Still Hope for Philly Fans

Better late than never for the Eagles, the wheels are finally turning in the right direction. Andy Reid’s boys are beginning to pick up some momentum, coming off two straight dominating wins. Juan Castillo has coached two very good defensive games the last two weeks. After a horrific 1-4 start to the season, it is now very possible that the Eagles can win the NFC East.

While entirely possible at this point, it is not entirely in the Eagles’ hands and will require some scoreboard watching and a little bit of praying.

The Eagles will need to win out to finish at 8-8 but close the season with two very winnable games. On Christmas Eve, Philadelphia goes to Dallas to play the Cowboys and the Eagles have been starting to look better, but it all depends which Eagles team shows up to play; however, the same can be said for the Cowboys. In the last week of the year, they host the Washington Redskins, who have nothing to play for other than spoiler.

Next week, the Eagles need the Jets, whom they just embarrassed this week, to beat the Giants. Luckily for Philly, the Giants haven’t been looking too hot either so that game could possibly be won by the Jets who are also fighting for a playoff spot.

In the final week of the season, they will need the Giants to beat the Cowboys at home and that will seal the deal. However, if the Eagles and Jets both win next week, the Giants will be eliminated. Implying that in the last game of the season, winning benefits them in no way while Dallas needs to win to make the playoffs. Safe to say the Cowboys will be playing with a little more passion.

> Find Philadelphia Eagles hats & Merchandise online through Pro Football Fans for all your team gear!

It’s never easy to rely on other teams to get you into the playoffs but without a doubt, the Eagles will play their hearts out these last two weeks and hope for a little help from the rivals. Of course, if they lose to Dallas next week, none of this will matter and we’ll be looking to next year. However, as we saw in Indy and KC this week, anything is possible in professional sports. As long as there is a chance the fans in Philadelphia will keep hoping.

If things pan out the ideal way for the Eagles, themselves, New York, and Dallas will all finish 8-8. In case of a three way tiebreaker, the conference record comes into play. The Giants will have finished 5-7 in the conference and won’t be included in the tiebreaker. Then the Eagles and Cowboys will both be 6-6 and since the Eagles would’ve beaten Dallas twice, they would win the NFC East.

The Eagles would certainly be a team to watch out for in the playoffs if they make it. Everybody knows about the electric offense and defense that can come up with huge plays at any time. But they would have a ton of momentum, finishing the season on a 4-0 run and overcoming improbable odds.

Of course, however this season finishes, it will not go without mentioning all the games the Eagles should’ve won early in the season and would’ve been the difference now that they are fighting for a playoff spot. The Cardinals, Seahawks and Bills are all teams that you’d expect the Eagles to beat this year. The Bears and 49ers were certainly games the Eagles could’ve won but beat themselves. If they had even just won 2 or 3 of those games, they would be in first place cruising to a playoff berth. But unless this season ends with a Super Bowl win, it will always be associated with disappointment and “what if’s”.

By: Jason Arias
Pro Football Fans Philadelphia Eagles Correspondent