PHILA. EAGLES 5 Division Titles in 6 yrs!!

[bizman2960]

After watching the Eagles thoroughly thump the listless Dallas Cowboys 23-7 on Monday night, I have become a believer. I believe.

I believe?

?that my eyes were not deceiving me Monday night as I watched the Philadelphia Eagles dismantle the Dallas Cowboys 23-7, giving the city of Philadelphia the most wonderful Christmas gift they could have ever imagined.

I believe?

?that I saw Jeff Garcia, the Eagles? 36-year-old quarterback, long since given up for dead, continue his amazing resurgence, throwing for 238 yards, rushing for 43 more, converting 9 of 16 third downs and once again playing impeccable, fiery, mistake-free football.

I believe?

?that I watched the Eagles rush for 204 yards, led by the most underrated running back in the NFL, Brian Westbrook, who lugged the ball a career high 26 times for 122 yards, and Correll Buckhalter, who added 8 carries for 38 yards and the game-sealing touchdown in the fourth quarter.

I believe?

?that it was Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Marty Morninwhig?s offense that ran the ball 42 times, threw it only 23 times, continuing a recent month-long string of absolutely brilliant play-calling that has brought balance and a hard-nosed intensity to an offense historically designed around finesse and aerial precision.

?that it was the Eagles who controlled the clock for just over 37 minutes in Monday?s win, allowing the potent Dallas offense to be on the field a mere 22:54.

I believe?

?that much of the success of the running game has to go to fullback Thomas Tapeh. I ripped this guy earlier in the season when it seemed he couldn?t block a stiff breeze, let alone NFL linebackers and defensive lineman. But now that the Eagles are running the ball more reguarly, Tapeh has been tremendous in opening up holes for Westbrook and Buckhalter.

I believe?

?that this new-found offensive balance is one of the biggest reasons the Eagles? defense has suddenly and unexpectedly emerged from hibernation to become a shut-down, turnover-forcing machine. The job Trent Cole, Mike Patterson, Darwin Walker and Darren Howard did on the Dallas offensive line, Julius Jones and Marion Barber, was light years from their performance five weeks ago in Indianapolis. The less you?re on the field as a defense, the fresher you?ll be, the more aggressive you?ll be, and the more dominant you?ll be.

I believe?

?that the insertion of 2006 6th round pick Omar Gaither as starter at outside linebacker in place of Matt McCoy has made a huge difference in the Birds? run defense. This guy looks like he?s going to be a player.

I believe?

?that this receiving corps is the best the Eagles have had under Andy Reid. While idiots like me were screaming for Antwan Randle El and Brandon Lloyd to be brought to Philadelphia before the season, Reid got rid of Todd Pinkston, bided his time, and pulled the trigger on a trade for Donte Stallworth. His addition, the continuing maturation of Reggie Brown, the excellent slot play of Greg Lewis, and the competent play of #4 receiver Hank Baskett, gives Reid and Garcia four legitimate weapons on the outside. They can all go deep, make the catches over the middle, and are getting better every week at minimizing the drops.

I believe?

?that Andy Reid has to be given a tremendous amount of respect for this turnaround. As much as I?ve killed the big guy this year for some horrific playcalling and seeming to have his lost his team at mid-season, he was smart enough and humble enough to realize that Morninwhig calling the plays gave his team the best chance to win. It takes a lot of humility for a coach to subjugate himself in any way to one of his subordinates, but it just goes to show that Reid will do whatever it takes to put his team in the best position possible to win.

?that Brian Dawkins is playing like he?s 26. The Eagles? defensive MVP made another huge play Monday night, intercepting a Tony Romo pass, Willie Mays-style, squelching a Dallas drive that threatened to get them back in the game.

I believe?

?that the Eagles? offensive line is one of the best in football. Shawn Andrews, Todd Herremans, Jamaal Jackson, William Thomas and Jon Runyan have been phenomenal all year in pass protection. But now that the Eagles have unleashed their running game on the rest of the NFL, the Eagles are now properly utilizing one of their biggest strengths.

?that the coronation of Tony Romo happened a tad too soon. While he has played well this year and probably did deserve a trip to Hawaii, he is still a first-year starter and will have his bumps in the road. Yesterday, perhaps with visions of Carrie Underwood dancing in his head, he was awful, throwing into coverage, taking sacks, and generally looking lost. Jim Johnson?s confusing blitz packages seemed to confound Romo, especially once he was forced to abandon the running game. He?s going to be a good quarterback, but Parcells was right. He ain?t Unitas yet.

I believe?

?that T.O. will not be a Dallas Cowboy next year. The honest truth is, Owens is no longer a marque wideout. He is a good receiver, but certainly did not deserve a trip to the Pro Bowl this year. Owens has dropped more passes than any other receiver in football, yet after the game cried about not getting enough balls thrown his way. T.O. had a combined five catches in the two games he?s played against the Birds this year, a fact I guarantee you is not lost on the Eagles? secondary.

I believe?

?that the Eagles are playing the best football in the NFC right now. They?ve won five in a row, have an offense that is re-inventing itself right before our very eyes, a red-hot quarterback, a game-changing running back, solid wide receivers, a re-born defense, two game changing defensive backs (Dawkins and Lito Sheppard) and quality coaching staff.

?that despite Reid?s faults, he is a great coach. We should have trusted him a little more to make the changes necessary to turn this team around. After all, he?s done it time after time, hasn?t he? While he did deserve criticism when the Birds were losing to Jacksonville, Tennessee and Indianapolis, he deserves even more praise for doing what was necessary to put the Eagles in position to win the NFC East.

I believe?

?that the Eagles can beat anyone in the NFC right now? anytime? anywhere.

I believe?

?that the Eagles will beat the Falcons at Lincoln Financial Field next Sunday afternoon and clinch their fifth NFC East title in six years.

I believe?

?that the Eagles have an honest-to-goodness shot at reaching their fifth NFC Championship Game in six years.

I believe?

?that the Eagles are now one of the favorites to represent the NFC in Super Bowl XLI in Miami.

I believe.

[Yanks_Todd]

Can I get a big hell yeah on all of that

[bizman2960]

Hell Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BobG]

Jeff is a friend of mine and it's nice to see him winning again, especially at the expense of TO. Alot of people don't remember that TO ignited the spark that sent Garcia's carrer as well as the SF dynasty into the downward spiral that they are still in here 3-4 years later. Alot of players, coaches and others entire lives and careers were negatively affected by that mutherfucker. I hope he ends up on dancing with the stars and gets booed. Go Jeff, Go Eagles

[bizman2960]

HAHAHAHAHA. I'm with you. HATE T.O.

[eddie-executive]

Don't be in the same room when Andy Reid farts.

[Vitasoy]

This yea was definitely a surprise