Oh how things have changed. First things first Dallas, the Eagle is the country’s mascot, not a Cowboy or a star, we have fifty of the latter. Also, a new sheriff is in town, and his name is Chip Kelly. With Washington and New York out of contention for the playoffs, this two team race will likely be decided in Week 17 in Dallas.
With a one game lead in the division but a game behind in the all important tie-breaker: division wins, Philadelphia has the slight upper hand in this race to the finish.
Five consecutive wins have made life easier for Eagles fans that have little to cheer for outside of the NFL with the current state of the Flyers, Sixers, and the burning trash-pile that is Rueben Amaro Junior’s Phillies. But I digress, with just three games left on the slate in 2013, things are heating up in the race for the NFC East crown despite the colder weather.
Washington Redskins(3-10) @ Atlanta Falcons(3-10)
Two division winners will face off in the Georgia Dome Sunday in a game that looked much better on paper back in August.
Both the Falcons and Redskins have completely collapsed just a season after winning their respective division titles, and will play in a game that means more to the St. Louis Rams than to the Redskins. Kirk Cousins will take over for Robert Griffin III who has been shut down for the season via a coaches decision to “protect their franchise player”.
Never before have I seen anything like this, as the young quarterback would surely benefit from added snaps in league games.
Nevertheless, expect a shootout on Sunday as two capable offenses battle less than stellar defensive units Sunday in Atlanta.
Prediction: Falcons 31 Redskins 30
Washington selected Kirk Cousins as a backup plan to former Baylor standout Griffin III a year ago, and the sophomore will look to make a case for himself as a starter versus the league’s 20th ranked passing defense. Matt Ryan will try to out duel Cousins on his home field, which should be simple due to Washington’s tenacity for giving up big time passing plays. Expect heavy doses of Harry Douglas and Tony Gonzalez all afternoon as the Falcons will win the high-scoring affair.
Seattle Seahawks(11-2) @ New York Giants(5-8)
Do not expect anything but a blowout here, as one of the NFL’s best franchisees heads east to battle the shell of what was once a great team.
Russell Wilson may have been drafted by the Texas Rangers, but football will still be his occupation Sunday.
Perhaps the league’s best defense will be more than Eli Manning and the Giants’ offense will have little to no hope against their NFC West foes.
Seattle is playing for home field advantage, and will get one step closer on Sunday with a win in New York.
Prediction: Seahawks 27 Giants 6
What hope does the league’s 27th ranked rushing attack have against the likes of Bruce Irvin and the rest of the Seahawks’ 14th ranked run defense? With Richard Sherman all over Victor Cruz, New York’s offense will be out to sea with little hope for rescue. Simply put: one team needs a win, and one has already made hotel reservations somewhere warm, and this game will be a blowout.
Green Bay Packers(6-6-1) @ Dallas Cowboys(7-6)
Two teams in downward spirals will clash on Sunday in the house that Jerry Jones built, and only one will emerge with playoff hopes still intact. The scope of this game depends solely on the health of Aaron Rodgers who returned to Packers’ practice this week, and hopes to play Sunday. Though the situation is still murky, I expect Rodgers to play against the league’s worst secondary, what better occasion for a comeback party?
Dallas has fallen a step behind division-leading Philadelphia, and must defeat the Packers to keep hope alive with just three contests left in the regular season. Though the Cowboys own the tiebreaker with Philadelphia in terms of division wins. Tony Romo will have yet another chance to prove his doubters wrong on Sunday, and keep Dallas’ hopes alive in the process.
Prediction: Packers 34 Cowboys 31
If you are looking for a defensive match up, this game will not be for your viewing pleasure. Should Rodgers return to form, Monte Kiffin’s crew will be in for a long afternoon. To quote John Madden “The team who scores the most points will win the game” and with Rodgers at the helm, Green Bay should have no problem doing just that.
Philadelphia Eagles(8-5) @ Minnesota Vikings(3-9-1)
The NFL’s leading rusher will take on a team allowing 118.8 yards on the ground per contest, and even for a history major like myself, that math is simple. The man they call shady should decimate an aging Vikings’ front seven and add fuel to the “fire Leslie Frazier” campaign. With Christian Ponder and Adrian Peterson unlikely to go for the Vikings, only Toby Gerhart and Matt Cassel will be left standing to tyr and keep up with Chip Kelly’s prolific offense.
With a win on Sunday, Philadelphia will ensure that the Week 17 meeting in Dallas will decide the NFC East. Mccoy and Nick Foles should together decimate an atrocious Vikings defense in a thunder and lightening style approach. First in rushing with 158.5 yards per game, and third in total offense with 409.3 yards per game, Minnesota will offer little resistance against a “college style offense that will never work in the NFL”.
Prediction: Eagles 42 Vikings 14
In the Reid era, this would have been the prototypical “trap game” Eagles fans have had to endure for over a decade. With Chip Kelly, the surging Eagles have a shot to win their sixth straight game in the land of a thousand lakes. Without Adrian Peterson to lean on, the Vikings have little hope to defeat the beast of the NFC East.