Birds Must Flock Together

Screengrab via NFL Philadelphia Eagles CB Jalen Mills is called for pass interference on Miami Dolphins WR DeVante Parker.

Billy Trice

Sports Editor  

Before this past Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins, the Philadelphia Eagles had high hopes of getting back on track after two back-to-back losses at home against the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks.

The theme of the Eagles’ past few games was that the leader of the Eagles offense, Carson Wentz, needed to step up and play better since the defense was playing fairly well while holding opposing teams to under 20 PPG in the last 4 games.

The Eagles’ offense showed up this past Sunday by creating almost 400 yards of total offense along with Carson Wentz’s three-touchdown performance.

The offense also had major success running the ball as they notched 92 yards rushing on 4.8 yards per carry.

Since the Dolphins were ranked in the bottom half of the league in most offensive statistical categories, no one thought that the Birds defense would be able to stop Ryan Fitzpatrick along with the limited talent they have on the offensive end, right?

Wrong. The Eagles defense gave up over 400 yards of total offense and allowed Miami receiver DeVante Parker to have a field day by gaining 159 yards on 7 receptions and 2 touchdowns on Sunday.

Time and time again this Eagles team finds a way to shoot themselves in the foot and block their chances of winning the NFC East.

If the Eagles would have handled business in Miami then they would have been a top of the division and would have put a lot of pressure on Dallas to win out and beat the birds at home in a few weeks.

Since the Eagles offense and defense can’t seem to find a way to be productive at the same time and play a complete game; the question is can this team still make it to the playoffs?

Currently the Eagles still control of their destiny and if they win out by some strange miracle, they will be in the playoffs.

The only thing that keeps me optimistic about this team is that they play hard and they all know each other very well.

Many thought last year when the Eagles seemed dead in the water, and the decision to shut down Carson Wentz for the season was made that our playoff chances were in the rearview mirror, but we ended up stealing a game against the Bears and was one Alshon Jeffery catch away from playing in the NFC Championship.

Oddly enough, the Eagles still hold the tiebreaker over the Dallas Cowboys and still hold control of their own destiny.

The Eagles last four games of the season are against the Giants, Redskins, Cowboys, and then the Giants again. All four are divisional games and three of the four teams have a record under 500.

If this Eagles team wants to sneak their way into the playoffs and trying to finish what they started last season they better not play down to their competition like they did this past Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.

The defense has to make plays and that starts with the secondary playing well. Offensively, Carson Wentz and the pass catchers need to make plays.

If all of those things happen and head coach Doug Peterson stays balanced with his play-calling the Birds might still have a chance to fly high into the playoffs.  

Email Billy at:

btrice@live.esu.edu