. If/when he ever retires, WIP will definitely be for the worst, especially if the part-timers who are filling in now get regular gigs.
Program Director Spike Eskin can save the station a lot of time and money by not making Farzetta the morning guy down the road. He is doomed to fail.
The only guy on the horizon who would fill Angelo's shoes would be Howard Eskin, if he took the morning slot until a younger replacement is found.
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