Hey, There's A Game Saturday Right?

Been over at the Eagles message board a bit this week...lots of stuff going on there...its a cool board, and I love posting snarky pics at all the goofballs and trolls lurking there....and I've managed to build-up my post count to something like training camp body...of course, I'd spent a ton of time in the rant-n-rave section (where else ;) before learning that your post count only goes up by 1 for every 10 posts you make in there...AUGH! So I moved over to the TATE and Around the NFL sections and viola, no more noob....

Well, this week is sort of like last week. There is just a slew of Eagles coverage and stories all over the place...from Andrews losing weight to Andy cracking a smile....

Is there some special about the Eagles this year? Well they're sure on a roll, I'll give them that...and they're doing it without two of their best players (Donovan McNabb and Jevon Kearse) and will have to continue without another stalwart (Lito Sheppard, he of the late-game-saving heroics fame)...

Most national pundits/prognosticators aren't giving them a chance with Lito gone...because the Saints have a very good passing attacks, and any team down its top DB is in trouble right? (You know, I told a Cowboys fan on the Philly.com forum that I just couldn't see them losing to the Seahawks because there was no way that Seattle was going to be able to contain the Dallas passing attack (Witten, Glenn, MEO, Crayton) with a secondary that had lost its top 3 corners...and we all know what happened...Dallas didn't do shit against that beat up secondary...so what with all the Eagles are screwed because Lito is gone? Both Hood and Will James are healthy and capable of being starting CBs in the NFL...time for them to remind everyone of that...

Moreover, each team will be sporting a different than the last time the Eagles went to the Superdome...the Saints are using Reggie Bush more, and he is producing...but Joe Horn (who killed us in game 1) will not be 100%....defensively the Saints are the same team...average, capable of really good games, but seem to have a propensity to give up points....

I think the Eagles will present a much different look for the Saints...For starters...Jeff Garcia and Donte Stallworth are now in the line-up, and I know Donte' is itching to play well because he missed his chance in Oct to show the Saints they made a mistake...Moreover, with Garcia's presence has come the running game...the Eagles are not the bombs-away quick strike Offense that rolled up 21 quick points against the Saints after sleep-walking through the first half that showed up in Oct...Defensively the Eagles are not THAT much different, at least statistically...but there are some different players filling key roles for the Eagles...the aforementioned Rod Hood as CB, Sean Considine as the starting safety (expect to see Michael Lewis quite a bit though), and Omar Gaither at OLB...

I dunno if that will mean anything once the game starts, and I don't think that just having different players necessarily makes a huge impact on the game-planning and scheming each side is doing...what I do think is that this game is going to play out much differently...

The Eagles aren't going to have a big first half let-down following an emotional victory over a division opponent (remember in Oct the Eagles had just won that huge MEO-returns-to-the-Linc game). The Eagles seem to be much more focused offensively, so I hope not to repeat the numerous drops that plagued us in the first meetings.

Finally, my biggest reason for optimism is the biggest thing on the Eagles team...that massive O-line...the big fellas up front are just mauling the opposition right now, and there isn't anyone of the Saints D-line they can't pancake...sure Hollis Thomas is back from his steroids suspension, but he's not going to have the same gang-busters game like he had the first go-round...NO, this game will be won or lost where NFL games are ALWAYS won or lost...IN THE TRENCHES, and I think our lines are deep and playing the best they've played all year...and that gives the Eagles a fightin' shot to beat anyone...

Just get out there and play and have fun fellas, and we'll all become Seattle fans on Sunday afternoon in hopes of hosting yet another NFC Championship game...