In Rocky's home town, a long-shot story for the ages

Move over, Rocky Balboa. There's a new lovable long shot in town.

5-7.

That was the Eagles' record just a few weeks ago.

Scott, Perkins, Burnett. Those are the names of Eagles receivers who caught passes from Carson Wentz yesterday.

No, we're not making this stuff up.

Yes, it's hard to believe this team - which was dead and buried after that embarrassing loss to the Dolphins, and battered by a never-ending string of injuries to key players - then ran off four straight wins to end the season 9-7 and win the NFC East. The Eagles are going to the playoffs, courtesy of one more incredibly gutty 34-17 win over the Giants late Sunday afternoon in the Meadowlands.

They now will host a playoff game, with the Seattle Seahawks coming to the Linc for a 4:40 p.m. matchup next Sunday afternoon.

But before setting your sights on Seattle, we would be remiss if we did not fully grasp what Doug Pederson and his charges accomplished in the last month.

The injuries for this team started in the very first game, when they lost what was supposed to be a key cog in their defensive line. Malik Jackson, one of the team's top free agent acquisition in the off-season, was gone for the season with a foot injury.

He would have lots of company.

DeSean Jackson, the team's only deep wide receiving threat, would miss most of the season with an abdominal injury. He would be joined by the team's other starting wideouts, Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor.

The Eagles went into Sunday's key game with Greg Ward, who had spent most of the season on the practice squad, as their featured wideout.

Wentz also was without his "go-to" guy, tight end Zach Ertz, sidelined by a rib injury he suffered in the big win over the Cowboys last week.

The Birds' other big offensive weapon, rookie running back Miles Sanders, would go down during the game yesterday.

The right side of the offensive line was decimated. Brandon Brooks left the game with a shoulder injury. Lane Johnson already was on the shelf, still recovering from a concussion.

The names on the back of those green jerseys Sunday were not exactly household names.

Boston Scott became the featured back, and delivered three touchdowns. He teamed with Josh Perkins, Greg Ward, Deontay Burnett and Robert Davis for 16 catches. All of them were either practice squadders or castoffs from other teams.

In the face of this staggering list of injuries, Wentz did what championship quarterbacks are supposed to do. He put these wounded Birds on his back and willed them to victory four straight weeks.

In the process he set a franchise record with 4,039 yards passing, all while having not a single receiver who reached 500 yards in catches. That has never been done in the NFL before.

Eagles coach Doug Pederson, who found himself on the hot seat back in those ugly days following the Dolphins' debacle, did what many believed was impossible, getting his banged-up Birds ready to play in what amounted to four consecutive playoff games.

And he did it all while constantly filling in for one key injured player after another, coming up with game plans to utilize what he had on hand.

In the NFL, they call dealing with injuries "next man up."

Next up for the Eagles is the Seattle Seahawks.

In a Wild Card playoff game.

Unreal.

Forget 'Rocky.'

We've got the Eagles. A more unlikely "long-shot" story you would be hard-pressed to find.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Looks like the kid from Bismarck, ND is showing some real determination.