Raise your hand if you predicted...

[Quasimoto]

I thought this team would get their ass beat.  This is the best crow I've ever tasted.

[MDS]

Why the hell do you I think I bought my #7 jersey the second his gay ass signed here? Come on.

[rjs246]

This team would have done quite well all year long had anyone on the offense showed some kind of emotion. McNabb's never been that guy, and the offense has never needed him to be. It had those guys before, and the offense worked, even without great players. Duce. Owens. Even motherfarging Freddie. Farg these players if they decided to step up after McNabb got hurt. Again. Step the farg up in the first place, maybe do your job before your QB gets hurt.

Amen.

[Father Demon]

GF -- right on point. 

I can't wait to get McNabb back under center, but I just hope and pray that people took notice of what happened while he was gone.

1) Running the ball in a football game works.  And works well.  With McNabb throwing strong, deep, short, outside, and scrambling and Westbrook running the ball hard during a game, this could be a great team.
2) Emotion.  McNabb's personality is great for locker room, press conferences, and commercials, but I want to see him get in some players faces during the game like we saw outta Garcia.
3) Defense playing with fire under their asses. 

There...  a simple 3-pronged approach to getting to the Superbowl and continuing to dominate the NFC East (and the NFC) for 2007 and 2008.

[General_Failure]

Dominating the NFC is pretty simple right now.

Step 1: Show up.

[Father Demon]

Dominating the NFC is pretty simple right now.

Step 1: Show up.

When the Eagles do that on a regular basis, then I'll say dominating the NFC is easy right now.

[General_Failure]

I was talking about the Bears and Saints.

[Cerevant]

One thing separates Garcia from McNabb: leadership.  If the Eagles still had any leaders on offense, then McNabb would be the better choice.  This offense was playing with no heart until Garcia came in here and started kicking some ass.

I was calling for Feely too.  Guess I'm not the only one picking black feathers out of my teeth.

[Eaglez]

Or it is the offense felt that McNabb could do everything by themselves and played uninspired football for a few weeks -- especially on the defensive side. Now that they know they can't just rely on McNabb making plays they have to pick up the slack and are playing better football.

I think both arguments (McNabb didn't provide that 'fire' and the Eagles expected McNabb to do everything) have some merit. But, since everyone sees Garcia jumping up and down and displaying emotion we like to think that explanation is the only feasible one.

Garcia's play has been great. But I don't think anyone would seriously choose Garcia as a replacement in the long term over McNabb. Also, I think the unsung hero of the turnaround is the offensive line. They are just mauling people and opening up the run game and giving great protection in the passing game.

The two major factors, IMO, for the turn-around on offense is (1) the offensive line play (2) the commitment to the run

For the defense, they have just been making more plays and turnovers. Up until last week they still couldn't really stop the run, but the difference was that they were helping to keep teams out of the end zone and making critical turnovers at the right time.

[TRUCK RATHMAN]

If Garcia had an arm, I dont think there would still be such a commitment to run the last couple of games. Alot of his picks in Frisco were just cuz he couldnt hit open WRs in stride downfield.


More insight: The last time I saw Garcia play like this was his first or second year(cant remember) with the 9ers. After having some success, Garcia went into a little slump, throwing picks and losing a couple of games. Bill Walsh then went public and told our local media Garcia was at his "limit" or at his "maximum level of play" or something just like that. Man, after that, that boy went on a rampage. Awhile afterwards, TO started mouthing off......

I agree with demon about mcnabb being good for media and public relations. As a leader on the field, I have serious doubts. Especially with the way he handled the TO debacle last year when he needed to punch him in the mouth and take control of the lockerroom.

Anyways, I havent ever seen Garcia like this. That boy is so possessed right now. He does not care what anyone thinks or says. He is taking control of that offense whether you like it or not and he's playing to win it all.

[shorebird]

Garcia is playing like a man on fire, like he sees his last shot at the Superbowl and he's going for it 150%. I have loved McNabb and never would want to start next season without him starting, but if he had come back and was ready to play right now, who in their right mind would sit Garcia with the way he's playing?

[shorebird]

Let me comment on that last comment. It would be an interesting situation if Dmac came back for the playoffs. I wouldn't want to have to make that decision.

What I would like to see is McNabb at the helm with the same commitment to the run.

[Feva]

No... it's not interesting at all.  If McNabb were to be healthy for the playoffs... he plays.

People have some short ass memories.  McNabb was an MVP candidate and was tied for the league lead in TD passes leading the #1 offense in the NFL when he went down.  He was far from the problem this year.

Garcia is playing great ball... not taking that away from him at all... but the difference is the playcalling, not his "intensity".  Andy has switched from passing 65% of the time to 50% of the time and that has benefitted him greatly.  If he were to lean on Garcia the same way he leans on McNabb... he would have buckled hard and we'd be nowhere near the playoffs.

The simple solution is to keep this same balanced, agressive playcalling when McNabb comes back because as good as Garcia has been, McNabb gives us a better chance to win.

[Eaglez]

It just seems like the offense is more consistent now. With McNabb in there is was big play or bust. Now, the Eagles have a balanced attack and sustain more long drives and eat up more clock and wear out the opposing D.

I would love to see McNabb in a balanced approach next season. The team can immensely benefit from it both offensively and defensively.

I'd trade 3 play 60 yard drive for a 12 play 80 yard drive that eats 7-8 minutes off the clock any day of the week.

What's even better is that with a balanced attack the Eagles still always have the opportunity for the big play with McNabb's arm, and it should be more wide open than ever with the defense having to respect the running game and the underneath stuff.

I feel like I'm sounding like a broken record, or that all this stuff has been repeated ad infinitum, but it is a winning formula.

[General_Failure]

Feely's numbers with the backups should put a lid on Garthiamania. It won't, but it should. Clearly, any half-decent backup can come in and win with these players if both the offense and defense show up to play.

Also, cut Moats.