Saint Nick to the rescue of Philly sports fans

Thank God for the Eagles.

Anyone want to ponder what the winter sports scene would be like around here if Chip Kelly had not come around to resuscitate the Birds.

Last night the Flyers got something of a measuring stick to see where they stand in the NHL when they faced off against the best team in the league, the Chicago Blackhawks. The Flyers actually took a 1-0 lead into the second period. That's when the defending Stanley Cup champions turned on the jets, scoring five goals on the way to a 7-2 rout. Rob Parent has all the details from the Windy City.

Sixers fan? Go back to bed, pull the covers up over your head, and stay there until Draft Day. Last night the Sixers bolted to a big 19-point lead in the first half, only to fall to the T-Wolves.

If anyone has any idea what Ruben Amaro Jr.'s plan is for the Phillies, please let us know.

Thankfully, we have meaningful football in December, courtesy of Nick Foles, LeSean McCoy and the gang.

Just in case he hadn't heard the persistent rumbling of those who continue to doubt him, Foles was greeted with another dilemma yesterday.

Yes, that's the Eagles QB featured on the front cover of this week's regional edition of Sports Illustrated. A lot of people believe there's a jinx that goes along with being showcased by SI.

I'm not one of them. I expect Foles, who has yet to be the least bit flustered by anything other than some concussion symptoms in that dreadful game against the Cowboys.

Foles has the perfect demeanor for an NFL quarterback, not too high and not too low. Instead, he strikes me more and more as the cool, confident gunslinger.

He did not get off to a good start in those wild Snow Bowl conditions at the Linc Sunday, but he never panicked.

I don't expect anything less when the Eagles fly into the cozy confines of the dome in Minnesota on Sunday. We'll all be glued to our TVs.

We need the Eagles to keep this run going. Because the winter sports scene in Philly looks like it is going to be a long, cold slog to the spring.

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