Preseason Prediction

Eagles are on track to win 10 games this year



It's that time of year again. Last year, my preseason prediction didn't fare so well. I predicted that they would win 14 and they of course looked very mediocre on their way to 8 wins.

Here goes my prediction for the '08 edition of the Eagles-Reid and McNabb Year 10.

Week one St. Louis

Even though Andy Reid is just 3-6 in home openers during his nine years as Eagles head coach, this should be a win. His three wins came in 2000 against Dallas in the infamous "Pickle Juice" game. And, another win in 2004 against the Giants in TO's debut-ah it still feels like that bullet McNabb through to TO in the corner of the endzone was yesterday and McDougle jacking up Jeff Feagles on the punt. And, the third opening-day win came against the Texans in 2006 as Donte Stallworth owned them that day and appeared well on his way to becoming the next great wide receiver in Philly. The common theme among their opening day wins, their opponents were clunkers. The Rams are still in rebuilding mode and not very good offensively. This game is a win.

Record: 1-0

Week two at Dallas

It's unusual for them to be up against Dallas this year in the season. They were 1-1 against them last year, 2-0 against them in 2006, and 0-2 against them in 2005. Despite shutting them down last December in their past meeting I don't see that happening again. This will be an L for the Eagles.

Record: 1-1

Week three Pittsburgh

Even though they're facing the Steelers at home, that won't matter. The Steelers have an unbelievable rushing attack and Big Ben owned the Eagles in their only regular season meeting. Look for that success to continue. The Eagles will fall to 1-2 after a loss here.

Record: 1-2

Week four at Chicago

Last year was a brutal loss for the Birds at the hands of Brian Griese, who marched down the field in under a minute on the Birds defense like Grant's army took Richmond. The Bears have nothing on offense and a defense that isn't as good as it once was. The Eagles will have revenge on their minds for that ugly last-second loss last year and get back to .500.

Record: 2-2

Week five Washington

If last night's game was any indicator, the Redskins will stink on ice this year. Their offense looks inept and Jim Zorn's playcalling in the clutch resembles a poor man's Andy Reid. And, if you're a poor man's Andy Reid in clutch playcalling then you've got issues. No way they lose to the Skins.

Record: 3-2

Week six at San Francisco

Former Rams O-coordinator and coach Mike Martz may be calling the plays, but that doesn't matter. They are throwing the likes of J.T. O'Sullivan and Alex Smith out there at QB. Frank Gore is their offense and the Birds will gameplan as such. The defense will give them some problems-primarily because of a guy named Patrick Willis who many on the east coast might not know about, but I know about him. He's on my fantasy football team in my IDP league and the best linebacker in the business. The Birds will still overcome Mr. Willis and get their third straight win into the bye here.

Record: 4-2

Week seven BYE

Week eight Atlanta

Andy Reid's teams have typically either lost a game heading into the bye or after the bye. But, come on this is Atlanta. I know they're supposed to lose a game that they're not supposed to, but again. This is Atlanta. They have no offensive line, their QB is a rookie and Jim Johnson feasts on rookie QB's. The Birds' winning ways will continue.

Record: 5-2

Week nine at Seattle

Seattle is one of the toughest places to play in the NFL and they have a stout defense. Mike Holmgren is in his final year as coach up there and will want to bid farewell to his protege Andy Reid in a winning fashion. The Seahawks have the upper hand here based on their D. And, that will give the Eagles their first loss in nearly two months.

Record: 5-3

Week ten NY Giants

The Giants owned the Eagles last season namely because of two guys named Osi and Strahan. And, it certainly helped that Winston "Human Turnstile" Justice aided Osi's 6 sack explosion in that Sunday night stinker. I think the Eagles will prevail here though.

Record: 6-3

Week eleven at Cincinatti

One thing that benefits the Eagles this season is they won't have long road trips. They have just one two-game road trip this season and this is the first stanza of it. The Bengals will be just about done by this point and the Eagles will be licking their chops against a decimated offense and a brutal defense. WIN.

Record: 7-3

Week twleve at Baltimore

Every year there's a game on the docket that the Eagles aren't supposed to lose (that's when they're a good team) discounting 2005 and last year of course because they stunk. Baltimore is a young team but Jim Harbaugh knows Reid's system inside out and will school his teacher. I see this one as a loss.

Record: 7-4

Week thirteen Arizona

The Birds will head back home after their only two-game road trip of the season and face those stinking Cardinals who have given them much trouble over the years. They will be fired up by the Philly faithful after an ugly loss the week before and shut down the Cards' receivers. So, maybe the Anquan Boldin talk will die down some...then again it won't because they need him in the worst way.

Record: 8-4

Week fourteen at NY Giants

Now, we are in the final quarter of the season and the Eagles have matched last year's win total. The Giants at this point will be fighting for their playoff lives and hoping to avoid the Super Bowl to bust jinx. The Eagles will be in for a long day at the Meadowlands in this contest.

Record: 8-5

Week fifteen Cleveland

By this point the Eagles will need two wins to get in and throw the kitchen sink at the Browns. The vaunted defensive backfield will shut down Braylon Edwards, Donte Stallworth, and Kellen Winslow. They'll get their 9th win against Romeo Crennel's squad.

Record: 9-5

Week sixteen at Washington

The Redskins will be fixing to go for the highest draft pick possible in the NFL draft. I'm certain Rock Cartright will be the main man at running back and Jason Campbell will be either hurt or on the bench. Jim Zorn should be looking for another gig too. This is a win all the way and the Eagles will get their 10th win.

Record: 10-5

Week seventeen Dallas

In the regular season finale all eyes in the nation will turn to Philly as the Eagles will try to c**kblock Dallas' bid to get the #1 seed in the NFC. Sorry to say it, but it's not happening. The Cowboys are the class of the NFC as much as it sickens me to say. I can see Dallas winning 14 games this year. But, the Eagles will be a wildcard team at 10-6, but close out the regular season with an L to the Cowboys.

Record: 10-6

So, there you have it. I'm not drinking the kool-aid this year like I did last year when I predicted the Eagles would win 14 games. Not sure what the hell I was thinking. I'm being realistic about this team and they are a good team. Merrill Reese says they're the best Eagles team since 2004. I think the 2006 version wasn't too shabby, but poorly coached and they played under their capabilities. With that said, this team has it's share of flaws and some good young talent.

If they get good production out of McNabb, Westbrook, and D Jack on offense, combined with good special teams play, and solid defensive play the most they can win realistically is 10 to 11 games. They're just not a Super Bowl team. If you look at a team like Dallas, they have some serious impact players and a better QB in Romo. I simply see this being their season and they'll be the class of the NFC.

I hope I'm wrong though because I was wrong as hell last year, but I'm standing by my prediction of 10 wins and you can all berate me if I'm wrong!