Sorry, I blacked out...

So, I just woke up from the coma I slipped into a little over a month ago after the Eagles loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Packers. No worries, I promise to come back full tilt come April 1st. I might chime in my 2 cents on the NFL Labor talks too if I get an extra minute. But don't count on it. Not that any of you are, but still. Don't.

Can't sign off without a shout to the 39-15-5 Flyers. Best record in the  East, 2nd best in the league. Baller.

Bradley and Jean-Gilles OUT

Eagles starting linebacker Stewart Bradley and starting guard Max Jean-Gilles will both be inactive against the Pack. Not too much of a surprise here, but still worth noting. The offensive line continues it's season-long flux and the LB core takes another dent. Though, in my opinion, Jamar Cheyney is better suited for this particular game as he has shown to be much more athletic in the passing game then Stu Bradley. Just something to keep your eye on folks. Regardless, the success of this game is going to ultimately fall on the shoulders of one Michael Vick. And that's ok with me.

Wildcard Update

Well, I have gone a sparkling 0-2 so far after yesterdays games. It's hard to complain about the Saints/Hawks game, if anyone picked the Sea-Chickens then they were either from Seattle or stupid. Don't try to say "you knew it was going to happen" because you didn't. And don't tell me you're a football genius for picking it, cause you're not. You're a d-bag who picks the upset for no logical reason and claims fame when it happens to fall your way. Still, my 0-2 record speaks for itself so I'll shut up.

I'm still confident with my Baltimore pick and I think Ray Rice is going to drop bombs all over the Chiefs this afternoon. Remember, it was just last year he torched the Pats for 160 yds and 2 TD's on the ground in the wildcard round. Plus, if Baltimore falls behind early they still have the superior QB and I like Flacco throwing the ball 30+ times.

I'm still pleading the fifth when it comes to a Packers/Birds prediction. Like I said, if the Eagles can force the Pack to become one dimensional and force a few turnovers, they have a shot. But, if the Packers get a lead early and take the crowd out of the game, its going to be a long afternoon. Ugh, I'm more nervous today then I was during my entire law school examination period a couple weeks ago.

NFL Playoff Edition: Wildcard Weekend

It's time for a little NFL Wildcard Playoff preview. I'll do a little write-up on the Birds/Packers game, and then give some predictions on the rest of Sunday's games.

Packers at Eagles

To start off, I will try to take as objective a point of view as is possible. Yes, it will be difficult. But, in my honest opinion, this is a winnable game for both teams. Green Bay clearly has the better defense which ranked 2nd overall by giving up only 15 points a game while the Birds have struggled all year long yielding 23.6. However, they will still have their work cut out for them dealing with the explosiveness of the Eagles offense which ranked 2nd in the NFL by averaging almost 28 pts and 390 yards per game. The Pack put up a respectable  358 yards per game, but they were much more of a one sided attack after the season ending injury to Ryan Grant in Week 1. While the Eagles averaged 244 yds passing and 145 rushing, the Pack aired it out for 258 yards but only rushing for 100 yards per game. This discrepancy could come back to haunt the Packers especially given the amount of pressure the Birds were able to bring on Aaron Rodgers in their week 1 meeting where he was sacked 3 times and threw 2 interceptions. Here are the factors that I think will be most important, and  will ultimately decide the winner:

The turnover battle

In my opinion, most crucial factor in this game is the turnover battle.  The Birds are 8-1 this season when they win the turnover battle. Through the first 10 games of the season they had no problem holding onto the ball. The same cannot be said for the last couple of weeks as Mike Vick has come back down to earth and shown his vulnerability to fumbles (9 times in weeks 11-16). The one bright side is Vick has yet to have a multiple interception game so far this season, compared to Rodgers' 3 games. Both team defenses are opportunistic when it comes to interceptions, with the Birds snatching 23 and the Pack picking off 24 passes this season. Both teams also do a relatively good job at forcing fumbles as well, still the Pack do have 4 more on the season. Overall, you have to give the advantage to Green Bay simply because they have more playmakers on defense and a QB on offense that simply does not turn the ball over. Still, anything can happen in the playoffs (see Aaron Rodgers against Arizona) and I'll stick to my point that whichever team wins the turnover battle, wins the game.

The redzone battle

This is fairly obvious, but I will lay it out for you anyways. The Eagles boast one of the leagues worst red zone defenses, allowing opponents to score TD's 76.7% of the time when inside the 20 yard line. The Packers own the NFL's sixth best red zone offense. The numbers don't lie, if the Birds can't stop Aaron Rodgers in the red zone, they will not win this game. Also, they can't lose track of Rodgers down near the goal line, his 13 career rushing TD's show that he's not afraid to pull it down and make plays with his feet as well.

The run game

The Eagles are 5th in the NFL in rushing (wow, never thought I'd type that blurb so long as Andy Reid was coach of the Eagles) led by Lesean McCoy's breakout year (5.2 yds/carry, 1,672 total yds). The Pack have struggled all year after Grant's injury, ranking 24th in the league led by a combination of Brandon Jackson and John Kuhn. Clearly this already spells advantage Eagles, and we haven't even mentioned Mike Vick (676 yds, 9 TD's). For the Eagles to have a chance at penetrating the tough Packers defense, they must take advantage of their improved rushing attack (the Pack allow 4.7 yds/carry on defense). *UPDATE* - hopefully they actually follow through with the game plan, instead of abandoning it after the first 10 plays. If McCoy gets 20 carries, I think we're in good shape.

Home field advantage

Though the Eagles didn't get the #1 or #2 seed they had been in position to obtain, they still lucked out with a home game in the first round due to their securing yet another NFC East Division title (what time do the Giants play by the way?). They need to take advantage of the atmosphere that comes with Philadelphia post-season play and get the crowd into the game early. If the Eagles offense comes out flat then it will give the Pack a window to suck the excitement out of the stadium, something that will definitely not help their chances.

Playoff experience

Andy Reid Playoff Record 10-8 (3-0 in Wildcard playoff games at home)

Mike McCarthy Playoff Record 1-2

Say what you want about Andy Reid's post season success, but the man has coached a shit-load of playoff games in the last 10 years. To me, regardless of wins or losses, that means something. I think McCarthy is a hell of a football coach and I have always been a proponent of the 3-4 defense that Dom Capers instilled, but the playoffs are an entire different animal. You probably remember McCarthy's last two post-season losses because they were both memorable ones. In 2007 the Pack had a chance to knock off the Giants who were en-route to their Super Bowl victory (gag) over the Patriots but Mason Crosby choked the game away in Green Bay. More recently, the Pack lost that ridiculous wildcard game to the Cardinals in overtime, which ended up being the highest scoring game in NFL postseason history. Either way you look at it, the Pack had chances to win those games, and failed to come through. I should also mention that was Aaron Rodgers only post-season start, a game which he lost by fumbling into the hands of Karlos Dansby (Additional stat nugget for you all, Aaron Rodgers is 0-5 in ovetime games for his career). So, while Andy Reid has been doing that for about a decade, Mike McCarthy isn't all that much better. All-in-all, you have to like your chances with a coach who has been there before and knows what it takes to get to a Super Bowl. Now all we have to do is win one. Please.

Rest of the weekend games...

Saints @ Seahawks

Saints have way too much firepower for the Seahawks. Not to mention the Seahawks are TERRIBLE. I refuse to write, or research for that matter, any more about Seattle. Ugh.

Saints 34 - Seahawks 13

Jets @ Colts

Yikes, hello AFC Championship rematch. What a game. I think the Jets are a better team then the one who lost to Indy last year, but still not good enough to overcome Peyton Manning at home. The Jets defense just has not looked like the beast they were last year and if you can't get to Peyton Manning, you're not going to win the ball game. I don't care what "island" you have, if Revis is all over Reggie Wayne, Peyton will find another way to beat you, bottom line.

Colts 27 - Jets 17

Ravens @ Chiefs

What a juicy game. First Chiefs playoff game in ........ 20 years? Just kidding, it hasnt been that long, they were a wildcard seed in 2006. But, it almost feels like that long. The Chiefs have been down for quite some time, but they stepped up this year behind an efficient Matt Cassell and a breakout year from Jamaal Charles. However, I don't see them being able to take down the Ravens and their vaunted defense. Ray Lewis and Co. are getting older, but they still bring it every day and know how to force turnovers, something that can derail a ball control offense like that of the Chiefs. Outside of Dwayne Bowe and Charles, the Chiefs don't have many options to go to and I see that limiting them in this game. Their defense is very opportunistic, but not dominant in any aspect of the game. Expect a big game from Joe Flacco, he has shown the ability to lead in the playoffs and has more weapons at his disposal this year then the previous two.

Ravens 28 - Chiefs 20

Is the first round bye really that important?

Read a great article this morning, compliments of Wayne Sidor, laying out just how the Eagles secured their spot in the 2010/2011 NFL playoffs. I, like many other Eagle faithful, enjoyed watching the New York Giants playoff hopes erupt into flames yesterday afternoon. To boot, the loss not only assured they will not have a chance to compete this post-season (not technically, they can still slip in with a win against Washington and a Green Bay loss to the Bears), but also assured the Eagles a spot in the NFC playoffs. How sweet it is.

But, the Chicago Bears managed again (to my disbelief) to eek out a win over the Jets, meaning they are in line for a bye in the first round of the playoffs. Still, the Eagles still haven't been mathematically eliminated from contention for the bye. To quote the CSN article:

"The Eagles can still earn a bye if they win their last two games and Chicago loses at Green Bay next Sunday. They can earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC if they win out, the Bears lose to the Packers next weekend and the Falcons lose to the Saints Monday night and the Panthers on Jan. 2"

Just how important is this first round bye to the birds? Well, historically it makes no difference. As many Giants and Cowboys fans like to constantly remind us, as they tend to live their lives in the past tense, the Eagles haven't won a Super Bowl. We all know how the first round bye ended up in 2004 when the team finished the regular season 13-3 and had the highest powered offense in the league.

In my opinion, I don't think this team needs a first round bye, or home field advantage throughout to reach the Super Bowl. Our offense, or Michael Vick however you want to look at it, strikes fear into just about every defense in the NFL (Ex - 28 points in 7 minutes against NYG's #1 ranked defense). In fact, I think playing in a hostile atmosphere might even be good for this team to get on a roll. I have always been big on the theory that it isn't necessarily the best teams that are able to make playoff runs, but the teams who carry momentum into the post-season by finishing strong. Just ask the 2007 New York Giants who finished the regular season 10-6, but won 3 road playoff games en route to a Super Bowl victory. Ugh, still makes me sick. But then I think about Eli Manning's 7 year $107 million contract and it makes me smile and giggle. So its all good.

Week 16 Picks

Here's my line for week 16...

Pittsburgh, Dallas, New England, NY Jets, Baltimore, Kansas City, San Francisco, Jacksonville, Miami, Indianapolis, Houston, San Diego, NY Giants, Tampa Bay, New Orleans

Biggest question mark games to watch in my mind is the Jets @ Chicago, Indy @ Oakland, and of course New Orleans @ Atlanta.

Jets (10-4) @ Chicago (10-4)
Should be a pretty good battle between two 10-4 teams looking to gain momentum towards the playoffs. I don't know about all of you, but I am just not sold on Chicago as a contender, let alone making it out of the NFC playoffs. Take a look at their schedule. If you were to give Chicago a marquee win, it would have to be the game they stole from the Eagles, a home game in which they escaped with a 5 point victory after playing their first (and I believe only) game this season which they didnt commit a turnover. Lance Briggs was quoted as saying the win over the Eagles was their "statement game". Yea, I would hope so because they have beat up on some very poor teams for the rest of their wins. And, if it werent for a late James Jones fumble on Monday Night Football, the Bears wouldnt even have another win over a team with a winning record, for THE WHOLE YEAR. Doesnt sound right does it? Well believe it. The Bears have wins over only 2 teams with winning records. And in addition to that, two of their four losses came from a 5-9 Washington team and a 6-8 Seattle team, where both games were played at Soldier Field. Super Bowl contender? I don't see it. For that reason alone, I'm taking the Jets in this game even though Chicago will be playing at home. You simply can't lose two games at home to terrible teams and still be considered a favorite.

Indy (8-6) @ Oakland (7-7)
I was so tempted to pick Oakland in this AFC matchup. I feel like the timing is right for Oakland to pull of an upset: home game, still alive in the division, coming off a big come from behind win last week. Unfortunately for the Raiders, they have this other little thing going against them. They're the Raiders. That fact alone convinces me that there is no way they pull an upset of Peyton Manning and Co. as they work the kinks out of their offense. The Colts are in an interesting spot this year. Much different feeling around that team considering they have cruised into the playoffs the last, what 10 years? Usually this is the time the media is hounding them for resting their starters and not going for an undefeated season. Will playing a full regular season come back to bite the Colts in the long-run? I'm not so sure. I am sure that it won't happen this week, because lets us not all forget, it is the Raiders.

New Orleans (10-4) @ Atlanta (12-2)
Hands down game of the week. It's a perfect storm.

• division rivals
• Monday Night Football prime time
• defending super bowl champions on verge of losing their own division
• the Saints are arguably playing the better football, but the line has moved from -1.5 for Atlanta to -3.5

I give the edge to the Saints, high scoring game, 34 - 20.

Going to be an awesome weekend in the NFL and haven't even mentioned the Eagles yet. Bring on the snow.

Best returner of all time?

I was reading an article on PFT (ProFootball Talk) commenting on Devin Hester's record breaking punt return and it got me thinking. That guy Desean Jackson isnt a bad punt returner himself. The numbers are a little skewed because Hester not only returned punts, but also some kicks as well. But, if you look at just punt returns through the first 3 years of their careers, the numbers show there isn't really that much of a drop-off between the two gunners.

Devin Hester career (3 seasons)

121 returns

1,449 yards

11.9 average/return

7 TD's

Desean Jackson career (3 seasons)

99 returns

1,112 yards

11.2 average/return

4 TD's

In those same 3 seasons, Jackson has 169 receptions for 3,100 yards and 17 TD's to Hester's 71 receptions for 964 yards and 6 TD's. Hard to use this as an argument point though as Hester came out of Miami primarily as a return man. He did play CB and sparingly on offense, but didnt record an official reception until his second year in the league. Regardless, Hester is still one of the most exciting players in the game and why Chicago would EVER stop letting him return kicks is beyond me. If you havent seen this Hester clip already, I suggest you watch it. No, that is not a video game.