My LeSean McCoy Blog

#24 - Philadelphia Eagles - Maurkice Pouncey - Florida

The Eagles have now traded away Donovan McNabb. The fans can't complain because they've been waiting for this day since draft night when he was taken over Ricky Williams. Other than that, this team looks good for another run at the NFC East crown. The offense is pretty set other than that. There will be some growing pains with QB Kolb being the new starter, but the team should be okay. The o-line knows how to block for McNabb, and now they will have to get used to Kolb. The receivers should have some chemistry with Kolb when he started a couple games last year, and hopefully they will be able to fine tune everything in the preseason.

Philadelphia could use a little help in the pass defense, where they ranked 16th in the NFL, more than the rush defense, which ranked 9th in the league. But, they can look at that later in the draft. The team can look at CB or S with their new second round pick at #37 because Pouncey is too good to pass up here. Upgrading the offensive line will help out the other new starter on offense, LeSean McCoy. Having a stable line can help keep the offense running efficiently and effectively. The offense is very young, with an average starting age of 24, so you would think they should go defense but upgrading the o-line is always important.

Expect the Eagles to compete with the Cowboys this year again for the division title because the young players like DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, and LeSean McCoy will be even better this year.

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For the first time in over a decade, the Philadelphia Eagles enter the NFL season with a new quarterback at the helm and sport a roster flush with young talent. As usual, I have some concerns about this year's team. You'll be surprised who was left off the list.

That's right; I'm not concerned about Kevin Kolb. Not. At. All. If you know me or have previously visited the site, you know I'm a McNabb apologist. However, I'm also a total believer in Kolb. Of course he's going to struggle at times and make stupid mistakes. That's what young quarterbacks do (and old ones too if you've watched the Eagles). Regardless, I don't think Kolb's growing pains will cost the Eagles as much as the potential issues I've listed below. (Here's hoping they'll all be overcome or avoided.)

1. Secondary. Yes, the Eagles enter the 2010 season with an unproven quarterback (only two NFL starts) and my top concern is the defensive secondary. Why? Because the 2009 version of the Eagles defense was the worst I've seen since the Mike Mamula days and the secondary was a big reason why. Sheldon Brown and Asante Samuel continuously fell victim to the double move and were abused in the final two contests by Dallas. The platoon (Quintin Demps, Macho Harris, Sean Jones) trying to replace Brian Dawkins at free safety offered zero help in coverage (or anywhere else for that matter), and severely crippled the play of former pro-bowler Quintin Mikell. What's worse, as a collective unit, the secondary tackled about as well as Bobby Taylor. So yes, I'm a little apprehensive. On the other hand, I loved moving the overrated Sheldon Brown, using three draft picks to improve the secondary, and giving rookie Nate Allen every chance to win the starting role at free safety.

2. Health. I know, I know. You're probably thinking; Duh!!!! Normally, I wouldn't include such an obvious concern, but the Eagles are especially vulnerable at key positions. Middle linebacker is one of them. As we witnessed in 2009, losing Stewart Bradley at middle linebacker would be a crushing blow. While the addition of Ernie Sims added some much needed talent to the linebacking core, replacing Bradley in the middle would still be impossible. If Bradley goes down again the defense is in deep trouble.

If it's not too painful for you to think back to the consecutive massacres in Dallas, you'll recall McNabb scrambling for his life on nearly every down. Part of this was due to Reid's moronic game plan. The other part was a result of the injury to starting center Jamaal Jackson. Jackson is still recovering from that same knee injury and the depth across the rest of the line is questionable at best. A severe injury to any of the starters could cost Kevin Kolb a limb or two.

The outlook at running back isn't much better. Behind LeSean McCoy, the depth chart reads; "you're screwed." Ok, not really but it does read; Mike Bell (injury prone), Eldra Buckley (situational back), and J.J. Arrington (looking for a home). If McCoy can't stay healthy, the Eagles just might be out of options. This leads us to my next concern...

3. Running Game. Will the Eagles even have a running game? LeSean McCoy is young, so there's plenty of time to improve, but I'm not convinced he's an every-down back yet. Even if McCoy is capable, will Reid include a consistent rushing attack in his offense? (History says no.) It's one thing for Reid to ask an 11-year veteran to sling it 30-40 times per game. To ask the same of a first year starter is flirting with disaster. The Eagles will absolutely need a ground attack this season to aid Kolb's development and bail him out of a rough outing, which is bound to happen at least once. Unfortunately, I'm not convinced that 1. Reid is invested in a running game, and 2. That Reid will even resort to it if Kolb's play requires it. (Unless something drastically changes or Reid leaves town, I'm just going to copy and paste this section on an annual basis.)

4. Experience. Young talent brings explosiveness, enthusiasm, and excitement. Unfortunately, young talent also brings inexperience. Never before in the Reid era have the Eagles entered a season with so much youth at critical positions. It will be interesting to see how the young players respond in big-game situations, especially on offense where Todd Herremans and Jamaal Jackson are the only veteran voices in the huddle. More importantly, who will push the young players through the tough losses when proven veterans like McNabb and Westbrook aren't around to rally the team?

5. Receivers. There's little doubt that Kevin Kolb is a more accurate passer than Donovan McNabb, but even great accuracy won't complete passes if your receivers aren't in the right spots. I'm nit-picking here, but Eagle receivers, especially DeSean Jackson, struggled immensely against the physical cornerbacks of the Dallas Cowboys last season. Both Jackson and Jeremy Maclin are smaller receivers that rely more on speed and quickness than brute force. Because of this, Dallas' corners were able to disrupt the Eagles' offense by bumping Maclin and Jackson at the line. Before you call me crazy, remember the Eagles play in the physical NFC East. Dallas is the same team that mauled the Eagles three times last season. New York's secondary (injured all of 2009) and pass rush will undoubtedly bounce back from an off year, and the Redskins have improved as well. All three will look to accomplish the same thing; bump the Eagle receivers at the line and disrupt their timing with Kolb to allow the defensive line to pressure him into mistakes. Again, it's not the most critical concern, but for Kolb to survive in the NFC East, he'll need his receivers to get to the right spots at the right time.

6. Pass rush. For what feels like the millionth time, the Eagles are convinced an offseason acquisition (draft/trade/free agency) is the solution at the defensive end position opposite Trent Cole. I love Brandon Graham and it's hard not to believe he's the real deal, but I've seen this act before. Jerome McDougle never panned out, Victor Abiamiri can't get healthy, Darren Howard and Jevon Kearse were both disappointments, and after only seven sacks in two years, Chris Clemons is gone. Forgive me for not declaring Graham the left end savior just yet.

Football starts exactly three weeks from tonight. More to come.

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We got the chance to interview Scott from InsideTheIggles.com this week. Scott answered a variety of different questions we threw at him. We'd like to thank Scott for his participation and look forward to collaborating with InsideTheIggles.com again in the future.

Enjoy!

BirdsFan: Record wise, is this where you thought the Eagles would stand entering the bye week?

InsideTheIggles: I was pretty sure they would lose to either the Panthers or Saints. Even though I predicted they would beat the Saints, I didn't feel good about that game. The fact that they got hammered was disappointing, but not surprising. 2-1 sounds about right.

BF: A lot of key players have been injured this season. Does any status of a particular player concern you?

ITI: McNabb. I've had the misfortune of having a cracked rib. They can linger for a couple months and I never had maniac linebackers and defensive ends trying to crush me once a week. This is why Kolb's performance is so important. I think a lot of fans assume Don will be back against Tampa. I'm sure he wants to be out there, but his rib may have other ideas.

BF: At this point, who are your offensive and defensive MVPs?

ITI: On offense, it has to be Brent Celek. I had high hopes for him after the way he finished last season, but I had no idea he would be this good. Third in the NFL with 22 catches. Not sure he'll continue this kind of production, but he's off to a great start. On defense, I'm going with Brodrick Bunkley. He doesn't show up in the stat sheets with sacks, but he is an absolute monster inside. He made life very difficult for both DeAngelo Williams and Larry Johnson.

BF: What area would you like to see the Eagles improve upon most?

ITI: Surprise, the run blocking. I'm sure the revolving door that is the offensive line has something to do with their inconsistent play, but guys like Max and Nick Cole aren't impressing me. Maybe when/if Herremans and Stacy get healthy, they can open up some holes.

BF: We were able to see the regular season debut of Michael Vick last week. Do you see him and Donovan McNabb having a healthy relationship? And do you think Vick will make significant contributions to the team this season?

ITI: The media likes to paint McNabb and Vick as being potential enemies. That's nonsense. Vick is no threat to Don's job. Guys with big egos can clash, but I don't see that happening here. As for Vick's contributions, he's got a ways to go. He still isn't close to full speed. I think after a few more games he'll start to make an impact; however, I'm still not sure 10-15 snaps per game will do much for the offense. Reid has yet to figure out Vick's exact role. Until he does, all we can do is wonder.

BF: The Eagles don't have a division game until Week Seven of the season where they will play all three division rivals in the span of three weeks. Which team(s) do you see providing the Eagles the most trouble?

ITI: Giants. Apparently, they found themselves some receivers. They have the most balanced team and are itching for payback after last season.

BF: The depth on the Eagles offense has been remarkable. Players like Winston Justice, Kevin Kolb, and LeSean McCoy have all filled in when asked to and played great football. Do you attribute this to drafting, coaching, or something else?

ITI: I think the Eagles brain trust is one of the best in the NFL. They draft well and do an excellent job coaching these guys up. Twenty of twenty-two starters last Sunday were either drafted players or undrafted free agents. Take Justice for example. They could have dumped him a year ago, but Reid and Juan Castillo kept pushing him. Now he might be the Eagles best lineman through three games.

BF: The addition of Jeremiah Trotter, do you view this as them adding leadership to the team or actually trying to add depth to the MLB position?

ITI: I think the leadership thing is extremely overrated. If they cared about leadership, Dawk would still be in town. In my opinion, Trotter was brought in because he knows the system and weighs 260 pounds. With Bradley out, they need a physical, attacking MIKE backer. Trotter fits the description. Whether he actually has anything left remains to be seen.

BF: Now that we have seen Kolb play, what are you impressions of his overall performance and do you think the Eagles try to move him in the offseason for a draft pick?

ITI: Hell, no. Kolb is the future, like it or not. Vick will be the guy that gets moved. In fact, I would anticipate Kolb getting an extension at some point in the next twelve months. He runs the offense effectively and can make all the throws. He still needs to fine tune his skills, but I think he's a keeper.

BF: With Brian Westbrook being hurt again, do you see him playing a more limited role due to how well LeSean McCoy has played so far?

ITI: It pains me to write this, but I think Westy is about done. He couldn't even make it through two full games without getting his ankle dinged. The cumulative effect of all his injuries has taken its toll. They drafted Shady to be the next in line. I'm sure they hoped that would be a year from now, but McCoy is too talented to keep on the sideline. His blitz pickup versus the Chiefs was solid.

BF: You've been able to see the team play three games. Can you give me a prediction on how you think the Eagles final record will look?

ITI: I will stick with my preseason prediction of 11-5. That might not be good enough to win the division, but I still say this is a playoff team.

http://www.BirdsFan.com - A Philadelphia Eagles blog

When the Eagles picked up Leonard Weaver, most people thought he would be a great addition to the team. No one knew that he would pan out the way he would. In 2009, Leonard Weaver had the best season of his career earning him a trip to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro status.

Weaver's amazing season in 2009 has set the bar really high for him, so we have to ask whether or not Weaver will be able to have an even bigger impact in 2010.

Last year Weaver racked up 323 yards on 70 carries with two touchdowns. In 2010, I expect Weaver to see fewer carries but the one's he does see will be important. With Mike Bell in the lineup, the Eagles have more of a bruiser back which they lacked last year. In short yardage situations, Bell should be able to line up behind Weaver and convert those third and one and fourth and one plays that the Eagles have struggled with so much in the past.

Although Weaver has received a lot of attention for his ball carrying and receiving, he is also a solid lead blocker. I'd like to see him play more into this role in 2010, opening up holes for LeSean McCoy, Bell, and whoever ends up winning the third position.

The carries that Weaver does receive may end up being around the goal line. There were a lot of situations last season where the Eagles chose not to utilize Weaver around the goal line and ended up regretting it. In 2010, I think they will look to set up some heavy sets with two tight ends to convert around the goal line.

Weaver may not end up having as flashy of a year in 2010 but I still think he will have a huge impact for the offense.

http://BirdsFan.com - A Philadelphia Eagles blog

The Single Wing Offense is the Hottest Thing In Football Right Now

Single Wing Football is growing by leaps and bounds at the youth level, but how about all the buzz about it now at the High School, College and even NFL level? What's this all about? Sports Illustrated even did a very flattering piece on the Single Wing in their December 2008 Issue.

Why Now?
Much of this newfound attention can probably be attributed to the "TV" factor. Most coaches are copycat innovators, they see something that works, the modify it a bit to what they are doing now or the personnel they have in place and viola a new "Single Wing" series is born. Ten years ago the only Single Wing teams you would ever see on TV were in High School State Championship games on local TV. If you were real lucky you could get a coveted VHS copy of a youth team running the offense in some far away land. Thank goodness those days are gone. Now we have u-tube and message boards where you can see lots of youth and High School teams running the Single Wing offense. But what is more important than the proliferation of successful High School and Youth teams running the Single Wing is the "Saturday-Sunday" factor.

The "Saturday Sunday Effect"
Many coaches, parents and players don't think an offense is "legitimate" until they see their favorite College or NFL teams running the offense. It's a "gimmick" offense until they see it on TV. Todays offensive guru/mad scientist of college football is a man by the name of Urban Meyer. If you look at the interviews he has given about his offense he's an unabashed Single Wing man from his early days at Bowling Green. At Bowling Green he had a player by the name of Josh Harris, a tailback Meyer moved to "QB" in his Senior season. Harris lead the country in scoring for most of that season.

Well now coach Meyer has significantly more talent as the Head coach of the Florida Gators and what is he doing? He's running the Single Wing with his Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow at the controls even resurrecting a few old time Single Wing favorites including the Jump pass.

The Single Wing got huge TV exposure last year with the Heisman race, It came down to two players that were both classic Single Wing Tailbacks, Tim Tebow and Darren McFadden from Arkansas.

Who Has Joined the Mini Band Wagon?
Some other college teams using the Single Wing this year:

Clemson: The call it the "Stallion" with running backs James Davis and CJ Spiller taking snaps.

Missouri; They call it Rucker right and Rucker left, getting the ball to Tight End Martin Rucker. Missouri did the same with Wide Out Jeremy Maclin.

Nebraska- They call it the "Joker" with running back Marlon Lucky taking snaps, He has even thrown a Jump pass for a TD this season.

Pitt: They call it the Wildcat with running back LeSean McCoy taking snaps.

California: Running back Justin Forsett taking direct snaps including 2 for touchdowns against Arizona.

Colorado- Rack-Luck is what they call it, with running back Demetrius Snyder taking direct snaps.

Georgia Tech- Running back Tashard Choice taking direct snaps.

Miami- Running back Graig Cooper taking direct snaps.

Texas A&M- The J-Train, with running back Javorskie Lane taking snaps.

Mississippi- Houston Nutt calls his the "Wild Rebel"

So having just two teams, Florida and Arkansas running the Single Wing in 2008 has spawned an entire flock of college teams utilizing the Single Wing offense at least part of the time just one year later.

Even the NFL Follows
But the biggest proliferator of the Single Wing probably has to go to the former hapless Miami Dolphins. After a 1-15 season last year, the Dolphins are just one game out of the lead in their Division this season. More importantly, the Dolphins unveiled their version of the Single Wing offense to break the New England Patriots 15 game regular season win streak. Putting running back Ronnie Brown at the Single Wing "Quarterback" position and putting Quarterback Pennington in the Slot. Brown ran for 4 touchdowns off of direct snaps and even threw for a touchdown pass against the befuddled Patriot defense.

This didn't turn out to be a one hit wonder, as the Dolphins have continued to use their "Wildcat" series in every game since unveiling it against the mighty Patriots. What did we see in coming weeks out of other NFL teams? More Single Wing series plays from the Ravens, Bears and Jets to name just a few.

The Youth Football Implications
What does this mean to you as a youth coach? The Single Wing is still a niche offense, used by less than 3% of youth football teams across the country. While you still have the advantage of running something most teams don't see very often, expect to see more of it since it has been "blessed" by the Saturday-Sunday phenomenon.

It also means maybe us back-to-the-future Single Wingers were a bit ahead of our time. It also means those that decide to follow will have to deal with fewer of those odd looks from non savvy on-lookers.

Dave Cisar-

With over 15 years of hands-on experience as a youth coach, Dave has developed a detailed systematic approach to developing youth players and teams. His personal teams to using this system to date have won 90% of their games in 5 Different Leagues.

TO See his Single Wing team in action: http://winningyouthfootball.com/youthfootballdrills.php

Ok, we all know the Eagles are going to run the ball before they throw it. That's a given. The team stayed pretty balanced on Sunday in terms of running and throwing, but when they tried to run the ball, they didn't have a whole lot of success.

Donovan McNabb lead the team with 30 yards which came on two scrambles where he had a lot of open field to work with. If you take those two plays away, the Eagles rushed for 46 yards on 19 attempts. That's 2.4 yards per carry, and that's absolutely horrible. Brian Westbrook and LeSean McCoy saw only six carries each which means your running backs only combined for a total of 12 rushes.

When you're not having a lot of success running the ball, you're not going to run the ball. The thing I don't get is why the success isn't coming. They haven't been playing very good teams to start. I understand that they had injuries across the line, but I think the backups they have are quality players. They also have two quality running backs. In the offseason, they acquired a true fullback which is something they haven't had for a while and is a solid player.

Could it be that the wildcat is playing into this? Are they trying too hard to work that into the offense as part of the run game and its hindering the traditional running style? They haven't had a whole bunch of success in that formation either.

You need to be able to run the ball and pick up first downs to kill the clock in close games. I don't feel that this team has that capability right now. This is something that could be real handy in the upcoming weeks if they can figure out what the problem is. Until then, I guess we rely on Donovan's arm.

http://www.birdsfan.com/ - A Philadelphia Eagles blog

Washington Redskins
1(13): DE Brian Orakpo - This former Texas Longhorn will line up alongside Pro Bowler Albert Haynesworth in a pass rush type role. Many thought of Orakpo as a converted linebacker in a 3-4 system, but the Skins want to cause chaos amongst their divisional quarterbacks on a regular basis. Great pick.
3(16): CB Kevin Barnes - Nickel corner with great size, will most likely be a special teamer for his first year. Good potential.
Other Moves: After Orakpo and Barnes, the Redskins draft consists of mostly long shot players, projects, and special teamers. With no 2nd round pick and 4 picks late on day two, the Redskins draft really revolves around Orakpo. While fans might have wanted to see them trade down and gather more picks, we think sitting at 13 and grabbing a starter to add to an already stacked defense was very smart.
Draft Grade: B

Philadelphia Eagles
1(19): WR Jeremy Maclin - Nobody was more surprised than us by this pick. Andy Reid is not one for drafting receivers early, but when a player like Maclin falls this far, you need to break old habits of picking lineman and grab the best player available. Maclin will be an instant starter in the Eagles pass first offense, and should line up all over the field. Maclin is a lot like DeSean Jackson, only bigger.
2(21): RB LeSean McCoy - Maybe the only place McCoy could play early. He has huge upside, great hands, and the size to punch holes up the middle. Many had wished he'd stayed in school, but a year or two behind Westbrook is more educational.
5(17): TE Cornelius Ingram - Another offensive weapon? Fans must be losing their minds. Andy Reid has finally spent picks improving the offense, getting quality weapons for McNabb. Ingram's stock fell due to an ACL injury, but scouts should have overlooked the injury as his skills as a receiver are excellent. Ingram is one of the top receiving tight ends in this draft.
Other Moves: Trading the 28th overall pick to Buffalo for Jason Peters gives the Eagles a high grade off the bat, but spending the first 3 picks on offensive weapons seals the deal. The Eagles also acquired Ellis Hobbs from NE for late round picks, while also adding an excellent nickel corner in Victor Harris. Might have been Andy Reid's best draft in years.
Draft Grade: A+ Includes Jason Peters &Ellis Hobbs trade

New York Giants
1(29): WR Hakeem Nicks - Excellent receiver, and fits into the Giants system better than one might think. Nicks has great vision, plays tough, and adjusts well to poorly thrown balls (read into that how you want). Fans might have wanted Braylon or Anquan, but Nicks will do fine. Great pick.
2(13): LB Clint Sintim - Steal, we had Sintim going to the Falcons in the first round. This 6233, 260 lb linebacker will beef up the Giants, and will be a monster to watch for on every down.
3(28): OT William Beatty - Another great pick; Beatty also had a first round grade, giving the Giants an excellent start to the draft. Beatty will start most likely at guard or be used for depth, but he could become the starting right tackle sooner than many think.
3(21): WR Ramses Barden - Should find the field early, could fill the hole of Plaxico's jump ball skills in the red zone. Good pick.
Other Moves: The Giants didn't stop at Ramses Barden with grabbing excellent value in this draft class, on day 2 the G-Men snagged TE Travis Beckum for depth and RB Andre Brown who could replace Derrick Ward.
Draft Grade: A+ we loved the Giants draft, as they were patient yet productive with the needs at receiver and linebacker.

Dallas Cowboys
3(5): LB Jason Williams - Outstanding speed and quickness; the Cowboys were looking for depth in this draft, and Williams was a great start.
3(11): OT Robert Brewster - 50 game 4 year starter at Ball State as an Offensive Tackle. Will probably be moved to guard, but has the size, smarts, and feet to play at the next level. Good pick, adding depth.
4(1): QB Stephen McGee - Waste of a good player; Romo is young and there is no need for a backup QB after trading for Kitna. Great project for future, but could have been drafted later.
4(10): DE Victor Butler - Another player that will contribute on special teams; long shot to see playing time on defense.
4(20): DE Brandon Williams - Experts are saying he should have stayed in school, but the Cowboys see something in this kid. Williams has excellent pass rushing skills and a good frame to add muscle. Could be one of the gems of this draft class, good pick.
Other Moves: While no one thought the Cowboys would go through day one without a pick, day two turned out to be very productive. The Cowboys have gotten by far too long with no depth, and this draft should improve the little things that help win ball games. After drafting 5 players in the middle rounds, the Cowboys added another 7 players through rounds 5-7, grabbing everything from a kicker to a backup tight end. Time will be the ultimate test for this draft, as many of these players may not make the cut by week one. I'm sure the jury is still out for many fans.
Draft Grade: C -should have traded up.

For more draft info, or NFL news check Gridiron Experts.com

http://gridironexperts.com/

After months of analysis and projections leading up to the April 25-26 NFL draft followed by days of draft recap and team grades, we focus on what really matters to us; how the draft affects our fantasy football leagues. While we may have thoughts on the absurdity of the contracts signed by high draft picks, it has no effect on our fantasy football team's payroll. Players may have been drafted higher or lower than projected, but that has no impact on where they will be drafted in our leagues. What matters most to us is if the player will play and if it will be this year or in upcoming years.   Let's take a quick spin through the NFC and look at each team's new additions that could factor into our fantasy football drafts.

Arizona - The Cards happily grabbed RB Chris "Beanie" Wells with the first pick in the second round. He will play immediately as Edgerrin James was released and Tim Hightower appears to be best suited as a goal-line back. Beanie should be drafted in one-season in rounds 4-5 in standard 12-team leagues and rounds 3-4 in Keeper leagues.

Atlanta - Eight picks, all on defense. So, obviously, the Falcons D is the only position that improved. They have some solid additions to support their corners as well as help John Abraham, especially DT Peria Jerry, S William Moore and DE Lawrence Sidbury. This will propel them into the top half of draftable defenses.

Carolina - DE Everette Brown and S Sherrod Martin will help the defense a bit, though not near as much as keeping Julius Peppers will. Their defense should remain in the same draft position.

Chicago - The Bears did pretty well considering they only drafted on Day 2. WR Juaquin Iglesias is a nice addition to a weak receiving core and could be a productive late round pick on draft day. DT Jarron Gilbert will help the Bears D out a bit, though not altering their draft position.

Dallas - The Cowboys traded their way into a lot of worthless picks. Even though the Cowboys had no draftable backup QB last year, I do not believe that QB Stephen McGee is in that category this year. If you draft QB Tony Romo, your backup should be a starting QB on another team.

Detroit - QB Matthew Stafford is giddy knowing that he will be given the reigns to a winless team, so the bar for success in worm-high. It also brings a rare smile to his face when he envisions WR Calvin Johnson in his huddle. However, he is still a rookie QB on a winless team, so don't pick him as your number 1 QB. He should be drafted higher in Keeper leagues. TE Brandon Pettigrew is a must-draft TE in later rounds.

Green Bay - Green Bay's D was productive in the TD category last season, but was a bit of a sieve. Adding DT B.J. Raji and LB Clay Matthews enhances this position a few rounds. 

Minnesota - The Vikings grabbed WR Percy Harvin to add a new dimension to their offense. The kid can flat-out play, if he adjusts to life in the Twin Cities. I would definitely recommend picking him up in early double-digit rounds.

New Orleans - The Saints' D was startable at certain times last season coming off the waiver wire. That will change a bit this year with the additions of CB Malcolm Jenkins and S Chip Vaughn. I feel good recommending drafting them in the last round.

New York Giants - The G-Men addressed their biggest need right away by drafting WR Hakeem Nicks. He should be drafted in early double digit rounds. I would recommend a late round handcuff of RB Andre Brown if you draft Brandon Jacobs. RB Derrick Ward is now on Tampa so Brown will be taking over for him.

Philadelphia - Philly will have the most rookies drafted this year. They landed WR Jeremy Maclin, TE Cornelius Ingram and RB LeSean McCoy. Maclin may be a DeSean Jackson clone in play making ability, which is good if he waits until he crosses the goal line to celebrate his scores. Ingram will be a favorite target of McNabb when he needs a tough catch across the middle and McCoy is a must-draft handcuff to Westbrook.

Seattle - LB Aaron Curry will definitely help Seattle on defense, but makes no difference in fantasy land. WR Deon Butler was drafted to replace Bobby Engram, but I see no reason to draft him unless you are in a really deep league.

San Francisco - The Niners get a gift in picking up WR Michael Crabtree with the 10th pick. He is the class of the receiving group and will be a flat-out receiving stud in the NFL. I don't think you'll get him if you wait until the middle rounds of your draft. You especially want to grab him early in your Keeper Leagues. In addition to Crabtree, the Niners picked up RB Glen Coffey who should be your handcuff to Frank Gore.

St. Louis - The Rams picked up T Jason Smith to replace Orlando Pace and will show immediate dividends in the passing and running game as Pace is vastly overrated and almost stationary nowadays. That being said, Marc Bulger is a late draft pick and Steven Jackson is still a first round pick. As much as I love LB James Laurinaitis, he doesn't make the Rams D draftable in any format.

Tampa Bay - Good luck with QB Josh Freeman. If he only played as well as he talks. He has the size for an NFL QB (6' 6"), but I don't even recommend drafting him in a Keeper League.

Washington - The Skins further enhanced their defensive front by drafting DE Brian Orakpo. In addition to line help, they also grabbed two LBs and CB Kevin Barnes. This greatly enhances the attraction of the Washington D and moves them into the top 8-10 defenses to draft.

Bill Parsons is the owner of MaximumFantasySports.com and a rabid fantasy sports participant. He began creating his own football and baseball fantasy leagues at the ripe old age of seven; tracking stats and standings on paper. Bill decided to create a real-time fantasy football league website that includes all of the best features and some of which have never been attempted at any other website. Join Maximum Fantasy Sports today by visiting http://www.maximumfantasysports.com Membership is Free!

Just when you think you have this whole fantasy football thing figured out, last week happens. How else do you explain Tom Brady going from playing at a Super Bowl level to playing at a Pop Warner level, or Vincent Jackson breaking the hearts of every fantasy enthusiast who put him in their lineups? Alas, we are still here to do our part to help you put together the best lineup possible.

Quarterbacks 1

1) Peyton Manning (vs. Tennessee): Manning has a great match-up this week against the Titans, who he beat for 36 completions, 309 yards and three touchdowns back in Week 5, and who are second to last in pass defense and passing scores allowed. And yes, we know they've won their past five games, but in that time they've faced three teams currently in the bottom half of the league in passing offense and one team playing with a backup quarterback.

2) Tom Brady (@ Miami): A total of 237 passing yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions last week are shocking totals for Brady, especially considering that he was in the midst of a string of five consecutive 300-yard passing games. But a bounce back this week is very possible against a Miami pass defense that is 23rd in the league, and one that he threw for 310 yards and one score against in Week 9.

3) Drew Brees (@ Washington): Although no one can be blamed for using Brees this week, match-ups matter, and Washington has the No. 1 pass defense in the NFL. Only three opposing quarterbacks have thrown for 200 yards against the Redskins this season, and it's happened just once over their last eight games. And it's not as if Brees is immune to quality pass defenses - three times this season he's been held to fewer than 200 passing yards.

4) Matt Schaub (@ Jacksonville): Schaub is a great choice in any fantasy football scoring format, but considering the amount of completions he racks up, he's an especially good option in this one. He's third in the league in overall completions, and has at least 25 in each of his last four games. Jacksonville is 26th in the league in pass defense, and only six teams have allowed more touchdown passes than they have. In his last meeting with the Jags, back in Week 3, Schaub threw for 300 yards with three scores.

5) Philip Rivers (@ Cleveland): Rivers is quietly putting together a very good season, and has an impressive three-game stretch going where he hasn't thrown an interception and has completed at least 75 percent of his passes. Cleveland's horrible pass defense shouldn't offer him a great challenge.

6) Kurt Warner (vs. Minnesota): Though there's optimism surrounding his chances to play this week (concussion), and his match-up is a solid one, there's always a chance he doesn't play at all or gets knocked out of the competition.

Quarterbacks 2

1) Brett Favre (@ Arizona): Favre has been nothing short of remarkable this season, with an unheard of 8:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio (24 touchdown throws, three interceptions). Over his last four games, he has thrown 12 touchdowns and hasn't thrown an interception. Against the Cardinals, he should be golden; only three teams allow more passing yards per game than they do.

2) Aaron Rodgers (vs. Baltimore): Rodgers has thrown 14 touchdowns over his last six games, and just three interceptions, and all of those picks came in one contest. In his last two contests he's thrown for over 340 yards in each, and he's completed at least 25 passes in each of his last three games. Baltimore is in the top half of the league in pass defense, but they're not so imposing that you shouldn't consider using Rodgers.

3) Donovan McNabb (@ Atlanta): McNabb has had some very ordinary games of late, and over his last five contests, he's thrown six touchdowns and five interceptions. Though McNabb could very likely be without top receiver DeSean Jackson, he's still a solid option this week because his opponent, Atlanta, is putrid against the pass, ranking 27th in the league in that category and 22nd in passing touchdowns given up.

4) Carson Palmer (vs. Detroit): Palmer isn't putting up numbers like we've seen him do in the past, and in fact hasn't completed more than 20 passes in his last five games, but he's playing Detroit this week. The same Detroit that is dead last in pass defense, and who has allowed more touchdown passes than any team in the NFL.

5) Tony Romo (@ NY Giants): Romo has had a solid season overall, and is seventh in the league in passing yards, ahead of the likes of Brett Favre and Kurt Warner. Yet he hasn't completed more than 20 passes in either of his last two games, and the last time he faced the Giants, he threw for a season-low 127 yards with three interceptions and one score.

6) Ben Roethlisberger (vs. Oakland): Big Ben will suit up this week after sitting out last week's contest against the Ravens with concussion symptoms. This led to some controversy, at least within the Steelers' locker room, but that has since died down. Roethlisberger does have a tough individual match-up this week against Oakland, however; only four teams have allowed fewer touchdown passes than they have.

Quarterbacks 3

1) Joe Flacco (@ Green Bay): IFlacco seemed to have been mired in a slump in Weeks 8-11. He threw for over 200 yards just once in those games, and tossed just one touchdown and three interceptions. But he rallied last week, throwing for nearly 300 yards with one score and no picks, and though his opponent this week, the Packers, are sixth in the NFL in pass defense, only three teams have allowed more touchdown passes than they have.

2) Jay Cutler (vs. St. Louis): Since interceptions aren't a worry in this scoring format, Cutler's transgressions in that area needn't play a role in deciding whether to put him in your lineup, especially against a soft pass defense like the Rams possess. But his confidence does seem to be wavering, and he hasn't thrown for even 175 yards in either of his past two games, and in his past three games he's thrown a total of two touchdowns and eight picks.

3) Vince Young (@ Indianapolis): Young was simply spectacular last week, but don't let that cloud your judgment for his game at Indy this week. He was facing an atrocious pass defense in the Cardinals last week, and the Colts are a much more formidable foe, especially with Young playing on the road. Also, only the Jets have given up fewer touchdown passes than they have.

4) Matt Cassel (vs. Denver): After a truly mediocre start, Cassel seems to have found his footing a bit. He's thrown for 215 or more yards in three of his last four contests, along with five touchdowns and two interceptions during that time. It should also be noted that he'll give you at least a few points running the ball - he's had at least four rushing attempts in seven of his 10 games this year.

5) Matt Hasselbeck (vs. San Francisco): Fantasy football players are justifiably baffled by Hasselbeck, who went from throwing for 315 yards against Arizona three weeks ago to accumulating just 102 passing yards last week against the Rams. He's at home against the 49ers this week, and San Francisco is just 28th in the NFL in pass defense, but it's too difficult to trust Hasselbeck.

6) David Garrard (vs. Houston): Garrard simply doesn't thrown enough touchdowns to be a viable fantasy football option; among the 24 NFL quarterbacks with at least 280 pass attempts, he is tied with Jake Delhomme for the fewest touchdown passes, having thrown only eight.

Quarterbacks 4

1) Kyle Orton (@ Kansas City): Orton's season has been solid, if unspectacular. He's thrown for more than 250 yards just once this season, and over his last five games has just three touchdown passes, but you can't ignore who his opponent is this week - only two other teams allow more passing yards per game than the Chiefs.

2) Alex Smith (@ Seattle): Smith's career has been resurrected this season, and fantasy football enthusiasts have taken note. They should again this week as he matches up with the Seahawks, a team that is 25th in the league in pass defense and 27th in passing scores allowed.

3) Eli Manning (vs. Dallas): The last time Manning went up against the Cowboys, he blistered them for 330 yards and two scores, though you should take into account that that game was played back in Week 2. Manning is highly inconsistent and is also playing on a bad foot, so while his match-up is solid, can you really count on him?

4) Jason Campbell (@ Philadelphia): Campbell hasn't been a great quarterback this season, but his numbers haven't been atrocious, either. He's thrown for at least one touchdown in all but three games this year, and the last time he faced Philly, he had a season-high 29 completions, along with 284 yards and two scores.

5) Josh Freeman (@ Carolina): Freeman is getting plenty of accolades, and he's performed admirably in a couple games, but you'll probably want to avoid him this week. The Panthers have the No. 3 pass defense in the league, and are ninth in passing scores allowed.

6) Brady Quinn (vs. San Diego): Simply ignore Quinn.

Running Backs 1

1) Chris Johnson (@ Indianapolis): Johnson has been on a run that's as remarkable as anything the NFL or fantasy football has seen in some time. In his last six games, he's averaged 155 rushing yards on 23 carries (6.7 ypc), just over one touchdown (he has seven total in that span), and close to three receptions and 30 receiving yards per game.

2) Adrian Peterson (@ Arizona): Despite having only three games with at least 100 rushing yards, Peterson is still playing very well. He has 12 touchdowns in 11 games, and has already established a career-high with 27 receptions. Arizona has been killed on the ground of late, giving up 115 or more yards to an individual runner in four of their past five games.

3) Maurice Jones-Drew (vs. Houston): MJD has scored three rushing touchdowns in a game on two occasions this season, and one of them happened to be against the Texans, back in Week 3. He also caught four passes in that contest, one of seven times he's had at least that many receptions in a game. He's always an excellent option.

4) Rashard Mendenhall (vs. Oakland): No team has allowed more rushing yards to opposing running backs than the Raiders have, and only two teams have allowed opposing backs to score more touchdowns.

5) Steven Jackson (@ Chicago): Like Philip Rivers at quarterback, Jackson is quietly having an excellent season, though you can hardly blame anyone for not noticing that Jackson is the NFL's second-leading rusher because he's on a team that has won just one game. Nonetheless, he's always valuable in this scoring format not only because of the yards he piles up, but because of the amount of touches he receives.

6) Frank Gore (@ Seattle): Gore is always solid, but compared to the rest of this group, he doesn't get enough touches. He's carried the ball more than 16 times just twice all season, and has just 92 rushing yards over his past two games.

Running Backs 2

1) DeAngelo Williams (vs. Tampa Bay): Before last week's 40-yard performance, Williams had been averaging 127 yards over his previous six games. But he should come back with aplomb this week against a Tampa team that is 30th in the league in run defense, and against whom Williams had 152 yards and two scores against in Week 6.

2) Ray Rice (@ Green Bay): Over his last eight games, Rice has run for at least 70 yards six times (with one 69-yard effort), and has caught fewer than five passes just once. With receptions being three points each, that kind of production is highly valuable.

3) Ricky Williams (vs. New England): Williams has at least 20 carries, 100 yards and one touchdown in each of his three games since taking over for the injured Ronnie Brown in Miami. New England is tied for fewest rushing scores allowed, having given up just three all season, but one of the backs who found the end zone against them happened to be Williams.

4) Knowshon Moreno (@ Kansas City): Moreno has run for at least 80 yards in each of his past three games, and has a fantastic match-up this week against the Chiefs, who are 27th against the run and 22nd in rushing scores allowed.

5) Cedric Benson (vs. Detroit): Benson has missed two contests with a hip injury, but he's supposed to be back in the starting lineup this week. But Larry Johnson did a solid job filling in last week, and they may not want to overdo it with Benson this week.

6) Joseph Addai (vs. Tennessee): Addai simply is not putting up the numbers the other backs in this group have been; he's only run for 70 or more yards once all season, and has not carried the ball more than 20 times in any game.

Running Backs 3

1) LaDainian Tomlinson (@ Cleveland): Tomlinson has scored five times in his last three games, making up for otherwise ordinary numbers. He's not catching the ball like he used to (three receptions over his last five games), and he's run for at least 75 yards just once this year. But only three teams have allowed more rushing yards than the Browns, and only two teams have given up more rushing scores to opposing running backs.

2) Matt Forte (vs. St. Louis): Only the Bills have allowed more rushing scores to opposing running backs than St. Louis has, and if this were last season, Forte would be No. 1 on this list. As it is, he's struggling mightily this year running the ball. One thing that should be considered in this scoring format - he has averaged over five receptions per game in his last four contests.

3) Laurence Maroney (@ Miami): Over his last six games, Maroney has scored eight times, accounting for all of his touchdowns this season. Unfortunately, he also has lost a fumble in three consecutive games, and any more could mean fewer carries for him.

4) Kevin Smith (@ Cincinnati): Smith hasn't gained 70 or more rushing yards in eight games, and the Bengals are the No. 3-ranked rush defense in the league. The only thing saving him from being ranked last on this list is his ability to catch the ball.

5) Ryan Grant (vs. Baltimore): No doubt Grant has had a solid year, but a lot of things are working against him - Baltimore is seventh in run defense and allows the fewest yards per carry in the league, he doesn't catch the ball with regularity, and he sat out a practice this week with a stinger.

6) Tim Hightower (vs. Minnesota): Not only is Hightower going to lose more and more playing time to Beanie Wells, but he's going up against the team that is second in the NFL in run defense, and the team that is tied in allowing the fewest rushing scores in the league.

Running Backs 4

1) LeSean McCoy (@ Atlanta): Brian Westbrook remains out, and DeSean Jackson is likely to be sidelined as well, leaving McCoy to be an even bigger piece of the puzzle this week. Atlanta's defense is sub-par in every area, and they are just 23rd in the league against the run. Something else to note - only one team has given up more receiving touchdowns to running backs than the Falcons have.

2) Jamaal Charles (vs. Denver): Charles has scored a rushing or receiving touchdown in each of his last three games since taking over after Larry Johnson was cut. He's an explosive player who makes things happen, and now that he's getting an opportunity, he's making the most of it.

3) Cadillac Williams (@ Carolina): The Caddy has a very good match-up against the 26th-ranked Panthers run defense, and it is one he gained 77 yards and scored a touchdown against back in Week 6, but he's also done very little since then. He hasn't rushed for even 60 yards in his past five games, or run for over 3.7 yards per carry.

4) Pierre Thomas (@ Washington): If only he were the clear-cut No. 1. As it is, he shares time with a couple other running backs, and though he's productive with the carries he does get, he really doesn't get enough looks to put up the big numbers he might be able to elsewhere.

5) Steve Slaton (@ Jacksonville): The Texans are still having trust issues with Slaton due to his previous fumbleitis, and he's dealing with a neck malady, so we'll have to see how many touches he gets, and until then, it's not safe to trust him.

6) Beanie Wells (vs. Minnesota): Leave Wells on the bench against one of the best run defenses in the NFL.

Wide Receivers 1

1) Wes Welker (@ Miami): With only six catches for 32 yards, Welker had his worst game of the season last week. He'll right the ship this week against a Miami team that he burned for nine catches and 84 yards in Week 9. Welker leads the NFL in catches, even though he missed two weeks, and with receptions at three points each, you can't go wrong using him.

2) Reggie Wayne (vs. Tennessee): The man with the second-most catches this season is Wayne, and his match-up is beautiful. No team has allowed opposing wideouts to catch more passes or score more touchdowns, and they've also allowed opposing receivers to accumulate the second-most receiving yards (by one yard). Wayne had six catches for 60 yards and one score against the Titans in Week 5.

3) Andre Johnson (@ Jacksonville): Only three teams have given up more receiving yards and receiving scores than the Jaguars have, and Johnson is the perfect person to exploit that weakness. He had four catches for 86 yards against them back in Week 3.

4) Randy Moss (@ Miami): Moss leads the league in receiving yards, but you wouldn't know that by the way he's played the last two weeks. He's accumulated only 101 yards combined in those two games, though a reprieve could very much be in the works this week - he blistered the Dolphins for 147 yards on six receptions (including one touchdown) when he first met them in Week 9.

5) Chad Ochocinco (vs. Detroit): The Ocho has stunk over his last five games, with no more than five receptions in any of them, and not one contest of even 70 receiving yards. Yet he plays the Lions this week, and he can easily fatten up on them - they're dead last in pass defense and have passing touchdowns allowed.

6) Larry Fitzgerald (vs. Minnesota): If Kurt Warner plays, Fitzgerald should be moved up in the rankings, but if noodle-armed Matt Leinart goes again, there are too many other receivers in this group to choose from who have Pro Bowl quarterbacks throwing to them.

Wide Receivers 2

1) Vincent Jackson (@ Cleveland): Jackson's disappearance over the last three games has been troubling. He hasn't scored since in that time, and he's accumulated a total of seven catches and 93 yards. But he has to bust out of it at some point, and it would be no shock if he did so against the terrifically awful Browns.

2) Mike Sims-Walker (vs. Houston): Three times in his past five games, Sims-Walker has accumulated fewer than 50 receiving yards, but he has scored three times in that span, easing the pain that was inflicted by his lack of yards. In his last game against the Texans, in Week 3, he had six catches for 81 yards.

3)Roddy White (vs. Philadelphia): White has not been as productive this season as he was last year in terms of yardage, and if he hadn't been scoring so many touchdowns, he would be a real disappointment. Yet he does have seven on the season, and he scored last week for the first time in three games.

4) Marques Colston (@ Washington): Colston caught one of Drew Brees' five touchdown passes last week, which was one of his four receptions and 121 yards. It was his first score in three weeks, but don't be too confident he can repeat that feat this week. The Redskins have allowed the second-fewest catches by opposing wide receivers.

5) Anquan Boldin (vs. Minnesota): Boldin is, surprisingly, not among the top-25 players in receiving yards, and possibly even more surprisingly, has just two touchdown catches this season. He was starting to play better before Kurt Warner went out, and if Warner does play this week, Boldin is a much more viable option than if the weak left arm of Matt Leinart has to play.

6) Steve Smith (CAR) (vs. Tampa Bay): He had one reception for five yards last week. Five yards! Jake Delhomme is likely out, and though that's probably a good thing in the long run, it means the Panthers will simply rely more on the running game than usual this week.

Wide Receivers 3

1) Brandon Marshall (@ Kansas City): Just four teams have allowed more yards to opposing wide receivers than the Chiefs have, and Marshall typically destroys soft defenses. In two games against the Chiefs last season, he had 18 catches for 168 yards and three touchdowns.

2) Steve Smith (NYG) (vs. Dallas): After a bit of a three-game lull, Smith is back to catching oodles of passes. He's amassed seven or more receptions in three of his last four games, and has 65 or more yards in four of his last five games. And the last time he faced Dallas, he went ballistic, scoring once on one of his 10 receptions for 134 yards.

3) Santonio Holmes (vs. Oakland): Holmes finally did something that his fantasy owners have been waiting for since Week 1 - he scored his second touchdown of the season last week! Holmes has actually been playing very well of late, and that finally paid off. He has had at least six receptions and 74 receiving yards in each of his last four games.

4) Pierre Garcon (vs. Tennessee): Garcon is clearly the No. 2 man behind Reggie Wayne on the wideout depth chart in Indy. He had five receptions for 63 yards and one touchdown last week, and has at least 50 receiving yards in each of his last five games.

5) Robert Meachem (@ Washington): What hurts Meachem in this scoring format are his lack of receptions. And he also has a tough match-up this week, going up against the No. 1-ranked pass defense of the Redskins.

6) T.J. Houshmandzadeh (vs. San Francisco): If he can't get it done against the Rams, who can he get it done against? He's been a fantasy football bust all season.

Wide Receivers 4

1) Sidney Rice (@ Arizona): Of the top 15 players in terms of receiving yards, only Miles Austin is averaging more yards per reception than Rice's 17.2, a number that has catapulted Rice to third in the league in receiving yards despite just 56 receptions.

2) Derrick Mason (@ Green Bay): Mason has now had three very productive games in a row after his seven-catch, 62-yard, one touchdown performance last week against the Steelers. His opponent this week, the Packers, are sixth in the league in pass defense, but have also allowed more touchdown passes than all but three other teams.

3) Nate Burleson (vs. San Francisco): Burleson came up very short last week against the Rams, a team he should have torched. He managed just four receptions for 46 yards against a bad pass defense, and he failed to score for the sixth straight game. Burleson has a solid match-up against the 49ers, who are 28th in the NFL in pass defense.

4) Hines Ward (vs. Oakland): Ward apologized after being critical of Ben Roethlisberger last week after Big Ben didn't play due to a concussion. He insists there are no lingering hard feelings among the two, which is good, because that means Ward can go back to being one of the most productive wideouts in the NFL.

5) Santana Moss (@ Philadelphia): He's far too unreliable. There are much better options in this group.

6) Braylon Edwards (@ Buffalo): Edwards should not be used.

Wide Receivers 5

1) Calvin Johnson (@ Cincinnati): If you're going to take a chance on Megatron, now is as good a time as ever. He only caught two passes for 10 yards last week, but he did score a touchdown for the second straight week, and also has at least five receptions in five of the nine games he's played this season.

2) Percy Harvin (@ Arizona): Harvin's best game as a pro came last week, as he caught a touchdown for the second week in a row while setting career-highs in receptions (six), receiving yards (101) and rushing yards (45). Against the Cardinals' 30th-ranked pass defense, more career-highs are possible.

3) Donald Driver (vs. Baltimore): Driver tore up the Lions on Thanksgiving and has had a nice layoff since then to rest his 34-year-old body. He's only caught fewer than four passes in a game just one time this season, and has scored in three of his last six contests.

4) Devin Hester (vs. St. Louis): Hester is in a big-time slump, and although the Rams can break any offensive player out of their malaise, his inconsistency should be worrisome. Hester has only 86 receiving yards in his last three games.

5) Donnie Avery (@ Chicago): Avery plays in an inconsistent offense with a quarterback that is named Kyle Boller. Probably best to avoid him.

6) Greg Jennings (vs. Baltimore): He's being outplayed by his teammate, the far more consistent Donald Driver.

Tight Ends 1

1) Tony Gonzalez (vs. Philadelphia): No team has allowed opposing tight ends to catch more passes than Philly has, and only one team has allowed more receiving yards and touchdowns to players at that position. Even with Matt Ryan sidelined, Gonzalez should not be penalized.

2) Dallas Clark (vs. Tennessee): Clark, who has caught a touchdown in two straight games, last played the Titans in Week 5, a game in which he caught nine passes for 77 yards. He's caught seven or more passes in seven of his 11 games this season, and that can add up to huge points in this scoring format.

3) Antonio Gates (@ Cleveland): Only six teams have allowed more touchdown passes to opposing tight ends then Cleveland, and Gates recently broke out of a funk last week against the Chiefs, catching seven balls for 118 yards and two scores.

4) Vernon Davis (@ Seattle): When Alex Smith made the transition to starting quarterback, he undoubtedly wanted to get his tight end involved. That's most certainly happened, as Davis has had at least one touchdown reception or 100 receiving yards (or both) in all but one of the six games the 49ers have played since Smith took over.

5) Jason Witten (@ NY Giants): Witten had his first 100-yard game of the season last week, and it was a long time coming for the preseason No. 1 fantasy football tight end. He has been consistent in catching the ball this season, catching exactly five passes in each of his last three games, and he doesn't have fewer than four receptions in any contest this year.

6) Visanthe Shiancoe (@ Arizona): Over his last eight games, Shiancoe has scored seven times. That's a great number, but within the context of this group of tight ends, he's not the top option on his team the way the other players here are.

Tight Ends 2

1) Brent Celek (@ Atlanta): Celek just signed a $33 million extension, and is certainly facing the right opponent in which to do prove he deserves that contract. Atlanta has allowed opposing tight ends to catch more passes than all but four other squads, and only three teams have allowed opposing tight ends to gain more receiving yards.

2) Greg Olsen (vs. St. Louis): Olsen is a solid play each week due to the fact that the Bears have a dearth of options at the receiver position, and the Rams have certainly been beaten by opposing tight ends before.

3) Kellen Winslow (@ Carolina): Winslow managed only 29 yards on three receptions the last time he squared off against the Panthers, but with rookie quarterback Josh Freeman at the helm, the situation is different this time around.

4) Zach Miller (Oakland Raiders): Bruce Gradkowski has really been beneficial to Miller - after little production over most of the season, he's combined for 10 receptions and 136 yards the last two weeks.

5) John Carlson (vs. San Francisco): With six catches for 46 yards in Week 2, one of Carlson's most productive games of the season came against San Francisco. That statistic alone should tell you how disappointing he's been this season.

6) Heath Miller (vs. Oakland): Despite how bad Oakland is, they completely shut down opposing tight ends - they are one of just two teams not to have allowed a touchdown reception by someone at that position.

Brian Westbrook was one of the few positives for the Eagles on Sunday and we soon saw why he still needs to contribute. LeSean McCoy is not quite ready to make the leap to being a feature running back in the NFL.

Don't get me wrong, I think the kid is great. However, he showed us on Sunday that he still is a rookie. He is definitely going to be lectured in film this week for the way he was carrying the ball. Whenever he runs, the ball is only up against his forearm, and the other nose of the football is clearly exposed. This reminds me of the way L.J. Smith used to hold the ball when he would run in the open field (you know any comparison to L.J. Smith is not good). At one point on Sunday, he did lose the ball. Although he didn't turn it over, you know the coaches gave him an earful. He's got talent but really needs to focus on protecting the ball better.

I think one of the things that makes Westbrook a great running back is his ability to see and pick up the blitz. McCoy had at least one blown assignment that led to Donovan McNabb being sacked. When this happens, plays get ruined and long-yardage situations are created.

McCoy is still young but has lofty expectations. If he wants to be a great NFL running back, he's got to learn to do the little things. He seems like a smart kid so I hope he's spending a lot of time watching film and soaking up everything the coaches tell him. Westbrook can be a great mentor for him so he needs to make sure he asks a lot of questions and watches everything he does while he's on the field.

http://www.BirdsFan.com -- A Philadelphia Eagles blog

When the Eagles first signed Leonard Weaver I was excited to finally have a legitimate fullback after so many failed experiments with trying to convert other players to fill the role. He was a proven talent and was sure to improve the Eagles offense. However, what many people didn't expect was for him to have the type of impact he has had so far for this football team.

Weaver has 36 carries this year for 216 yards which is an average of 6 yards per carry and has found the end zone once (He'd find it more often if Andy Reid would call some better plays around the goal line). He's also caught 12 passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns.

Sunday against the Falcons, Weaver had a great game. He scored in the first quarter on a pass from Donovan McNabb and had a phenomenal one handed grab which he took for 59 yards. With his five carries on the day, he averaged over seven yards per touch. This was important for the run game as LeSean McCoy was struggling to pick up yards on the rushes he was given.

His contributions have been much needed in the absence of Brian Westbrook and will need to continue as it is unknown whether or not Westbrook will return this season. Weaver has proven he can do it all. Beyond his blocking duties, he has caught passes out of the backfield and run like a bull when asked to do so. The Eagles have not had a true power back in quite some time but Weaver has been filling this role quite nicely.

Besides his work done on the field, he also seems to carry himself well off the field. He's not the flashy trash-talker who makes you embarrassed after celebrating a four yard reception. It seems like he is very level headed and just wants to contribute to this football team. He knows what is expected of him and just goes out and does his job.

I am very glad to have Leonard Weaver on this football team and look forward to seeing more and more contribution out of him.

BirdsFan.com - A Philadelphia Eagles blog

When the Eagles started this game they knew that if they won they would stand alone in first place of the NFC East. They received the ball first Sunday night and it looked as they knew this and were poised and ready to take advantage of the opportunity they were given. The Birds scored on their first offensive possession then took advantage of a Brandon Jacobs fumble which they returned for a touchdown and jumped out to a 14-0 lead. From here things got much closer but the Eagles found a way to end up on top and leave their last game in the Meadowlands with a win. Let's take a look at some of the positives and negatives from Sunday nights game.

Positives:

NFC East Lead - After beating the Giants, the Eagles now are on top of the NFC East and control their own destiny. With three games left, if the Eagles can win out they will be finish first in the NFC East and host a playoff game. The Birds can do worse and still win the East but the fact of the matter is that they control their own destiny. At this point in the season this is exactly where the Eagles want to be.

DeSean Jackson - He missed last weeks game against the Falcons due to a concussion. I was a bit worried about him returning so soon after seeing what happened to Brian Westbrook but was pleasantly surprised. Who knows if the Eagles would have won without him. He had an absolutely huge day returning a touchdown for a touchdown while recording 178 yards receiving and scoring an offensive touchdown as well.

Michael Vick - I think at this point the Eagles are just finding better situations to put him in the game. His bullet to DeSean in the first offensive series definitely helped set the tone for this entire game. It seems like everyone knew the talent this guy had, it was just a matter of putting him at the right time and calling the right plays. The Eagles are starting to do this now and it's adding another page to their playbook that makes them enough harder to game plan against. He can execute when given the right opportunities and is definitely being given the right opportunities lately.

Donovan McNabb - I don't think he had super numbers, especially in a game where the Eagles had 45 points, but I think he was very effective. He definitely had a bad throw on the interception intended for Brent Celek but Eli gave us a present when he fumbled it back to us. Besides that I think Donovan made a lot of good reads and managed the clock very effectively. Besides the down field pass he barely missed to Reggie Brown I think he was pretty accurate and made the passes he needed to make.

Leonard Weaver - Overall on the night he only averaged 3.7 yards per carry but he had some runs in there where he gained some serious yardage and showed everyone the bull he is. He started out nice early and then the Eagles died away from him. It's hard to get in a rhythm and stay in it if you don't get the reps but I think he has repeatedly shown us he can be a legitimate option to run the ball when we need him.

LeSean McCoy - Much like Weaver, he started off hot when the Eagles made it seem like they really wanted to run the ball then died down. What I liked about his performance besides what he did on the ground was how he caught the ball out of the backfield as well as his blocking progression. You don't see him getting after blitzes like Brian Westbrook but I saw him making multiple efforts down the field trying to make blocks. It seems to me like he really wants to improve on his blocking and do whatever it takes to do so.

Negatives:

Quintin Mikell - I think this may have been his worst game of his professional career. He had three penalties and numerous missed tackles and coverages. This is not something I expect to see the rest of the season, but I was disappointed seeing it in such a big game. He is the leader of the defense and needs to set a much better example than he did. Personally, I think he knows how poorly he played and will take it upon himself to play much better next week.

Asante Samuel - He makes you feel great when he's intercepting the ball, but when he's not you can get upset with him very quick. The guy simply cannot tackle. Sure there have been some times where he's popped some guys but that's because the people have had their back turned or didn't know it was coming. I think the way he tried to tackle against the Giants was just embarrassing. Will he ever improve on this? I doubt it, but can you please make some interceptions to take my mind off of it?

Defense - Yes, you won, but you gave up 38 points. The Giants are definitely a good offense but I was not happy with the overall performance of the defense. There were a lot of dumb penalties, missed tackles, and poor plays. If this team wants to make a serious playoff run they are going to have to step it up here.

What positives and negatives did you see in the Giants game?

BirdsFan.com - A Philadelphia Eagles blog.

The Eagles had a real nice opportunity last night to put themselves in a great position in the NFC East but failed to do so. They were inconsistent on both sides of the ball and really struggled to get much going offensively. Our short yardage game was down right embarrassing and it was a completely frustrating game to watch. Let's take a look at some of the positives and negatives from last night.

Positives:
LeSean McCoy - He still needs some work on the "other" things but he did have 115 total yards on 18 touches last night. His big highlight of the night came on a 45 yard screen play where he got behind a line of blockers and was able to make a big play. I think he dances around a little too much and still scares me to death by the way he carries the ball, but he's coming around.

First half defense - I was pretty happy with the way the defense played in the first half of this game. They were able to make a stand at the end of the half and force Dallas to kick a field goal rather than take a lot of momentum into the locker room. Tony Romo was running all over the place because the defensive line was getting good pressure.

Brent Celek - This guy just impresses me every game. He is a monster and a guy that I enjoy watching every game.

Ellis Hobbs - Although it got called back, it was nice to see a little flash from Hobbs last night. He hasn't done a whole lot in terms of returns this year but that return makes you think he's due soon. Could have been a whole different ball game if that counted. The Eagles scored anyway, but giving up big plays like that hurts the ego.

Negatives:
Donovan McNabb - The guy established no rhythm and his passes were not hitting their targets. His play looked very sloppy and this was a time where he couldn't afford to play like that. I think he held the ball a bit too long on a few plays as well.

Penalties - Yes there were some bad calls, but overall it felt like there was a flag down on every other play. There were 19 total penalties in the game including eight penalties for 82 yards on the Eagles. Moise Fokou had two penalties that really put a damper on big plays by the Eagles.

Play calling - Absolutely horrible. It took multiple series before the Eagles started to actually try to run the ball although they averaged about four yards per rush on the night. Also, they waited way too long to try and set up a screen play. The first one, the big play to McCoy, came in the third quarter.

Short yardage - This has got to be one of the most frustrating things you can have. The inability to pick up a yard on third and fourth down is just horrific. You have a huge quarterback and a big ole fullback and just can't get a yard. It's terrible.

Game management - To go hand in hand with the terrible play calling, terrible game management by Andy Reid. Of course he gives the same old BS in his press conference about how he'd do it different if he could do it over again. Too bad there are no do-overs in the NFL Andy. Get it together.

Second half defense - Sheldon Brown on Miles Austin's touchdown. Are you kidding me? You had a man underneath and he was a good 5-7 yards short of the first down when you bit on it. He only had one catch all game but that was all he needed. Then at the end of the game they just feed Marion Barber and we fail to stop him. Sure it would have been nice to have some timeouts left but we didn't. Have to step up when the game is on the line.

Akeem Jordan - I'm happy with how he played, but the negative is him getting injured. If you saw a slow motion replay of when he got injured it was sickening. He was the only remaining starting linebacker from the beginning of the season and now may miss time. Our linebacker rotation was messed up enough how it is, this isn't going to help.

Losing - This is always a negative but this loss really hurts. It seems every time the Eagles have a game later in the day and the Giants lose beforehand, the Eagles can never gain any ground. They had a real good opportunity here but failed to get a win. They head out west this weekend to take on a San Diego who is coming off a big come from behind win against the Giants. Eagles really need to tighten it up.

BirdsFan.com - A Philadelphia Eagles blog

The Eagles needed to go out Sunday and get an impressive win, and that is what they did. They looked good on both sides of the ball and Kevin Kolb was able to lead the team to a win. In doing so, Kolb became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for over 300 yards his first two games.

LeSean McCoy looked great running the ball 20 times for 84 yards and scoring a touchdown. He also had a reception for nine yards.

DeSean Jackson and Brent Celek both had big games again. They both had over 100 yards receiving and were both able to find the endzone. Jackson just seems to make big plays every game and I hope the trend continues. Celek gets better and better every week and caught the most passes out of any Eagle on Sunday.

Jeremy Maclin did a nice job filling in for Kevin Curtis. A lot of pressure was taken off him by the way Jackson and Celek were playing, but he still managed to catch four passes for 33 yards.

Michael Vick did get to see action on the field but wasn't a real big threat. It's good that he got to get in and I'm expecting him to make some big plays down the road.

The defense played a terrific game again holding the Chiefs to under 200 yards of total offense. They sacked Cassel 3 times and despite not forcing a lot of turnovers, they didn't allow the Chiefs to convert on any of their third down opportunities.

Many people will probably downplay this game as the Chiefs aren't a very good football team. However, the Eagles won this game the way they were supposed to. They fired on all cylinders and it was a great victory.

What things did you enjoy most about Sunday's win over the Chiefs?

http://BirdsFan.com - A Philadelphia Eagles blog

The Eagles did what needed to be done and won their fifth game in a row in order to clinch a playoff spot. There were a lot of bright spots in the win; however, there were also a lot of mistakes that need to be worked out in the final two games before heading into the playoffs. With that being said, let's take a look at some of the positives and negatives from last night.

Positives:

Leonard Weaver - The guy had 19 touches last night for 70 yards. I never would have thought a fullback would be so involved in an Andy Reid system but I am loving it. He did have the bonehead play before half but he did apologize after the game and the Eagles were able to get a field goal.

Donovan McNabb - It wasn't the best game he's ever had, but it was another 300 yard passing day. He did what he needed to in order to get his team a victory. I liked seeing him pull the ball down and run for a touchdown but there were a lot of other opportunities during the game in which he should have run the ball. You also don't want to see those interceptions.

Defensive turnovers - The Eagles forced Alex Smith to throw three interceptions and also recovered a fumble on the day. Forcing an offense into turnovers takes a lot of pressure off your own offense and puts your team in a position to win. This is exactly what the Eagles did yesterday.

DeSean Jackson - No surprises here. The guy had another big day catching six passes for 140 yards and a touchdown. He also got behind defenders and could have had another 50+ yard touchdown but Donovan overthrew him by a step or two. He also became only the third 1,000 yard wide receiver in the Andy Reid era joining Kevin Curtis and some other loser.

LeSean McCoy - I read an article last week that suggested McCoy had hit a "rookie wall." This didn't seem to be the case against the 49ers. He carried the ball nine times for 48 yards and scored a touchdown. His longest run was only eight yards so you can see he was consistently picking up nice chunks of yardage. Combine him with Weaver, and you got a 100 yard day between the two on the ground.

Brent Celek - Despite the injuries Celek has, he still played and performed well on Sunday. He was the second leading receiver behind DeSean with four catches for 73 yards and had a real nice play that netted in a 43 yard reception.

Asante Samuel - Surprisingly, we saw Asante drop the hammer on a real nice hit yesterday. Not so surprisingly, we also so him record another interception and also saw him recover the fumble that was knocked out by Sheldon Brown.

Trent Cole - He accounted for two out of the three sacks on Alex Smith and is just a warrior. The guy has been flying around all year and is just really fun to watch. He never quits on plays and is exactly the type of player you want on your football team.

Negatives:

Michael Vick - He left the game with a thigh contusion and was not able to contribute much of anything on Sunday. I hope that he can battle through this as I'd like to have his playmaking threats down the line here. He also adds another phase to the running attack.

Andy Reid's 4th down call - You all know what I'm talking about, and I'm sure you're all still scratching your head like I am. Not necessary. The defense bailed Andy out on this one but that still doesn't make it right. C'mon Andy.

Tackling - Improved from the Giants game? Yes. At the level it needs to be? No. I don't know if the poor weather the past two weeks has anything to do with it but it really has to improve. This is a playoff team now and you're not going to go far in the playoffs if you can't tackle.

Kevin Curtis - We did see the return of Kevin Curtis and he was able to haul in one reception. However, I would have liked to see them try to get him involved a little bit more. He could be a big help down the stretch so they really need to try to get him up to speed.

What positives and negatives did you see against the 49ers?

www.BirdsFan.com - A Philadelphia Eagles blog

The play calling in Philadelphia has been questionable for a long time. This is a team that has always thought pass before run and I'm not expecting that to change anytime soon. However, when your facing teams that have consistently struggled against the run, you have got to try and get something started on the ground. Oakland had one of the worst run defenses coming into Sunday's game but the Eagles only gave their running backs 11 opportunities to run the ball. This is pathetic.

If you look around the league at any other teams, you'll see their starting running back getting at least 15 carries a game. Neither one of our running backs got to carry the ball more than six times. This has got to be extremely frustrating for Brain Westbrook and LeSean McCoy. I know that neither one of them is expecting to get 25 carries a game but I'm sure they'd both like to get somewhere between 10-15 carries per game.

Some of this play calling may be based on Reid's lack of confidence with the offensive line. There have been a lot of different players in and out of that line and the group hasn't really gotten the opportunity to gel yet. However, I think if you can sustain a run game and consistently pick up first downs to move the ball down the field it can change a lot on the confidence level. This hasn't been done so far this year because the play calling won't allow for it.

Another thing that has frustrated me with the play calling lately is the fact that Donovan McNabb's ribs were still not fully healed. When you consistently call pass plays you are forcing your quarterback to drop back every play and risk taking a big hit. With McNabb's ribs not being 100% you didn't want to have to see him in that position more than he had to be.

I'm sure Reid knows that the play calling on Sunday was not very good and I hope he's been spending time to make adjustments. The Eagles need to come out with a totally different game plan offensively then what they brought out against the Raiders.

http://www.birdsfan.com/ - A Philadelphia Eagles blog

A new era is definitely under way in Philly as the Eagles will be without long-time stars Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook when they open the 2010 season.

McNabb helped lead the Eagles to a 11-5 regular-season record last season, but back-to-back poor performance by the quarterback in the season finale and Wild-Card playoff game against Dallas led to his shocking trade to the rival Washington Redskins. It wasn't really a huge shock that McNabb was dealt, as that had been rumored, but that the Eagles dared trade him in division. The six-time Pro Bowler led the Eagles to five NFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl in 11 seasons in Philadelphia. He is the franchise leader in yards passing (32,873), completions (2,801), attempts (4,746), completion percentage (59.0) and touchdown passes (216). He also rushed for 3,249 yards and 28 TDs.

For all his criticisms, McNabb didn't turn the ball over much, as in the past four seasons the only QB with at least 1,000 attempts and a lower interception percentage is Aaron Rodgers. McNabb has thrown 683 more passes than Rodgers in that time period.

Now it's Kevin Kolb's team and he showed some glimpses of stardom in his two starts for an injured McNabb in Weeks 2 and 3 last year. Kolb threw for 391 yards in a loss to the Saints and 327 in a win over the Chiefs to become the first player ever to throw for at least 300 yards in his first two starts. And now Michael Vick, assuming he isn't released or suspended after a shooting at a party he was at, is now one injury away from starting again.

As for Westbrook, it was probably time for him to go as he couldn't stay healthy any more so the team cut him. He had an MVP-caliber season in 2007 with a league-leading 2,104 yards from scrimmage and accounted for 12 touchdowns that season. That season he accounted for 36.7 percent of the team's offense. Last season he missed eight games with concussions and an ankle injury. He scored only two touchdowns in 2009 and managed 455 yards from scrimmage. Now second-year player LeSean McCoy is the featured back and the Eagles also signed Mike Bell from the Saints to back him up.

With McCoy, receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin and tight end Brent Celek, the Eagles have tons of potential, but it all rests on Kolb. The defense does have a few questions as in defensive coordinator Sean McDermott's first season running that unit it allowed 21 points per game, ranking 19th in the NFL. The linebacking corps should be better as Stewart Bradley returns to the middle after a preseason knee injury cost him all of 2009, and Ernie Sims was acquired from the Detroit Lions to man the weak side.

Here's the 2010 Philadelphia Eagles schedule (all times Eastern):

Week 1: Sunday, Sep. 12, Green Bay, 4:15 PM

Week 2: Sunday, Sep. 19, at Detroit, 1:00 PM

Week 3: Sunday, Sep. 26, at Jacksonville, 4:05 PM

Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 3, Washington, 4:15 PM

Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 10, at San Francisco, 8:20 PM

Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 17, Atlanta, 1:00 PM

Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 24, at Tennessee, 1:00 PM

Week 8: BYE

Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 7, Indianapolis, 4:15 PM

Week 10: Monday, Nov. 15, at Washington, 8:30 PM

Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 21, NY Giants, 8:20 PM

Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 28, at Chicago, 1:00 PM

Week 13: Thursday, Dec. 2, Houston, 8:20 PM

Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 12, at Dallas, 8:20 PM

Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 19, at NY Giants, 1:00 PM

Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 26, Minnesota, 1:00 PM

Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 2, Dallas, 1:00 PM

Philly's schedule ranks as the ninth-toughest in the NFL, with an opponents' 2009 winning percentage of.520 (133-123). And the networks love the Eagles as they will be on national TV at least eight times.

The Eagles better start fast because their schedule after the bye week is a monster. Things didn't go too well the last time they opened against Green Bay as the Packers won 16-13 in 2007. This game for Week 1 is currently a 'pick'em' on BetUS. The following week, at Detroit, looks like a major trap game even though the Eagles put up 56 on the improving Lions last year. And then Philly has a tough one in the likely heat and humidity in Jacksonville, which is the only active NFL franchise that the Eagles have yet to defeat (0-3). It's Philly's first visit there since its last Super Bowl.

But then comes what probably will be the most hyped game of the season when McNabb returns to Philadelphia with the Skins. Strangely, Washington is the only NFC East opponent the Eagles face until Week 10, when they will travel to play the Redskins on "Monday Night Football." That 49ers game looks like a loss, as it's never easy to travel across country to play, especially after the no-doubt emotional Washington game (even though the Eagles beat the Niners, 27-13, last year). Philly was 0-2 on the West Coast last year. Overall, the NFL point spreads like a 4-3 team heading into the bye week.

If there's ever a time for Philly to play the Colts, it's after the bye because Andy Reid has never lost following the bye week. Both the Colts and Texans visit Lincoln Financial Field for the first time. After visiting Washington, the Eagles see only playoff-caliber teams the rest of the way. It's the fourth year in a row that Philly has played Chicago (third straight there) and the past three have been decided by four points or less. Good luck getting through those final four games without at least two losses. It's the third year in a row that Philly closes with Dallas, and the first two had playoff implications. This one probably will as well.

The Eagles' 'over/under' for NFL season win totals is 8.5 wins and they are +275 to win the NFC East (second behind Dallas). This one is tough to predict because who knows what Kolb really is, but Philly should be able to get to nine wins yet seems unlikely to beat out Dallas or the Giants for the division title. We are looking at a second half football picks and a wild-card spot is a possibility but will be tough.

Doc Moseman is one of the pioneers of college football and the NFL Handicapping industry. Check out his Web site for up-to-the-minute NFL Odds and his famous winning college football and NFL picks.

This turned out to be an interesting weekend in Philadelphia. It was the day after Halloween, and both the Yankees and the Giants were in town for games at the good old sports complex. The city of Philadelphia had a real opportunity to take it to some New York teams and it would be the Eagles turn first.

The Eagles wasted no time taking it to the Giants as Leonard Weaver busted out a 41 yard touchdown run on the Eagles first offensive series. Little did we know what else Weaver had in store for us. Shortly after Weaver's touchdown, the Eagles kept the momentum going by getting on the board again when Donovan McNabb hit Brent Celek for a 17 yard touchdown strike. David Akers PAT was blocked and the Eagles ended up with a 13-0 lead after the first quarter.

The second quarter started with an Akers field goal moving the score to 16-0 before there was a big lull in the action. With just under two minutes left in the first half, the Giants finally got on the board when Eli Manning hooked up with tight end Kevin Boss for an 18 yard touchdown. This cut the lead to 16-7 and it looked like the Giants may take the momentum to halftime. However, this couldn't have been any more wrong. With their next possession, McNabb hit DeSean Jackson for a 54 yard touchdown and the momentum was right back where it had been all game. To make matters worse for the Giants, the ball was turned right back over to the Eagles and McNabb found Jeremy Maclin for another Eagles touchdown with under a minute left in the half. The Eagles took a 30-7 lead to halftime and looked like a total power house.

After another Akers field goal to start the half, the Eagles scoring hit a drought as the Giants tacked on 10 straight to finish the third quarter. LeSean McCoy added his own big play to the Eagles offense to start the fourth quarter breaking off a 66 yard touchdown run. This would be the final points of the game in an impressive 40-17 win for the Birds.

This moved the Eagles to 2-0 in the division and caught everyone's attention. Could the Eagles perform like this on a weekly basis? They dominated the Giants on both sides of the ball all game and looked like a force to be reckoned with. The Eagles were hitting the real bulk of their schedule and we would soon see how they would matchup against strong teams.

BirdsFan.com - A Philadelphia Eagles blog