All according to plan

So, the Eagles are undefeated at the quarter mark of the season and go into their bye week 4-0. If you were scripting this, it couldn’t go much better:

TO has TDs in each of the four games, and 6 overall.

Westbrook has held up well to the added load, but 32 touches in Chicago is too many even if Westbrook wants the work.

McNabb has been nothing short of the league MVP. Remember when critics complained about his accuracy? 70% completion rate this season, baby. Amazing what a premier WR in your lineup will do for your QB’s performance.

Remember when the big concern was whether Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown could fill in for Bobby Taylor and Troy Vincent? Don’t hear much about that anymore, either, do you? Containing Randy Moss will do wonders for your reputation.

Kearse? The other big-time off-season pick-up? He’s a one-man wrecking crew nearly singlehandedly wreaking havoc in offensive backfield’s. (Taking nothing away from the fine play of Simon, Walker and the revitalized Huuuugh Douglas. McDougle is also coming into his own.). Plus, Dhani Jones is playing really well.

Perhaps the biggest concern was the “handling” of TO and the fear that the Eagles would get off to a slow start a la last year – with McNabb underthrowing Owens, TO ranting about it on the sidelines, and dissension in the locker room unlike the steady, stable response to last year’s season on the brink. Obviously, that hasn’t come to pass. Winning and TDs have a way of mollifying everyone.

The only problem has been injuries. Shawn Andrews was a big loss (even with the injury, you don't hear many people questioning the decision to move up and pick Andrews 16th overall.) So was the veteran play of Jon Ritchie. Add in ND Kalu and Buckhalter and that it is a lot of starters gone for the season at this point in the season. It’s a credit to the personnel office that the team hasn’t missed a beat. But the big concern is that depth is now terribly thin and the team can’t afford more injuries at these positions. The NFL season is a marathon and the victor is often the one who survives the attrition best.

The added bonus is that the Eagles are drafting behind the New England Patriots whose 18 game winning streak is drawing all the national attention while the Eagles go quietly (relatively speaking) about asserting themselves as the best team in the NFC. Here’s hoping the Pats continue to win cause looking ahead, the Eagles should be 6-0 going into their Halloween matchup with the Ravens. A win in this game and even the Pats streak won’t keep eyes off of Philly then. Scary indeed.