November 15, 2016
The Philadelphia Eagles probably saved their season on Sunday when they beat the Atlanta Falcons at the Linc – a building that has suddenly become a thunder dome of success.
The Dallas Cowboys’ leap to the head of the NFC class hardly means that the Eagles playoff hopes are left in their wake. There is a decent chance that for the first time since 2009 the NFC East will have two teams qualify for the playoffs.
And the Eagles should be able to overcome both the Redskins and Giants to be that second team.
That is especially true because the Eagles are undefeated at home, where they have games remaining against all three divisional opponents. The Eagles have outscored their opponents by 66 points in Philly, and cold weather is usually their friend.
This Sunday’s game will be a difficult task in Seattle, but the Eagles have not lost contact with any team they have faced – including the Cowboys.
And mind you, they have done this without a valid wide receiver.
Having discovered a running game against the Falcons, and with Lane Johnson (remember him?) able to come back late in the season, and with a stable quarterback, the Eagles could be a fearful team, one able to ruin the holiday seasons of fans in New York and Washington.
A loss against the Falcons would have virtually ended the season. Instead, it could be the beginning of a run into the postseason.
***
It is a terrible feeling to have to suggest a coach or manager should be replaced, but the situation with the Sixers and Brett Brown has become beyond absurd.
Mind you, the Sixers owe a whole lot to Brown, whose career has been seriously dented by the train wreck of this franchise. However, in order to steer the club into the future, some new direction is needed.
In simple and stark stats, you can’t lose over 200 games in just over three seasons and remain in charge. Beyond those stats, the Sixers have to change the entire culture, and a new voice is needed.
***
Plaudits are due to former Flyer Eric Lindros for a remarkable speech Monday night in Toronto upon his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Lindros, who had a career marked by injury and controversy, hit all the right notes and left all involved feeling better.
Lindros, who should get additional respect for his continuing efforts to recognize the dangers of concussions, made everybody recall that sports are grown from their roots of children playing for fun.
Lindros ended with a touching moment when he invited his brother, Brett, to the stage, remarking that he never got to fulfill his dream of playing with him in the NHL but wanted to end this portion of his career with Brett by his side. It has been a long, strange trip for Lindros, and it is nice to see him living so comfortably and happy in his post-career.
It was also cool to see the Flyers’ old Legion of Doom line together again as Lindros was joined by former linemates John LeClair and Mikael Renberg.
***
If you are upset by the protests of the national anthem, the best way to deal with athletes kneeling or sitting is to just ignore the story.
The games begin at kick off, tip off, face off or with the first pitch.
The players have a right to express their opinions. And the fans have the right to ignore it.
***
There are many eyes being opened at the Penn State, with the football team climbing up in the rankings. But the Lions’ hockey team is also turning heads, reaching the top 10 in the rankings. In only its fifth year, Penn State has made it clear that it is a long-term national power threat.
The Nittany Lions are for real.
***
• There is no one in sports who provides more entertainment than UFC champion Conor McGregor. Sorry to see local Eddie Alvarez lose last weekend at Madison Square Garden, but McGregor is the show.
• Eagles coach Doug Pederson insists he has “all the confidence” in receiver Nelson Agholor. Of course, he has “all” the confidence, because nobody else has any.
After looking at the collection of the Eagles wide receivers, Seattle Seahawks star Richard Sherman might think it’s a bye week. Then again, how sweet would it be if he was burned for a long TD by one of these guys?
Maybe Agholor? Too good to even dream.
• The Flyers secretly have a great show coming to town Thursday night when the Winnipeg Jets visit. It’s easy to dismiss a team from Manitoba, but they have a great center in Mark Scheifele, and a probable rookie of the year in winger Patrick Laine, who has a shot like Islanders hall of famer Mike Bossy.
• The Phillies probably should have traded pitcher Jeremy Hellickson for prospects last summer, but they played their hand and are now committed to a $17.2 million contract for the upcoming season.
The Phils were probably hoping he would reject the offer and they could get some compensatory picks.
The good news is they have plenty of financial wiggle room with all the championship contracts gone, and they have plenty of room to develop the young talent.
In the meantime, the Atlanta Braves signed Bartolo Colon and R.A. Dickey. Yep, another year of watching Bartolo Colon on the mound at Citizens Bank park.
