Much has been made of Andy Reid’s record after the bye… and with good reason. 12-0 speaks for itself. But with the turn of events we’ve been witnessing with this team this season, can we rely on that? Can we rely on history to beat the arch rival Cowboys? This “bye” thing, though fact, almost rings of superstition. Like a lucky hat or lucky underwear.
Remember when we lost those three NFC Championships? When we finally got over that hump we just knew that a Super Bowl Title was ours before we even played the game. Sunday night’s Cowboys matchup is not the Super Bowl but by far the biggest game of a still young season. The “Dream Team” is not the team we all thought they’d be at the start but we have not nearly reached our potential. “That’s why… we play… the game” ex-Eagle and former Jets coach once so famously and eloquently stated. Let me pull your coat to something… potential has never won a game.
Let’s not forget that the Cowboys haven’t played or for that matter, seem to never play consistently to their potential. As much as I hate this team with a passion… and I “DO” hate this team with a passion… I believe they are a talented bunch. They are, in my opinion, very athletic on defense and have almost as many weapons on offense as the Eagles. If the Cowboys starting running back Tashard Choice, isn’t able to go because of a bad shoulder, (yeah, right) the Eagles will see new rookie sensation DeMarco Murray.
But the Birds are countering with the return of Pro-Bowl defensive end Trent Cole reuniting him with the other Pro- Bowler and wild man Jason Babin. These are weapons of mass destruction that will meet often in the Cowboys backfield causing Tony Romo to be the quarterback we’ve all come to know and love.
I think that we’re going to see a push up the middle from Mike Patterson and Cullen Jenkins along with tenaciousness from a young and much maligned linebacking crew that I believe after the Redskins game is starting to come of age and believe in themselves. The result will be a very surprising stoppage of a pretty decent Dallas run game.
The Eagles will be able revive their rotation on the defensive line with Cole and Babin starting at defensive end with Darryl Tapp and Juqua Parker. Inside at defensive end they’ll start with Patterson and Jenkins, then send Derek Landri and Trevor Laws at them. The intensity of our defensive line should move up four or five degrees.
Since we’re talking defense, I’m glad second-year safety Kurt Coleman is back from the bench. I’ve been high on him since the pre-season of his rookie year. Young safeties and corners get beat sometimes but he’s the best at his position and his upside is huge! Can you say future Pro Bowler?
Last year it was Indianapolis after the bye as we finally beat a pretty good Colts team after losing three straight to them, winning 26-24. It was LeSean and Desean who starred in that one while Vick, who hadn’t played in a month, had a respectable 218 yards passing with 74 yards on the ground. In 2009 the Donovan McNabb-led Eagles beat an up and coming Tampa Bay team 33-14 as budding star Jeremy Maclin caught six passes for 142 yards and 2 touchdowns.
This year after the bye Vick is healthy, right? McCoy is having a solid Pro-Bowl type year and DeSean Jackson and Maclin are waiting to bust out! Will this be the game? Can the Eagles “game” but battered O-line keep Vick’s jersey nice and white or must they be-Ware of the Cowboys’ monster defensive end DeMarcus?
Will the Cowboys walk into an ambush or is this “after the bye” game, unlucky #13? As we approach the first game of Philadelphia’s biggest sports rivalry, will we see the best that each team has to offer?
Will the Eagles gain ground in the parity that is the NFC East or will this game show that the East is back? So many questions, but how all of this will play out can only be determined on the football field so… my prediction?
Philadelphia takes another step up as they gel yet a little more and play an all around game of football frustrating the Cowboys into turnover after turnover.
Eagles 27 Cowboys 13. Hey… got an extra ticket?
