By: KO Kelly
The Future is Bright
In any other year last week’s loss to the Saints would have been absolutely crushing. After coming out strong and then fading in the middle after a slew of injuries, our Birds were still in the mix to pull off the biggest upset of the weekend. They were marching down the field against the Saints’ defense in rhythm for the first time since the first quarter. My only concern was that we were going to score too quickly and then suffer through a Brees to Thomas Hail Mary.
Instead the game slipped through Alshon Jeffery’s fingers (a player no one can be upset with given all he has done for the team over the past two years) and the season was all but over. In that moment, though, I felt relief and gratitude.
This team has been through so much over the season and with the injuries in the first half, it was not getting any easier. If they had won last weekend, my prediction for the LA rematch would not have been a confident one. Our Birds played there hearts out over the past several weeks and gave us a run almost as exciting as last year’s. They fought hard in this game and were able to go down swinging.
Another blogger compared this loss to the ending of the first Rocky movie. The Saints had to pull out all the stops – a fake-punt, multiple big-time 3rd Down conversions, and a last-minute interception – to defeat our “back-up” QB, 3rd-string RB, depleted defensive and offensive lines, guys-off-the-streets CBs. Our Birds were able to go toe-to-toe with the “best” in the Conference and demonstrated they belonged there. They may not have won the game but they proved they are perennial contenders with this coaching staff and core group of players.
The most disappointing part about last week’s loss is not the loss at a shot to hold onto their Championship title but that we will not see this band of brothers play together again. A lot of pieces will be in motion this off-season and some familiar faces will certainly be gone next year. If nothing else, this game should serve as a reminder to live in the present and appreciate those who are on this ride with you. Our time together is unknown, so live fully in those moments.
As far as this weekend’s match-ups, I will be rooting hard for Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh to make Brees’ afternoon a living nightmare. I now loathe the Saints more than the Cowboys and even the Giants. They are classless and with any luck will get completely embarrassed this weekend in the Dome.
In the AFC match-up I am torn. It would be great for Andy to make it back to the Super Bowl and get another shot at hoisting the Lombardi Trophy this February but given his track record in big games, I am hesitant to invest my faith in him this weekend. On the flip side, I am not opposed to the Patriots going all the way this year and winning a 6th ring. I know I know, that’s blasphemous for an Eagles’ fan but hear me out. If the Patriots make it to the Super Bowl, I do not want any other QB beating Tom Brady, I want Foles to be the last person to take him down. The better his record looks at the end of the day, the better our smudge on his record looks.
So while we will not be watching our Birds play this weekend, we can rest easy knowing they have a strong core of group players who will not give up and who will show up every week for Doug & Co. They certainly have work to do in the off-season but they are up for the challenge.
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