’Skins should pose a bit of a test
PHILADELPHIA -- The Eagles could own their third straight playoff bye before they even warm up tonight at FedEx Field (8:30, Channel 6/ESPN, WYSP 94.1-FM), where they take on the Washington Redskins. The veterans who already have locked up the NFC East title and a home playoff game get a week of rest and relaxation if the host Falcons (9-2) defeat or tie Oakland (4-8) today, or the Detroit Lions beat or tie the Green Packers (7-5) at Lambeau Field. Both games precede the rematch with the Redskins.
If all else fails, the Eagles (11-1) can lock up the bye with a win or a tie against the Redskins (4-8), who mathematically can reach the tournament by winning out.
Eagles players are trying to focus on winning one game, whether the reward is a bye, or another step toward the best record in the conference and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, or even being able to enjoy what appears to be inevitable -- a red-faced, spandex-clad Andy Reid congratulate Terrell Owens on his 15th touchdown. Further complicating the moment: The Eagles cannot clinch home field until next week at the earliest.
With four games left, this is strange territory.
"We still have some things we are trying to play for that we can do ourselves instead of waiting for other people to lose," Eagles safety Brian Dawkins said. "It is all about confidence right now and keeping this thing rolling, and playing at this level. When you are having a good time doing something, you want to continue it."
Defensive tackle Hollis Thomas conceded this isn’t the easiest game to get pumped-up about except that it’s a divisional battle.
"It’s always a big game in the division," Thomas said. "You’ve got to come out and stay on your Ps and Qs. You don’t want to take anything for granted. You don’t want to start getting lackadaisical or lazy and stuff. I think it’s important we come out and play our game, and play to the best of our ability and have fun."
The Eagles, seeking their third straight sweep of the Redskins, led by just 7-6 at the intermission before erupting for three touchdowns in nine minutes in the second half.
Redskins players accused the Eagles and quarterback Donovan McNabb, who threw four touchdown passes, of running the score up. The truth is, the Eagles have crushed all of their division and NFC competition, winning by double digits in every game en route to a perfect 9-0 in the conference.
McNabb is playing with such confidence, having thrown five TD passes last week to vaporize the Packers, 47-17, the Eagles’ 22-point blowout of Washington at the Linc might look respectable.
"We haven’t played our perfect game," said McNabb, who has thrown for a career-high 28 touchdowns. "The perfect game for us is obviously passing the ball well and being able to run the ball well. We’re trying to eliminate sacks and playing that game in which you just feel great about after it’s all over. In the second half against Green Bay we didn’t get into the end zone. We kicked three or four field goals when we got down in the red zone. That’s not us. We usually come out with seven points."
The Redskins, on the other hand, have the kind defense the Packers can only dream of. The ’Skins are ranked No. 2 in the league overall, and have one of the better secondaries, one anchored by safety Sean Taylor, the rookie phenom, and cornerbacks Fred Smoot and Shawn Springs. They made the Eagles take the train, instead of the plane, in the first half of their previous meeting.
The ’Skins are allowing just 257.4 yards per game and are sixth in scoring defense, surrendering just 16.8 points per game.
Offensively, the ’Skins showed signs of life in a 31-7 pummeling of the New York Giants. Quarterback Patrick Ramsey’s job basically is to stay out of the way after handing the ball to explosive running back Clinton Portis, who has rushed for 1,093 yards and three TDs, or play-actions to Laveranues Coles, who leads the club with 64 receptions, but has just one score.
The ’Skins know it won’t be easy, for the Eagles have surrendered a league-low 181 points, and with running back Brian Westbrook and his nine TDs complementing Owens’ production, lead the NFC with 340 points.
But the ’Skins nonetheless think they have a fighting chance to reach the postseason.
"I’d have to say, yeah, we do," Smoot said. "Right now if we can beat Philly and we can keep on being successful, there would be a chance right now to get in, in the NFC at 8-8.
"Right now I’d just say we’re trying to get better every week we step out there. I think last week we did get better. We’re just going to try to get better this week, too."
http://www.zwire.com/site/printerFr...newsid=13540597