How the mighty have fallen: Donovan McNabb benched for Rex Grossman

The Donovan McNabb trade is looking better and better for the Eagles every week. According to multiple sources on Twitter, the Redskins have decided to bench McNabb and start Rex Grossman in his place in their Week 15 game against the Cowboys. With the way McNabb has played this season, its really not all that surprising that the Redskins would look to bench him, but do they really think Rex Grossman is a better quarterback?

Given how McNabb and Michael Vick have played this season, I don't think any Eagles fan can argue that the Birds traded McNabb at the right time. I for one don't miss the bounce passes he used to throw to the wide receivers.

Monday Night Massacre: Eagles demolish Redskins

Where to begin with this one?

The Eagles exploded right out of the gate and never looked back, riding a nearly perfect effort by Michael Vick to a 59-28 beatdown of Donovan McNabb and the Redskins. From the opening 88 yard touchdown bomb to the defense shutting down the Redskins on every 3rd down opportunity, the Eagles drubbing was historic on a number of levels. Of the many team and NFL records the Eagles set in the game, perhaps the most impressive was the team record 593 yards of total offense the Birds piled up.

Vick was the story of the game by far as he put together possibly the best performance by a quarterback I've ever seen. Vick was sharp with his arm, completing 20 of 28 passes for 333 yards and 4 touchdowns, and with his feet, rushing for 80 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Not only was Vick the best player in this game, he also made a case for being the MVP of the entire league with how he dominated the game from start to finish. You can't say enough about the transformation that Vick has undergone in the last year from simply a running back who occasionally throws to a quarterback with tremendous speed. Now that Vick is a legitimate pocket passer, he has become even more dangerous when he can't find an open man and decides to make things happen with his legs. He has truly turned himself into a dual threat as the most dangerous weapon in the game. Now, about that contract that ends following the season....

As for the rest of the Eagles team, there were plenty of other offensive players who stood out for the Eagles as they racked up the second most points in team history. From DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, who were really only needed on one play each, to LeSean McCoy, who had nearly 100 yards of total offense, the Eagles once again proved they are loaded with playmakers. Add in the recently acquired Jerome Harrison, who rushed for 109 yards on just 11 carries, and the Eagles offense is an embarrassment of riches.

Making the beatdown even sweeter was the fact that Donovan McNabb was standing on the opposite sideline. Fresh off his huge contract extension, McNabb had a miserable night, throwing 3 interceptions while getting sacked twice. Sure, the Redskins defense is to blame for not even attempting to slow down the Eagles offense, but McNabb didn't do himself any favors with his usually array of questionable decisions and erratic throws and his inability to convert a single 3rd down in the entire game.

With the win against the Colts last week and this nearly perfect effort, the Eagles have made their case for being the best team in the NFC. With a huge NFC East showdown against the Giants next week, the Birds will have their chance to make another statement. If Michael Vick continues to play like he did tonight, that statement could be that they are the best team in the league.
(Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Cowboys and Redskins losses, McNabb benching highlight Eagles bye week

The Eagles didn't play in Week 8 but they have to be pretty happy with everything that happened to their divisional rivals in the week. Not only did the Cowboys and Redskins lose, they both lost in embarrassing fashion, with the Cowboys getting worked by a very average Jaguars team and the Redskins collapsing in the 4th quarter against the Lions. Oh, and of course, there is the little matter of the Redskins benching Donovan McNabb.

With the Redskins still within a touchdown late in the game, head coach Mike Shanahan chose to bench McNabb, turning the offense over to Rex Grossman. Yep, Shanahan thought the team had a better chance of winning with Rex Freakin' Grossman than they did with McNabb. While Shanahan said after the game that McNabb was still the starting quarterback, you can bet the sensitive McNabb will sulk in practice and won't soon forget getting benched. The Redskins can probably forget about signing McNabb to a long term deal.

As for the Cowboys, while their season was pronounced over once Tony Romo went down, starting the season 1-6 is still a nightmare scenario for "America's Team". The disappointment on the face of Jerry Jones is enough to bring a smile to any Eagles fan.

Of course, with a game against the Colts looming in Week 9, the Eagles don't have much time to enjoy the suffering of their biggest rivals. With the way the rest of the NFC is playing, the door is still wide open for a darkhorse contender like the Eagles to get hot and make a Super Bowl run.

Eagles lose ugly to McNabb, Redskins

When two teams play as poorly as the Eagles and Redskins did today, it's hard to say that one team really beat the other. In a game filled with injuries, bad decisions and poor execution, Donovan McNabb and the Redskins outlasted the Eagles, 17-12, to help pull them into a tie atop the NFC East.

The biggest storyline coming out of the game will be the injury to Michael Vick, who suffered an upper body injury at the end of the first quarter when two Redskins sandwiched him as he scrambled towards the end zone. Vick was forced to leave the game and did not return, handing the reigns over to Kevin Kolb. The initial reports on Vick are saying that he has a chest injury and that he will have an MRI tomorrow, with some speculating that he has a collarbone injury that could keep him out for a few weeks.

As for Kevin Kolb, he certainly didn't make a great case that he should be starting quarterback if Vick is healthy enough to play. Kolb played the checkdown game all afternoon, dumping the ball off 4 yards at a time and refusing to look downfield for DeSean Jackson or Jeremy Maclin. Because of this, Kolb finished a respectable 22 of 35 in the passing game but only managed 201 yards and Jackson and Maclin combined for only 4 catches. LeSean McCoy ended up being the beneficiary of Kolb's ineptitiude as he ended up with 12 catches for 110 yards. Adding in his 64 yards on the ground, McCoy was clearly the offensive MVP for the Birds.

Cheered in his return to Philadelphia, McNabb hardly made Eagles fans wish they had him back. He was incredibly inaccurate, completing just 8 of 19, and made several dumb decisions, like running out of bounds to stop the clock when the Redskins were up late in the game. While he didn't play great, McNabb did look pretty nimble on his feet and does deserve credit for leading his team to victory, taking advantage of what the Eagles defense gave him, which was plenty at times.

As for the aforementioned Eagles defense, they certainly weren't ready to play in this one, allowing the Redskins to do whatever they wanted against them in the first half. Sure, they did well to shut them down in the second half, but that was more a product of McNabb not being able to complete a pass than anything else. For a defense that thrives on putting pressure on the quarterback, McNabb looked way too comfortable in the pocket, and even when was flushed out, there were open lanes for him to run through.

Now at 2-2, the Eagles season appears to already be at a crossroads, with much of where they go from here dependent on the health of Michael Vick. If Vick is healthy, the Eagles can continue to push for a playoff spot with a potent offense. If he isn't, they will have to spend the rest of the season getting Kolb comfortable in the pocket and able to complete passes more than 5 yards down the field. Of course, if the defense played like they did today, it may not matter who the Eagles have at quarterback.
(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Why we must all vote for Donovan McNabb to be a Pro Bowler in 2011

(Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

Believe it or not, many in the Eagles organization are going to be rooting for Donovan McNabb to be a Pro Bowler next year with the Redskins. That's because the details for what the Eagles will receive from the Redskins in the trade have finally come out and one of them has to do with whether McNabb is a Pro Bowler in 2011.

As we knew, the Eagles will receieve the Skins second round pick this year (37th overall) and they will also get either a 3rd or 4th round pick in the 2011 draft. For the Eagles to get a third rounder next year, McNabb has to do one of two things:

1. Make the Pro Bowl

2. Help the Redskins win at least 9 games while taking 70% of the snaps

While it seems obvious that if McNabb hits the second achievement he will likely be a Pro Bowler, smart Eagles fans will realize that stuffing the ballot box in McNabb's favor, even if he isn't a deserving Pro Bowler, would be a great benefit to the Birds. Of course, given how many NFL players opt out of the Pro Bowl every year, McNabb could just as easily back his way into a spot on the team just like he did this year.

Be prepared next season, Eagles fans, to vote early and often for Donovan McNabb in the 2011 Pro Bowl! As painful as it might be to vote for McNabb, it could mean the Eagles get a significantly better draft pick.

The aftermath: more thoughts on the McNabb trade

A day later and I'm still surprised. Not at the thought of Donovan McNabb being traded, rather, the thought that the Eagles would trade him to a division rival like the Redskins. It really shows how confident the organization is that they would deal him away to a team that they have to play twice a year.

As Easter night went on, I posted a bunch of different thoughts on Twitter about the McNabb trade and I thought it would be good to round them all up here and expand on them past the 140 character limit. Here were some of the things running through my head last night:

-The Redskins offer must have been by far the best offer the Eagles received if they were willing to trade McNabb within the division. The Eagles must value Donovan a lot more than the rest of the league.

-Of course, Andy Reid did make it clear in his press conference that he wanted to do right by Donovan, meaning he was going to trade him to a decent team. While it's unclear whether the Eagles asked McNabb about where he preferred to be traded, it seems that Reid made an effort to keep him happy. It seems pretty clear that the Eagles wanted McNabb to go out on the best terms possible and that Donovan might have even been asked before they made the deal with Washington.

-On the other hand, really, Andy Reid, the Redskins? Do you really want to deal with that media circus twice a year? Reid seemed to have no issue with playing against McNabb, in fact, I'm guessing he has put together a pretty good gameplan on how to stop #5. Of course, McNabb will also know everything there is to know about the Eagles offense and he will readily share with the Skins.

-The Eagles won't be a better team in 2010 with Kevin Kolb at quarterback. Maybe by 2011, but not next year. With all of the youth on the offense, the good thing is that this team will have some time to grow together.

-With all of their offseason moves, the Eagles have cleared over 20 million dollars from their payroll. What exactly they plan to do with all that money, well, who knows? I'm sure an extension for Kolb is in the works.

-It was also a smart move by Reid to make it clear that Kolb is the starter next year; Michael Vick would have had delusions that the job was his. Of course, I do expect we see a lot more Vick next year.

-The Eagles now have 11 picks in the 2010 draft. Given Andy Reid's middling draft history, I wish I could be more confident in how those picks are going to be used. One thing is for sure, the Eagles will be doing plenty of wheeling and dealing on draft day. I won't be surprised if they move up into the top half of the first round if there is someone they are really high on.

In the end, the deal is done, McNabb is a Redskin and the Eagles are moving forward with Kevin Kolb. I hope all the fans take a minute to remember McNabb for the good things he did for this team rather than focus on the bad; despite not winning the big one, he was the best quarterback this franchise has ever known.

Donovan McNabb is a Redskin

The Donovan McNabb era is over in Philadelphia. So begins the Kevin Kolb era.

According to Adam Schefter on Twitter, the Eagles have traded McNabb to the Washington Redskins for a second round pick this year (37th overall) and a 3rd or 4th round pick next year. I assume that McNabb also did not sign a contract extension to stay in Washington.

Why the Eagles would trade to McNabb within the division is beyond me. Do they really want to deal with the media circus of playing McNabb twice a year? They really want McNabb telling a division rival about all the intricacies of the Eagles offense?

I'm shocked. Not that the deal happened but of the fact that the Eagles traded Donovan within the division. I guess you get the best deal you can but this whole thing could blow up in your face if McNabb leads the Skins to a better record than the Eagles.

Let's see what you got, Kolb.

As Donovan turns: McNabb trade rumor roundup

Another day, another new batch of new Donovan McNabb rumors. While it's not my goal to bring every last ridiculous rumor that spreads about where McNabb will end up, here's a roundup of some of the interesting things I've heard today:

-The Associated Press says the Eagles reportedly want at least a top 42 pick for McNabb. That seems pretty arbitrary; they wouldn't take pick 43 or 44? Sal Pal reports that the rest of the league is only willing to give up a 3rd round pick. Looks like we have a difference in how the league values #5.

-Via Adam Schefter, McNabb spoke to Andy Reid and prefers to stay in Philly over getting traded to the Raiders or Bills. McNabb also stated that, if he's traded, he would most like to go to the Vikings. Well, duh, of course he would want to go to a loaded team like Minnesota rather than the crappy Raiders. Unfortunately for Donovan, he has absolutely no say in where he goes. I don't think the loyalty of Reid will keep the Eagles from making the best deal possible regardless of the team McNabb goes to.

-According to multiple sources, the Raiders are supposedly the team that is hottest after McNabb. As I talked about yesterday, the Raiders are willing to include Nnamdi Asomugha in a deal for McNabb and they won't even demand that McNabb sign an extension. While Asomugha is a top cornerback, he only has one more year left on his deal for the outrageous price tag of 16 million dollars. Despite his immense talent, the Eagles would much rather have draft picks than an overpriced veteran.

-Also, there are zero Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick trade rumors. It's curiously quiet on those fronts.

I'm still in the belief that the Eagles will only trade McNabb if given a great deal. They have in no way placed him on the trading block and are simply listening to offers. Whatever they choose to do, the Eagles need to clear up this situation as quickly as possible. The team can't linger deep into the offseason with rumors floating around unless they have decided to trade McNabb to the highest bidder. You can't have rumors still going in June with McNabb left to wonder if he is still the starting QB in Philly. If nothing else but for the sanity of the fans, I hope something happens sooner rather than later.

Latest rumor: McNabb to the Raiders in megadeal

Expect a lot more rumors like this to pop up in the coming days. According to Pro Football Talk, the Raiders and Eagles might possibly be discussing a huge trade that would send Donovan McNabb and Asante Samuel to the Raiders for Nnamdi Asomugha and a second round pick. Yep, that would be three Pro Bowl players changing hands.

PFT makes it pretty clear that this is just a rumor but it seems more like a trade you would make in Madden than a real trade in the NFL. While the Eagles would be getting a very, very good cornerback in Asomugha, it's hard to believe they are going to trade two Pro Bowlers for only one in return. From the Eagles standpoint, it makes some sense, since Asomugha would be an upgrade over Samuel and his non-tackling ways and the Birds would also be getting an early second for McNabb. Unfortunately, there is still one huge problem with the deal. As I said yesterday, McNabb is a free agent after 2010, so the Raiders would have to agree to a contract extension with him to make the deal worth it for them. There is absolutely no chance McNabb will stay in Oakland on a team with zero chance to win a title.

I wouldn't put much merit into this rumor. It's fun to chew on and think about the ramifications but, really, how often do huge trades happen in NFL? And, like I've said before, the Eagles like to work in secrecy so the rumors you hear are either completely made up or something the Eagles have already rejected. Despite that fact, expect this to just be one of many more McNabb rumors to be spread around in the coming month.

Donovan McNabb isn't going anywhere....yet

Donovan McNabb appears to be on his way out of Philly. Or not.

Andy Reid set off a firestorm with his comments today that any Eagles quarterback could be had for the right price, a statement that caused Donovan McNabb rumors to fly all afternoon. First, there was the rumored trade the Rams had "on the table", which would have been for their early second round pick and safety Oshiomogho Atogwe. Just when that rumor started to gain some real traction and turn into an "imminent" trade, Rams officials stepped forward and promptly squashed it, putting everything back to square one.

Then, Jay Glazer, one of the most reliable sources around the NFL, shared on Twitter that four teams have shown interest in McNabb, including the Bills and Raiders. If we can presume that the Rams are the third team, that means there is another unnamed team (Seahawks?) in the mix.

Despite the avalanche of rumors and speculation, the Eagles haven't really changed their stance since the beginning of the offseason. The team has stated all along that they would only move a quarterback for the right offer, meaning they would need to be blown away. Perhaps the Eagles have come down a bit from that statement and are now willing to take a little less for McNabb or even Kevin Kolb, but there is nothing in what they are saying that shows they are in any hurry to make a trade or that they are even definitely going to make a move. Sure, they would be almost foolish to keep McNabb, Kolb and Michael Vick on the roster for another year, but they aren't going to make a move just for the hell of it. They still need to get whatever perceived value they think their players are worth.

Keep in mind also that Donovan McNabb only has one more year left on his contract. All of the teams rumored to get him are bad teams that, at best, would only be longshots for a playoff spot with McNabb. Sure, they would sell a few more tickets, but what would be the point in getting McNabb for a year if you aren't a contender? Considering he wants to win a title, there's no way McNabb signs a long-term deal to stay in St. Louis or Oakland, yet those teams would demand that he sign an extension with them before making a deal or they would just be throwing picks away for a few extra bucks at the gate.

So, what happens now? We know that the Eagles would love to move a quarterback and that their preference is getting rid of Michael Vick. Since no one in the league wants Vick, that leaves McNabb and Kolb on the table. Since Kolb is perceived as the quarterback of the future, the Eagles would probably want a pretty hefty package for him, and that leaves McNabb as the most likely QB to get traded. However, it takes two teams to make a trade, and if the Eagles don't get the right offer, McNabb isn't going anywhere.

Which is exactly where we have been since the beginning of the offseason. If the Eagles get the right offer for any of their quarterbacks, they will make the trade. If I were to make a guess, I say that the Eagles are more likely to keep Kolb and McNabb then they are to trade either one. While Vick is the wild card because you never know who will make a desperate offer, I don't think the rest of the league values the Eagles QB's the same way Andy Reid does. All of that means we are probably in for one more year of McNabb under center, which really isn't as bad as Eagles fans make it seem. The guy can still play, folks, whether you're sick of him or not.

Strap yourselves in for a few more months of McNabb rumors, things are really going to heat up as we head into the draft. If you aren't already sick of all the speculation, you will be soon enough. Just like McNabb himself said, let's all hope, for our own sanity, that things get sorted out soon.

Heard any good Eagles quarterback rumors?

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard at least a dozen different rumors about the Eagles quarterbacks this offseason. Every day it seems that another "NFL source" has new information about what the Eagles are going to do with Donovan McNabb, Michael Vick and/or Kevin Kolb. Since all three quarterbacks have contracts that run out at the end of the 2010 season, all three are being rumored to be the Eagles starting QB for the coming season while simultaneously being rumored to be shipped out of town. At this point, no one knows what to believe about any of the QB's and I'm pretty sure that's exactly how the Eagles want it.

The latest rumor to hit the internet is that the Eagles have offered a contract extension to Kevin Kolb. While this rumor was immediately shot down by the Eagles, extending Kolb would be a very telling move. What it likely would mean is that McNabb will be given one last season to take the Birds to a title or that he will be placed on the trading block right away. Of course, rumors are also circulating that the Eagles won't trade McNabb or Kolb, leaving us to speculate that they would trade Michael Vick. Then there has been the talk that the Eagles have no intention of moving Vick, which leads us right back to where we started, with three QB's that could be staying or could be going.

So, what should we believe? I still think that all three Eagles QB's could be traded for the right price and that at least one of them will be moved. I don't see how the Eagles can go into next season with all three on the roster when all three have made it clear that they want a chance to play. I would also expect that, after one is traded, the Eagles will try to extend the contract of whoever they plan to start at QB next year. So, while the talk of a contract extension for Kolb makes a lot of sense, the timing is all wrong. If you extend Kolb now, you are showing the rest of the league your hand and driving down the price for McNabb or Vick. In an ideal world, the Eagles would probably like to trade Vick for a draft pick and then go into next season with McNabb the starter and Kolb ready to take over should he falter. Whether McNabb would be happy playing out the season without a contract extension is another story.

Basically, nobody knows anything right now about the Eagles quarterback situation. You are going to hear a ton of rumors in the coming weeks that the Eagles want to trade this QB or sign that one. Take each and every one with a grain of salt and know that the Eagles probably don't even know exactly how this is going to play out. About all we know right now is that one of Donovan McNabb, Michael Vick or Kevin Kolb will be the starting quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2010. Unless, of course, they trade for someone else.

Michael Vick: Staying or going?

Donovan McNabb isn't the only Eagles quarterback whose future is in question: conflicting reports have arisen over the last few days as to what the Eagles will do with backup quarterback Michael Vick. As you may recall, Vick signed a two year deal with the Eagles prior to last season but the second year is a team option that will see his salary jump to 5 million dollars per year.

On the one hand, Michael Lombardi of NFL Network says that the Eagles will keep Vick around for next season and pay him the big salary he is owed. On the other hand, several reporters, including Sal Paolantonio of ESPN, are saying that the Eagles have told Vick's agent to start shopping him around the league, looking for a team willing to make a trade.

So, what's the real story? The more likely scenario of the two is that the Eagles are exploring trade options for Vick and gauging how much the rest of the league is willing to give up. Pro Football Talk even speculated that Mike Lombardi was told the Eagles wouldn't trade Vick by someone working for the Eagles to drive up the price. That seems like a much more reasonable explanation than the Eagles wanting to pay Vick 5 million dollars to be a backup QB and get on the field three or four times a game next year.

Of course, the fate of Kevin Kolb also has to play into this situation. If the Eagles look to deal Kolb, keeping Vick around makes a lot more sense. What the Eagles could be doing right now is putting out feelers on Vick and Kolb and seeing which one draws more interest with the intention of dealing whichever one nets the higher draft pick.

The Eagles quarterback situation is certainly in flux as any one of the three QB's could be shipped out of town if the right offer is made. With such a glut at the position, I'm willing to bet one of them will be traded and that Vick is the most likely candidate. With Donovan McNabb likely locked in for one more year and Andy Reid not wanting to give up on Kolb just yet, Vick seems like the odd man out. In fact, if someone offered the Eagles a 3rd round pick for Vick, I bet the Eagles will start packing Vick's bags for him.

McNabb and Mikell the latest Eagles added to the Pro Bowl

The Eagles will be well represented in Miami. After the Saints made the Super Bowl, several spots opened up on the NFC Pro Bowl roster, and two Eagles have stepped into the void: Donovan McNabb and Quintin Mikell. McNabb, who is replacing Drew Brees, will be going to his 6th Pro Bowl. Mikell, who is replacing Darren Sharper, will be going to his 1st Pro Bowl.

Neither player is incredibly deserving of a Pro Bowl nod this year but, under the new system, there are more players making it and thus everything is a bit watered down. McNabb was the first alternate in the NFC and knew he was going to be invited as soon as the NFC Championship Game was over. Mikell is a bit of a surprising addition given that he was much more deserving last season.

There will now be 9 Eagles in the Pro Bowl: McNabb, Mikell, Jon Dorenbos, DeSean Jackson, Jason Peters, Leonard Weaver, Asante Samuel, Trent Cole and David Akers. That's a lot of players from a team that got trounced in the first round of the playoffs.

Reid: McNabb is the starting QB in 2010

Eagles coach Andy Reid gave his season ending press conference today and gave his usual mixture of coughs and non-answers. Just about the only notable thing that came from the presser was Reid's assertion that Donovan McNabb would be the starting quarterback for the Birds in 2010.

Of course, what else would you expect Reid to say? He never reveals his true intentions about anything in his press conferences, so it's not like Reid would just come out and say that the Eagles were going to trade McNabb. Reid would never publicly throw his players under the bus, either, so it's not like he's going to discuss McNabb's shortcomings or failures to win the big game. One thing Reid did make clear was that it was his call whether McNabb would be the starter, not the front office.

Reid also said in his presser that he thought Kevin Kolb could be a starter, so that could have been an attempt to pump up Kolb for a trade or just something to make the young QB feel better. Like McNabb, Kolb has just one year left on his contract and could easily be moved this offseason.

The take home message from Andy Reid's press conference? McNabb is the quarterback of the Eagles. At least for now.

That looked familiar: Cowboys end Eagles season with another beatdown

(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Same opponent. Same location. Unfortunately, same result.

For the first time in the Andy Reid era, an Eagles season was ended in their first playoff game of the postseason. In a repeat of the Week 17 blowout, the Cowboys had their way with the Eagles, dominating them from start to finish in a 34-14 win.

As much as it pains me to admit, the Cowboys are simply better than the Eagles. Their defense hounded Donovan McNabb all game long, forcing him to scramble out of the pocket and rush his throws. The Cowboy offense also seemed one step ahead of the Birds D, calling screen plays when the Eagles blitzed and moving the ball at will. Really, the only thing that kept the Cowboys from putting up more points were untimely penalties that kept them off the board in the first quarter.

As for the Eagles, we will spend another offseason wondering what to make of the team. Are the Eagles a great team that simply ran into a team that had their number? Or, are the Eagles simply a good team that doesn't quite have enough talent to keep up with the best in the league?

Of course, you know that no offseason will be complete without the obligatory Donovan McNabb drama. As far as I'm concerned, McNabb did everything he could with what little protection he got against the swarming Cowboys defensive line. McNabb was forced out of the pocket on nearly every passing play and had to improvise most of the game. Despite this loss not being his fault, many fans in Philadelphia are going to call for him to be shipped out of town. Those that want him out, I ask you to please tell me who the Eagles should turn to at quarterback that will be better. Michael Vick is not an acceptable answer. Kevin Kolb is not a proven commodity. Hopefully the Eagles front office understands that this team needs to improve a lot more in other areas than they do at QB.

So another season ends in disappointment for the Eagles, this time without a deep run into the playoffs. It was a typical Eagles season, filled with big wins and bad losses and the belief that, if the team plays to their potential, they could beat anyone. As Eagles fans, we keep rooting because we know, at some point, they will put it all together and win the Super Bowl. We only hope that it will happen in our lifetime.

Eagles wake up just in time to edge Broncos

(AP Photo/Michael Perez)

I seem to say it every week but, eventually, the Eagles inability to play 4 solid quarters of football will hurt them. Fortunately for them, when the Eagles aren't napping, they are one of the best teams in the league. Despite taking most of the second half off, it didn't stop the Eagles from winning their 6th game in a row against the Broncos, 30-27.

The game was truly a tale of two halves. In the first half, the Eagles offense dominated the Broncos, moving the ball at will as the Birds cruised to a 20-7 lead. Donovan McNabb was about as good as he could be, passing for nearly 250 yards and two touchdowns against a Broncos secondary that was one of the best in the league coming into the game. McNabb favorite target when the offense was clicking was Brent Celek, who he hooked up with on several big plays, including a 47 yard touchdown. The defense also played solid, keeping the Broncos receivers in front of them and not allowing Kyle Orton to get Denver going downfield at all.

The second half was a completely different story as the Eagles flubbed and fumbled away their lead, allowing the Broncos to fight back into the game and tie it up at 27 late in the 4th quarter. Fumbles by McNabb and Macho Harris coupled with a bad pick by McNabb put the Eagles on their heels. The passing game lost most of the magic that it had early in the game as McNabb made a series of poor decisions but managed to come to life at just the right time as a Jeremy Maclin catch along the sidelines led to a game-winning David Akers field goal in the waning seconds of the game.

Despite complaints about their inconsistent play, Eagles fans should be happy with the result. The Eagles knocked off a tough AFC opponent that needed to win to get closer to the playoffs. Yes, they didn't play a perfect game, but the Eagles have shown they can come up with just enough plays to win the close ones. With a showdown with Dallas with the NFC East on the line next week, the Eagles will need to put together a complete game if they want to ensure a home game in the first round of the playoffs.

Now, if this team could just put together 60 minutes of football...

Eagles hold off Niners to clinch playoff spot

(AP Photo/Michael Perez)

One of these days the Eagles will have to play 4 full quarters of football. Luckily, against mediocre teams like the Niners, when the Eagles take the 3rd quarter off it doesn't come back to bite them. I guess we should be happy with the bottom line: the Eagles clinched a playoff berth with their 27-13 win over the Niners on Sunday.

It was an uneven game for the Eagles offensively as they looked unstoppable at times and completely out of sync in others. They started strong, taking the opening drive right down the field for a quick 7 points, but later stalled as Donovan McNabb made his usual array of underthrows and wild passes. Sure, McNabb completed passes to 8 different receivers and managed 300 yards of passing, but his 2 interceptions and poor decision-making could have been damaging if the Niners were a better team that was better equipped to take advantage of miscues.

Luckily, the Eagles remembered their recipe for offensive success just in time: get the ball to DeSean Jackson. Jackson had yet another big game, catching 6 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown. He also added a 9 yard rush for good measure. Getting the ball to DeSean as many times as possible in as many ways possible should be priority number one for the Eagles. He is easily the Eagles offensive MVP with the way he can score any time he touches the ball. I would hate to see what the Eagle offense would look like without Jackson.

While the Eagles offense had their struggles, the Eagles defense was mostly solid throughout. Sure, they allowed Frank Gore to become the first running back to get 100 yards rushing against them this season, but they also attacked Niners QB Alex Smith early and often, forcing him into three picks, several wild throws and numerous throw-aways. Most importantly, whenever the Eagles offense failed to convert on 4th down or turned the ball over, the defense was there to make a big play to keep the Niners from clawing their way back into the game.

With the win, the Eagles clinched a playoff spot and remained in first place in the NFC East. With the Cowboys knocking off the Saints yesterday, the Eagles had to win this game to stay one step ahead of Dallas in their quest for a home game in the first round. Everything appears to be setting up for a Week 17 clash between the Cowboys and Eagles with the NFC East on the line. If the Eagles want to win that game and if they want to do anything in the playoffs, they are going to have to play 60 minutes of football. Mental lapses and offensive lulls just aren't going to cut it against the best teams in the league. This team has just as much talent as any in the NFL, if they put it all together and they keep getting the ball to the uncoverable DeSean Jackson, they are going to be very hard to knock off.

Eagles edge Bears with rare 4th quarter comeback

(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

The Eagles always have to make it interesting, don't they? After looking like they were going to cruise past the Bears after they took a 10-0 lead in the first quarter, the Eagles offense fell asleep for two quarters and allowed Chicago to get back into it. Luckily, Donovan McNabb and Co. woke up just in time and led the Birds to a 24-20 win over the Bears.

McNabb played spectacular in stretches, methodically marching the Eagles down the field on four separate drives that led to a field goal and three TD's. For the rest of the game, however, the offense failed to get much going before McNabb threw an interception or someone fumbled. While we shouldn't just overlook the lull in the middle of the game, McNabb did play a solid game overall. Taking a team on a game winning drive in the 4th quarter for the first time in recent memory is enough in my book.

It's no coincidence that the Eagles offense really started moving the chains in the 3rd and 4th quarter when they started getting the ball to DeSean Jackson. Jackson was his usual electric self, catching 8 passes for 107 yards, including a 48 yard touchdown grab. The Birds went away from Action Jackson for most of the first half and that coincided with the time when the offense wasn't getting anything done. The lesson? Get the ball to DeSean!

What kept the Eagles in the game when the offense was sputtering was the defense. The Birds employed a "bend but don't break" attitude on the night, allowing the Bears to move the ball at times but nearly always stiffening as Chicago got near the red zone. After the bad turnovers by the offense, the Eagles were fortunate to hold the Bears to four field goals before they finally broke through for a touchdown. Of course, the Eagles were helped by Jay Cutler and his erratic passes. Cutler overthrew his receivers on at least three occasions where a nicely thrown ball would have led to 6 points. Oh well, sometimes it pays to be lucky.

With the win, the Eagles keep themselves tied for 2nd place in the NFC East and for a Wild Card spot. With a (supposedly) easy game against the Redskins next week, the Eagles should be set up nicely for a return trip to the playoffs if they can find a way to navigate through the difficult stretch of games at the end of the season. With games against the Falcons, Giants, Broncos and Cowboys in 4 of the last 5 weeks, the Eagles need every win they can get.

Nice win, Eagles. For once they made a 4th quarter comeback a reality. For a week, we won't have to hear about Andy Reid's playcalling, poor time management and McNabb's inaccuracy. We get to celebrate the W and look forward to crushing the Skins next week. What a refreshing change, even if it only lasts one week.

Eagles let NFC East lead slip away to Dallas

(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

A matter of inches decided tonight's game between the Eagles and Cowboys. With the game tied and the Eagles facing a 4th and 1 while entering Cowboys territory, Donovan McNabb took the snap and lunged at the line, seemingly falling forward for the few inches the Eagles needed to convert. One bad spot, an Andy Reid challenge and a non-reversal by the referees later and the Eagles were robbed of a first down they nearly certainly had.

Just a few plays later, Tony Romo found Miles Austin for a 49 yard touchdown that clinched the victory for the Cowboys, who ended up winning 20-16. The win gives Dallas sole possession of first place in the NFC East and makes them a truly legit contender in the NFC.

The Eagles had plenty of chances all night but seemed to come up just short every time. Donovan McNabb had his usual maddeningly inconsistent game, throwing nearly as many passes into the ground as he did to his receivers. McNabb wasn't helped by the Eagles offensive line in this one, either, as he was sacked four times and flushed out of the pocket on numerous occasions.

Still, the Eagles had a shot to at least send the game into overtime as they drove down the field trailing by a touchdown with about 5 minutes left. Then, facing a 4th and 11 in Dallas territory, Andy Reid made one of his more curious decisions, electing to kick a 52 yard field goal to cut the Dallas lead to 4 rather than go for the touchdown the Eagles would need eventually, anyway. So, with no timeouts left, the Eagles gave the ball back to the Cowboys with 4 minutes left and all Reid could do was watch as Dallas salted the game away.

In all, this was one of the more maddening Eagles games to watch. The game was right there for the taking by the Birds and they just couldn't get it done. While the refs do deserve some blame in this one, there is still plenty of blame to go around on the Eagles sideline, from the coach to the quarterback to the defense that couldn't stop Dallas on 3rd downs. While I still have faith that the Eagles will be right there in the NFC East title race at the end of the season, they simply must fix some of the glaring problems they seemingly have had for years, like their timeout usage and their short yardage failures. It's not going to get any easier when they travel to San Diego next week, either, so let's hope they find that magic solution sooner rather than later.

Disgusting: Eagles lose to Raiders

(AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

It was supposed to be automatic. The Eagles were just supposed to show up against the Raiders and it was going to be a laugher. The Eagle offense, while it had been inconsistent throughout the year, was going to have a field day, pouring on the points against an anemic Oakland defense. Even if they couldn't score, at least the defense would crush JaMarcus Russell and the Raider offense.

Well, that's why you play the games. Putting forth their most embarrassing effort since tying the Bengals last season, the Eagles failed to score a touchdown and lost, 13-9, to the Raiders. There were too many players at fault in this game to just single out one, especially on offense, where the Eagles were out of sync all day. Donovan McNabb had barely any time in the pocket all game as he was sacked six times and was constantly being rushed into poor throws. That caused the Eagle passing game to be inefficient and with no running game to speak of, the Eagles failed to move the ball all game long.

Defensively, the Eagles weren't terrible. Allowing 13 points against the Raiders isn't a great game but it should have still been good enough to win. The Birds did pick off Russell two times, although they did allow him to complete a season-high 17 passes. The one player that did stick out on defense for how awful he played was Jeremiah Trotter. He was constantly burned in the first half, getting caught trying to chase guys down because he is a step or two slow. He was benched for most of the second half of the game, a sign that his return to the Eagles could be short-lived.

So, what happens now? The Eagles always seem to have that one terrible game a year where they lose a game that should be a gimme, so hopefully this is that game. With the atrocious Redskins on tap for next weekend, most would normally think that should be another automatic win. If they play at all like they did today, though, the Eagles won't be winning another game this season.

Can the Eagles consider themselves contenders in the NFC anymore? A team with hopes of going to the Super Bowl would have crushed a team like the Raiders, much like the Giants did last week. We all know that the Eagles have a way of looking awful one week and great the next, so hopefully this is just a one-week hiccup. With that in mind, Philly fans, there is no need to panic. You don't need to start calling for Kevin Kolb to be the starting quarterback. If this happens again next week, then it's time to start looking for changes to be made.