Eagles-Falcons Prediction
Games like this used to be automatic for the Eagles. On the road in December against a struggling opponent. Chalk it up in the win column.
That was then. This is 2009. The Birds are wounded and still maddeningly inconsistent. It won’t help matters not having their most explosive offensive weapon. No, not Brian Westbrook. We’re more than used to him not being available. I’m talking about DeSean Jackson.
Playing without Jackson could be problematic for a team that relies on big plays to win. The dude has almost single-handedly won three games this season. What will they do without him? Common sense says turn to the running game, but Andy Reid doesn’t prescribe to such poppycock.
I’m sure McNabb will chuck it 30-40 times and hope either rookie phenom Jeremy Maclin or forgotten man Reggie Brown snags a deep ball or two. To be fair, the Falcons secondary is very beatable, so it might be the best way to attack them.
This could be one of those back-and-forth plenty o’ points shootouts. If Ryan and Turner and DeSean were playing, I’d lean toward high scoring, but they aren’t. Get ready for another squeaker. Akers comes through at the end.
Eagles 20, Falcons 17
