Eagles-Niners Preview
This is just what the Eagles need — a matchup with a pass defense featuring safety Michael Lewis and linebacker Takeo Spikes. A matchup with the NFL’s 23rd-ranked rush defense, 19th-ranked pass defense and 21st-ranked defense overall.
Warm up Donovan McNabb’s arm, Correll Buckhalter’s legs and let Andy Reid’s offense loose. It’s time to throw and throw deep. It’s time to run fast and run hard. Plenty of points are waiting to be scored on Sunday in San Francisco.
We know, the 49ers (2-3) have the same record as the Eagles. They are an NFL team. Every team in the NFL is dangerous. But if this Birds team is any good, if they have any chance of making the playoffs, they will win this game — without Brian Westbrook, Shawn Andrew and Reggie Brown.
The 49ers might as well be playing in the California Penal League. They aren’t any good and neither is their division.
The NFC West is an abomination. We already saw first-hand just how pathetic the Rams were. Rumor has it that at team meetings they are teaching each other how to tie their shoes. The Seahawks aren’t much better. They decided to give the Giants a second straight bye week last Sunday. Seattle’s offense all season long has even made the Eagles’ second-half attack look dangerous. Then there is first-place Arizona. They lost by 100 to the Jets and are still somehow in first place. Clearly it’s by default.
This is not a classic 49ers team. Nobody is going to mistake J.T. O’Sullivan for Joe Montana or Mike Nolan for Bill Walsh. Candlestick Park doesn’t exactly strike fear into the visitors anymore. San Francisco’s lone home win in three tries came over Detroit. Not much to brag about there. Detroit might possibly be worse than any NFC West team.
It’s one thing for the Eagles to lose in Dallas and Chicago during nationally-televised games and to the red-hot Redskins last Sunday. It’s a completely different level of embarrassment to lose against the 49ers.
Don’t listen to Andy Reid. He claims “it’s going to be a heck of a game” and the Eagles need their “A game.” That’s not true. Their C-game should be sufficient. This is the 49ers with Michael Lewis and Takeo Spikes playing significant defensive roles. Who is scared to throw the ball around the lot against that? Certainly not Reid.
Can’t you see it now: Thirty-five passes for Donovan McNabb in the first half. Two hundred-plus yards. Then maybe Reid will mix in some runs. Typical Eagles, beating up on the bad teams.
Prediction:
Eagles 32, 49ers 10
