And to think the Eagles’ slim playoff hopes rested on the slumped shoulders of Dave-Grohl lookalike Kyle Orton (tip of the cap to the O-Man for that one). 

Sigh.

I’ll keep my fingers crossed for 7-9, since I assume that they’ll completely mail it in against a still-alive Saints team this weekend.  Look out, Buffalo!

Here’s to the 36 Chambers of Brian Westbrook making the Pro Bowl tomorrow. He’ll deserve it.

You’d think we’d all be able to continue to bask in the glow of a GLORIOUS VICTORY AGAINST THE HATED COWBOYS.

It’d be nice, wouldn’t it.

Instead, we’re going to get a couple more days (at least) of he-said-she-said in re: whether or not Donovan McNabb told Pam Oliver that he thinks that he’s getting shipped out of town. Oliver’s response to McNabb’s post-game denial:

“My only professional regret is: Why on Earth did I bend over backwards to make it less impactful?,” she said. “And then wake up to … to someone throwing you under bus like that.”

“All I can tell you is I stand by it 100 percent,” she later added. “It’s on-my-mother’s-grave accurate. That’s the bottom line.”

YAWN.

While the blathermonkeys will insist that it’s newsworthy to discuss whether Donovan or Pam is lying, we’ll ignore Brian Westbrook’s impending Pro Bowl nomination and a charming little vengeance game this weekend against the Saints. Yet another week of all Dunavin, all the time.

Does this really still sell papers?  Really?

(Read the rest of this story.)

Looks like somebody from PhiladelphiaEagles.com was working late last night!

Careful readers may have noticed a fresh image of Donovan McNabb celebrating the Reggie Brown TD inserted into the page-top header. Hmmm.

Note that Dunavin made a big point of saying that he was not trying to mock a certain former teammate with this celebration, but was instead “thanking the Man upstairs.”

Got it.

(Also, nice work from the web site staff sucking up to Dunavin.)

Totally bad karma to bring up the Roy Williams thing earlier, as he nearly exploded Donovan McNabb’s other leg with a Horsecollar ™ effort in the first half.

Again, they invented the rule because of this guy, and yet this guy keeps getting called for the penalty that they named after him. Perhaps a stern conversation with him on the topic might be appropriate.

Thank you, Philadelphia Eagles! You made my favorite television show interesting for one more week.

Though it’s probably just a bump in the road for what is still the best team in the NFC (staring at ground in abject humiliation), it’s never disappointing to beat the Cowboys, especially in Texas Stadium. Some quick bulletpoints about the game this afternoon:

(Read the rest of this story.)

Okay, I’m bought in. 

Despite some hideously boneheaded moments and a Dallas defense that is laser-focused on preventing Brian Westbrook from running the ball, umm, I think we’re in this thing.  Dunavin looks sharp, the defense seems to have Romo flustered, and T.O. is throwing little tantrums on the sidelines.  This is all goodness. 

Still, life isn’t exactly meadows.  Things that have made me shout at the TV:

• What the crap was that effing Pam Oliver special report about how Dunavin thinks he’s getting shipped out of town.  That doesn’t fit with what Joe Banner had explained to me. 
• I know that I think this every week, but the Birds do seem to have gotten the stiff end of a bunch of calls, not the least of which was the horrifying Ken Hamlin shot on Schoebel.  I can’t even begin to understand the A.J. Feeley call, nor the false start on Jackson near the end of the half.  Baffling.   
• Show Jessica Simpson (who looks like she went to bed at 10 this morning) one more time.  I double-dog dare you.
• The Mikell play was among the most terrible that the Eagles organization has made all season.  Bringing the ball out of the endzone instead of kneeling?  Bad.  Fumbling on the 15.  Worse.  Calling timeout to decide whether to challenge?  Ill-advised.  Actually challenging the obvious fumble?  Mind-blowingly terrible. 

Still, I’m dreaming, more than I was two hours ago.

Go Birds. 

I really wish I was a little more excited about the game this afternoon. The Birds’ season is pretty much through, and I’m mostly concerned that the team has already quit — meaning that I’m going to watch them capitulate to the Cowboys this afternoon with little to no resistance.

That would not be sweet.

All I can think of as kickoff approaches is the opening lines from the very fabulous A Season With Verona by Tim Parks:

“FACCI SOGNARE says the banner. Make us dream! Please!”

And really, that’s what I’m asking for this afternoon. I know there are no playoffs (much less a Super Bowl) in the Birds’ immediate future. I’m rational. That’s all done.

I just want something to get excited about. Something to convince me that these guys are worth rooting for and that next year might be better than this one. (Read the rest of this story.)

…if someone on the Birds deploys one of Mr. Williams’ patented Horse Collar ™ tackles, especially if said tackle is deployed on a certain flamboyant wide receiver.

This is not to say that I wish the Cowboys or Mr. Owens ill will, BUT, it sure feels like there is some nice symmetry with a certain Week 15 game from 2004. Only this time it’s the 12-1 Cowboys hosting an out-of-it Eagles team instead of a 12-1 Eagles team hosting an out-of-it Birds squad. The Cowboys are the best team in the NFC — just like the Birds in 2004. I’m not saying I’m hoping that anyone gets hurt out there — no no, never — but were something unfortunate to befall a certain Dallas wideout, well, I wouldn’t pretend that I didn’t appreciate the irony.
(Read the rest of this story.)

Kevin, Kevin, Kevin, who told you that you were supposed to be talking?

I understand if the reporters come to your locker and booby-trap some questions in an attempt to provoke some headline-worthy quotes. So far, you’ve done an excellent job of being respectful, saying the right things, and staying on the good side of the media. To be fair, we’re in the loveless twilight years of our relationship with Dunavin, and you’re the young trophy QB: a little cuter, a little trimmer, and utterly devoid of baggage. Of course we all want to buy you things and take you on weekend getaways — you’re just the fresh start we’ve been looking for.

Some quick advice: enjoy the lovefest while it lasts, and be at least 18 percent more careful with your words around the reporters.

(Read the rest of this story.)

Welcome to a couple days of looking on the bright side!

That is, after a few days of reflection in re: the deep spiritual ennui brought on by the (a) poor performance of the 2007 Eagles and (b) my limited enthusiasm for improvement and/ or change for the 2008 season, I’ve decided it isn’t actually that bad. The Eagles aren’t very good, but they’re not terrible. There are some positives out there. Seriously. It’s not as bad as it could be.

Item #1: at least the Eagles aren’t the Falcons.

Remember that the Falcons were the team that the Birds defeated in the 2004 NFC Championship Game, and looked like they might be a rival for the Eagles for years to come. They had the up-and-coming franchise QB, the sharp young coach, some exciting playmakers on defense, and an owner who was committed to building a legit franchise.

Yikes. Can’t say that really worked out for them, huh?
(Read the rest of this story.)