Two scary thoughts for Philly fans

Here are two scary thoughts for Philly sports fans in this summer turned autumn of our discontent: Roy Halladay and Peyton Manning.

Halladay's season-long struggle likely ended last night when he lasted just 16 pitches. The former ace failed to get out of the first inning in what would eventually become a dispiriting 4-0 loss to the Marlins. It marked the Phils' fifth straight loss. They have not won since the interim tag was lifted manger Ryne Sandberg's title.

Halladay didn't help matters last night. Of his 16 pitches, only five of them were strikes. And none of them registered higher than 83 mph on the gun.

That's when the trainers when and got him. The story is that Halladay's arm is not the only thing bothering him. He's been having gastrointestinal issues for months, something that apparently runs in his family. The only question left now is if those 16 pitches are the last ones he ever throws for the Phillies. Halladay will be a free agent at the end of the season.

One arm not in question is that of Peyton Manning. Hopefully, not many Eagles fans stayed up last night to watch the Broncos' QB eviscerate the Oakland Raiders on the nationally televised Monday night game. It was enough to give Chip Kelly and Billy Davis nightmares.

The Eagles are next on the radar screen for the unbeaten Broncos. And they have to fly across the country before tangling with Peyton in the Mile High City Sunday afternoon at 4:25.

All Manning did last night was go 32-for-37, throwing for 374 yards and 3 TDs in the process. He now has 12 TDs this year, and has yet to throw an interception.

What do you think he's going to do against Nate Allen and the guys.

This one could get ugly.

The saying in the NFL is, of course, "any given Sunday." It means that at this level, any team is capable of beating another one on any given Sunday.

Bookmakers make a fortune from suckers trying to prove that theory wrong.

Now it's Chip Kelly's turn.

It's his first game in the pros where all of the experts are giving his team little or no chance to win. Yeah, you're not in Oregon anymore, Chip.

You didn't get the chance to pull off many "upsets" while dominating in the college ranks. You could shock everybody and likely validate your frenetic style of play by winning on Sunday.

I'll believe it when I see it.