The Eagles are now 5-5. And they've yet to win a home game.
If they are able to best the Washington Redskins on Sunday at the Linc, it will be the first time they have tasted victory on their home turf since September. Of 2012. They've now lost 12 straight in South Philly.
But thanks for a win on the sunny tundra of legendary Lambeau Field against the Packers, and the Saints thorough demolition of the Cowboys last night on Sunday Night Football, the Eagles sit tied for first place in the NFC Least. Actually, since the Cowboys hold a victory in hand, they’re technically in first place.
Are you excited yet?
Me neither.
I'm having a hard time warming up to this bunch under the tutelage of Chip Kelly.
Yesterday's snooze-fest in Green Bay was hard to watch. I'm not sure Alabama couldn't whip either one of those teams.
The Packers' situation went from bad to desperate on the first series of the game. Filling in for injured all-Pro Aaron Rodgers, Seneca Wallace heard something go 'zing' in his groin on a rollout, and retreated to the sidelines. He did not return, leaving the game in the hands of Scott Tolzien, fresh off the practice squad.
The results were ugly.
Nick Foles and the Eagles' offense weren't a lot better.
Foles came back to Earth after his Canton-like performance against the Raiders. But he still threw three touchdown passes - including two more to suddenly red-hot Riley Cooper - to lead the Birds to victory.
Foles was a fairly pedestrian 12 of 18 for 228 yards. But once again he did not turn the ball over, which is essential for this team. Foles did more than enough, along with a huge dose of LeSean McCoy, who rushed for 155 yards, to register another 'W.'
So what do we make of this team?
With a favorable schedule, there's no reason the Eagles can't win this shabby division. Having said that, I don't think they're going anywhere in the playoffs.
More than that, I think Chip Kelly's biggest decision in the next couple of months remains at quarterback, and whether Foles will be his guy, or if he will dip into a very rich QB talent pool coming out in this year's college draft.
I know what Foles did last week. I'm still not sold.
Maybe the most impressive thing I saw this team do all day yesterday came in the final minutes, when the Eagles did something I know Chip Kelly does not like to do. With a two-TD lead, they milked the clock, slowed down their tempo and gave the Packers a huge helping of McCoy. It was odd seeing the Birds rush to the line of scrimmage, then wait there as the clock ticked down. The Eagles got the ball back with about 7 minutes left in the game and promptly ran out the clock. That's something I've wondered if they could do. Yesterday they provided an answer.
Now if only we had an answer on Foles.
It's hard to argue with what he does, but I'm still not sold. He looked more like the guy who struggled against the Cowboys yesterday than the guy who was all-world in Oakland.
He flat out got lucky on two of his long TD passes. The one to DeSean Jackson for the first score of the day probably should have been intercepted, instead it was batted up in the air, came down in Jackson's hands, and he walked into the end zone. One of Cooper's TD's was basically a ball that was heaved up there in the middle of the field, and Cooper went and got it, then rolled into the end zone.
Still, it's hard to downplay going into Lambeau Field and coming away with a win.
Now the Eagles have to figure out a way to do the same in Lincoln Financial Field.
If they don't, we won't have to worry about the playoffs.
* Click here for beat writer Bob Grotz's take on the game.
* Click here for columnist Jack McCaffery, who believes the Birds are for real.
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