It's Dallas Cowboys week. And as it never seems to fail, this match-up has ginormous implications. In a series which features a Philadelphia team that has faced the Cowboys more times than any other team in the NFL, the 102nd end score would result in some very important occurrences.
If the 6-8 Philadelphia Eagles beat the NFC East leading Cowboys (8-6), they'd contribute to their very real chances of squeaking into the playoffs, and with their elimination for contention of a wild card spot, they'd even be the favorites in the wild card round of the NFC playoffs. An Eagles win against them and the Washington Redskins, paired with a New York Jets win over the Giants, together with a week 17 New York Giants win over the Cowboys, will seal them a playoff berth.
Got it? No? Here's the breakdown: 1.) The Eagles need to finish the season 2-0 at the Cowboys and home against the Redskins. 2.) The Cowboys need to finish the season 0-2 at home against the Eagles and at the Giants. 3.) The Giants need to lose at the Jets next week, but beat the Cowboys at home in Week 17.
While most folks, in fear of jinxing their team, don't want to set their hopes on such an occurrence, there's not exactly any "Salagagoola mechicka boola bibbidi-bobbidi-boo" needed to put it all together. It's all totally plausible.
The 8-6 New York Jets (who just came off of an embarrassing loss to the Eagles) could very much so beat the 7-7 New York Giants who have just come off of a lackluster loss against the Washington Redskins.
The most difficult part of this scenario will be taking the second game against the Cowboys. Once they complete that, the other things are, maybe even, likely to happen.
Stranger things have happened.
What I think will help is a positive belief and loud blind support of the 2011 Eagles—I know, but bear with me. Forget what has happened and let's ride this out until the fat lady sings. She hasn't sung yet for a reason, and we have yet to see the end of the season.
It's no secret that the power of the Philadelphia fanbase is real. Even Andy Reid commented in his opening comments during Monday's press conference on the fans' effects. "…compliments to our fans for the spirit that they brought, and energy they brought to the stadium." Reid said, "They really end up being the twelfth man out there when they do that, the players feed off of that. "
Forget the odds; forget the players lashings; forget all the previous years of the Eagles falling short—forget any jinxing superstitions.
The Eagles will make the playoffs. Say it all together now.
The Eagles will make the playoffs.
Vincent Heck is a life-long resident of the Philadelphia area, and a featured 'Fan View' blogger on Yahoo! Sports. Follow him on Twitter: @HeckPhilly
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