Eagles the safest bet in Week 1?

[mpmcgraw]

From Football Outsiders.  They also talk about the division.

Philadelphia Eagles (o/u 8.5)
Bill: This line seems awfully low for a team that was just subject to Murphy's Law last season. Then again, there's a reason the dozens of Leroy Sportsbooks didn't become the Barnwell House of Sports Booking while I was in Vegas. I'm going to go against Vegas and say this is a mortal lock for Over though, for several reasons. The Eagles schedule is a weak one — 23rd in the NFL. They've strengthened the offensive line, and if Donovan McNabb has all day to throw, it won't matter if he's got Todd Benzinger and Reggie Theus instead of Pinkston and Brown for wide receivers, he's going to find people. Finally, you remember the whole Super Bowl loser's curse: going back to 2000, teams who lose in the Super Bowl average a shade over 6 wins a season the year after? Well, in the second year after their Super Bowl defeat, those teams win an average of 9.5 games.

Ian: The NFC East looks to be very competitive this season. All four teams are ranked in the top half of the NFC, with Philadelphia the lowest of the four. That makes sense. The Giants have a maturing Eli, the taterskins had a great season last year and seem to be adding more talent than they're losing, and Dallas has Parcells and T.O. Philly lost Owens, and hasn't done much to replace him in the lineup. So, gamblers are likely to believe more in the Eagles' divisional foes. You can take advantage.

I'm not about to compare Donovan McNabb to Tom Brady in the general sense, but McNabb possesses the Brady-like quality of simply getting the ball to the open man. He's got an accurate throw, and he's good at spreading the ball around between wideouts, tight ends and running backs. He also is good about running when the opportunity presents itself to keep the chains moving. With a healthy McNabb at quarterback, as long as he doesn't have a prima donna receiver bitching him out on the sidelines, the Eagles are going to be in good shape to win a lot of games.

This division will be a tight one; no team is likely to dominate their NFC East foes. The Eagles will rebound from last season to regain their status as a perennial playoff contender. Nine wins should be attainable, I'm also going Over.

[Tomahawk]

Those guys are talking about how may games the Eagles are going to win this season; not the Houston game.

[ice grillin you]

yeah but if they lose the houston game they arent >8.5

[mpmcgraw]

Those guys are talking about how may games the Eagles are going to win this season; not the Houston game.

oops, all well

[MadMarchHare]

That is the rub, isn't it?  We really have no idea how good or bad the offense is.  I feel pretty good about the D, despite the OLB problems.  But the O is a coin toss.

[QB Eagles]

The Eagles schedule is a weak one

Maybe objectively in terms of win/loss records from last year, but I actually think it's the toughest Birds schedule in recent memory. Most of the first half of the season is a cakewalk, but there is no obvious pushover team in the NFC East, and the Eagles' have a brutal stretch of AT Indianapolis, vs. Carolina, AT the entire NFC East right when they'll be trying to make a playoff push late in the season.

[rjs246]

Maybe objectively in terms of win/loss records from last year, but I actually think it's the toughest Birds schedule in recent memory.

But! But! But, this team is the same as the 2002, 2003 teams! 12-4! Definitely.

[Geowhizzer]

Maybe objectively in terms of win/loss records from last year, but I actually think it's the toughest Birds schedule in recent memory.

But! But! But, this team is the same as the 2002, 2003 teams! 12-4! Definitely.

Anyone that says less than 16-0 is a Negadelphian.

[rjs246]

In.

[Drunkmasterflex]

Holla!

[mpmcgraw]

I could have sworn there was a big paragraph in there about the Texans game. 

Maybe I shouldnt stand so close to the microwave.