Bedtime Fan Fuss - Making it official

As if the 42-0, ankle-grabbing loss to Seattle wasn't proof enough, today's Eagles loss officially eliminated them from the playoffs. Just when there was some glimmer of hope for a victory, during a surprisingly exciting game, the New York Giants caused a fumble, recovered, and set up Jay Feely for the game winning, yet anything but automatic, kick. Final score, 26-23 in favor of New York.

After the demoralizing loss on national TV on Monday night, the Eagles set out to redeem themselves, and did. The makeshift offense (third string QB; second, third and fourth string RBs; second, third and fourth string WRs; second and third string linemen) made a real game out of it, making only one costly mistake. Mike McMahon can run well, but teach the boy not to hold the ball like a bag of fried pig skins. A bubble-blowing, 5-year-old girl could've knocked that thing from his hands.

In this season of unexpected disappointment, the third quarter missed field goal attempt from one of the few starters still healthy, David Akers, was just crushing. To know that if the ball traveled about two yards farther, the Eagles win 26-23 in regulation, is the kind of thought that will wake me up at night. (Ok, not really, but if it meant losing a Vince Lombardi Trophy, it would've.)

On the plus side, the Eagles current conglomeration of players seem to be like a kid's party grab bag: You really never know what you're going to see. Running back Ryan Moats was impressive, and McMahon shook off last week's pulling to post a mistake-free regulation. The defensive secondary even stepped up, especially in the fourth quarter.

If the Birds play like this the rest of the way, it should be an entertaining three weeks. All three games, @ St. Louis, @ Arizona, and home against Washington, are winable.