The Eagles opened strong and then breezed past Cleveland, 30-10, controlling the football, dominating defensively and squandering just enough touchdown opportunities to keep the score reasonable. This game had all the intensity of a summer scrimmage, except that it counted. There wasn't a whole lot to take from Monday night's dismantling of the Browns, other than the Eagles took care of business. That's the way it was all night. The Eagles got the football, gain one first down after another and dominate the time of possession category (the Eagles had nearly doubled the Browns' time of possession by halftime, had converted 7 of 9 third downs and kept the game close only because they threw two interceptions in the end zone, one from DeSean Jackson from the "Wildcat" formation and one on a McNabb fade pass to Hank Baskett at the end of the half). On defense, other than a couple of go-up-and-get-'em catches by wide receiver Braylon Edwards and a nifty run or two from receiver/return man/do-everything Josh Cribbs, the Eagles smothered Cleveland. You expected something different? The Eagles did what they had to do to stay alive in the playoff race. They are now 8-5-1, winners of three straight games, and they have greater challenges ahead. But if there was any question the team was going to overlook the woeful Browns, it was answered very, very early. While the offense played poorly in the red zone, McNabb and his mates did what they wanted to do anywhere else on the field. Cleveland had a spirited 63-yard drive on its first possession, but then the Eagles came back with a 12-play, 51-yard drive and, well, it was just so obvious that the Browns couldn't stop the Eagles. The offense stopped itself on two red-zone possessions with interceptions but rolled up 392 total net yards and 30 points before the mass substitutions began -- quarterback Donovan McNabb, running back Brian Westbrook, tackles Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan sat down -- and the Eagles coasted for the final 10-plus minutes of the game.
Now it is on to the final two games, two must-win outings against NFC East teams. The Eagles have a short week to prepare for Washington, on the road. Monday night's game didn't seem to be particularly physical and Westbrook had only 19 touches and McNabb was hit only a couple of times ... and the Eagles should be in pretty good shape for Washington. they need to play better than they did on Monday. McNabb didn't break much of a sweat while throwing for 290 yards and two touchdowns -- the man completed 74 percent of his passes -- and continued that nice, relaxed rhythm he had in the previous couple of games. Most notable, almost in the spirit of the scrimmage-like feel of the night, was that three different Eagles tossed interceptions. It was that kind of light-hearted feel in Game 14, very strange indeed. What do you take from this night? Nobody was injured. Everybody played. The Eagles rolled.
Atlanta beat Tampa Bay in overtime on a Jason Elam field goal, ending a back-and-forth slugfest, an ugly game, really, and what it means for the Eagles is that they have to win their three games and get some help. Atlanta plays at Minnesota next week and then finishes home with the Rams. Tampa Bay hosts San Diego and Oakland. The playoff picture is very clear: So the Eagles didn't gain control of their destiny yet. It would have been great if it had happened, but there is nothing to cry about here. The Eagles need to win out. They need some help. A loss by either Tampa Bay or Atlanta will do the trick. As we all knew, the season comes down to the division. The Eagles broke their goose egg with a win at the Giants. On Sunday, they need to play at FedEx Field, a venue that should have a decided Eagles feel to it with the Midnight Green and White descending upon Landover, Md.Brian Dawkins received a great ovation when the Eagles announced at the beginning of the game that he had set a franchise record for most games played. Well deserved, too. He heard as the fans at Lincoln Financial Field stood and roared their approval for a player who has left every drop of his energy on the field for 13 seasons, a player who has graced the organization each day he has been here, a player who has a talent and passion unmatched. "I mean I just thank them. I thank them so much," said Dawkins after the team's 30-10 win over Cleveland on Monday night. "I've been obviously blessed to play this game for a long period of time. Like I've always said connected, I feel like I connected with the fans pretty well. We come out to party together. I've enjoyed every game and partied with them." Oh, what a party it has been. The marvelous Weapon X has been a joy to behold, one of the greatest players ever to wear an Eagles uniform, a player who has been so great for so long that it kind of seems like Dawkins has been around here forever which, by NFL standards, he has. Dawkins was a second-round draft pick in 1996. He was here during Ray Rhodes' final, bleary seasons. He was here during the transition to Andy Reid and has been a steward as the Eagles enjoyed a half-decade of deep playoff runs and, even a Super Bowl appearance. It's been a remarkable success story, punctuated on Tuesday with the news that Dawkins was voted into the Pro Bowl for a seventh time. This is Hall of Fame material, no question about it. Dawkins continues to defy the logic of the league. Players in their 13th season don't make the Pro Bowl, especially at a position that demands speed, agility and the physical toughness to take on running backs that have ballooned by 15-25 pounds (in some cases (Brandon Jacobs, for example), more) since Dawkins came into the league. Dawkins has played in 181 games as an Eagle and yet here he is, coming out of the tunnel before a game against the 4-9 Browns, banging his helmet, literally acting like a man out of his mind. It is great theatre. It is an astounding display of voltage from a player who gives just as much now as he gave when he was 25, or 28. Dawkins has played this way his entire career, from his pre-teen days until now. There are few Eagles who transcend the years and the generations of teams. Dawkins is one of those players, one of those men. He is not done being a great player, not by a long shot. As the Eagles bumped along the road for much of the season, Dawkins insisted that the vibe in the locker room was positive and that the confidence level was high and that, yes, the Eagles would turn it all around. They have done that. The team is playing for a playoff spot. This is the most exciting time in an NFL season, and Dawkins is right in the middle of the action. He is bouncing around, thumping his chest, playing to the crowd and enjoying every second on and off the field. Isn't that what the game is all about? We play games as kids because we love the games. Dawkins is a kid in a man's body. He is still in high school flying around the field; tackling everything he can reach, running sideline-to-sideline throwing everything he has into the effort. Enjoy him. Admire him. Honor him. Dawkins deserves it all, and more. His kind doesn’t come around very often. We are all fortunate to have been part of the career of such a special player and a special man who clearly has touched Eagles fans as few players in this proud franchise's history have in 76 years of football.
Now it is on to the final two games, two must-win outings against NFC East teams. The Eagles have a short week to prepare for Washington, on the road. Monday night's game didn't seem to be particularly physical and Westbrook had only 19 touches and McNabb was hit only a couple of times ... and the Eagles should be in pretty good shape for Washington. they need to play better than they did on Monday. McNabb didn't break much of a sweat while throwing for 290 yards and two touchdowns -- the man completed 74 percent of his passes -- and continued that nice, relaxed rhythm he had in the previous couple of games. Most notable, almost in the spirit of the scrimmage-like feel of the night, was that three different Eagles tossed interceptions. It was that kind of light-hearted feel in Game 14, very strange indeed. What do you take from this night? Nobody was injured. Everybody played. The Eagles rolled.
Atlanta beat Tampa Bay in overtime on a Jason Elam field goal, ending a back-and-forth slugfest, an ugly game, really, and what it means for the Eagles is that they have to win their three games and get some help. Atlanta plays at Minnesota next week and then finishes home with the Rams. Tampa Bay hosts San Diego and Oakland. The playoff picture is very clear: So the Eagles didn't gain control of their destiny yet. It would have been great if it had happened, but there is nothing to cry about here. The Eagles need to win out. They need some help. A loss by either Tampa Bay or Atlanta will do the trick. As we all knew, the season comes down to the division. The Eagles broke their goose egg with a win at the Giants. On Sunday, they need to play at FedEx Field, a venue that should have a decided Eagles feel to it with the Midnight Green and White descending upon Landover, Md.Brian Dawkins received a great ovation when the Eagles announced at the beginning of the game that he had set a franchise record for most games played. Well deserved, too. He heard as the fans at Lincoln Financial Field stood and roared their approval for a player who has left every drop of his energy on the field for 13 seasons, a player who has graced the organization each day he has been here, a player who has a talent and passion unmatched. "I mean I just thank them. I thank them so much," said Dawkins after the team's 30-10 win over Cleveland on Monday night. "I've been obviously blessed to play this game for a long period of time. Like I've always said connected, I feel like I connected with the fans pretty well. We come out to party together. I've enjoyed every game and partied with them." Oh, what a party it has been. The marvelous Weapon X has been a joy to behold, one of the greatest players ever to wear an Eagles uniform, a player who has been so great for so long that it kind of seems like Dawkins has been around here forever which, by NFL standards, he has. Dawkins was a second-round draft pick in 1996. He was here during Ray Rhodes' final, bleary seasons. He was here during the transition to Andy Reid and has been a steward as the Eagles enjoyed a half-decade of deep playoff runs and, even a Super Bowl appearance. It's been a remarkable success story, punctuated on Tuesday with the news that Dawkins was voted into the Pro Bowl for a seventh time. This is Hall of Fame material, no question about it. Dawkins continues to defy the logic of the league. Players in their 13th season don't make the Pro Bowl, especially at a position that demands speed, agility and the physical toughness to take on running backs that have ballooned by 15-25 pounds (in some cases (Brandon Jacobs, for example), more) since Dawkins came into the league. Dawkins has played in 181 games as an Eagle and yet here he is, coming out of the tunnel before a game against the 4-9 Browns, banging his helmet, literally acting like a man out of his mind. It is great theatre. It is an astounding display of voltage from a player who gives just as much now as he gave when he was 25, or 28. Dawkins has played this way his entire career, from his pre-teen days until now. There are few Eagles who transcend the years and the generations of teams. Dawkins is one of those players, one of those men. He is not done being a great player, not by a long shot. As the Eagles bumped along the road for much of the season, Dawkins insisted that the vibe in the locker room was positive and that the confidence level was high and that, yes, the Eagles would turn it all around. They have done that. The team is playing for a playoff spot. This is the most exciting time in an NFL season, and Dawkins is right in the middle of the action. He is bouncing around, thumping his chest, playing to the crowd and enjoying every second on and off the field. Isn't that what the game is all about? We play games as kids because we love the games. Dawkins is a kid in a man's body. He is still in high school flying around the field; tackling everything he can reach, running sideline-to-sideline throwing everything he has into the effort. Enjoy him. Admire him. Honor him. Dawkins deserves it all, and more. His kind doesn’t come around very often. We are all fortunate to have been part of the career of such a special player and a special man who clearly has touched Eagles fans as few players in this proud franchise's history have in 76 years of football.
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