Sleeping Like a Lamb Under the Guise of #5

Well, I imagine the entire Delaware Valley slept soundly last night. Denizens of Washington, New York and Dallas- if they were honest- had to be a little non-plussed. And all it took was a twenty minute period between 8:08 and 8:28 last night. The Philadelphia Eagles' first team roared in to Canton, punched the Oakland Raiders in the mouth took their lunch money and promptly retired to the bench for the rest of the evening.

You can’t read much into the first pre-season game- particularly when Oakland looked like Spurrier's old Redskin teams: pliant and pitiable. But after watching the Eagles suffer last season, it was more than a little refreshing to see Westbrook and McNabb look healthy, the old sharpness and zero mental errors that have mostly characterized the Reid regime, the defensive line look literally one thousand percent better, both kickers be weapons- basically, just feel good about the guys in green for a change. It has been awhile since things have been that easy.

More than most teams, the Eagles need a little confidence, a little swagger, this pre-season. On defense, two very efficient three-and-outs, an interception, coupled with a quick score with a dazzling Westbrook… I dunno- again, the Eagles need a little success this August. The only things I wanted to see last night was McNabb look healthy and the Eagles look poised. I doubt the team has the talent of 2004- but there is no reason it can't play the game of football as well as 2004. So yes, I was heartened to see them play well.

And I am not going to say more than that about that.

However, that outing took a little sting away from the Phillies very “Phillies-like weekend”. One thing this season has categorically proved is that the Mets are just way better than Philadelphia right now- and New York sort of "malaised" their way to a series win. It was a little unsatisfactory- as the Phillies won Friday night- and consequently were just one win away from a real nice weekend to continue their real nice few series. But they handed one affair away, up 3-0 against Tom Glavine from the get-go- and then got routed last night.

Fortunately, Cincinnati spit the bit late against the Braves- so the Phillies remain in the thick of things. The Phillies go visit those same Braves tonight- be nice to see Myers get this series off to a good start. This is the sort of game the Phillies need to start getting regularly- as mediocre-plus teams ought to get games with their number one guy going, even on the road, against sub.-500 teams, right?