* More Eagle notes...
- Thank you, media! Stupid articles from Mike Sielski about the Eagles lack of home field advantage. Stupid predictions from loser radio/TV guy Marc Farzetta. Stupid so-called analysis from football experts like ESPN. Stupid odds from Las Vegas. All of this stupidity helped feed the players and fans to be even hungrier, more enthused, more determined and motivated to beat Atlanta and show the pundits they were wrong.
So, even though all the negativity and disrespect pissed me off during the week, it fueled the underdog mentality and made the victory even sweeter.
I'll make my pick later in the week, but I can't see Minnesota coming to Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday and beating this team of destiny. The Eagles are again underdogs, this time to the Vikings, by 3 1/2 points. That's good. Being underdogs is perfect for a blue-collar city like Philly, the city of Rocky. The team will again relish in it's role and will feed on it's image of being disrespected, even as a No. 1 seed.
Hopefully the media picks Minnesota this week as well, coming off their fluky, miracle win over the Saints. The Linc will be rocking again this weekend, as the Birds are one step closer to the Super Bowl, one step closer to their first Super Bowl title ever. The stands will be filled with Eagle fans wearing dog masks (I can hear the jokes now- no it's not the Philadelphia women). There will be another gigantic party on Sunday night, starting around 10 p.m, thanks in part to the media.
Sielski won't say he's wrong, explaining "what if Jones had caught that ball" excuse. Sielski is a loser and a terrible writer. I would respect him more if he apologized to the Eagle fans and admit he was wrong.
- 3 of the 4 teams left in the Super Bowl tournament are teams that have never won a Super Bowl before. Philly, Jacksonville and Minnesota. Nice to see fresh blood in the Final Four. Of course, New England and Tom Brady are there too. The Patriots must think they have a cakewalk to yet another championship. The three remaining quarterbacks, other than Brady, are Case Keenum, Nick Foles and Blake Bortles. But don't celebrate too soon, Pats. Getting by Jacksonville, even in New England, won't be easy. Tom Coughlin, who is now in the Jaguars' front office, knows how to beat Brady and New England. The weather isn't supposed to be icy cold on Sunday in Foxboro. The Jags should be loose and will be a tough out on Sunday afternoon.
- If Keenum gets hurt on Sunday, guess who the back-up QB is for the Vikings? Sam Bradford. The Eagles crushed Bradford and Minnesota last season at home. The Eagle defensive line must be salivating at the thought of Bradford- statue-like- getting sacked over and over again in the pocket. Bradford was traded for Foles back in the day. Wouldn't that be ironic?
- What if the Eagles do play the Jaguars in the Super Bowl? They are already committed to play each other in London in late October next October. The NFL likes the two Super Bowl teams to face each other in the first game of the season on a Thursday night. Would the NFL adjust their schedule? Philly-Jacksonville would be great for London, but bad for the NFL, having the game played on a Sunday morning.
- That last play of the Eagles-Falcons game still resonates with the fans. The entire city was holding it's breath as Atlanta had fourth-and-goal from the two-yard line, and QB Matt Ryan rolled right and tried to find WR Julio Jones in the end zone.Every household, restaurant and bar were silent. The 70,000 hysterical fans at the Linc were hushed, like time had stood still, as they knew they were watching history, for better or worst. As a Philadelphia sports fan, you almost expect the worst,. that Jones would catch that ball and the Eagles would go down in tragic defeat. It's almost like a beautiful dream while you realize it's true and the Eagles escape with a win and move on to the NFC Championship Game next week. Is it really happening?
That final play will live forever. Thankfully, it turned out to be great for the Eagles, not a horrible memory to be relived again and again. More excruciatingly joyous final plays await. That's what makes sports fun. The unexpected drama and happiness.Being a sports fan, when your home teams wins in unbelievable fashion, is the best. I can't wait for more.
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* Fantastic games yesterday in the NFL playoffs.First, Jacksonville beat Pittsburgh, 45-42 to upset the favored Steelers. The Jags have now won 4 of 5 games in Pittsburgh, including the two games they faced each other this season. Jacksonville is in Pittsburgh's head now, and maybe the Steelers were looking ahead a bit to playing New England again. How ironic that the one Pennsylvania team remaining in the playoffs is the Nick Foles-led Philadelphia Eagles?
Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin again proved that he is overrated, especially in the waning moments of the Jacksonville game. First, after slicing the Jags' lead to seven points with over three minutes remaining in the game, Tomlin elected to do an on-sides kick, even with two timeouts in his pocket, along with the two-minute warning to stop the clock, instead of relying on his defense. Jacksonville recovered the kick , took the ball down the short field, and booted a field goal for a 10 point lead with two minutes remaining.
To make matters worse, as Pittsburgh drove the ball down the field, while time was running out, instead of kicking a field goal and giving itself another on-side kick try. They did score a touchdown, but time had run out, and a meaningless extra point capped the futile comeback attempt.
It doesn't matter if you get the field or touchdown first- you still need two scores. The key part is giving yourself time to get the two scores. Tomlin inexcusably ran out of time. But the Steelers, playing at home with revenge, didn't deserve to win, so it ended appropriately- with Pittsburgh going down in flames.
As stated earlier, Jacksonville should have a real shot against New England. They need to continue to pound the ball with Fornette and play great defense, getting after Brady and giving him little time to throw. The Patriots are cool with playing in big games and Jacksonville needs to relax and be aggressive and take it to New England on Sunday afternoon. Get an early lead, as the Jags did in Pittsburgh, and reply on your defense to win the game.
In Minnesota,it was a miracle finish, as, with 14 seconds left in the game, the Vikings completed a stunning, last-gasp pass for 61 yards to win. What was rookie New Orleans safety Marcus Williams thinking, by trying to intercept the pass, instead of simply staying in front of the Vikings receiver Diggs, and making the tackle.
That final play should be a lesson to the Eagles this week. Don't take anything for granted and play it out until the end.
It was a great, back-and-forth game,as Saints' QB Drew Brees predictably brought his team back in the second half. The Minnesota defense is good (even though they surrender 23 points to New Orleans), but I feared Brees more coming to the Linc. So I was OK with the "Minneapolis Miracle."
Case Keenum is the most desirable QB for the Eagle defense to play on Sunday. Our pass rush can force him into mistakes, as the Saints did. It took a miracle final play to keep the Minnesota dream alive of the Vikes playing a home Super Bowl game.
Finally, after losing broadcasting legends like Keith Jackson and Dick Enberg recently, and listening to wannabes like Joe Buck and Tony Romo over the weekend, I appreciate the late, great voices of my sports youth even more.
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Hot news on Baseball's Hot Stove league, as the Pirates traded away ace pitcher Garritt Cole to the Astros for 4 marginal prospects. Once again Houston holds onto it's prized young players while vastly improving their team. Cole solidifies their rotation, along with a full season of Justin Verlander, as the Astros go for a repeat World Series title. Pittsburgh looks to rebuild- again-after falling short in NL Central.
Looks like the Buccos are conceding the division to the Cardinals and Cubs for the foreseeable future.Don't sleep on the surprising brewers making another run this summer.
Meanwhile, looks like the Mets will be signing veteran first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to a contract. Gonzalez, 35, played the last six seasons for the Dodgers. He was injured last summer and lost his job to rookie sensation Cody Bellinger.
The Mets recently resigned outfielder Jay Bruce as well, as New York tries to keep up with the Phillies and close the gap with the Nationals this season. When healthy, their front rotation of deGram, Synderguard and Harvey can compete with Washington. When healthy is the key.
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