Good article by Dan Pompei on Yahoo

[bobbyinlondon]

"No NFC team wants the Eagles in its house."

Hilarious

This is why you don't want the Eagles in your team's house, and it's why the Giants are looking forward to going to Philly like a trip to their mother-in-law's.

1. They've been making a lot of noise.

The Eagles -- clang, bong, boom! -- have been the noisiest team in the NFC, winning five straight.

Quarterback Jeff Garcia's fiery leadership has given this team a jolt of energy, and the adjustments the team made in offensive philosophy because of Garcia have put the Eagles in a sweet groove. "When you do certain things offensively well, then the defense can do certain things," Reid says. "It works hand in hand. You're not playing from behind and the offense is controlling the ball a little better, which allows the defense to do some things in the blitz game. It's both groups working together."


2. They will make themselves at home in your house.

This is a team that won three straight away games in December. They know how to thrive on the road


3. They will show up with mud on their shoes.

They lost quarterback Donovan McNabb and defensive end Jevon Kearse, Pro Bowl-caliber players. They kept trudging on. They were 5-6 and looked like they were playing for next year. They kept trudging on. They have been through heartbreak, losing one game to the Giants after leading by 17 in the fourth quarter and being beaten in Tampa by a 62-yard field goal. They kept trudging on.

This 10-6 team easily could be 12-4. But that mud gives them more character.


4. They are pushy.

In fact, nobody is pushing defenders around better than the Eagles' offensive line, and offensive line play is critical in the postseason.

The right side of the line has become the equivalent of the Seahawks' left side before Steve Hutchinson left. Center Jamaal Jackson, right guard Shawn Andrews and right tackle Jon Runyan are creating huge holes in the running game. Andrews has become the best guard in football, and the Eagles finally have developed an attack between the tackles.

"The fact they've been able to run the ball inside has helped them get to the outside," says Ron Jaworski, an ESPN analyst. "People used to scrape a lot and stop the outside running game and Brian Westbrook's speed. Now they can't do that because they're successful running inside."


5. They have staying power.

Since Garcia took over for McNabb, the Eagles have transformed their offensive personality. They have become more of a ball-control offense that stays on the field and wears down defenses. That's the kind of offense that often finds success in the postseason. In Garcia's five starts before the team's meaningless regular-season finale, the Eagles averaged three drives of eight plays or longer. They have gained more yards on first down than any team in football, which leaves them with reasonable second- and third-down lengths to convert.

Really, Garcia didn't replace McNabb as much as Westbrook did. Now, Westbrook is the centerpiece of the offense. Westbrook averaged 15.6 carries per game in McNabb's starts and 19.6 in Garcia's first five. According to research by Jaworski through Week 16, in the first half of games when the game plan wasn't affected much by the score, the Eagles called pass plays 67 percent of the time with McNabb, and only 58 percent of the time with Garcia.

The profile of their passing game also has changed somewhat. While McNabb averaged 8.4 yards per attempt, Garcia has averaged 7.0.

The offense also has been molded by the play-calling of offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, who gradually has assumed the responsibility as the season has gone on and has positioned himself to be considered for another head coaching position.


6. They will disrupt your routine.

The Eagles have blitzed more late in the season, and defensive coordinator Jim Johnson has become more comfortable with his personnel. On Christmas against the Cowboys, for instance, they blitzed 33 percent of the time; their average over the first nine games had been 18 percent, according to Jaworski.

So expect the Eagles to be bold if they visit -- and expect to wish they had never come.

[rjs246]

The offense also has been molded by the play-calling of offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, who gradually has assumed the responsibility as the season has gone on and has positioned himself to be considered for another head coaching position.

[SunMo]

know your role Marty

[Seabiscuit36]

Having Jaws comment on the Eagles loses all credibility to the article.   

[phattymatty]

This is my favorite part...

According to research by Jaworski through Week 16,

It reminds me of that Simpsons episode when they're in Africa and Homer says "According to this box of animal crackers there should be a river right here."