drylee

Here is why eagles will win. Feel free to comment (especially Doxy)

McNab is most dangerous qb pats will face all year. He can buy loads of time with his scrambling and running ability. Pats will have to employ a spy to keep him from running. This is one less guy for coverage.

Westbrook is super in the open field and birds have been able to get him the ball with space all year. No linebacker in league can stay with him one on one. Don't say Bruschi, that's almost laughable. The only way to stop him is to bracket him, but you can't do that with a spy. You can stop McNab or Westbrook, but you can't stop both. Eagle receivers, although much maligned, have been able to get deep against single coverage all year. TO has looked pretty sound in practice, he'd be dangerous at 3/4's speed.

Pats have poor coverage teams. Eagles plan to use Shepherd and Westbrook as returners, so eagles will probably have good field position all game. The eagles have not made the mistakes that lead to turnovers all year. They're a poised, mature team who protects the ball. I'll do defense later.....

CJS

A scrambling QB is a sign of a weak offensive line and
good coverage in the secondary. The Pats will pick off McNabb
at least twice, one of which will go for a TD.

Poised and mature?? That statement is laughable. They choked
in the NFC championship game for the last 3 years, and just getting
to the big game aint enough. You've got to be able to get past all
the hype and stay focused.

Belichek and his staff will come up with a plan to negate the Eagles strengths
the same way they did against the Colts and Steelers, who's QB's were also
being hailed as the second coming of JC. Brains and experience will always
prevail over fluff and hype. Let the media play up the Eagles. The Pats thrive
on being underdogs, despite what the oddsmakers say.

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Never Underestimate The Power Of A Large Group Of Stupid People

Golden Dog

I hope you have as much fun explaining how, with all those highly convincing arguments , the Eagles end up losing this weekend. I'm so sick of hearing Eagles fans talk $h!t (especially the in laws)...first opportunity for you all so I guess you need to get it out of your system.

I'lll stand proudly by my team's performance this weekend. By the way, not smart of Mitchell to challenge the Pats defense. Like adding fuel to the fire...he'll get more than he bargained for come Sun!

HEDJUG

I am not sure if your comments even deserve a response, because its obvious that you don’t have a clue what you are talking about. I am not saying the Eagles will win or lose, I am saying that most underestimate/misunderstand the talent involved. So, lets go over a few things.
Both teams have great talent, no disrespect is needed here.

There have been many QB’s in the past who have used their ability to scramble as a weapon, and it was not because of their O lines. Elway, Young, McNair & Farve are great examples of QB’s that have the same style as #5.

McNabb only scrambles when the play has broken down. He makes things happen when other QB’s would be flat on the turf. It’s when that great downfield coverage has caused the pocket to collapse, he makes a play when many would fail. Also, many people seem to forget, McNabb has only been using about 75% of his talent all year. Just imagine having a QB who can run like Dillon or Bettis in the back field. He can wait for lane to open up and he’s gone. At 250 lbs he can put his head down and lay some hits of his own. He has chosen to remain healthy and play smart rather than use these abilities. But, he said that he will let it rip in the Super Bowl.

Now for the choking issue. Last year, they were injured in just about every position. They should not have beaten Green Bay, they got lucky. The year before against Tampa, they choked. That is the only game they choked. Three years ago against the Rams, it was a shoot out down to the wire. The team was young and played a great game.

Doxy

Drylee my friend, you might be the only person who actually reads my drivel. You know I have a lot of respect for the Eagles, but IMO the Patriots cover because 1) I AM A HOMER!! and 2) Pats performed better against tougher opponents. Usual disclaimer here: Nothing is absolute, bullets go astray (MIAMI!), some things are too close to call......Just a simple fact.

You’re right. McNabb and Westbrook will both gain yards. Here’s the key to the Pats pressure and containment: three of the four starting Patriots linebackers are converted ends with enough size to rush and speed to cover the edges. They will attempt to contain but concede yardage in the middle and in front of the secondary.

Does Belichick know he is required to employ a spy? A Pats “spy”, when occasionally employed, will be situational, not dedicated and not the same personnel.


See above. You will not see Bruschi committed to Westbrook, arguably the Eagles best receiver in this game. A LB on the best receiver is flawed and, if I know it (and I don’t even have the nfl package or ESPN), you can be assured Belichick and Bruschi know it.

A ¾ TO is a liability to the Eagles. One can only hope TO plays! Reid knows this and that is why he is hesitant to commit. His advantage at ¾ output is probably best suited in the red zone going for lobs. Your opinion is based on single coverage schemes. You will not see the Patriots play this game very often. With the exception of TO & Westbrook, the remaining receivers corps. have about a 1000 yards, 3 TDs, and very few 40+ yd runs between them so the facts do not back up your opinion here.

PUNTS:
Eagles have higher punt return yds. against their opponents, but significantly less than the average of the Patriots quality opponents . The results? Opponents do not perpetually receive good field position, nor do they easily advance. Pats 3rd down efficiency 45% - 5th in league, Opponents 38%, Eagles 37%. Pats first downs per game 21.5 – 6th in league, Opponents 18.1, Eagles 18.8.
KICKS:
Patriots have out gained their opponents and the Eagles have gained less than the Patriots opponent’s average. Bethel Johnson has edge on kickoffs. Pats have put up a TD on both punt and kickoff returns. Eagles?

And as we are constantly in deference to the Eagles 10 pro-bies, here’s one for the lowly, No Hawiian Love, Pats: Larry Izzo, special teams coverage.

So, now they need to play the game and we can see who executes and which way the pointy ball bounces. And I guess according to Freddie Mitchell, there's going to be a Yankee Gift Swap across the middle.

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WEAKFISH

Bill:

#1 Great use of the quote button
#2 Noone is a bigger Homer than Me. I thought the Eagles had a shot when they were 3-13.
#3 I have more knots in my stomach in anticipation of this game than I did before High School wrestling matches.
#4 I came to my office yesterday..heard some screaching from above...looked up and saw three bald EAGLES flying above. No kidding and in suburban Philly. It's an omen brother

Oh yeah..#5 We never claimed Freddie Mitchell was a genius.

Doxy

Hey John, we had to deal with Irving Fryer and Terry Glenn!
3 Birds, huh? You sure they weren't running for cover?

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davidd

I think they were buzzards........a bad omen signaling impending doom