I'll post the full Eagles/Cowboys part of Simmons' article:
Eagles (+4) over COWBOYS
Key Player: Donovan McNabb. And not just because Philly isn't as good as Dallas and needs three or four big plays to steal this game. Can you think of someone who defined the NFL Hyperbole Decade better than McNabb? He stinks! He's great! He can't win the big one! He's getting better in the clutch! He has no heart. He has a ton of heart! He needs to go! He needs to stay! I can't remember a more polarizing NFL career. Because he stunk last weekend, it seems logical that he would play well this weekend … right?
Possible Playoff Doppelganger: Eagles-Cards from last year. Back and forth, big plays galore, big passing day for McNabb, team that scores last wins … only this time, we'll also be treated to dozens of shots of Jerry Jones making the "I Know I'm On TV Right Now, But I Need To Look Cool, So I'll Just Crane Forward And Jut Out My Chin" face.
Possible Tragic Figure: Embattled Dallas Kicker du Jour. I can't even keep track anymore.
Hero You Might Not Have Expected: Andy Reid. Part of me wonders if he played a little possum last week. Hey, Wade, show me everything you have, I'll keep it relatively simple and take some shots downfield, and if it doesn't happen, we'll unleash the real playbook and all our blitzes next week. Could a guy who holds challenge flags like hand grenades and stares at the 2-point conversion chart like it's written in Swahili also have a devious/ingenious side?
Relevant E-mail No. 1 (from Wayne H. in Fullerton): "Thanks for reminding me not to get my hopes up about Reid and McNabb after I already got my hopes up about Reid and McNabb in the playoffs for the eighth time in 10 years."
Relevant E-mail No. 2 (from my buddy Sal, a Cowboys fan): "Just my luck -- we play so well that Phillips keeps his job, then the Redskins hire Shanahan, and now watch us blow this Eagles game."
Relevant E-mail No. 3 (from Ryan in New York): "I'm sure you've seen Greg Garber's column. What you may not have noticed is that in addition to Andy Reid, his three disciples with head coaching jobs (Childress, Harbaugh, Spagnuolo) all fall in the bottom 10 of that list. Of course as an Eagles fan, I need to rush to point out that 3 of the 4 of them are also in the playoffs."
This Game As a "Jersey Shore" Character: Snooki. She might get punched, she might throw up, she might eat a foot-long pickle, she might take over a dance floor and do splits while wearing a thong. Relatively unpredictable, always exciting.
Theories in Play: Besides the obvious (after three weeks of getting massaged by the media and raising expectations, the Cowboys are clearly eligible for a Ganz moment), I brought up the Saturday Night Phenomenon in last year's Round 2 column while previewing Cards-Panthers. Starting with the "Snow Game" (what Patriots fans call "The Tuck Rule Game"), I noticed that one Saturday night game was memorable every postseason; the underdogs had covered the previous five in a row; and 10 of the 17 Saturday-nighters were memorable in some way. Then I wrote ominously, "If you like the Panthers, you'd better really like them. Well, I really like them."
(Important note: After nine-plus years at ESPN.com, we're nearing the point that I could release one of those 365-day calendars in which every time you flipped to another day you'd see another embarrassing moment from my column archives. I'm probably about 23 more days away from completing it. Let's make up one bad prediction just to cross today off: "I don't care how bad this looks for Conan O'Brien, I think losing 'The Tonight Show' is gonna be the best thing that ever happened to him.")
You know the rest. Jake Delhomme threw so many interceptions that I honestly can't remember what the final number was. (Five? Six? Seven?) That made for six straight Saturday night underdogs and 11 of 18 memorable Saturday-nighters. Throw in the lack of home-field advantage, Dallas getting too much love from the media, Philly edging into "Nobody Believes In Us" territory, Dallas' never-ending kicker issues, Wade Phillips being Wade Phillips and the simple fact that it seems far-fetched that an explosive, hit-or-miss offense like Philly's would shoot blanks for two weeks in a row … I mean, at the very least, couldn't you see this one coming down to the wire? I want the points.
Eagles 27-23 - Either way the losing Coach and QB is going to get ripped apart.
Oh and Rich Hoffman's stats about McNabb's QB Rating in losing playoff games shows me that his teammates have sucked - maybe we could win a freakin playoff game without our QB having to dominate if we have had better players around him - oh wait we had to try and win with Torrance Small and Freddie Mitchell's of the world - why doesn't Rich do a stat on what weapons those QBs have had vs. McNabb - what a numnuts to write that bs day before a playoff game.
Eagles 27-23 - Either way the losing Coach and QB is going to get ripped apart.
Oh and Rich Hoffman's stats about McNabb's QB Rating in losing playoff games shows me that his teammates have sucked - maybe we could win a freakin playoff game without our QB having to dominate if we have had better players around him - oh wait we had to try and win with Torrance Small and Freddie Mitchell's of the world - why doesn't Rich do a stat on what weapons those QBs have had vs. McNabb - what a numnuts to write that bs day before a playoff game.
Dude, don't give McNabb too much credit. Brady ALWAYS had shit receivers, yet found a way to win. The point is it isn't ALL McNabb's fault, but that stat does go a long way. Then again, it's always easy to bring this shit up after the fact. So let's hope for the best.
Eagles 27-23 - Either way the losing Coach and QB is going to get ripped apart.
Oh and Rich Hoffman's stats about McNabb's QB Rating in losing playoff games shows me that his teammates have sucked - maybe we could win a freakin playoff game without our QB having to dominate if we have had better players around him - oh wait we had to try and win with Torrance Small and Freddie Mitchell's of the world - why doesn't Rich do a stat on what weapons those QBs have had vs. McNabb - what a numnuts to write that bs day before a playoff game.
Dude, don't give McNabb too much credit. Brady ALWAYS had shit receivers, yet found a way to win. The point is it isn't ALL McNabb's fault, but that stat does go a long way. Then again, it's always easy to bring this shit up after the fact. So let's hope for the best.
you can twist stats anyway you want - Payton Manning is 1-7 in combacks and he is the greatest QB of the last decade - to me it's just looking for stats to make a point to rip on Donovan. If the Pats or Colts want to trade us their QBs I'm fine with it, but people who talk about getting rid of McNabb never talk about who is next. Kolb has played like 4 games - if you get rid of McNabb and are wrong about Kolb you have set this franchise back for 10 years and I think everyone can agree that the young weapons they have now are the best they've ever had collectively. Why risk those weapons on an unknown? I think you clearly have to give Andy and Donovan 2-3 more years after this - if they don't get it done in that time with these young players available then I'm in agreement - time to go but I just don't think that time is quite now because you don't want to or can't start over and take the chance away from winning with these weapons.
Eagles 27-23 - Either way the losing Coach and QB is going to get ripped apart.
Oh and Rich Hoffman's stats about McNabb's QB Rating in losing playoff games shows me that his teammates have sucked - maybe we could win a freakin playoff game without our QB having to dominate if we have had better players around him - oh wait we had to try and win with Torrance Small and Freddie Mitchell's of the world - why doesn't Rich do a stat on what weapons those QBs have had vs. McNabb - what a numnuts to write that bs day before a playoff game.
Dude, don't give McNabb too much credit. Brady ALWAYS had shit receivers, yet found a way to win. The point is it isn't ALL McNabb's fault, but that stat does go a long way. Then again, it's always easy to bring this shit up after the fact. So let's hope for the best.
you can twist stats anyway you want - Payton Manning is 1-7 in combacks and he is the greatest QB of the last decade - to me it's just looking for stats to make a point to rip on Donovan. If the Pats or Colts want to trade us their QBs I'm fine with it, but people who talk about getting rid of McNabb never talk about who is next. Kolb has played like 4 games - if you get rid of McNabb and are wrong about Kolb you have set this franchise back for 10 years and I think everyone can agree that the young weapons they have now are the best they've ever had collectively. Why risk those weapons on an unknown? I think you clearly have to give Andy and Donovan 2-3 more years after this - if they don't get it done in that time with these young players available then I'm in agreement - time to go but I just don't think that time is quite now because you don't want to or can't start over and take the chance away from winning with these weapons.
I don't care what anyone says - Brady is the greatest QB of this decade, if not ever.
Eagles 27-23 - Either way the losing Coach and QB is going to get ripped apart.
Oh and Rich Hoffman's stats about McNabb's QB Rating in losing playoff games shows me that his teammates have sucked - maybe we could win a freakin playoff game without our QB having to dominate if we have had better players around him - oh wait we had to try and win with Torrance Small and Freddie Mitchell's of the world - why doesn't Rich do a stat on what weapons those QBs have had vs. McNabb - what a numnuts to write that bs day before a playoff game.
Dude, don't give McNabb too much credit. Brady ALWAYS had shit receivers, yet found a way to win. The point is it isn't ALL McNabb's fault, but that stat does go a long way. Then again, it's always easy to bring this shit up after the fact. So let's hope for the best.
i think hoffman's article is awful timing. but the stats don't lie. and hoffman is not one to constantly call for mcnabb and reid to go. he's come up small in the biggest of games. he's won PLENTY of big games, don't get me wrong. but you cannot argue that when we lose, he always has an awful game. he had weapons in 04 but threw 3 ints in the super bowl. we had weapons last year but came up small in the championship game. last week--same deal.
all that said....i agree with pj hawks that he should come back for another 2-3 years with all these weapons we have now. i don't trust kolb. i'm a little intrigued but not ready for him to be our starter. i also think don will be on top of his game tomorrow. i would not be shocked to see us pull out a 30-20 win or something along those lines. make it look easier than people expect.
Eagles 27-23 - Either way the losing Coach and QB is going to get ripped apart.
Oh and Rich Hoffman's stats about McNabb's QB Rating in losing playoff games shows me that his teammates have sucked - maybe we could win a freakin playoff game without our QB having to dominate if we have had better players around him - oh wait we had to try and win with Torrance Small and Freddie Mitchell's of the world - why doesn't Rich do a stat on what weapons those QBs have had vs. McNabb - what a numnuts to write that bs day before a playoff game.
Dude, don't give McNabb too much credit. Brady ALWAYS had shit receivers, yet found a way to win. The point is it isn't ALL McNabb's fault, but that stat does go a long way. Then again, it's always easy to bring this shit up after the fact. So let's hope for the best.
i think hoffman's article is awful timing. but the stats don't lie. and hoffman is not one to constantly call for mcnabb and reid to go. he's come up small in the biggest of games. he's won PLENTY of big games, don't get me wrong. but you cannot argue that when we lose, he always has an awful game. he had weapons in 04 but threw 3 ints in the super bowl. we had weapons last year but came up small in the championship game. last week--same deal.
all that said....i agree with pj hawks that he should come back for another 2-3 years with all these weapons we have now. i don't trust kolb. i'm a little intrigued but not ready for him to be our starter. i also think don will be on top of his game tomorrow. i would not be shocked to see us pull out a 30-20 win or something along those lines. make it look easier than people expect.
Going to be hard for him to put up 30 when he is on his back all day or dragging Ware around. He's only managed 16 in two games against Dallas this year.
Dude, don't give McNabb too much credit. Brady ALWAYS had shit receivers, yet found a way to win. The point is it isn't ALL McNabb's fault, but that stat does go a long way. Then again, it's always easy to bring this shit up after the fact. So let's hope for the best.
i think hoffman's article is awful timing. but the stats don't lie. and hoffman is not one to constantly call for mcnabb and reid to go. he's come up small in the biggest of games. he's won PLENTY of big games, don't get me wrong. but you cannot argue that when we lose, he always has an awful game. he had weapons in 04 but threw 3 ints in the super bowl. we had weapons last year but came up small in the championship game. last week--same deal.
all that said....i agree with pj hawks that he should come back for another 2-3 years with all these weapons we have now. i don't trust kolb. i'm a little intrigued but not ready for him to be our starter. i also think don will be on top of his game tomorrow. i would not be shocked to see us pull out a 30-20 win or something along those lines. make it look easier than people expect.
Going to be hard for him to put up 30 when he is on his back all day or dragging Ware around. He's only managed 16 in two games against Dallas this year.
you know as well as i do that if he was even a little more accurate last week and didnt fumble a snap, that would have been an enitrely different ball game.
Agree, so what what is his excuse for the 1st game?
He's not getting more than 20 tomorrow.
The Dallas pressure is why he was off his game.
what was his excuse against oakland? what was his excuse against the redskins the week before ending your season last year? he had time to throw the ball in the first half last week. he was just off his game. should be another story next week. the eagles OWN the opening round of the playoffs
Ware is due for 2 tomorrow, The Dallas Defense were in mcnabbs head from the beginning last game.....soooooo looking forward to tomorrow .....win or lose it should be a classic
If a man speaks in a forest and there is no woman around to hear him, is he still wrong?
Ware is due for 2 tomorrow, The Dallas Defense were in mcnabbs head from the beginning last game.....soooooo looking forward to tomorrow .....win or lose it should be a classic
our o line actually did a decent job last week. donny had time to throw for much of the game. he just had one of his typical off games. different story tonight though.
Iggles have to get the early lead and put all the pressure on Dallas
Get up by 7 or 10pts
That changes our D and makes them much more aggressive...plus adds to the thoughts of the playoff drought in the heads of the players on Dallas
GO EAGLES !!!!
they're 8-1 or something when scoring first. agreed---gotta get off to a hot start. use vick early too. throw the kitchen sink at them. i'm actually pretty confident right now
Time needs to fly to :idea: I can't wait for the Birds to rebound today and send the cowgirls home. I don't know why but i just believe we can get this done today. Go BIRDS
Time needs to fly to :idea: I can't wait for the Birds to rebound today and send the cowgirls home. I don't know why but i just believe we can get this done today. Go BIRDS
Nothing to do today but to sip on some home brew, sit, and wait. And wait.
How long have you been brewing? I have been going over my friend's(Eagles fan) house the last few weeks to watch the process. I just finished my basement and installed a Beverage Air, 2-tap cooler!
I'm sure my arm will be sore from pulling the tap after tonight's game
Good Luck to all you Birds fan!
Jeagler, I will hit you up later to talk about the PJ show you will be taking me to
Eagles aren't looking too great in this first quarter... thankfully the Cowboys' penalties have set them back.
0
g under p
Surfing The far side of THE Sombrero Galaxy Posts: 18,201
Vick silences the masses.
Peace
*We CAN bomb the World to pieces, but we CAN'T bomb it into PEACE*...Michael Franti
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
Comments
Don't forget extra points and field goals.......And Matt McBriar. Either way it's a lose/lose for me....or is it a win/win..... :?
Oh and Rich Hoffman's stats about McNabb's QB Rating in losing playoff games shows me that his teammates have sucked - maybe we could win a freakin playoff game without our QB having to dominate if we have had better players around him - oh wait we had to try and win with Torrance Small and Freddie Mitchell's of the world - why doesn't Rich do a stat on what weapons those QBs have had vs. McNabb - what a numnuts to write that bs day before a playoff game.
Dude, don't give McNabb too much credit. Brady ALWAYS had shit receivers, yet found a way to win. The point is it isn't ALL McNabb's fault, but that stat does go a long way. Then again, it's always easy to bring this shit up after the fact. So let's hope for the best.
you can twist stats anyway you want - Payton Manning is 1-7 in combacks and he is the greatest QB of the last decade - to me it's just looking for stats to make a point to rip on Donovan. If the Pats or Colts want to trade us their QBs I'm fine with it, but people who talk about getting rid of McNabb never talk about who is next. Kolb has played like 4 games - if you get rid of McNabb and are wrong about Kolb you have set this franchise back for 10 years and I think everyone can agree that the young weapons they have now are the best they've ever had collectively. Why risk those weapons on an unknown? I think you clearly have to give Andy and Donovan 2-3 more years after this - if they don't get it done in that time with these young players available then I'm in agreement - time to go but I just don't think that time is quite now because you don't want to or can't start over and take the chance away from winning with these weapons.
I don't care what anyone says - Brady is the greatest QB of this decade, if not ever.
i think hoffman's article is awful timing. but the stats don't lie. and hoffman is not one to constantly call for mcnabb and reid to go. he's come up small in the biggest of games. he's won PLENTY of big games, don't get me wrong. but you cannot argue that when we lose, he always has an awful game. he had weapons in 04 but threw 3 ints in the super bowl. we had weapons last year but came up small in the championship game. last week--same deal.
all that said....i agree with pj hawks that he should come back for another 2-3 years with all these weapons we have now. i don't trust kolb. i'm a little intrigued but not ready for him to be our starter. i also think don will be on top of his game tomorrow. i would not be shocked to see us pull out a 30-20 win or something along those lines. make it look easier than people expect.
Going to be hard for him to put up 30 when he is on his back all day or dragging Ware around. He's only managed 16 in two games against Dallas this year.
BOS-9/28/04,9/29/04,6/28/08,6/30/08, 9/5/16, 9/7/16, 9/2/18
MTL-9/15/05, OTT-9/16/05
PHL-5/27/06,5/28/06,10/30/09,10/31/09
CHI-8/2/07,8/5/07,8/23/09,8/24/09
HTFD-6/27/08
ATX-10/4/09, 10/12/14
KC-5/3/2010,STL-5/4/2010
Bridge School-10/23/2010,10/24/2010
PJ20-9/3/2011,9/4/2011
OKC-11/16/13
SEA-12/6/13
TUL-10/8/14
you know as well as i do that if he was even a little more accurate last week and didnt fumble a snap, that would have been an enitrely different ball game.
He's not getting more than 20 tomorrow.
The Dallas pressure is why he was off his game.
BOS-9/28/04,9/29/04,6/28/08,6/30/08, 9/5/16, 9/7/16, 9/2/18
MTL-9/15/05, OTT-9/16/05
PHL-5/27/06,5/28/06,10/30/09,10/31/09
CHI-8/2/07,8/5/07,8/23/09,8/24/09
HTFD-6/27/08
ATX-10/4/09, 10/12/14
KC-5/3/2010,STL-5/4/2010
Bridge School-10/23/2010,10/24/2010
PJ20-9/3/2011,9/4/2011
OKC-11/16/13
SEA-12/6/13
TUL-10/8/14
what was his excuse against oakland? what was his excuse against the redskins the week before ending your season last year? he had time to throw the ball in the first half last week. he was just off his game. should be another story next week. the eagles OWN the opening round of the playoffs
our o line actually did a decent job last week. donny had time to throw for much of the game. he just had one of his typical off games. different story tonight though.
GO BIRDS.
Get up by 7 or 10pts
That changes our D and makes them much more aggressive...plus adds to the thoughts of the playoff drought in the heads of the players on Dallas
GO EAGLES !!!!
The ONLY thing better than a glass of beer is tea with Miss McGill
A protuberance of flesh above the waistband of a tight pair of trousers
they're 8-1 or something when scoring first. agreed---gotta get off to a hot start. use vick early too. throw the kitchen sink at them. i'm actually pretty confident right now
atta guy!!
GO BIRDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And wait.
We're heading out to the bar for the game
In the meantime eating my Primo's and chilling
The ONLY thing better than a glass of beer is tea with Miss McGill
A protuberance of flesh above the waistband of a tight pair of trousers
PRIMOS! thank you. ladies and gentlemen---my dinner
Mmmmmm....mild sharp Italian sounds superb right about now.
By the way, the Birds have officially stepped into "No One Believed In Us" territory. This makes me happy.
GO BIRDS
How long have you been brewing? I have been going over my friend's(Eagles fan) house the last few weeks to watch the process. I just finished my basement and installed a Beverage Air, 2-tap cooler!
I'm sure my arm will be sore from pulling the tap after tonight's game
Good Luck to all you Birds fan!
Jeagler, I will hit you up later to talk about the PJ show you will be taking me to
Peace
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
He ought to be starting.
BOS-9/28/04,9/29/04,6/28/08,6/30/08, 9/5/16, 9/7/16, 9/2/18
MTL-9/15/05, OTT-9/16/05
PHL-5/27/06,5/28/06,10/30/09,10/31/09
CHI-8/2/07,8/5/07,8/23/09,8/24/09
HTFD-6/27/08
ATX-10/4/09, 10/12/14
KC-5/3/2010,STL-5/4/2010
Bridge School-10/23/2010,10/24/2010
PJ20-9/3/2011,9/4/2011
OKC-11/16/13
SEA-12/6/13
TUL-10/8/14
BOS-9/28/04,9/29/04,6/28/08,6/30/08, 9/5/16, 9/7/16, 9/2/18
MTL-9/15/05, OTT-9/16/05
PHL-5/27/06,5/28/06,10/30/09,10/31/09
CHI-8/2/07,8/5/07,8/23/09,8/24/09
HTFD-6/27/08
ATX-10/4/09, 10/12/14
KC-5/3/2010,STL-5/4/2010
Bridge School-10/23/2010,10/24/2010
PJ20-9/3/2011,9/4/2011
OKC-11/16/13
SEA-12/6/13
TUL-10/8/14
BOS-9/28/04,9/29/04,6/28/08,6/30/08, 9/5/16, 9/7/16, 9/2/18
MTL-9/15/05, OTT-9/16/05
PHL-5/27/06,5/28/06,10/30/09,10/31/09
CHI-8/2/07,8/5/07,8/23/09,8/24/09
HTFD-6/27/08
ATX-10/4/09, 10/12/14
KC-5/3/2010,STL-5/4/2010
Bridge School-10/23/2010,10/24/2010
PJ20-9/3/2011,9/4/2011
OKC-11/16/13
SEA-12/6/13
TUL-10/8/14