Comments on: Eagles flying to Arizona, can you believe it?

By: Dannie

Dannie — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 20:31:22 +0000

Adam - He uses an extremely advanced efficiency metric called DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average). Here is the detailed explanation of it. I read a lot about it last year. The rankings he was likely using to state the Eagles are #1 is the overall team efficiency ranking that use offensive, defensive and special teams DVOA. HERE IS THE LIST.

By: Adam

Adam — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 18:31:44 +0000

I don’t know what kind of metrics are used by Aaron Schatz and his brethren at Football Outsiders, and while I can’t find the list I want on his website, if you listened to Bill Simmons’ podcast this week, Schatz said that the Eagles were ranked as the number one team in football for the season. Therefore, he has been picking the Eagles and is the one person, including those in Philadelphia, who expected the Eagles to get this far. This just goes to show the difference between watching games and the stats that come out of them. We all know the Eagles should have had a better record than they did, but some of those games were so pitiful it is amazing to believe they could be ranked the best team in the league.

One last thing, is there any credence to McNabb playing better because he no longer had his wife’s pregnancy with twins hanging over his head? On Simmons’ podcast and in other outlets, they question how McNabb could just flip the switch and begin playing so well again. No one outside Philly seems to know about the twins angle. Anyone actually believe this is a realistic reason, or a partial reason?

By: jkay

jkay — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:53:38 +0000

wow Tom Brady is Mr. Golden Boy!!

By: Pete

Pete — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:15:36 +0000

i think this is correct..... best winning % of playoff QBs (with at least 10 playoff starts)..... AVERT YOUR EYES HATERS! Note the lack of Peyton Manning, who is now 7-8.

Bart Starr 9-1 .900 Tom Brady 14-3 .824 Terry Bradshaw 14-5 .737 Troy Aikman 11-4 .733 Joe Montana 16-7 .696 John Elway 14-7 .667 Roger Staubach 11-6 .647

Donovan McNabb 9-5 .642 Phil Simms 6-4 .600 Ken Stabler 7-5 .583 Steve Young 8-6 .571 Brett Favre 12-10 .545

By: Stu

Stu — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 22:13:26 +0000

With Stephen Spach down, we are now looking at only Rod Hood and Matt Ware as the former Eagles scrubs playing in this game for the red team.

By: Adam

Adam — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 21:42:23 +0000

You know what I really hate reading about, the fact hat Arizona got blown out by the Eagles on 3 days rest. I forgot that only Arizona had 3 days rest. The Eagles were fully rested so they had a major advantage. Oh wait, that’s not right. There are no excuses for why Arizona played so poorly that night. Granted, I don’t think its fair to say that based on that result the Eagles are going to the Super Bowl. But I also don’t think its fair to say that game has no bearing. I trust Jim Johnson more than any other coach on the Eagles staff and with the statute that is Kurt Warner back there, I feel pretty good about our chances.

Boldin and Fitzgerald were both healthy in that game, right? That’s scary to have to cover both of them. And Breaston for that matter. But there is a reason we signed Asante Samuel in the off-season and if there is a time to have four great cornerbacks, well this is it.

And one more thing, I think Lito deserves some respect for how he has handled things this season. Maybe the contract situation has affected his game. But he has taken his position as a man. He has not sulked about Hanson getting more playing time. As I read articles, all I read is how happy Lito is with how the team is playing. He is cheering them on and in no way (or at least not showing the media) is unhappiness with the current situation. Granted I did read a few weeks back that he was referring to the defense as “them” since he is barely playing, but at least he is still happy with how they are playing and not mad that he is not a part of it.

By: bball

bball — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:54:20 +0000

Since it’s kind of a slow sports day, I’ll pass along a topic I heard on the radio that I want your opinions on. Last week before the Eagles/Giants game I heard a host on WIP (sorry I forget who it was) say that if McNabb and the Eagles won that #5 would be a sure Hall of Famer. His reasoning was that despite no Super Bowl win, 5 NFC championship appearances and 1 SB appearance is rare. I’m not sure what other QBs have acheived this but I would think Tom Brady, Montana, Steve Young, Aikman, Bradshaw are some of the ones who are right around 5 Championship game apperances though I think some of them might have been to only 4. Either way that’s a pretty good group to be included in. I think considering his success in the league and especially his playoff success (at least in the wildcard and divisional round) he has earned the right to be in the HOF. If they win this sunday and he gets to a 2nd Super Bowl I think it’s a lock that he makes the HOF.

What do you guys think about this? Is he in or out?

By: Stu

Stu — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:26:17 +0000

sorry, $24 MILLION EXTRA, my math was fuzzy because I couldn’t believe that increase in dollars!

By: Stu

Stu — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:25:13 +0000

\threadjack

Braves close to signing Lowe, 4 years, $60 million…so much for that 3 year, $36 million deal from the Mets…Are you still angry Pete?? Looks like the Phils were smart to lock up Ibanez instead of getting into a bidding war and signing a killer contract…Of course Lowe was going to be thrown a 4th year and another $14 million by a desperate team…

/threadjack

By: jkay

jkay — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 06:17:17 +0000

bball: dead on. the INTs and completion rate fool you; I thought he had his BEST game of the season. considering they shut injured Westbrook down, the 2 INTs werent really his fault (Jackson beat by CB and batted down pass) and shaky field position early on.