Chris Feinthel

Sunday night could be called a moral victory, a turning of the tide in Philly, and a solid performance for a team was up against some impossible odds. While all true, none of that matters if this team doesn’t come out over the next few weeks and strings together a series of wins.

QB Controversy? I see more of an offensive line controversy. With Garcia, and now with Feeley, this line looks like solid gold. Giving tons of time, opening monster holes for Westbrook, playing truly dominant football. When McNabb is in the game, the same line makes opposing teams look like the All Madden Team on the Varsity setting. Sure the quick realease style of Feeley is more suited to this offense, have said that for years, but these night and day performances are more than just a coincidence.

 With 5 games to day, and not many tiebreakers, going 4-1 is the only chance of a wildcard berth, and that’s still a risky proposition. Assuming two home wins vs the Seahawks and Giants (which is a bold assumption but play along with me) and a loss @ Dallas, the game vs the Saints in the Superdome could be for that 6th spot.  Good to dream.

 Until next time, here’s something to chew on.

Chris

Chris Feinthel

But does it really even matter?

 Sure the Eagles won yesterday. They beat a team with no wins, a team that looked both lost and inept on offense, a team probably didn’t want to be there. They won an ugly game and got back to .500, which is a positive, but aren’t showing signs of a dramatic second half run like 2006, which is a negative.

It has become evident that McNabb isn’t the sturdy player he used to be (or never was but I thought he might be), and will not be able to stay on the field for a full season. Luckily he gets bailed out often, Feeley twice and Garcia once, so it never was that tremendous of a roadblock. I’m afraid that #5’s ship has sailed, and Garcia should have been the guy to bridge the gap until a new QB is ready, but that can be added to the list of front office mistakes made in recent years.

 Speaking of front office moves…..can we agree that waiving TO was about the worst move possible? I don’t care if they traded him to Denver for a pastrami sandwhich (and let’s be real I’m sure Andy Reid would have enjoyed some salted meats), waiving Owens so he could stay in the NFC East was an incredibly bad move. After watching him scamper around yesterday, it dawned on me, he’s probably the most important player in the division. Put TO on the Giants, or the Skins, and I think they would be the best team in the NFC. Crazy to say, and as much as I can’t stand him, I think it’s true.

 Bring on the Patriots. Maybe AJ Feeley will give us a punchers chance.

Chris Feinthel

Grudge match in the NFC East, and at my place, two roommates embark upon a friendly rivalry game. Pistol, rocking a Portis jersey sits to my right, while I’m all set with my Trotter “throwback.” Let’s see how the day unfolds……

12:48: Pistol and I are praying the Espn Gameday crew do not pick our team to win.

12:49: Good news, 5 out of the 6 analysts pick the Skins.

12:55 Friend Ryan comes by, not to watch the game, but to watch Pistol and I go at it all day. Within 30 seconds of his arrivals I’ve cracked four Michigan jokes, which were shot down as he reminds me about my under wager yesterday.

1:03 – Kickoff time. Eagles receive. It’s a trick play, Eagles gain about 3 yards.

1:04 – First Andy Reid drug reference of the afternoon.

1:08 – Pistol points out that the ref threw the flag farther than McNabb threw this first pass

1:10 – Skins are in prevent defense during the first quarter; Ryan thinks Gibbs has Nascar and NFL confused.

1:11 – David Akers’ mustache is being mocked. We all agree he’s the type of guy that hangs out alone at the corner of the bar.

1:13 – Tony Siragusa (Captain Obvious) is on the sideline. After the Eagles drive 85 yards he tells the audience the Skins defense doesn’t look very good.

1:14 – Touchdown Westbrook! Too easy. Pistol, always the optimist, proclaims the game is over and goes to smoke a cigarette.

1:23 – Skins are predicable on offense, and are forced to punt. Campbell was taken down via a leg sweep that would make a Cobra Kai proud.

1:24 – First Reno Mahe fair catch of the day.

1:28 – LJ Smith fumble. Another reason to hate Rutgers football.

1:31 – Saints (my survivor pool pick of the week) are in a tight one (that’s what she said).

1:38 – Off topic alert: We agree Skip Bayless is the worst ESPN analyst in history.

1:39 – Touchdown Skins. Forgot how fun it can be to see a team miss an extra point.

1:46 – McNabb is actually running today. Maybe the Eagles have a chance.

1:55 – James Thrash is killing the Eagles. And Chief Z is borderline offensive.

2:00 – Thrash again for 20.

2:01 – Thrash TD. This is unbelievable.

2:03 – Pistol makes the boldest statement of the afternoon; he thinks “Frank TV will be awesome.”

2:13: Survivor pool not looking good. Saints down ten.

2:19: Second Andy Reid kid joke of the day.

2:22: Landry might have just killed McNabb.

2:24: Akers from 53 yards….no good. Ryan wonders of the Akers mustache is the product of a lost bet. Discussion breaks out, posing the question: if Andy Reid shaved his mustache would it set off a trend in Philly?

2:30 – Halftime means two things. 2nd half wager on Philly pk and mango salsa time.

2:44 – Eagles look awful to start the 2nd half. Looking for a turnover in the red zone.

2:47 – Sellers displays a stellar jumping ability as he leaps forward to gain about 3 inches.

2:52 – Moose Johnson has the astute observation that the Eagles kick return team is not very good.

2:55 – Siragusa is too excited about McNabb’s “hard, body, strong body.”

3:01 – TD LJ Smith. Andy Reid signals for 2. Pistol and Ryan claim that’s the international “my sons’ do drugs signal.”

3:02 – Missed 2 point conversion. Bad decision and even worse play call.

3:13 – Portis over 100 yards. Eagles are in trouble if he gets in the end zone here.

3:17 – Touchdown Skins. Eagles are in trouble.

3:23 – Promo for the 4 pm games. We all agree that Eli Manning is a loser.

3:27 – TD Philadelphia!!!! Moose sums it up; Reggie Brown is just a guy making a play. Ryan thinks he will use that as a pick up line next weekend.

3:36 – Skins players appear to be wearing Gucci hooded sweatshirts – Snyder really has a lot of money to burn.

3:37 – Ladell Betts fumble. Play under review. Pistol is chomping on his fingernails.

3:40 – Play stands. First play and the Eagles give it right back. McNabb sucks.

3:44 – 2nd and goal Skins. Need to hold them to 3 here.

3:47 – Defensive Holding. Trying to give his one away.

3:51 – Eagles use their 3rd timeout with 4:20 left; I’m scratching my head why. Pistol thinks it’s a shout out to the Reid boys.

3:56 – Pistol is screaming for the Skins to blitz.

3:57 – Skins blitz, screen to Westbrook, 60 yard Touchdown!

3:58 – Andy Reid uses hand signals for the 2 point conversion play. Appears he wants McNabb to “squeeze the titties.”

3:59 – Broken play, conversion fails. 1 point game with 3 minutes to go.

4:03 – Skins face 4th and 13. This is for the game.

4:04 – Campbell sacked, fumbled; Eagles get the ball on the Skins ten. Eagle defense steals a road win.

4:05 – Westbrook untouched for a TD. Eagles up 8 with 2:18 to go.

4:07 – Screenshot to a guy in a Family Guy mask and a Skins jersey. He’s dancing. No one is sure why he’s happy, and more importantly, why does he own a Family Guy mask?

4:08 – Still hung up on the Akers mustache, Pistol and Ryan agree it’s holding back his kicking ability.

4:13 – 4th and 15. Broken up by Dawkins. Game Over. Pistol storms out muttering something about how he thinks losing is better than winning.

Fun afternoon…time to root against the Giants and the Cowboys (but the Giants a little more).

–Chris