Could Win. Should Win. Must Win.
Oct 12, 2007 in Eagles
here the eagles sit at week 6, 1-3 coming off the bye. at the beginning of the season, i would have guessed 4-0, 3-1 for this stretch. the logic being, “we’re a good team, the packers, redskins, lions and giants really aren’t that good, donnie’s back, everyone’s healthy.”
well, that was some pretty flawed logic (except for the lions and giants, they’re really not that good). we are not a good team. haven’t been since terrell owens wore green. the coaches and players are being rated on a period of time that is very far in the past (just ask britney)
the blitzes that were sooooooo clever five years ago. no some much in 2007. the people performing them not quite as good, not quite as effective. the heavy diet of passing doesn’t work with a less than perfect donnie (mentally and physically) and aging tackles. and of course, there’s the stubbornness. how else do you explain not helping winston justice? how else do you explain not running more? or not using rookies when you really could probably use their talent and energy?
the more i think about last year, the more the push at that end feels like smoke and mirrors. it was bill simmons’ ewing theory: superstar goes down, everyone steps up. the trick was that everyone else (except for the freak i think) was healthy. that’s the big difference with ’05. everyone was hurt and the mike mcmahon era was…ghastly.
but wither 2007? what are we? if they lose on sunday, the season is more over from an emotional level than wins and losses. the conference is weak so the door’s going to be open until turkey day unless we go in the tank completely. if we win, do i really feel, “wow, we turned the corner.”? because i was there after the lions game. i probably shouldn’t let myself get back there until after, say three straight victories (which on the surface appears a good possibility…pennington, jackson, griese < your mom).
but you know what, if the whistle blows at 4ish on sunday and the eagles have a w, i’ll be right back on the bandwagon. sadly, it would probably take a visit to utah and some rehab head from lindsay lohan to cure me of the eagles…