PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- EAGLES

Comments on the big Eagles victory over the Giants, clinching the NFC East. The Eagles play at home next Sunday at 4:40 p.m. vs the Seattle Seahawks.

- Carson Wentz again played brilliantly. He has stayed healthy all year and now plays his first playoff game. He signed a contract extension last off-season, got married, and has a baby on the way. Can life be any better?

- Both of the evil empires lost on Sunday. Dallas did beat Washington, but were eliminated from playoff contention when the Birds won. New England lost at home to Miami. The Patriots are in the playoffs, but are in a position they are not used to. They must play in the Wild Card round next Saturday, hosting Tennessee.  If they win that game, they must travel to Kansas City to face the Chiefs  at Arrowhead. Winning that game would get them either a trip to face top-seeded Baltimore in the AFC Championship Game, or host Buffalo.

 Clearly the pats aren't what they used to be. Tom Brady is finally declining. New England misses retired tight end Rob Gronkowski. Despite having the # 2 ranked defense in the NFL, New England will have a real challenge to defend it's world championship. They won the AFC East for the 11th straight season, but Buffalo made the post season and are improved. The Dolphins and Jets still have a ways to go but have bright futures.

Meanwhile in Dallas, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones will not bring back Head Coach Jason Garrett after 9 seasons. The Cowboys were an underachieving team. After starting the season 3-0, Dallas failed in key games, especially last week in Philadelphia.

It has to be agonizingly frustrating for Cowboy fans, seeing their club destroy the woeful Redskins yesterday, with the top-rated offense in football, yet out of the playoffs. They have plenty of talent but something is missing.

- Dallas continues to get special treatment by the national media, despite the fact they haven't won a Super bowl in nearly 30 years. The Cowboy- Redskin game got Fox's top announcing crew, Jack Buck and Troy Aikman. A bad decision by Fox.

- The Steelers also didn't make the playoffs. Losing QB Ben Rothenberger early in the season killed Pittsburgh. Baltimore went 14-2 and completely out-classed the Steelers in 2019. Pittsburgh didn't deserve to be in the playoffs. The Steelers generally draft well so expect them to be back sooner than later.

- Who would've ever thought that Doug Pederson is the lone coach standing in the NFC East? Washington fired their coach ( and reportedly will hire ex- Carolina head coach Ron Rivera), as did New York this morning. Dallas will not bring back loser Jason Garrett. So, Pederson, who has coached brilliantly since 2017, and who had his doubters when he was hired, will soon be the wily old vet of head coaches in the division.

Since it generally takes a season or two to turn around a franchise around, will the Eagles win the division in 2020 and break the NFC East jinx? No team has repeated had East champs since the 2003-4 Eagles. The trend continues as last years' champs, the Cowboys, are staying home.

Also, another season where the loser of last years' Super Bowl, this time the Rams, don't even make the playoffs.

- No turnovers yesterday by Philadelphia, another big reason why the Birds won.

- The Giants have the makings of eventually having a good team. They are explosive with Saquon Barkley at running back. Daniel Jones throws a nice ball but obviously needs experience. And I'm not set on their receivers. But the elements are there, unlike the redskins, who have no explosiveness on offense and their rookie quarterback seems shaky.

I'll have my playoff predictions , including the Eagles game, on Thursday. Can the Titans beat the Patriots in New England? Do you like the surprising Bills in Houston? What about the vikings in New Orleans?

- Just announced: the Eagles' opponents for 2020.

Home: NFC East, Rams, Seahawks, Ravens, Bengals, Saints

Attractive home card. Not easy. Rams and Seahawks must cross country, so 1:00 games would be great. How many prime time games will the Birds get?

Away: NFC East, 49ers, Cardinals, Packers, Steelers, Browns.

Interesting slate. Only one West Coast trip, unless you consider Arizona. The Eagles won in Green Bay this year. Hopefully that game isn't in December. Pennsylvania rivalry vs Steelers in Pittsburgh. Think of all the Eagle fans crossing the state for that showdown!


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