It Pains Me....

.... But congrats, (and yes... thank you) to the New York Giants.

While you did not break Tom Brady's legs, you did force Bill Belichick to show his true colors by running off to the locker room before the game was over.

Un-Broker Like Conduct

Seems like the New York Giants have passed the art of choking down to their fans as well.

The son of the legendary late Giants owner Wellington Mara tackled and choked a fellow broker on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange yesterday after the man mocked the team, sources said. Veteran floor trader Bob Tomasulo, a 57-year-old grandfather, was assaulted and barraged with obscenities in front of stunned co-workers after kidding with Stephen Mara about the Giants' embarrassing 36-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday...

Mara then apparently laughed off the incident. Tomasulo, however, doesn't necessarily consider his bruised larynx to fall under the category of comedic material.

On Paybacks And Bitches

Still alive. The Eagles survived 12 penalties (costing them 103 yards) and 2 turnovers to beat the Giants at home 36-22. It was by no means a pretty game. On paper, the stats would have New York marching towards a Wild Card berth. In the NFL, however, it's a different story.

What has made their run so unusual is the Eagles have found a way to win after losing Donovan McNabb for the season with a knee injury. The 36-year-old Garcia is 3-1 since taking over. "I think we all internally had a lot of confidence in Jeff," Eagles owner Jeff Lurie said. "It's a team we felt, with our offensive line and our defense coming together and being opportunistic, if you have a high character group that likes to play together, you have a chance."

I've had extreme reservations about our playoff hopes since losing McNabb, but Garcia has done everything in his power to dispell them. While it was the ugliest of games, I never once found myself tonight wishing Donovan was healthy. Garcia has taken full command of this team. He has their respect. He has their trust. And, most importantly, he has the ability to get the job done.

I don't want to get ahead of myself as far as "hoping for miracles" go. There are two formidable teams left on the schedule. Next week, at Dallas. The following, Atlanta.

But whereas before I was relying on a combination of luck and the other team making mistakes to pave the way, now my confidence in Philadelphia itself, as a team, is renewed. It will not be easy. It will not be pretty.

But it can be done.

Tony Romo? You're hot. But you're going down.

Keepin' Hope Alive

Eagles over 'Skins, 21-19. This is one of those games I was actually glad it wasn't aired up here. To watch first-hand an 18 point lead dissolve throughout the second half is not something I'm mentally capable of doing, only because this was a game that was needed.

However, the realist in me just looks at this win as delaying the inevitable. Giants on the road next week. Dallas on the road the following. Atlanta at home after that. Three division rivals, three must win games. Possible I guess. But Mr. Realist says, "Not bloody likely."

The mindless fan in me, though, holds out hope. Crazier things have happened. Look at Pittsburgh's run last year. Yeah, McNabb is out, but Garcia, while not as dynamic, is certainly a capable leader, and he can make plays. And the team is good. Which is what makes their 7-6 record so frustrating. They can play. They can win (although sometimes not pretty.) They can make the playoffs. They can beat Big Blue, the 'Boys, and the other Birds.

They can go back to the SuperBowl....

E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!

Praise be to the Heavens above that my weekend was salvaged by Donovan McNabb and the Philadelphia Eagles. T.O. was held to 3 carries for a total of 45 yards, which, in the arena of pro football amounts to two carries short of "worthless".

T.O., if you need some recommendations for pain-killers that may ease your suffering... I have some suggestions. (Not that you need any pointers in that area.)

Four And One. Still at the top of the NFC East. I'll take it. To the bank. With a bag of chips.

Thank you Philly. Thank you for allowing me to forget the pain of what should have been a great Yankees post-season.

I still have something to live for....