NFL: No More Eagles, Divisional Picks

Well, it was interesting in its way, yet it's also like a broken record. An Eagles team raises expectations and then drops out of the playoffs. At least this time, there's no Donovan McNabb for people to blame. But the loss to Green Bay didn't expose anything that wasn't already exposed. They have a defense that wasn't all that good during the 10-4 start and didn't get any better during the last two meaningful games (the season-ender against Dallas was just a glorified exhibition), both of which they lost. The offensive line, particularly on the right side, is a mess. Michael Vick, while showing a lot of improvement, still needs work. Of course, the Eagles have to sign him first. He's now a free agent.

Assuming they're still Vick fans, the Eagles have to decide what to do with Kevin Kolb, who still wants to start and has just one year left on his contract. Keep him as a backup again? He won't be happy with that. If they trade him, they need a backup for Vick or they're really in trouble. We saw Vick get hurt and miss some time this year. Imagine if that happens again and Kolb is gone.

Right now the Eagles' biggest problem is a two-pronged issue. They need a lot of upgrades to truly contend for the Super Bowl, but they won't be able to do anything until the NFL and its players' union have a new contract.
If there's a lockout that lasts all spring and summer, when it ends (that is, if it ends without any games canceled) there will be a bunch of unsigned free agents (not to mention Vick) sitting there and every team will be jumping at them. And since the players will be locked out of teams' facilities, there will be no minicamps or organized team activities (OTAs). Young players who need more work (and the Eagles have a lot of them) and players who need to rehab injuries (the Eagles have a few of them, too) are in danger of falling behind. And who knows what the new labor agreement will contain? Different rules for free agency and the salary cap? And will it affect how the Eagles do business?

At the moment the Eagles' future is impossible for me to predict. So are playoff games, judging by my 1-3 record last weekend. But that won't stop me from trying again. They're all rematches from earlier in the season. That probably won't help me.

SATURDAY'S GAMES

AFC -- (5) Baltimore Ravens at (2) Pittsburgh Steelers: If this isn't the best game of the weekend, it will probably be the lowest-scoring. The teams split their games during the season, both losing at home. I'll take the home team this time, though. Steelers 16, Ravens 13.

NFC -- (6) Green Bay Packers at (1) Atlanta Falcons: The Falcons beat the Packers in November, yet I get the impression that lots of people are picking Green Bay. I'm not. I don't think the Packers are as impressive as they seem. I think they could have blown out the Eagles if they were. Falcons 27, Packers 24.

SUNDAY'S GAMES

NFC -- (4) Seattle Seahawks at (2) Chicago Bears: Once again Seattle is a big underdog, but they knocked off the defending champs last week. I'm really tempted to go with Seattle, because I don't trust a team with Jay Cutler at quarterback. If the game were in Seattle, I probably would. Then again, the Seahawks won at Soldier Field this year...oh, what the hell? I'm not putting money on it, so...Seahawks 24, Bears 23.

AFC -- (6) New York Jets at (1) New England Patriots: I really, really, really, really, really, really don't want the Patriots to win another Super Bowl. (Really.) I'd love it if the loudmouth Jets knocked them off. They beat the Patriots once this year. But that was in September at home. In December, when they went to Foxboro/Foxborough/however they spell it now, the Pats destroyed them 45-3. Sigh. Patriots 31, Jets 20.