SB Nation - Donovan McNabb

The Linc - Reno Mahe, Leonard Weaver, Donovan McNabb, & Brian Dawkins

JasonB — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:00:32 -0000

by Michael Perez - AP

3 days ago: Philadelphia Eagles' Leonard Weaver, left, hurdles a diving tackle by San Francisco 49ers' Parys Haralson in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)

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Philadelphia prepares to welcome back Dawkins | dawkins, englewood, philadelphia - Sports - Colorado Springs Gazette, CO
A Denver based writer interviewed myself and Enrico from the700level about the return of Dawkins.

The Seattle Times: Steve Kelley: No-name Weaver impresses Hawks
The first time Leonard Weaver touched the football in the first minicamp of his life, he made an impression.

McNabb knows the meaning of giving | Philadelphia Daily News | 12/23/2009
DONOVAN McNABB didn't have to do it. He didn't have to brave the double-digit-inch snowfall that blasted the Delaware Valley last Saturday to keep his word to attend an event featuring a Christmas shopping spree at a Target store for 130 children from a Mount Airy shelter.

Eagle Mountain reaches out to American Samoa - Salt Lake Tribune
Wondering what Reno Mahe is up to?

NFL draft: What were they thinking? | Philadelphia Daily News | 12/23/2009
Here is further proof that scouting isn't an exact science: DeSean Jackson was the seventh wide receiver taken in the 2008 draft. A look at Jackson's stats, compared with the six wideouts selected ahead of him:

BBC - Neil Reynolds's Blog: McNabb thrives despite tough Philadelphia love
A perspective on the Eagles and McNabb from across the pond.

The700Level.com - Philly Sports & Minutiae: Santa's Revenge
This epic photo was taken on Sunday by reader Alex F. He writes: "At long last, Santa Claus finally gets his chance to throw snowballs back at Eagles fans. This guy was in the first row of the middle tier...

Seattle, Thanks for the Repair

bucsfandave — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:00:21 -0000

by Matt Rourke - AP

Is this your college girlfriend?

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Well, I needed some help. The Josh Freeman bandwagon had two flat tires and an overheated radiator. Trapped on the side of the road, my cell phone was getting no reception and the CB radio only registered a trucker named Rah and he didn’t seem too inclined to help. I was sure these troubling times would end soon. Then, Seattle AAA arrived to fix what ailed our group of Freeman supporters and get us back on the road.

Quarterbacks are funny creatures. Somewhere along the line, a parent or coach has to anoint a kid as a quarterback, and push him in that direction. Rarely, does someone play lineman in Pop Warner and then suddenly, at high school tryouts, say "I’m ready to be a gunslinger." Josh Freeman was molded to be a quarterback and it’s time for that training to kick in and start producing some top flight quarterback play. The interceptions were just a blip, right? Just a bump in the road, right? After all, we are not going to be teased for years by Josh Freeman’s potential, are we? It could be worse. We could be Philadelphia Eagles fans. Find out why, after the jump.

I can not think of a quarterback that has inspired more joy and pain to the same fan base as Donovan McNabb. There is no doubt that Donovan McNabb is an upper echelon NFL quarterback, capable of beating down average teams. But, I have to be really glad he’s not our quarterback. I mean, four NFC Championship game losses and a Super Bowl loss? Talk about unfulfilled expectations. To me, Donovan McNabb is like the very beautiful, great-on-paper girlfriend some guys had in college. Yeah, you are so psyched when you start dating her. She’s gorgeous, smart, comes from a good family. You can see the potential. Unfortunately, you two never have the kind of relationship you always dreamed about. Sure, you go to parties and go on dates, and she even invited you to a formal dance. Yep, stuck at third base. Most things with her are great, but you need it all to be happy. You thought it might happen, but then she threw up in the huddle and seemed in no hurry to get things going again. Meanwhile, your roommate is dating a girl (Tom Brady) and they spend all of their time in his room with the door closed. Every morning, they are in the shower for an hour and you have no hot water before you go to class. He may be your best friend, but right now, you hate his guts. You are thinking to yourself, how the hell did this happen to him? Why isn’t this happening for me? That’s how Eagles fans feel. Roethlisberger has two Super Bowls? And the other Manning guy? No, not Cooper. Is this ever going to happen for us? Twelve years of teasing and poor clock management and big game melt downs. Ridiculous. They even had the freaky cousin transfer (T.O.) hoping some crazy would rub off on her, but NOOOOO! Nothing. Twelve years with a top team and can’t cash in ONE SUPER BOWL!!!

Like I said, quarterbacks are strange creatures. Like any good relationship, you have to commit to it early, nurture it, hope for that to develop and ultimately pay off. I have fond memories of Gruden, but he refused to draft and develop a Josh Freeman type. I could not get that fired up for another 8-8 season under Garcia/Griese/McNown/Fiedler/Unabomber Jake Plummer. I know this year sucks. We’ve had that great college girlfriend, and it was AWESOME. Now, we are back in college again, trying to start anew. Will it work out? I see some great signs. Josh Freeman laughs at all of our jokes. He has the right moves. We’ve had some good times so far, but how will things feel when the pressure comes? Only time will tell, but I’m willing to give it a shot. Who’s with me?

Eli for MVP? Of the Giants -- without a doubt

Ed Valentine — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 15:00:34 -0000

More photos » by Tim Larsen - AP

Eli ManningEl

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Eli Manning for MVP? No one mentions the New York Giants quarterback when they talk about 2009 candidates for the honor, and Mike Celizic of NBC Sports wonders why.

Go ahead and say that suggesting Manning the Younger could be a more deserving MVP candidate than his big brother, grizzled old Brett Favre, Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Philip Rivers or Donovan McNabb is like taking the rice cakes over the aged prime rib. I’ll understand, because when the idea was first suggested to me, I thought the same thing.

But if you look at what the Giants have to work with, you have to admit there’s merit to the idea. In a year in which the Giants’ defense has played worse in each succeeding week, Eli Manning has without any fanfare been putting together the best season of his six-year career. Despite a month-long losing streak, the 8-6 Giants still have a shot at the postseason, and it’s all because of Eli Manning.

I’m not suggesting he’s the best quarterback in the league. Even I’m not that foolish. But we’re talking most valuable here, not best. And the reality is that the only way the Giants are getting into the playoffs is if Eli puts them on his shoulders and drags them there.

Eli, of course, will not even get little to no support in the MVP balloting. What Celizic is right about, though, is that you simply cannot underestimate how good Manning has been this season and how important he is to the Giants.

Eli is having the best season of his career, statistically and otherwise. He has the highest completion percentage, yards per game, yards per attempt and quarterback rating of his career. All of this while working with a new, inexperienced group of receivers who, while exciting and talented, are still prone to mistakes and drops. Also, consider how good his numbers would be had he not suffered the mid-season foot injury that impacted his throwing for a few weeks.

If you pay attention you also see how masterfully Eli orchestrates the line of scrimmage, changing protections and plays. ESPN analyst Jon Gruden could not stop gushing about Eli on Monday night. Gruden's hyperbole aside, he had a point.

Eli might not be the NFL MVP. He is, though, unquestionably the Giants' MVP.

There is no doubt Eli belongs on the list when you discuss the top 6-8 quarterbacks in the league. I know there is still a faction out there, even among Giants fans, who believe Manning is not very good. They seize on every mistake to say 'I told you so.'

All I can say to that small faction is, you are wrong. You formed your opinion a long time ago, and you have closed your mind to objectively watching what you are seeing.

That's too bad. Because you are missing being able to appreciate the guy who will finish his career as the best quarterback to ever wear a Giants uniform.

		Passing									Rushing					Sacks
	G	Rating	Comp	Att	Pct	Yds	Y/G	Y/A	TD	INT	Rush	Yds	Y/G	Avg	TD	Sack	YdsL
2009 - Eli Manning	14	96	271	443	61.2	3584	256	8.1	26	11	15	59	4.2	3.9	0	23	156

The Linc - Eagles' tackles stepping up in a big way

JasonB — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:00:32 -0000

Gonzo: About snowball problem: Lighten up | Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/21/2009
The Eagles clinched a playoff spot yesterday, but my guess is that the national pundits will spend more time today talking about the fans and their behavior than they will about the Birds' postseason aspirations. That's typical. It's also a little lame. There are probably more important things to discuss. No one should ever throw anything onto the field, but otherwise - so long as no one got hurt and everyone made it home in one piece - it was largely harmless. "It looked like they were having fun," Jeremiah Trotter said. "I put my hoodie up. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't in harm's way."

Man Up: Peters, Justice protect McNabb | Philly | 12/21/2009
Jason Peters - Peters was pretty much flawless in pass protection, not allowing the 49ers to get any pressure on McNabb off the edge. McNabb had three completions of 35 yards or more. The Eagles have killed defenses with big plays all season, and a lot of credit has to go to the tackles for providing McNabb time to find receivers down the field. Pretty amazing how smooth this transition has been in the pass game to two new bookend tackles. Offensive line coach Juan Castillo deserves a ton of credit, as does the front office.

Uncharacteristic: Weaver Apologizes for Jawing
Weaver, who is in his fifth season, called the lapse "very uncharacteristic." And, he said, "I owe my team an apology, as well as the fans – even the fans that were talking trash to me (as he left the field at halftime). I’m sorry."

NFL Notebook: Bad Tackling is League-Wide
How did we get to this point? If we accept the fact that today’s athletes are bigger, faster and stronger – which they are -- why can’t they tackle?

More after the jump

Eagles-Cowboys headed for prime-time? - NFC East Blog - ESPN
As Barry Horn notes in his DallasNews.com Sports Media Blog, there's a great chance the season finale between the Cowboys and Eagles will be moved to Sunday night. The way it's looking now, that game will probably have playoff implications for both teams.

Westbrook should be cleared, Reid says | Philadelphia Daily News | 12/21/2009
Andy Reid said he expects Brian Westbrook to be cleared to play against Denver on Sunday, although he said he won’t know for sure until tomorrow. "Right now it looks pretty good," Reid said.

McNabb flourishes outside the numbers - NFC East Blog - ESPN
Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb was 21-of-36 for 306 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. But most of his success came on outside throws. Check out these numbers provided by John Fisher of ESPN Stats & Information:

Eagles Notebook: Eagles expect emotional homecoming for Dawkins | Philadelphia Daily News | 12/21/2009
There was one thing other than playoff talk that the Eagles weren't quite ready to face yesterday. That would be the prospect of welcoming Brian Dawkins to Lincoln Financial Field next weekend in a Denver uniform.

Eagles 27 - 49ers 13: Hidden Nuggets

Fooch — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 04:34:46 -0000

Today's game definitely did not end as any of us would have hoped, but there were still a few positives to take from the game. Most prominent among the positives would be the performance of Frank Gore. Gore has managed to bounce back from a few quiet games and now sits 58 yards from his fourth straight 1,000 yard rushing season. No 49er running back has done that for three straight seasons, let alone the fourth season. One interesting additional stat: Gore is now only 153 rushing yards from passing Garrison Hearst for 4th all-time among 49ers running backs. He's facing some weak defenses these next two weeks, so hopefully he can blow past Hearst

100 Back-To- Back

With 107 rushing yards on the day, RB Frank Gore has rushed for over 100-yards in back-to-back games for the first time since 2006 (12/10/06 vs. Green Bay and 12/14/06 at Seattle).
This marks Gore's 4^th 100-yard game of the season and 19^th for his career. He trails only RB Joe Perry (20 100-yard games) for the most 100-yard games in franchise history.
Gore became the first RB in 20 regular season games to rush for over 100 yards vs. Philadelphia.
Gore needs only 58 more yards to reach the 1,000-yard mark for the fourth consecutive season.

A few more interesting stats after the jump...

Turnovers Coming In Bunches

With 2 interceptions on the day, the 49ers defense has forced 2 or more turnovers in a game 7 times this season. It is the first time since 2005 that the 49ers defense has forced 2 or more turnovers in at least 7 games (8 in 2005).
CB Shawntae Spencer intercepted QB Donovan McNabb in the endzone for his 2^nd INT of the season (8^th of his career).
CB Dre' Bly notched is 2^nd INT of the season (42^nd of his career) as he picked off McNabb midway through the third quarter, setting up the 49ers first touchdown of the day.

Smith Ties Touchdown Mark

QB Alex Smith tied his single-season touchdown record on a 12-yard TD pass to WR Josh Morgan. With 16 TD passes on the season, Smith has tied his career-high from 2006.

Davis Sets Another Franchise Record

TE Vernon Davis broke the 49ers franchise record for receiving yards in a season by a tight end. Davis now has 858 receiving yards on the season. The previous record was 825 yards receiving by TE Eric Johnson in 2004.

Morgan's Career Day

WR Josh Morgan tallied 183 all-purpose yards, the most in his career. He had a career-high 7 receptions for 61 yards and 1 touchdown and also totaled 122 kickoff return yards, including a long of 52 yards. His previous career-high was 149 all-purpose yards (6 receptions for 56 yards, 1 carry for 20 yards and 73 kickoff return yards) at Seattle (12/6/09).

Season Long

K Joe Nedney nailed a 51-yard field on the 49ers first possession, his longest of the season. That marked Nedney's 8^th field goal of 50-yards-or-more since joining the 49ers in 2005. He holds the franchise record for most field goals of 50-yards-or-more.

Extending Their Streaks

DT Justin Smith extended his consecutive starts streak to 137 games, which leads all defensive linemen. Arizona DT Darnell Dockett is second at 79 games.
S Mark Roman extended his streak to 110 consecutive games played. He ranks 2nd in the NFL among safeties with 110 consecutive games played (Deon Grant, SEA - 142).

Eagles Clinch Berth, End 49ers Playoff Hopes 27-13

Bob_Q — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:41:24 -0000

More photos » by Michael Perez - AP

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With a 27-13 win over the San Francisco 49ers, the Eagles have advanced to a 10-4 record and have clinched a playoff spot. Although Donovan McNabb and the defense looked shaky at times, there were several bright spots that allowed the Eagles to pull out a win:

DeSean Jackson eclipsed over 1,000 yards for the season with a 140 yard, 1 TD performance. He just barely missed breaking Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch and Devin Hester's single season 50+ yard TD record with an overthrown pass by McNabb.
Asante Samuel helped with the turnover game, recovering a Sheldon Brown fumble and picking off Alex Smith. The Eagles defense picked off Smith three times over the course of the game.
Reserve linebacker Tracy White recorded his first career interception and provided good pressure when brought in on passing downs.
Trent Cole recorded two sacks, bringing his season total to 11.5. At the moment, he is tied for 5th most sacks in the NFL with the Colts' Dwight Freeney.
David Akers had a perfect day, completing both field goals and going 3/3 on extra points. He is currently holds the second-highest scoring total in the NFL behind the Chargers' Nate Kaeding.

The Linc - McNabb's pro bowl prospects

JasonB — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:00:21 -0000

by Matt Slocum - AP

2 months ago: Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb reacts after throwing a 51-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jeremy Maclin in the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

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Too bad McNabb is a longshot for Pro Bowl | Philadelphia Daily News | 12/17/2009
Donovan McNabb went to the Pro Bowl 5 years in a row, 2000-2004. The Eagles' quarterback hasn't been there since, and he almost certainly won't be among the initial invitees this season. But McNabb is compiling better numbers this year than he posted in any of those Pro Bowl seasons, except for the last one, the year he had Terrell Owens (77 catches, 1,200 yards, 14 touchdowns) and a young, healthy Brian Westbrook (73 catches, 703 yards, six TDs) to help him to the Super Bowl.

Eagles' high-powered offense draws comparisons to '04 Super Bowl team - pressofAtlanticCity.com : Sports
The Eagles enter Sunday's game against San Francisco averaging 28.6 points per game. That ranks third in the NFL behind New Orleans (35.4) and Minnesota (29.9). At their current pace, they would break the franchise record of 26 points per game set last season.

Ex-Cal star DeSean Jackson Mr. Big Play for Philadelphia Eagles - San Jose Mercury News
For all DeSean Jackson's amazing feats this season, none is more improbable than getting Andy Reid off the ground.

Eagles give cash to foundation named for Vineland boy | thedailyjournal.com | The Daily Journal
The Kevin J. Snyder Memorial Foundation has another $11,000 to give away, thanks to the Philadelphia Eagles and a pharmaceutical company.

Clark's tirade targets local media, fans | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers safety Ryan Clark says the Eagles have it easy compared to what the Steelers deal with from their local media.

Who would you take from the Philadelphia Eagles?

Fooch — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:27:33 -0000

More photos » by Bill Kostroun - AP

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I got this idea from Andrew over at Revenge of the Birds. We have plenty of discussion about who we like on the 49ers, and who we fear on the opposing team. However, this post allows us to go off into fantasy-land a bit and decide who we might like from an opposing team. In doing this, you can approach it from a variety of angles. You can take a player just because you like that player, no matter what the 49ers current situation is at that position. You can consider who the 49ers might lose in the offseason or positions they need to improve. If you want to take into account the player's contract and look for "realistic" additions, you're free to do that. You can be as realistic or as fantastical (if that's even a word) as you'd like. For this week, here are some of the guys I'd enjoy having on the 49ers...

DeSean Jackson, WR: I'm guessing this selection won't shock anybody. I won't argue the 49ers should have drafted him because most every team had questions about him, thus his fall in the draft. Hindsight is 20/20 and it's too easy to argue they should have drafted him. However, given his development at the NFL level, he would like mighty fine in a 49ers uniform. The obvious is that he's a home run hitter as a punt returner. While he's not taking every punt to the house, he's put together some impressive numbers this year, leading the league in punt return average. The 49ers punt return game has been abysmal and he would rectify that right away.

Then you throw in his receiving abilities, which I think have improved since entering the NFL. Imagine a young trio of Jackson, Crabtree and Morgan? Add in Vernon Davis and you've got one of the best group of receivers/tight ends in the league, with some of the highest upside as well. Obviously an offensive line has to give Alex Smith time to pass, but this is definitely a nice first step towards a dominant passing game.

After the jump I look at a few more Eagles I'd take, and one that I'd pass on...

Asante Samuel, CB: The 49ers cornerbacks have shown some signs of developing and given their youth (Shawntae Spencer is 27 and Tarell Brown is 24), I'd like to think the best is yet to come. However, Asante Samuel is the type of shutdown corner this team could use. He's got 7 interceptions on the year, and at only 28 years of age, he's one of the money corners in the league. Seeing as Dre Bly is under a 1-year deal and the team has to look long term, Samuel makes sense. He signed a 6-year deal in 2008 and has not sloughed off in spite of the big money. Nate Clements has been solid for the 49ers, especially in the run defense, but Asante Samuel is the long-term shutdown guy the team could use.

Trent Cole, DE: Cole might actually be undersized as a 3-4 defensive end. Is it possible his pass rushing skills could translate over to outside linebacker? At this point the 49ers are actually looking much better in the pass rush from their outside linebackers, so I suppose Cole might not be a necessary addition. Nonetheless he has been fairly consistent as a pass rusher since his second season with sack totals of 8.0, 12.5, 9.0 and 9.5 thus far this season. The 49ers still don't know if they have consistency from anybody in the sack department at this point.

Stacy Andrews, G: The Arizona Cardinals didn't have any offensive linemen worth grabbing, but Philly has some intriguing options. Stacy Andrews can play guard and tackle, but has had some issues this season after coming off ACL surgery. The 49ers will likely send David Baas packing after this season so having Andrews around would certainly be a plus. Of course, McCloughan is a guy who doesn't spend a ton of money on guards, so this particularly guy would actually probably never see the light of day as a 49er.

One guy I didn't include was Donovan McNabb. McNabb has had quite a career in Philly and is having a solid year this season. However, given his age, and the 49ers own offensive line issues I'm not sure how much I'd want him. For a one and done type of deal I can see the value. But if I want to look long term, is he a guy you'd grab?

I also didn't include LeSean McCoy. He went in the second round and has moved into the starting lineup with Brian Westbrook's injury issues. He seems like a guy who could have provided more than Glen Coffee, but given Frank Gore's role (sometimes) in the 49ers offense and how much of the workload he carries, would McCoy be of enough value?

49ers-Eagles: Q&A with Bleeding Green Nation

Fooch — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:00:30 -0000

We're back this week with a few questions and answers with JasonB and the fine folks at Bleeding Green Nation. The 49ers face off against an Eagles team that has put up quite the mix of impressive performances, followed up by stinkers as seen in their rather ugly loss at Oakland earlier this season. Personally I'm not expecting a stinker from Philly, but let's hope for the best (or the worst if you will).

NN: The Eagles have struggled the last couple weeks with McCoy and Weaver leading the rushing attack, but the Eagles continue to win. Is the team simply beefing up the passing attack to cover for the rushing and can it be effective the rest of the season and into the playoffs?

BGN: Well, they ran well against Washington and they ran petty well against the Falcons. The Giants game ended up being a shootout, but they ran well at the end of that game when they needed to. I guess I don't really feel like they've been struggling. They've run when they needed to, whether it be with McCoy or Weaver or even Mike Vick. It's no secret that this is a pass first offense, but in that context I think they've done well enough. It could always be nice to see more though.

I guess to answer you question, the Eagles ability to win from here on out is and was always going to be predicated on their ability to throw the ball.

We continue with a few more questions after the jump...

NN: The 49ers have gone pass-heavy lately, which would seem to play into the hands of a solid Eagles pass defense. Asante Samuel remains the big name in that secondary, but what else will Alex Smith and the 49ers receivers have to account for on Sunday?

BGN: I would expect that they're going to come after him pretty often. When the Eagles have played young or inexperienced QBs this year, they've amped up the blitz. In fact, against the Bucs I swear they blitzed almost every down. I wouldn't be surprised if they tried a similar thing this weekend. The guy to watch on the Eagles D in that department is definitely Trent Cole. I'd say all around the best player on defense and clearly the best pass rusher.

The secondary has been up and down. The safety positions have been iffy, but the corners are both having fantastic seasons. Asante Samuel has 7 picks and Sheldon Brown has 5 (and a couple of TDs). They both like to jump routes and can be susceptible to the double move at times.

NN: Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb often face a steady stream of criticism, and yet the keep on winning. How do Eagles fans currently view the two of them?

BGN: The amount of criticism they face is always overblown. It's generally a vocal minority that you hear complaining. For the most part, people are behind McNabb and Reid... but mostly all Eagles fans have some level of frustration with the lack of a superbowl this past decade. With how good this team has been and how many times they've been in the playoffs, you'd think they'd would have got one by now.

NN: One of the 49ers problems has been in pass protection. It's improved since moving to more of a shotgun offense, but is still something they'll be battling. Can you tell us a bit about the Eagles pass rush?

BGN: I guess that answer to #2 is the same here.

NN: What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Eagles offensive line?

BGN: They're generally a very good pass blocking line and an inconsistent run block line. Running off the left side where Jason Peters and Todd Herremans are is usually where they're most effective. The line is probably weakest trying to get a push straight up the middle in the short yardage.

Philadelphia Eagles opponents preview - San Francisco 49ers

JasonB — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:00:22 -0000

by Marcio Jose Sanchez - AP

9 days ago: San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree (15) scores on a 35-yard touchdown reception past Arizona Cardinals cornerback Bryant McFadden (25) in the second quarter of an NFL football game in San Francisco, Monday, Dec. 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

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This is the next part in our series of previews of the Eagles 2009 opponents. Joining us for this feature is Dave Schwab, who writes about the Eagles at his site Eagles Lincs.

This Sunday the 49ers take a cross country trip on a short week face the surging Eagles. The 49ers are clinging to faint playoff hopes and are riding high after beating division rival Arizona last Monday Night. Was last week's win over the Cards the Niners superbowl or are they something to be worried about?

Dave's full analysis is after the jump.

After playing four out of their last five games on the road, the Eagles are home for two straight games as they continue their quest for another NFC East division title. This Sunday in a 1:00 P.M start at Lincoln Financial Field, they face the San Francisco 49ers who are coming off a big 24-9 win over NFC West division foe, Arizona this past Monday night. The win kept the Cardinals from clinching the division as well as moved the 49ers record to 7-6 to keep their faint hopes for a spot in the playoffs alive. With an incredible 45-38 win over the Giants last Sunday night the Eagles are now 9-4 and in sole possession of first place in the NFC East. Philadelphia has to be careful to avoid a letdown this week after a huge win that put them in control of their own destiny in the division.

The biggest threat on the field this Sunday for San Francisco will be not be RB Frank Gore, rather it will be TE Vernon Davis. Since changing QB’s back in week eight, sending Shaun Hill to the bench and handing the reigns over to former first round pick Alex Smith the 49ers have switched to a spread offense that looks to throw the ball much more than they did in the past. Davis is the team’s leading receiver with 66 receptions for 815 yards and 11 TD’s which is tops among all tight ends in the NFC. Another threat is rookie WR Michael Crabtree. After holding out in the beginning of the season, he has caught 37 balls for 473 yards and 2 TD’s in his first eight games as a pro. The Eagles’ defense will still have to be wary of Gore’s ability to gain large chunks of yardage on the ground. With the proper schemes they should be able to put enough pressure on Smith as well as confuse him with some different looks to neutralize Davis, preventing him from winning this game with his arm.

Defensively the 49ers are very average. They are ranked 5^th against the run and 8^th in points allowed, but they still give up an average of 338.6 total yards per game and are ranked 27^th against the pass giving up over 240 yards per game. While Philadelphia will look to establish the run with RB LeSean McCoy and FB Leonard Weaver as they have in the second half of the season, QB Donovan McNabb always keeps an eye down field for second year sensation WR DeSean Jackson, who has tied an NFL record for most touchdowns over 50 yards with eight. With their number two WR Jeremy Maclin out for at least two weeks with a foot injury, look the possible return of Kevin Curtis who has been out since week two with a knee injury. All in all there are more weapons on this Eagles’ offense than the 49ers can cover, so do not be surprised if once again big plays carry the Birds to a win.

The Eagles have had the bad habit of dropping a game at home late in the season to a team they should easily beat. Last year it was Washington in week 16 and in 2007 they lost to Seattle in week 13. This year things appear to be different as McNabb is playing with complete confidence and is not turning the ball over at crucial times of the game. In his 11 starts this season he has thrown for 18 TD’s and only seven interceptions. He also has the luxury of being surrounded by perhaps the most talent on offense in his entire 11 year career. San Francisco is a fairly decent team and probably just a few players from becoming a legitimate playoff caliber team, but at this point they do not have the horses to run with Philadelphia especially in late December at the Linc.