MNF: Eagles vs. Packers

My column tomorrow will preview the baseball divisional series, look ahead to what the Phillies need to do, and comment on the weekend of football. But today, we have to get ready for the Birds welcoming the Packers to town tonight in a tune-up for the Cowbots and the pill swallowing T.O. on Sunday...

The Eagles play Green Bay tonight at the Linc in what the experts predict will be one of their easier games of the year (which is verified by the 163 people who picked the Birds in the Win or Die). They are favored by 11, and a loss would cripple for the Eagles for the remainder of the year, while a win is merely what you are supposed to do. In other words, there is a lot more to lose for the Birds than to gain. So the question becomes, is there anything to worry about for Eagles fans?

The Eagles offense is clicking on all cylinders this season. Mr. McNabb is as effective as he has ever been. His quarterback rating through three games is a lofty 105.3. As a reference point, two years ago when the mighty T.O. was in town, his rating for the season was 104.7, the highest in a career in which he has an overall rating of 84.9. His average yards per attempt are the highest of his career at 8.5, and he has 7 touchdowns against a single interception. He is spreading the ball around well, and both Stallworth and Brown seem like they are legitimately good receivers. Westbrook, despite already being hurt to the point of missing lots of practice time, has not been affected at gametime, with 140 yards per game from scrimmage. The Eagles offense is averaging 29 points a game. On the flip side, Green bay’s defense has been porous, giving up 28 points a game. On the injury front, Donte Stallworth has been practicing, and despite being listed as questionable, should be good to go.

Green Bay has averaged almost 20 points a game, and Favre has been wildly inconsistent, as has been his M.O. the last few years. Greg Jennings is developing into a legitimate #2 threat alongside Donald Driver. Ahman Green looked good in their opener but has averaged less than 3.0 yards per carry over the last couple weeks, and comes into the game tonight hurt. Rod Hood looks to be out for the game tonight, but Lito Sheppard, despite being listed as doubtful, has practiced for the last couple days and will be a game time decision.

As long as the Eagles do not look ahead to next week's game, and Andy Reid has always done a good job of keeping his team focused on the task at hand in these situations, the Birds will score at least 30 points in this game. I cannot see how the Packer defense can slow down this offense which clicking on all cylinders. The question then is can the Packers keep up. Look for Favre to make a few big plays, and I would not rush Sheppard back. Let him sit tonight and get him ready for when the man with the death wish comes to town next week. However, the Eagles pass rush is strong even without Jevon Kearse, and that is the recipe to make Favre make a couple of bad mistakes to go with those big plays.

Final Score: Eagles 38, Packers 21 (Picks: Eagles, OVER)