Hey guys, I've taken in my share of criticism here at BGN, and I realize I might get some for this post...but I simply wanted to wish you all an early Merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday season! I am running a brief article series over at my site, and I am just posting some info. if any of you would want to check it out. If not, Go Eagles! And have a great time over the next few days gathering with friends and family, celebrating the season!

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I suppose using the term "California, rest in peace" (which was cleverly taken from the popular Red Hot Chili Peppers' 2006 single music hit entitled Dani California if you didn't notice), which jokingly indicates the San Francisco 49ers will meet their end this week against the Eagles was not such a wise thing to do. Of course, we all remember the Birds' embarrassing loss awhile back to the Raiders, who just so happen to reside in California, as well. There's just something about these western clubs. But, seriously, enough with the comical rambling, and let's get to previewing Philadelphia's matchup with the Niners tomorrow afternoon. The Eagles sit at 9-4 and atop their NFC East division, and many seem to think that a victory over San Francisco will seal a playoff spot, however, there are mathematical possibilities proving otherwise. Obviously, this game will still churn out strong implications of the postseason, and despite the lack of hype the 49ers have received as a team, this Week 15 showdown should prove to be just as enjoyable as previous weeks.

Week 15 Opponent: San Francisco 49ers

2008 Record: 7-9

Last Meeting Between Teams: Week 6, 2008. PHI-40 SF-26

Game Location: Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

Evaluation: Ever since the Niners' reigns were handed over to Mike Singletary as the head coach midway through 2008, the organization has showed improvement. Under him, San Francisco has gone 11-11 in 22 games, and although that is far from impressive, it is a large increase over the amount of victories compiled in the previous three seasons (16). The starting Quarterback has changed quite a bit (going from such players as former number-1 Draft pick Alex Smith to forgotten veteran Shaun Hill to other unproven players). Smith regained his lead role in the offense earlier in this season, and has done a nice job under center for the squad, yet they remain an inconsistency in all phases of the game. Their defensive unit has been mediocre, and it is arguable that their only solid player is MLB Patrick Willis, for CB Nate Clements (who was once a highly-regarded defensive back while with the Bills) and the secondary have been less than average. In fact, the 49ers' defense ranks 26th in the NFL in terms of passing yards allowed, and 18th in total yardage given up. For San Francisco to have a chance, they will need to utilize their offensive weapons like WR Michael Crabtree and TE Vernon Davis, as well as RB Frank Gore. If they choose to play the sloppy style of football they've tended to on occasion this year, then the Eagles must certainly take advantage of  their opportunities and capitalize.

Key Matchups:

• OLB Moise Fokou (PHI) vs. TE Vernon Davis (SF): Eagles' head coach Andy Reid stated that rookie defender Moise Fokou will be rotated onto the field every so often to play as the primary coverer of Davis, who is undoubtedly one of the league's best Tight Ends. As seen throughout the entire season, the Birds have tended to have trouble containing opposing teams' TEs, and with Davis' athleticism, he will definitely be a tough task for the freshman professional Fokou. The 7th-round Draft selection has seen the field this year plenty of times, performing as a replacement starter, situational reserve and special teams player, but the question is whether he will be able to control both Davis and himself. Fokou has been penalized quite a lot for unnecessary hits and actions he executes after plays are clearly over, and doesn't need distractions like that, especially on the same day that he will be responsible for a 6'3", 250-lb. TE who thus far in 2009 has grabbed 66 balls for a remarkable total of 815 yards and 11 touchdowns.
• RB LeSean McCoy (PHI) vs. MLB Patrick Willis (SF): Because McCoy has not been a large part of the Eagles' offensive strategy as of late, it seems appropriate they will include him many times against a 49ers team that is well-ranked against the run but certainly susceptible to big plays on the ground. Willis leads the league with 132 tackles, to go along with his 4 sacks and 2 interceptions, so he best be blocked or distracted if the rookie McCoy intends on breaking off a few long sprints. Because it has been confirmed RB Brian Westbrook will be out of the Birds' lineup because of continuing concussion rehab, McCoy will once again be forced to carry the load on his shoulders, and this player battle may prove more of a factor than expected. Because if the Eagles cannot get a game going on the ground, then the passing aspect becomes one-dimensional, something that doomed them when facing that "other western team"...the Raiders.
• CB Asante Samuel (PHI) vs. WR Josh Morgan (SF): The Eagles' Pro-Bowl CB Samuel isn't slated to face off with one of the league's best wideouts this week, but his primary coverage target--Morgan--has proven to be a quality starter, at least for a 2nd-year, former 6th-round Draft pick who was not expected to put up numbers even close to what he has. Of course, his 39 receptions for 418 yards and a pair of scores is nothing special, but it's been enough to keep the Niners happy with his production. Morgan has an underestimated amount of speed, so Samuel best stay with the young receiver out of Virginia Tech University. If San Francisco QB Alex Smith is unable to find his two "go-to guys" on a pass play (Crabtree, Davis), then he will definitely be looking Josh Morgan's way, so this matchup should be very interesting to watch.
• RT Winston Justice (PHI) vs. DE Isaac Sopoaga (SF): This player battle is probably going to be the most overlooked of the bunch. Justice's early-season performances of near-perfection seem to have been assumed to happen every week now, but that is not so. The young lineman is still capable of succumbing to mistakes, and Sopoaga may be the right guy to force these mistakes. The Niner is playing in his 6th season and despite never earning a Pro-Bowl appearance or special award, has been a solid piece to San Francisco's typically-stout defensive line. He has only a single sack on the year, but plays every contest as if he can get one, fighting with extreme determination each and every play. Justice needs to be careful in attempting to keep Sopoaga under wraps, for this matchup could very well be one of the most important in the game. A "victory" by Justice would allow QB Donovan McNabb an extended amount of time to pass the ball and McCoy a much larger space to run with, and a "win" by the San Francisco DE would give the 49ers a much-needed edge on the defensive front.

What to Watch For...

• There will be several former Eagles suiting up for the 49ers tomorrow afternoon, and a former San Francisco player performing as a Bird on Sunday, so there are a few familiar faces to look for. Takeo Spikes, who shares the middle of the field with Patrick Willis in the 49ers' 3-4 defensive scheme, had a 1-year stint with Philadelphia in 2007, in which he played well but not as great as anticipated when he signed as the team's prized free agent addition of the year. In addition to Spikes, starting SS Michael Lewis was also a member of the Eagles. The secondary man played in Philly from 2002-2006, and was frequently among the team's top tacklers until he was let into free agency prior to the '07 campaign. As for Eagles who used to be employed by the San Fran organization, backup CB Joselio Hanson spent his rookie season of 2003 on the Niners' practice squad before being promoted to the active roster in 2004.
• As mentioned previously in a post that was released on Friday, rookie WR Jeremy Maclin has been ruled out of the game with a tear in his plantar facia, a part of the foot located near the heel. In his place, veterans Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown are scheduled to start, so be sure to keep an eye on how they do. Curtis hasn't been on the field since Week 2 because of ongoing knee problems, and Brown has been an occasionally-playing backup with what has been a minimal role so far in the year.
• It seems as if the Linebacker position is always a topic of interest or something to look for, but once again there is no question that it is. With Akeem Jordan supposedly healthy and ready to play both physically and mentally, there's a chance the staff will do what they hinted at and leave him at the MLB, while Will Witherspoon and Chris Gocong would start on the outside. However, we can only wait and see how it turns out, so definitely look out for how the Eagles decide to line up their LBs this week.

Injury Report (Eagles):

RB Brian Westbrook (concussion) Out

FB Leonard Weaver (slightly strained hamstring) Probable

WR Jason Avant (reoccurring hamstring pain) Probable

WR Jeremy Maclin (torn plantar facia) Out

WR Kevin Curtis (surgery; sprained knee) Probable

TE Brent Celek (sprained thumb, sore back) Questionable

OG Nick Cole (knee pain) Probable

DE Trent Cole (bruised hamstring) Probable

DE Victor Abiamiri (sprained knee) Probable

DT Mike Patterson (bruised wrist) Probable

LB Akeem Jordan (hyper-extended knee) Probable

OLB Tracy White (strained shoulder muscle) Probable

Projected Team Lineups:

Whether it's possible to get excited over a game against the 49ers or not, there are serious playoff implications involved, so don't downplay the Eagles' upcoming matchup, and be sure to keep your spirits high!

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 The Eagles sneaked in a new defensive formation last week against the Giants that featured the latest twist on the team’s Linebacker position. The package was utilized for only a play or so, but it had Will Witherspoon and Chris Gocong manning the outside spots and Akeem Jordan (pictured) playing at MLB. Of course, veteran Jeremiah Trotter saw most of the repetitions at the position, but it is now being speculated that Jordan, who missed 4 games with a hyper-extended knee earlier in the season, will remain the primary Middle Linebacker.

Prior to his injury, the 3rd-year player had been atop the Eagles’ statistical leaders in terms of total tackles, and also had recorded a sack and a pair of interceptions. And what has been apparent all season, the Birds have constantly rotated the starter in the heart of the defense, going from young backups like Joe Mays and Omar Gaither to veterans of the Outside LB spot (such as Witherspoon and Gocong), and even to a player who was retired in 2008, Trotter.

Now the organization is contemplating Jordan’s role on the defense and may move him full-time to the middle. “We expect him to be a little bit better this week physically, coming off of the injury and then playing that middle position and moving around like he’s doing, having him build up a little bit of experience at the same time,” defensive coordinator Sean McDermott said. “We want the best three on the field. You hate to keep moving players around from a continuity standpoint and consistency standpoint,” “Will Witherspoon being here now and having moved when Akeem went down to the [outside] linebacker position, we just hate to keep moving guys around, [we're] trying to get them in a position where they’re comfortable. The injuries haven’t allowed for as much of that as we would’ve liked up to this point.”

It is certainly a great thing that Jordan’s health is improving and he will be able to return in a bigger role on the field, but the rumored move to MLB also brings up some questions about the future of the position. The planned starter in the middle during the offseason was the young and talented Stewart Bradley, but obviously he was lost for the season with a knee injury. And Jeremiah Trotter, who has played quite well for a player who was previously out of professional football for almost two years, is also facing a loss in future playing time because of it, though he wasn’t expected to be with Philly for long anyway. For now, though, concentration should be on the next game and how the Linebacker position pans out for that…we’ll worry about the coming seasons later.

On Tuesday, the Eagles released backup RB P.J. Hill to make room for their practice squad promotion, TE Martin Rucker. The powerful, yet agile runner returned to the organization today, for he agreed to fulfill the open position in the scout team. Hill (pictured in college) spent 7 games with the Birds, but never saw playing time as the 3rd-string Running Back behind rookie LeSean McCoy and hard-nosed Eldra Buckley. His potential to become a future star remains high, and therefore the Eagles felt it an easy decision to add him to their practice squad.

While at Wisconsin University in college, the 5′11″, 236-lb. back totaled 3,942 yards and 42 touchdowns, and also became the second RB in Badgers history to rush for over 1,000 yards in three seasons, beside former Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne. A pre-2009 Draft incident that involved Hill being arrested and attempting to flee police made many NFL clubs hesitant to select him, and so he went on to join the New Orleans Saints as a rookie free agent before being cut in September and signing to their practice squad.

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The chance of Brian Westbrook playing this week is continuing to increase. The veteran Running Back has been out for a total of 7 games this season, most recently because of multiple sustained concussions. Westbrook (pictured), a 3-time Pro-Bowl player, has been undergoing tests and evaluations from various medical examiners and neurosurgeons over the past few weeks, and appears to finally be ready to return to the field.

It was dubbed likely that Westbrook would miss the entire season and perhaps be forced to retire from football when he initially suffered his second concussion of the year while playing against the San Diego Chargers in early November. However, the team has made it quite clear that the versatile runner is far from being done, and that he is probably even going to suit up this Sunday versus the 49ers.

According to a team source, Westbrook is planning on donning a specially-designed helmet if/when he returns to the Eagles’ lineup. The head piece apparently contains an additional protective padding that is not found in other helmets. It also includes a shock-absorbing material that was actually used to protect the heads of former Navy SEAL soldiers in battle. If a football helmet with the strength of an army warrior’s head piece isn’t enough to keep the 8th-year player safe, then I certainly don’t what will. Seriously, though, this special piece of equipment is designed to turn hard hits into “glancing blows”, reducing the possibility of sustaining a concussion.

Head coach Andy Reid made no comment about the potential helmet change for Westbrook, but he did speak regarding the RB’s practice status for the week: “I am today [planning on having Westbrook playing this week] … It’s a day-to-day thing.” [He will practice with the scout team this week, and we're] just getting him back into football shape.”

In other injury news, TE Brent Celek missed this afternoon’s practice session with a sore back, but WR Kevin Curtis–who has been out since Week 2 with a nagging knee injury–was able to participate in a limited role.

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There has been no question that DeSean Jackson (pictured) has been the explosive weapon of the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense, but the 2nd-year Wide Receiver has also been a huge factor in terms of returning punts. Today, he was named Special Teams Player of the Week, the 4th award he’s received from the NFL all season. His 72-yard kick run-back for a touchdown against the Giants in last week’s 45-38 victory made him the clear choice for the honor, and it only solidifies what has been a remarkable season.

He previously was given awards in Week 1 vs. the Panthers (85-yard punt return for a TD), Week 7 against the Redskins (69 receiving yards, 67 rushing yards, 2 TD), and for the month of  September in which he managed to keep the league’s top punt returning average. Through 12 games this year (he missed one with a concussion), Jackson has notched 8 total touchdowns and 50 receptions for 947 yards.

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For the New York Giants, who have long been bitter rivals of the Eagles, they will be playing in one of their final games at Giants Stadium, for the organization is planning on opening a new home for the 2010 campaign. And of course, because of this, the Birds are licking their chops at the chance to crash the stadium farewell party a little early, by coming to East Rutherford, New Jersey and leaving with a win. Lately, the Eagles have looked extremely convincing, knocking off the injury-rattled Falcons by a lopsided score and coming from behind to defeat both the Bears and Redskins. However, they will need to continue their balance on offense and success on the defensive side of the ball against a playoff team in the Giants tomorrow to come out of the contest victorious. New York’s shining moments have hinged on QB Eli Manning’s consistency, and to the happiness of the Eagles, their staff, and their fan base, the passer is still dealing with foot pain, and is likely to be playing with at least a bit of caution. Nevertheless, this Week 14 showdown between two strong, competing NFC squads is sure to be a must-see performance.

Week 14 Opponent: New York Giants

2008 Record: 12-4 (0-1 playoffs)

Last Meeting Between Teams: Week 8, 2009. PHI-40 NYG-17

Game Location: Giants Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey)

Evaluation: If there is one word that best fits the New York Giants in regards to their display of football over the last few seasons, it is: enigma. Basically, that means they have been a mystery, or a hard-to-figure-out franchise. Of course, they were the best team in the league in 2007 when they captured the Super Bowl title over the seemingly unstoppable New England Patriots, but since then they’ve been up and down at a rapid pace. Last year, the “Big Blue” began with an 11-1 record in their first 12 games, but fell apart in the final 4, losing 3 and then crumbling to our beloved Eagles in the divisional round of the postseason. And thus far this season, the Giants have gone from a perfect 5-0 start to a 4-game losing streak, and are now fighting to stay alive in both the NFC East division as well as the playoff picture. With what has been dubbed a surprisingly powerful, but inconsistent offensive unit and a similarly up-and-down defense that has been depleted some by injuries, the Giants are certainly not one of the NFL’s finest, but will definitely fight hard and make their opponents earn a win.

Key Matchups:

• DE Trent Cole (PHI) vs. OT David Diehl (NYG): Cole has undoubtedly been one of the Eagles’ most consistent and dominant players of the entire season, and his 9.5 sacks (good for 3rd in the conference) tell most of the tale. However, when the Giants last met with the Birds, Diehl was able to contain the aggressive rush of the Defensive End. The two will likely play in a key battle that will have a lot to do with New York’s offensive success. The Giants are one of only a trio of clubs that have kept Cole from recording at least a half a sack this year, and will look to continue their streak against him. For the defensive lineman, though, he is hungry to get his hands on QB Eli Manning and boost his sack total to a double digit total.
• MLB Jeremiah Trotter (PHI) vs. RB Brandon Jacobs (NYG): Just thinking about this matchup has to get your intensity level churning. Sure, Trotter isn’t likely to get the official start, nor is he as exciting as he once was on the field, but the veteran remains a tough defender and will be faced primarily with the Giants’ hard-nosed, power RB Brandon Jacobs, who has amassed nearly 900 yards from scrimmage this season, to go along with 5 total touchdowns. Although young Joe Mays is expected to man the Middle Linebacker spot for the majority of the game, and Jacobs is due to split carries with speedy Ahmad Bradshaw, this matchup will be key nonetheless, and it will also be one of the best to watch, for sure. Both players bring an emotional and passionate sense to the game, and that’s exactly why these two will provide for an even better rivalry.
• FB Leonard Weaver (PHI) vs. MLB Chase Blackburn (NYG): Weaver, who hasn’t been used each and every week as a big part of the offense but is an explosive weapon nonetheless, had a great game versus the Giants earlier in the season, in which he rushed for 75 yards and a score, and will now face a different opponent in the middle of the Giants’ defense. Because starter Antonio Pierce was placed on the Injured Reserve list with a neck injury, Blackburn now owns the position, and is likely to be the key player responsible for containing Weaver, should the versatile Fullback receive a fair share of carries. If Weaver is able to elude the grasp of Blackburn, he is sure to take the ball down the field against what is a depleted New York secondary, so this player battle might be more important than what it appears to be.
• OLB Akeem Jordan, CB Joselio Hanson (PHI) vs. TE Kevin Boss (NYG): Both Hanson and Jordan are returning to the Eagles’ defensive lineup after missing the last four games due to individual reasons (Hanson was serving a suspension, Jordan was nursing a knee injury). The two are the most likely to be covering New York’s under-rated weapon, Boss. The 3rd-year Tight End has quietly been a clutch receiver for the Giants, and has hauled in 27 passes for 391 yards and 4 TDs on the year. With Jordan’s coverage ability in question–at least for this week–because of his previous knee pain–and Hanson’s playing time expected to be limited because of his 4-game absence, Boss may come out the winner of this battle, especially since the Eagles have had trouble containing opposing teams’ TEs for most of the season. Hopefully, though, Philadelphia is able to make the proper adjustments to “show Boss who’s boss”.

What to Watch For…

• DeSean Jackson, barring a sudden pre-game headache or serious head complications, is going to suit up this week after sitting out Week 13 with a concussion. The explosive 2nd-year star said on a local radio show earlier in the week that he is definitely going to be playing, and that’s a good thing for the Eagles’ offense, no question about it. Look out for #10 on the field, and how many times the Birds look his way for production, both because he is their “big-play guy” and is coming off an injury.
• Backup QB Michael Vick was unleashed last weekend, and obviously because he was facing his former team in his former home of Georgia. The athletic passer threw for a touchdown and ran for another, and with his big performance, is expected to be incorporated into the offensive picture on a larger and more consistent basis. With the Giants struggling to find a constant plan for their defense, Vick may once again receive a large role, so be sure to keep your eye out for the former Falcon in tomorrow afternoon’s matchup.
• WR Kevin Curtis may see his first action since Week 2 of the season after participating in some of this week’s practice routines. The veteran backup is a solid contributor when healthy, but has been troubled with a knee injury and surgical rehabilitation for most of the season, hence his prolonged absence from the team’s schedule. Should Curtis return, it will be interesting to see how often and in what way the Birds will utilize him, especially against a damaged secondary like New York’s.

Injury Report (Eagles):

RB Brian Westbrook (concussion) Out

WR DeSean Jackson (concussion) Probable

WR Jason Avant (slightly strained hamstring) Probable

WR Jeremy Maclin (reoccurring foot pain, plantar faciitis) Questionable

WR Kevin Curtis (surgery; sprained knee) Questionable

TE Brent Celek (sprained thumb) Probable

OT Jason Peters (strained shoulder, head pain) Probable

OG Nick Cole (knee pain) Probable

OG Todd Herremans (shoulder pain) Probable

DE Victor Abiamiri (sprained knee) Probable

DT Mike Patterson (bruised wrist) Probable

DT Trevor Laws (hip pain) Probable

OLB Akeem Jordan (hyper-extended knee) Probable

OLB Tracy White (strained shoulder muscle) Probable

MLB Joe Mays (illness) Probable

Projected Team Lineups:

It’s Eagles vs. Giants! The rivalry will be renewed tomorrow, and–as stated in the title–the Eagles will hopefully crash New York’s stadium farewell party a few weeks earlier…with a big win!

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Eagles’ sensational rookie receiver Jeremy Maclin has been dealing with reoccurring foot pain throughout most of the season, though not many have noticed. For the last few weeks, the freshman player has been listed on the team’s Injury Report, and it appears the injury he’s tending to has gotten a bit worse. Against the Falcons in Week 13, Maclin (pictured) sustained a minor case of plantar faciitis (defined as inflammation of a thick band of tissue located on the heel of the foot), but despite the injury, he isn’t expected to miss any game time.

Maclin has been sporting a protective boot on his injured foot this week throughout practice sessions, but, again, is not expected to miss any significant time because of the pain. “He could play today if he had to play,” head coach Andy Reid said. “We’re going to give him a couple days of rest, which I think will be good for him and the doctors believe it’s good for him. Then we’ll just see how he is. He should be fine for the game.” With these promising statements, it doesn’t seem likely that Maclin will be held out versus the Giants. He has been a true factor in the Eagles’ offense, and after 12 games this season, has recorded 46 receptions for 623 yards and 4 touchdowns, and would certainly be missed if absent from the lineup.

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Is anyone out there an avid supporter of the Eagles but also a resident of Lancaster County in Pennsylvania? Well, this brief article is certainly no intriguing one that will deliver breaking news or anything of that matter, but I figured I might as well point out that the discussion I had with the Birds’ former WR Jordan Norwood–who played last week but was released the following day because of roster unavailability–will be featured in one of the upcoming Lancaster New Era/Intelligencer Journal newspapers. In addition to this, the Lititz Record Express newspaper will be hosting me as a guest in this week’s Thursday Evening Quarterbacksection, a segment that includes predictions for several upcoming high school, college, and NFL football matchups (Don’t worry, I didn’t hesitate in selecting the Eagles over the Giants).

So, I simply wanted to notify any of you who reside within Lancaster County that will have a chance to witness this release of a few Eagles-related things in some of the newspapers. Go Eagles!

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Jordan Norwood has had a rocky, emotion-filled last few days, but the rookie Wide Receiver returned to the Eagles’ practice squad today after the team decided it was a good decision to keep him around. The Penn State University graduate spent nearly the entire season on the Philadelphia scout team before being signed to the active roster last week because of starter DeSean Jackson’s concussion. He played in Week 13 against the Falcons, but did not record any statistics, and was cut the following day, likely because of the return of CB Joselio Hanson from suspension. To the excitement and happiness of the young receiver, though, Norwood is now back with the practice squad. Because the Eagles released two from the squad yesterday and only signed one as a replacement, it was somewhat obvious they were planning to bring him back.

Norwood isn’t the only player involved in some practice squad movement today, however, as FB Marcus Mailei (pictured, #41) was claimed and signed by the New Orleans Saints. The hard-nosed runner and blocker played very well in the preseason after signing as a rookie free agent out of Weber State college, and was rewarded with a position on the Eagles’ scout team. He stuck with the group up until now, and with the Saints apparently investing in potential future Fullbacks, was snatched up and is now locked into the New Orleans organization. To replace Mailei’s spot, the Eagles signed undrafted free agent Joel Gamble of the same position. Gamble played for Shippensburg in his collegiate career as a Tight End and was then involved in several minor league football organizations, including the recently founded “United National Gridiron League” throughout this season.

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