Pats All Folks: Patriots-Eagles Preview
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by Trizz
Tom Brady has been the better quarterback on the field in each game during New England's undefeated start -- just like when he led the Patriots to a victory over Donovan McNabb and the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX. Brady and the Patriots look to improve to 11-0 when they meet the Eagles Sunday night in another flex game for the first time since that Super Bowl, but he may not have the chance to beat McNabb again.
McNabb has had an up-and-down season and is considered a game-time decision for Sunday due to thumb and ankle injuries. Some say McNabb may be intentionally ducking the Patriots, for he was one of the first people to cast judgement went spygate broke saying, "Can I get my ring back?"
Brady's quarterback rating this season is 134.0 -- well above Peyton Manning's single-season record of 121.1 in 2004. With 38 touchdown passes, Brady also seems primed to break Manning's record of 49, and his 74.0 completion percentage is above Ken Anderson's record of 70.6 in 1982.
McNabb, meanwhile, was 3-of-11 with two interceptions before leaving last Sunday's 17-7 victory over winless Miami because of the injuries. He may be forced to sit out practice all week, meaning A.J. Feeley could start Sunday for Philadelphia (5-5).
"I don't think there is any added incentive to get out there and play," McNabb said. "We all know what happened in the Super Bowl and we know they are undefeated. If you need more motivation, then you shouldn't even step on the field."
The Patriots have been motivated all season, and have at times looked invincible. They can clinch a fifth straight AFC East title this week with a win or a Buffalo loss.
They've managed to feed off the negative attention surrounding the "Spygate" scandal that surfaced in Week 1, and they won't have to look far to find extra incentive this week. In the aftermath of the scandal, at least one member of the Eagles questioned the legitimacy of the Patriots' victory in Super Bowl XXXIX.
"I think they should forfeit, man," Eagles running back Reno Mahe said earlier this year. "We won the Super Bowl. I think we should get it. I'm going to go trade my NFC championship ring for a Super Bowl ring."
McNabb isn't the only injury concern for the Eagles, whose banged-up secondary will be facing a Patriots team that leads the NFL in total offense (436.8 yards per game), passing offense (305.0) and points per game (41.1).
Free safety Brian Dawkins (neck stinger) and cornerback Lito Sheppard (sprained knee) are still playing hurt, and a shoulder injury shelved strong safety Sean Considine for the season three weeks ago. Considine's replacement, Quintin Michel didn't practice Wednesday after spraining his knee in last week's win over Miami, meaning third-year player J.R. Reed may make his second career start Sunday.
No one including Philly fans are not giving the Eagles a chance, they are the 23 1/2 point underdog the biggest underdog in NFL history that is not an expansion team. Brian Dawkins refuses to believe the hype."Every team can be beaten, that's a given," Dawkins said. "There's no team that's played the game that can't be beaten. We, as a team, want to go in there and do what we can so we can get a win up there."
Slowing down Moss would be a good start. Acquired from Oakland during April's draft, Moss has 66 receptions for 1,052 yards and is one TD catch away from tying his career high of 17. "I'm glad we have Randy Moss, let's put it that way," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "As a head coach, I've never had a better receiver than Randy. I've been on teams that have had a lot of other good receivers, but he's very good and he's been good for this football team."
When McNabb went down last year, backup Jeff Garcia rallied them to the playoffs. He has since bolted for Tampa and the spotlight is on A.J. Feeley. Feeley was good for Philadelphia last week, going 13-for-19 for 116 yards and throwing a TD pass to put the Eagles up by 10 points in the fourth quarter. "It's nothing out of the ordinary," Feeley said. "It's what I do as a backup. You never know if you're going to play." Feeley beat the Patriots in his only career start against them when he was with Miami in December 2004, leading the Dolphins back from an 11-point deficit with just under four minutes to play to upset the eventual World Champions 29-28.
With Feeley or McNabb, unless Brian Westbrook gets it going early this will be a looooong night. Eagles will likely score after the fact when the game is pretty much wrapped up. Patriots 51 Eagles 17
