Ever the optimist...

I know that I am often chided here for being pessimistic; I prefer to believe I am realistic, but that's a debate for another time.

I am now going to go at warp speed into "Unbridled Optimism Mode": The NFC Eastern Division championship is up for grabs as of this date. Let me explain why...

I watched the Eagles on TV in each of the first two weeks because that was the game on the Washington TV stations. Last weekend - courtesy of tix owned by "The Client From Hell" - I watched the Eagles beat the Raiders from a VERY plush luxury suite in Lincoln Financial Field. Ladies and gentlemen, Donovan McNabb's injury - no matter what it actually is - has reduced his effectiveness as a QB and that makes the Eagles vulnerable.

Prior to the season and before the war of attrition that is the NFL season began, I did not see a way for the Eagles to lose the NFC East. But the NFL is a league where injuries and missed games are critical factors for teams and Donovan McNabb is not replaceable on the Eagles for a long stretch of games. So, he'll play on, but his effectiveness is severely diminished. I had glasses on him most of the plays last weekend and he was less than ordinary as a QB; he was almost dismal.

The NFC East is back in play. I still don't believe in the Giants; I think their early victories are a mirage. But the Cowboys and/or the Redskins can step out and make a serious run at the NFC East title. The Eagles are not dead and buried; they still have a fine defense and an outstanding running back and WR to make the offense work. But their QB and offensive leader is hurt and it is not a trivial injury.

So, when the Eagles lose on the road this weekend in KC, that will give them 2 losses already. When the Skins eke out a win over the Seahawks, that will put them "two-up" in the loss column. What they need to do then is keep riding that momentum...

OK, who abducted SC and left this.......POSITIVE person in his stead?

quite frankly, i'm suprised curmudgeon, this is a side of you anyone rarely sees. maybe hell really has frozen over. . . lol kidding, but nice positive analysis.

I assure you that I have not been abducted nor have I been lobotomized. Once again, I am trying to be realistic...

remember that it is very possible that we go from tops in the east to the BOTTOM on sunday. This division i don't feel is up for grabs, but i understand what you are saying. What i think of when people say up for grabs is just up for anyone that wants it. This is gonna be a dog fight, healthy mcchoke or not the eagles can win 10 games, he threw for over 300 yards last week. Every team in the east has the potential to get 10 games, not that they ALL will but all have the potential. This is by far the toughest division in the NFC

our gameplan against Seattle will prove much. even if the execution isn't quite there yet, the things we try will prove if we've learned anything from the first two games of 2005, or if we'll still stuck in 2004.

I'd have to say if the Redskins win this weekend, and the Eagles lose, the division could very well be up for grabs. Though, I'm thinking the winner of the division is going to be 10 - 6.

McNabb out Eagles down and out! It's that simple. The loss of one or two critical payers can put any team's season down the shitter. The skins have a good chance to win but they'll have to show that they have a passing game.

The head to head competition is what will decide the NFC east. I wanted to count the Eagles lame last year when they lost their first three games, but it didn't seem to matter. I watched the Eagles play last week also, and while McNabb may be slightly injured, he still passed for 300 or more, and made key plays when they needed them. I won't count them out until they're out.

For us to have a chance in the east race we must beat the Eagles (at least once) The Giants (once) and of course the Boys we're already one up on them. Three division losses is all we can stand and still have a chance because the Eagles have proven in the last four years to own the east, beating all the teams there, home and on the road. Too bad we lost Arizona from our division because we always had fairly good success against them, and could cout them as two wins every year. No patsies in the East anymore, everyone has to earn it.

Last year we nearly beat the Eagles in the last game. I'm not saying we're as good as them, but we have a fighting chance to do it. I think the only thing holding us back is the lack of a vertical passing attack. If the end of the Dallas game foreshadows the future, then I seriously think we can take the division. If we continue to struggle, 9-7 is the most optimistic I can be.