Birds of a Feather: Seahawks and Eagles Preview
Philly sports fans are famous for booing Santa Claus. Last week, they turned their displeasure on their own team. And, frankly, they have plenty of reasons to be upset.
During the abbreviated preseason this year, the Philadelphia Eagles were touted as the Dream Team. Michael Vick was ready for Year Two of his redemption tour and he had a whole lineup of stellar offensive playmakers to work with, including DeSean Jackson and his riveting kick/punt return performances, Steve Smith and Jeremy Maclin at wide receiver, and LeSean McCoy at runningback. Two of the coolest-named players in the league could be found on the offensive line: Winston Justice and King Dunlap (at 6'9", 330 pounds this guy is a literal giant on the field). On the defensive end of things, receivers tend to remember their run-ins with Asante Samuel, while Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie are considered some of the league's better cornerbacks.
In spite of all of that talent though, things started to go horribly wrong for the Dream Team about Week Two, when they went on a four-game losing streak. Perhaps it was too many stars on the team -- DeSean Jackson's antics surrounding his contract negotiations have already led to tension in the locker room and to him riding the bench for missing a team meeting -- or perhaps the opposing teams have found a way to contain Vick as a running threat? It could have everything to do with poor play in the fourth, a general inability to finish games, a series of injuries, or a failure to turn yards into points. Whatever the reason, there is nothing dreamy about the Eagles 4-7 record.
The Seahawks are also 4-7, but then no one was touting Seattle as a Super Bowl contender at the beginning of the season were they? The Seahawks in 2011 are a team of unnecessary penalties, offensive inconsistencies, and surprising stop-them-when-it-counts moments. They have won when they should have lost (Giants and Ravens come to mind) and lost when they should have won (Cleveland and the Redskins fit this bill), which is all par for the course with this rebuilding squad.
It is hard to say what teams will show up to play this evening when the Seahawks take on the Eagles at CenturyLink Field. Will we have the Dream Team Eagles or a team in the middle of a downward spiral following Sunday's rout at the hands of the Patriots? Will we have the scrappy Seahawks who come up big on defense and find a way to win, or will we have a team that can't get out of its own way? Alas, that will be a game time decision. What we can count on is backup Eagles QB Vince Young picking up yards with his unconventional throwing delivery, the reliable noise of the 12th Man, some fireworks when DeSean Jackson returns a punt after the Seahawks go 3-and-out on one of their drives, and Steven Hauschka's reliable foot. What we can hope for is another 100-plus-yard performance from Marshawn Lynch, some big stops on defense, and a Seahawks win.
No predictions. This game is anyone's guess.
Kickoff is at 5:20 tonight.
