I hate when the Bills play the Philadelphia Eagles. I don’t like anything about the game. Because they are in different conferences it only occurs every few years, but it’s not something I enjoy. You know I have been covering the Bills for the last 24 years. But I have been rooting for the Eagles for the last 44. Every week I report on the Bills, always with one eye on what my Eagles are doing. This Sunday I will have both eyes on both teams as they play at the Ralph. It’s like the old Seinfeld episode where George’ girlfriend wants to hang out with his friends at the diner. On Sunday my football worlds collide.
If you would have told me in August that when these teams met one would be 3-1 and the other would be 1-3 there is little doubt what I would have said. The Eagles were supposed to be the potential Super Bowl team and the Bills were fighting to win 6 or 7 games all year. But a funny thing happened once the season started. The season actually started. They played the games.
The Eagles are everything the Bills are not. Philly has a big name coach with triple digit wins and a packed resume. They have a superstar quarterback with a $100 million dollar contract. The Eagles have Pro Bowl players on both sides of the ball that sell jerseys all around the league, not just at home... And so far the Bills are everything the Eagles are not. They are actually a team. Sunday’s loss in Cincinnati is looking more like the exception than the rule for this Bills team. They do believe they can win and when it counts, in three off their 4 games so far, they have dominated on the 4th quarter. Meanwhile the big spending Eagles have used the biggest part of the game (4th quarter) to shrivel up and die for 3 straight weeks (outscored 36-0 in 3 straight losses). Chan Gailey has been as good as any coach in the NFL so far this season. Andy Reid has been as bad. If he doesn't turn it around quickly there will be legitimate talk about his future with the Eagles.
This Sunday the Bills came back to the Ralph upset about letting one slip away against the Bengals. But the Eagles head to Orchard Park flat out desperate to win the game. They are not only getting grilled like a cheesesteak at Pat’s back at home, but are calling themselves an “embarrassment” after these big time flops. The Eagles play like a basketball team that can drain 3 pointers all day, but doesn’t seem to care about rebounding or defense. There will be times at the game Sunday where they will amaze you with their team speed. Then you will be equally amazed and how fast they can fall apart. This Eagles offense can score from anywhere on the field, except their opponents goal line. That’s because short yardage is all about toughness and this Eagles Dream team lacks it.
The Bills proved against New England that they can play with anyone, so the Eagles talent won’t scare them off. Buffalo’s short range passing game should move the ball with ease in the middle of the field against the Eagles brutal linebackers and safeties. Fred Jackson should have a field day running the ball against a defense that looks at tackling the way Congress looks at cooperation, with disdain. All that being said I think the Bills will have a very difficult time keeping up with the overall team speed of the Eagles offense led by Michael Vick, Lesean McCoy and Desean Jackson.
I expect this game to be one of those thrilling, offensive explosions, with the last team to have the ball getting the points to win it. It will be one of those games filled with big plays and highlights and touchdowns and the Ralph will be rocking. I will split my time between the press box where no cheering is allowing and the stands where I will sit with my dad and a bunch of knucklehead Eagles fans that get together every week to watch their beloved Birds in Rochester. That part will be great. Watching the actual game for me will be painful
Prediction
Eagles 34
Bills 30
This once fans under the category of the more desperate team winning.
Mike’s Season Record (2-2)
MCatalana@13wham.com
