Welcome to December. The road to the playoffs doesn’t get any easier.
In fact, the Eagles might face their sternest test in weeks when the Detroit Lions come into the Linc for Sunday’s 1 p.m. extravaganza.
The Eagles and Chip Kelly have gotten into the habit of sprinting to big leads in the first half, then struggling to hold on for the win, while the faithful have whittled away their fingernails.
That won’t be a problem Sunday. This one is going to be tight all the way, and likely to be decided in the last few minutes.
For some reason, Kelly’s hyper offensive scheme comes unglued when faced with a double-digit lead. The offense seems to lose its rhythm, coming up to the ball, then standing there looking at the sideline for instructions as the play clock ticks down.
Kelly would be wise to keep his pedal to the metal this week.
The Lions bring with them one of the best offensive arsenals in the league, with Matt Stafford blooming into one of the NFL’s best young quarterbacks. That’s a lot easier to do when you are throwing to the best wide receiver in the league. The Eagles are not going to defuse ‘Megatron.’ He’s going to get his catches. The key is to not let him go nuclear.
Weather could be a factor on Sunday as well. If it’s a miserable, wet, cold, snowy day, that could actually work to the Birds’ advantage.
Once again, this one could be decided by Alex Henery in the final moments. And it would not surprise me if the Eagles actually have to come from behind to win one of these games instead of taking a lead and then cruising home.
The Pick: Make it Eagles 24, Lions 23. Nick Foles continues to take care of the ball, and LeSean puts the Birds on his back and he goes wild on a messy track at the Linc.
Last Week: Foles and the Eagles offense again had another spectacular first half, while the Eagles defense forced Carson Palmer into doing what he does too often - turn the ball over. Matt Stafford also is prone to the turnover, so it would be a good week for the Eagle defense to go after him.
Season Record: I was backing the Birds vs. the Cardinals, and it paid off. I’m sitting pretty at 8-4, while the Birds are just a game back at 7-5. Suddenly, there is talk of a possible Wild Card berth even if they don’t win the NFC East. I don’t think that happens. This team has its destiny in its own hands. All they need to do is run the board. Four more wins, baby. We’ll get a chance to keep an eye on the Cowboys, also at 7-5 but with the tiebreaker in their favor at this point, when they play in Chicago Sunday night.
Game by Game: Eagles 33, Redskins 27 (My Pick: Redskins 31, Eagles 23)
Chargers 33, Eagles 30 (My Pick: Eagles 33, Chargers 17)
Chiefs 26, Eagles 16 (My Pick: Eagles 31, Chiefs 23)
Broncos 52, Eagles 20 (My Pick: Broncos 41, Eagles 27)
Eagles 36, Giants 21 (My Pick: Eagles 29, Giants 26)
Eagles 31, Buccaneers 20 (My Pick: Eagles 26, Buccaneers 17)
Cowboys 17, Eagles 3 (My Pick: Cowboys 33, Eagles 23)
Giants 15, Eagles 7 (My Pick: Giants 26, Eagles 23)
Eagles 49, Raiders 20 (My Pick: Raiders 23, Eagles 13)
Eagles 27, Packers 13 (My Pick: Eagles 29. Packers 16)
Eagles 24, Redskins 16 (My Pick: Eagles 33, Redskins 27)
Eagles 24, Cardinals 21 (My Pick: Eagles 24, Cardinals 19)
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