Not Hopeless

Bob Brookover reminds everyone that all is not completely lost for the Eagles' playoff hopes.

Before you pull the plug, however, there is one thing to remember: Sometimes weird stuff happens in professional sports.

In their 11th game a year ago, the New York Giants lost 41-17 at home to the 4-6 Minnesota Vikings, falling to 7-4. Quarterback Eli Manning threw three interceptions that day and they were all returned for touchdowns. It's hard to imagine the Giants sitting up at the Meadowlands the following Monday plotting the design of their Super Bowl rings.

There are more stories like that one from this decade, too.

Pittsburgh lost its last two games in November and its first in December to fall to 7-5 in 2005. Had they lost again, they wouldn't have made the playoffs. They didn't lose again.

The 2000 Baltimore Ravens went five straight October games without scoring a touchdown and were 5-4 after nine games and they, too, won a Super Bowl.

He could have added the Eagles 2006 run, when no one projected them to win three straight division road games with Jeff Garcia at quarterback.

Certainly the Cowboys win last night hurt the Eagles since it could have dropped the Cowgirls to 5-5 and ceded a tie breaker to the Skins. Still, the Eagles are 1/2 game behind both Dallas and Washington and have upcoming games with them. The other two teams ahead of them for a wild card spot are Atlanta (6-4) who they have a tie breaker against, and Tampa, which is 1 1/2 games ahead, but has games against the Vikings, Panthers, and Falcons coming up.

So never say never. The Eagles still have a playoff shot and in most regards still control their destiny. Win and their in. It's as simple and daunting as that.