A win is a win. But when a
win is as ugly as the first two games of the Philadelphia Eagles’ season, it
gives cause for concern. In two gut wrenching games, they almost lost to the
Cleveland Browns in week one and just squeezed out a win against the Baltimore
Ravens this past week. As the 2012 season got underway, sports pundits spewed
that grand expectations were in the cards for the Birds. But that’s every year
for the most part from the Philadelphia
fan base. We still long for our first Superbowl win. Prior to the first game
there was a lot of talk that the Eagles just might make it there this year.
That was before they took one regular season snap. Now that we’ve seen a couple
of games, the thought process is a tad bit different.
I still believe the Eagles
are good team. However, they’ve clearly shown at this point that they aren’t
playing like a great team. Many have likened both wins to luck as they pulled
out fourth quarter victories by the pigskin of their teeth in their first two
games. I attribute it more to a late game focus, with them taking three and a
half quarters to get it together on offense. QB Michael Vick has been like a one
man turnover machine plagued with interceptionitis.
With four picks in the first game against Cleveland
and another two against Baltimore,
it’s bred a cause for concern. But that’s not where it ends. His ability to
stay healthy throughout the entire season is a genuine concern as well. It may
help to run the ball more which was a mystery in the Cleveland
game. We’ve got one of the premier running backs in the league with RB LeSean
McCoy, yet he barely touched the ball in the Browns game. There was a bit more
balance in the Raven’s game but their defense did a better job of containing
the run.
The Arizona Cardinals are
next on the schedule for the Philadelphia Eagles. They are fresh off a win in Boston
against the Patriots who haven’t lost a home opener since 2001. They smell
blood in the water after that feat. And with Kevin Kolb starting at quarterback
after their starter John Skelton got injured before the end of the first game
of the season, there is surely an Eagles ax to grind. The Cards defense looks
like an elite unit and would love to exploit our turnover prone weakness. That
habit has to be eliminated immediately if the Eagles plan on being 3-0. It will
be challenging enough to travel out west and play a tough team with a former
team member who probably doesn’t have the fondest of memories of being an
Eagle, leading your opponent. This will surely be a show and prove match up,
one I can’t wait for.
I will see you on the
sidelines!
Helen “Love my Eagles”
Little
