CHAT LIVE @ talksportsPhilly.com

When: Sunday 8:20 P.M

Where: Soldier Field, Chicago

Line: Eagles -3

Relax Eagles fans. That’s the three most important words I can say going into this weekends match up with the Chicago Bears. The Eagles are reeling, coming off back-to-back losses that now have them sitting at 5-4 in a tough NFC East Division. The majority of Eagles fans have already pushed the panic button. The ongoing saga that Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb must go has begun yet again. The Eagles are also a little bit banged up as well. As saddening as it is to say it, it looks like Brian Westbrook’s dazzling career might have finally reached it’s last hoorah. This means that “Shady” McCoy will need to assume the role of the Eagles starting running back. Jason Peters is another key injury and his availability will be key in how well the Eagles will be able to protect Donovan McNabb.

Now you may wonder why I told you Eagles fans to relax. It blatantly seems that this Eagles team is in a state of turmoil that they will have a difficult time getting out of. To those people who believe this, I say look back to last year. The situation the Eagles are in right now is eerily similar to the one they were confronted with last year; only it’s a little bit easier this time. Going into a November 9th battle with the Giants last year, the Eagles were sitting pretty at 5-3, similar to their 5-2 record they had this year. They went on to hit a rough skid in November, dropping a close contest with the Giants, tying the lowly Bengals, and humiliating themselves in a blowout loss to the Ravens that included the controversial benching of Donovan McNabb. We all know how that season ended. The Eagles miraculously, and luckily, made the playoffs and even gutted it out to the NFC Championship Game.

So I say to you Eagles fans, please do not panic yet. The Eagles were in far worse shape last year than they are this year. I also believe that this year’s team is more talented than the Eagles of last year. As much as this game is a must win game, it’s just as much not a must win game. Don’t get me wrong; this game is huge in determining where the Eagles will go this season. However, the division is so close and playoff spots are easily up for grabs, meaning that a 9-7 team could very well make the playoffs this year. Losing this game will certainly not sit well with the fans. After all, we are Philadelphia fans. Winning is the only option and there is never an excuse for losing.

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Tags: Andy Reid, Bears, blowout loss, brian westbrook, chicago line, Donovan McNabb, Eagles, eagles team, jason peters, NFC, nfc championship game, NFL, Philadelphia Eagles, soldier field chicago