Staff Blog
Morning Rounds, January 12th
When it comes to analyzing this Philadelphia Eagles team we’ve tried logic, we’ve tried reason and we’ve tried to be rational. That route, naturally, has been wrong at every turn. Right now, in the wake of an improbably 23-11 victory over the reigning Super Bowl champions, the only thing left us is unfettered optimism. The 9-6-1 6th seed Philadelphia Eagles are one win away from the Super Bowl. We’re literally at the point where the blind loyalists are the only ones making sense in the morning.
Think about it - while perhaps it would have been possible to predict Eli Manning airmailing Asante Samuel a pick (the kid doesn’t have McNabbian arm strength and the wind obviously affected him) - who could have made the call that John Carney would miss twice as many unblocked field goals as he did all regular season? Or that the it would be the massive Giants who struggled in short yardage? Hell, no offense to Brian Dawkins or Quintin Mikell, but who could have predicted that the safety on Plax Burress‘ glock that would be the most responsible for taking away the Giants’ passing game? The breaks broke for the Birds, and the Birds took advantage.
We forget it now, but the main reason the Phillies are World F. Champions may well be the absolute ineffectiveness of the middle of the Rays’ lineup. Tampa Bay lost at least as much as the Phillies won. Still, a parade is a parade is a parade is a parade, and now the Birds are one step closer to Broad street.
You want to call it fate? fine by me. That makes just about as much sense as anything else that has happened this season.
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“I will go to war with this crew against any town in the National Football League.”
Three lines on their world:
- The Ravens knocked off the #1 seed Titans
- Which earned BMore the right to face the Steelers in Pittsburgh
- and Tim Tebow decided to head back to Florida for his senior year
Three lines on ours:
- The Birds took down the defending champions
- And, improbably, will face Arizona for the chance to head off to Super
Bowl
- While the Sixers picked up another win, this time in ATL
Phillies, Birds, Sixers, Flyers and what everybody is talking about, after the jump
EAGLES
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Phil Sheridan writes that the Eagles just cleared their biggest hurdle. Lets hope they didn’t just win their Super Bowl too.
Rich Hofmann praises an aging Jim Johnson for a flawless defensive gameplan.
Bob Ford says those two 4th down stops prove that the Birds D is good enough to lead the team to a chip.
Sam Donnellon praises the big defensive tackles.
Paul Domowitch writes about the success of the post-drop Kevin Curtis then goes around the league.
Marcus Hayes reflects on just how badly the Giants ended the season.
Mike Jensen talks with the Giants, who say they lacked intensity and are now on the Birds’ bandwagon.
John Gonzalez gives the fans perspective.
Denny Seitz reports that the Cardinals were itching for the Birds.
Reuben Frank gives the nutshell explanation of what happened, and why.
SKIP
John Smallwood says better late than never for the Eagles up-and-down offense.
Ashley Fox goes minute-by-minute through Andy Reid’s day.
Ashley Fox talks to Jeffrey Lurie, who by and large does not return the favor.
Ray Parrillo explains Jason Avant’s third down success.
Marcus Hayes says even in the wake of a near-perfect gameplan, Andy Reid took no shots at his critics.
The Inqy’s notes focus on Curtis’s redemption, Akers‘ new NFL record, Asante’s big pick and more.
Les Bowen’s notes look at Akers‘ up-and-down career in the Meadowlands, and more.
Kristen Graham talks with the tailgaters.
Frank Fitzpatrick writes about the tailgating.
Marc Narducci focuses on fans who weren’t fighting each other.
Frank Fitzpatrick says the Giants’ much-hyped defense didn’t come with it.
Ray Parrillo thinks the Eagles won by inches.
Paul Domowitch looks back on his pregame keys.
Paul Domowitch delivers the talking points.
The Inquirer reports that Eagles’ fans were unable to legally cop tickets for the NFC championship.
Regina Medina looks at the stubhubs of the world for ticket options.
Tom Mahon mocks Bill Cowher for picking the Cardinals. Seems a little early to be doing that, no?
Frank Seravalli tells you 10 things you might not have known about the Arizona Cardinals.
David Murphy says next week is all about Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald.
Once again, Don McKee runs his game notes.
Mike Jensen thinks Eli Manning just had one of those games.
Kevin Cooney reports that the Eagles won.
Jeff Offord thinks Asante Samuel has earned every penny of that big contract.
Mike Sielski offers up a quick review.
PHILLIES
Unsurprisingly, no one wrote anything about the Champs.
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SKIP
SIXERS
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SKIP
Phil Jasner talks with Atlanta coach Mike Woodson who is apparently a big Elton Brand fan.
FLYERS
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Wayne Fish looks at all the Flyers about to return from injury.
Ed Moran thinks Luca Sbisa has earned his place on the Flyers.
SKIP
Sam Carchidi says Marty Biron is in the midst of the best stretch of his season.
TODAY and MORE
Ugh, I had forgotten just how awful doing rounds is during playoff times.
There is plenty to talk about, for in the cooky world of alt-weeklies Print Content > Online Content and last night’s win means that the column needs a little bit of cleaning-up. Still, we can only stay away for so long, so check back early and often.
In other news, Temple knocked off LaSalle and Nova lost a home game heartbreaker that they probably needed.
As always, feel free to email with any questions, suggestions, comments or complaints.
