Eagles Dominate to Setup Epic Showdown with Cowboys

What a difference a week makes. Fresh off of losing to a bad team in a classic letdown game, the Eagles were in their house looking to atone for falling into a trap in Minnesota. Atone they did, annihilating the visiting Chicago Bears 54-11.

Good teams win at home. After ending a historic streak of home futility, the Eagles have gotten their South Philly mojo back, having won their last four home games.

How a team responds to a loss is perhaps as important as winning at home. After a terrible showing against the Vikings, the Eagles posted their most dominating win of the season against perhaps the best team they have played.

In week four, against the Denver Broncos, who boasted the most prolific offense in the NFL, the Eagles surrendered 45 points. On Sunday, against the second-leading offense in the NFL, they gave up 11 points, and doubled them up in yardage (514 to 257).

Even more impressive, they did it against a Bears team that could have clinched the NFC North with a victory.

To be sure, the inability of the hapless Redskins to hold off a teetering Cowboys team took some starch out of the game, but despite that, the Eagles played with playoff intensity. It was important to do so to get past their terrible performance last week and to go into the all-important matchup against the Cowboys next week with momentum.

Chip Kelly had his worst day as an NFL head coach last week. He did not come out and say so after that game, but he did correct his mistakes.

Facing Devin Hester, one of the best returners in NFL history, Kelly abandoned the pooch-kick strategy that had failed him against Minnesota and gave his special teams players a chance to just win the matchup—and they did so. Hester averaged 24 yards per kickoff return, and fumbled one in the first quarter that led to an Eagles touchdown

After having rushed for 299 yards against the second-ranked Lions rush defense, Kelly inexplicably called eight rushes by running backs in Minnesota, and paid for it.

Against the Bears, the Eagles rushed the ball 36 times for 289 yards. Not coincidentally, this allowed the Eagles to win the time of possession battle and preserve their defense.

This game had everything a fan could want. It began with a dominating, 21-0 start in the first quarter. Constant defensive pressure on the quarterback was highlighted by three Trent Cole sacks and an interception returned by Brandon Boykin. The defense padded those totals and even added a safety.

Above all, Eagles fans got flawless quarterback play from Nick Foles, and three quarters of unstoppable running by Lesean McCoy, who contribtued 133 yards and two touchdowns. Then, when the score was already out of hand, Bryce Brown and Chris Polk broke off touchdown runs of 65 yards and 10 yards, respectively.

As great as it was, the game was only important as a momentum-builder because the entire season depends on the Eagles going to Dallas and beating the Cowboys next week.

Chip Kelly and the Eagles have accomplished a great deal this season. Kelly proved he can coach in the NFL, and re-established the Linc as a legitimate homefield advantage. The defense improved more quickly than anyone could have expected.

Perhaps the most important development has been the emergence of Nick Foles. Kelly unwisely bought into the Michael Vick mirage and he paid for it with a 1-3 start.

With 25 TD’s and just 2 interceptions, Foles has the highest QB rating in the NFL: better than luminaries like Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, and Tom Brady.

These are all very important developments for the future. But the present is what counts now and it comes in the form of the Dallas Cowboys.

News came out Monday that Tony Romo is probably out with an injured back. It remains to be seen how that will affect this upcoming game, but the Vegas line went from the Eagles being favored by 3 points to now being favored by 7.5.

Eagles fans have had their hopes dashed before and take nothing for granted. The Eagles were a better team than the Cowboys even when Romo was expected to play. With him out, the gap widens even more.

The only advantage the Cowboys have is that they are at home. The Eagles are 5-2 on the road this season.

Yes, our hopes have been dashed before. But there are new sheriffs in town now. Kelly and Foles have an opportunity to give Eagles fans a late Christmas present with a win, earning a home playoff game…and then who knows what can happen.

In the season of miracles, Eagles fans don’t yet need one; they just need a win over an inferior team.

GO BIRDS!