The little team that could
I just wanted to take this opportunity to acknowledge the Christmas miracle that happened on Sunday. The Philadelphia Eagles beat all the odds to clinch the last wildcard playoff spot. What was miraculous though, was the events leading up to, and including the game.
First, a few things had to happen during the 1:00 games. Tampa Bay needed to lose and either The Vikings OR the Bears had to lose in order for the Eagles to even have a prayer. I wasn't really worried about The Vikings, since they were playing The Giants--the team with the best record in the NFC. Well, as the clock wound down on that game, I almost had a heart attack. The Vikings kicked a last minute field goal to win the game 20-19. CRAP! Again, the Giants were absolutely no help to me. I quickly turned my attention to the Tampa and Bears games, and almost had a heart attack. At this point the Bears had to lose to Houston AND Tampa Bay had to lose to Oakland. My hope for a playoff spot quickly dwindled as the Bears started to catch up, and I realized that Oakland has a horrible record. I was at work, so I couldn't watch the games on TV, but I had the box scores up on the computer for both games. All of a sudden, both scores froze at the two minute warning. I quickly reached for my phone (thank GOD for blackberries), and before I could open the internet I received a text from my friend Stefano. It read "oh boy, oh boy....it's a win and in situation" (translation....the Bears and Tampa both lost, so whoever wins the Eagles/Cowboys game tonight is in the playoffs). I'm pretty sure whoever was in the video store at the time thought I was crazy, because I screamed...grabbed my replacement co-worker and thanked him for coming in early....and ran out the door.
The Eagles kicked a field goal while I was en-route to my apartment and it started to dawn on me. THE BEARS AND TAMPA LOST, AND THE ONLY THING STANDING IN THE WAY OF THE PLAYOFFS IS THE DALLAS COWBOYS!!!!!!! My heart started to pound out of my chest, as I realized that there was still a 2 hour uphill battle ahead. Shortly after I ran into my apartment and turned on the T.V. Dallas kicked a field goal to tie the game 3-3. I tried to breathe, but it started to become really difficult. Well.....I don't know where these boys were all season, but the Eagles quickly eased my fears as they scored one....two....three touchdowns before halftime. I felt a little more relaxed going into halftime, but not completely. The Eagles were only ahead by three touchdowns, which is a nice cushion, but the Eagles aren't in the clear yet......would half time throw off their momentum?.....would the Cowboys coach make some threatening remarks in the locker room that would light a fire under the Cowboys? The answer was no. The Eagles spanked the Cowboys and embarrassed the hell out of them defeating them 44-6. Somewhere there is an angel who just got his wings, and he is a huge Philadelphia Eagles fan.
Next week we play the Minesota Vikings. BRING IT ON MINNESOTA!!!!!
First, a few things had to happen during the 1:00 games. Tampa Bay needed to lose and either The Vikings OR the Bears had to lose in order for the Eagles to even have a prayer. I wasn't really worried about The Vikings, since they were playing The Giants--the team with the best record in the NFC. Well, as the clock wound down on that game, I almost had a heart attack. The Vikings kicked a last minute field goal to win the game 20-19. CRAP! Again, the Giants were absolutely no help to me. I quickly turned my attention to the Tampa and Bears games, and almost had a heart attack. At this point the Bears had to lose to Houston AND Tampa Bay had to lose to Oakland. My hope for a playoff spot quickly dwindled as the Bears started to catch up, and I realized that Oakland has a horrible record. I was at work, so I couldn't watch the games on TV, but I had the box scores up on the computer for both games. All of a sudden, both scores froze at the two minute warning. I quickly reached for my phone (thank GOD for blackberries), and before I could open the internet I received a text from my friend Stefano. It read "oh boy, oh boy....it's a win and in situation" (translation....the Bears and Tampa both lost, so whoever wins the Eagles/Cowboys game tonight is in the playoffs). I'm pretty sure whoever was in the video store at the time thought I was crazy, because I screamed...grabbed my replacement co-worker and thanked him for coming in early....and ran out the door.
The Eagles kicked a field goal while I was en-route to my apartment and it started to dawn on me. THE BEARS AND TAMPA LOST, AND THE ONLY THING STANDING IN THE WAY OF THE PLAYOFFS IS THE DALLAS COWBOYS!!!!!!! My heart started to pound out of my chest, as I realized that there was still a 2 hour uphill battle ahead. Shortly after I ran into my apartment and turned on the T.V. Dallas kicked a field goal to tie the game 3-3. I tried to breathe, but it started to become really difficult. Well.....I don't know where these boys were all season, but the Eagles quickly eased my fears as they scored one....two....three touchdowns before halftime. I felt a little more relaxed going into halftime, but not completely. The Eagles were only ahead by three touchdowns, which is a nice cushion, but the Eagles aren't in the clear yet......would half time throw off their momentum?.....would the Cowboys coach make some threatening remarks in the locker room that would light a fire under the Cowboys? The answer was no. The Eagles spanked the Cowboys and embarrassed the hell out of them defeating them 44-6. Somewhere there is an angel who just got his wings, and he is a huge Philadelphia Eagles fan.
Next week we play the Minesota Vikings. BRING IT ON MINNESOTA!!!!!