Will Eagles return to the postseason?
Stringing together consecutive playoff appearances is very rare in the NFL. Will the Eagles get back for a third straight season during the first year of the Kevin Kolb era?
Will Eagles return to the postseason?
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Over the years, we've seen how rare it is for teams to get back to the playoffs in consecutive years.
While the accepted rule is that about 50 percent of the playoff teams will change every season, I took a look at the exact numbers over the lasat five years.
Since the 2004 postseason, 27 out of 60 (45 percent) teams have gotten back the following year.
In the NFC, that number is lower. Eleven of 30 teams (36.7 percent) have returned to the postseason. In the AFC, it's 16 out of 30 (53.3 percent).
The Eagles made the playoffs four times during that span. They were a playoff team in 2004 but did not return in 2005. They were a playoff team in 2006 but did not return in 2007. They were a playoff team in 2008 and did return in 2009.
So the question is: Will they get back in 2010?
Which brings us to some links and notes to round up.
* Mike Florio, writing for The Sporting News, names the six teams that are least likely to return to the playoffs in 2010. The Eagles are one of them:
When the Eagles made Kevin Kolb their first draft pick (at the top of round two) in 2007, they laid the foundation for April's decision to dump long-time starter Donovan McNabb. And while Philly has plenty of faith in Kolb, he'll soon be facing more scrutiny than he ever could have dreamed. The offensive line has plenty of question marks, and the defense regressed significantly in the first year of the Sean McDermott era. To succeed, the Eagles need to clamp down on opposing offenses and display patience when in possession of the ball. It won't be easy, especially in a division that includes the Cowboys, the Giants, and McNabb.
* Got a press release last week about DeSean Jackson's football camp, which will be held at Moorestown Upper Elementary School this week. Per the release, Kevin Kolb, LeSean McCoy and Jeremy Maclin are among the teammates expected to attend.
* I've taken some heat for my post on Brent Celek last week so wanted to clarify my stance. I was not handing Celek the title of Best Tight End in Modern Eagles Franchise History. I was simply looking at the numbers and suggesting that if he reaches his potential and continues on the path he's on, he could certainly earn that title. I know he's only had one full season as a starter. But the title of the post was What is Celek's ceiling? And I stand by what I wrote - it's extremely high.
* ESPN.com names the 1960 Eagles as the best team in franchise history. The 2004, 1980 and 2002 teams received honorable mentions. Readers agreed, giving the 1960 team 42 percent of the vote. The '04 team received 35 percent.
* SI.com caught up with a couple ex-Eagles last week to get their take on league-wide issues. Jeremiah Trotter was asked about a potential 18-game season.
"As a businessman, when my guys work overtime, they want overtime money," Trotter said. "It really all comes down to the money. It has to increase significantly for that to be worth it."
And Hollis Thomas weighed in on the Albert Haynesworth situation.
"There are two sides to every story," Thomas said. "He was promised that he was going to play in the 4-3. Nose tackle in the 3-4 is not fun."
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The Eagles will go 8-8 missing the playoffs this year. Next year? Watch out! Kolb will get adjusted to the team for an entire year and he will excell. Watch the Birds go 10-7 and sneak into the playoffs in 2011.- roseman did a bad job in the draft because he put so much (3 high picks) into getting DE Graham and leaving the team exposed at corner, both corners since Asante refuses to tackle. No way Eagles go to postseason, and there's a good chance they finish behind the Redskins.— lerze77
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mcnabbgags, I agree on all counts. Even though the Bears were favored the Es could have won that game. My reasoning for calling the game was that you need to be able to SEE to play football. I know that football games aren't called but that one and the Ice Bowl and the Cincy game SHOULD have been postponed. Ridiculous playing conditions.I like to know which team is better, not which one can stand freezing better or see in fog better. No argument though. I do think the Es were the better team in the Fog Bowl. The Bears were in decline and Tomczak was no HOFer to say the least. As I recall the Es were ahead or at least playing well until the weather fogged up the situation, weren't they? [I tend to suppress painful memories.]Then RC threw a pick or two? Guess I'll have to go look it up again. Oh well, just another day of suffering as an Eagle fan. Been a pleasure.— tpizza- Comment removed.
- The team has been upgraded significantly across the board vs. 2009 so the playoffs should be a shoo-in.— jtj10
- no one is really expecting them to make the playoffs so it takes pressure off such a young team. i can see it happening— phillystrome
briandawkins20, your prediction sounds exactly like what the finishes were THIS year. your a year behind just like most of the national media usually is. There is no way the eagles win more then 11 games. 0 chance. 0. The cowboys should win 9 or more, the giants could easily win 10 and the redskins should win at least 7. cowboys 10-6 giants 10-6 redskins 8-8 eagles 7-9- "ESPN.com names the 1960 Eagles as the best team in franchise history" They fail to realize that the 1948 and 1949 Eagles that won back to back titles are the only teams in NFL history that won back to back titles both in shutout wins!!!! Terrible that they didnt even mention those teams but they mentioned the 2004 and 1980 losing squads!!! No respect for Van Brocklin I guess!!!!!!— fly4philly
- They will make the playoffs!!!!! Come November all the Kolb haters will want to be drinking from his jock strap!!!!!!!!!— fly4philly
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- Nope...too many holes..worse 8-8..best 9-7..no playoffs. Offense will be OK but defense will be only mediocre. We'll lose both games to Dallas and one of the Giants games. If football is played in 2011 we'll be back. If not, we'll be back in 2012.— merlinknghts
- lonewolf is probably 14 tears old. same for doodoofresh. pretty sure they would be happy to bet with you Eilex cause when you ain't got nothing you got nothing to lose. I believe the Birds will be good for 10 or 11 wins. Offense will be much more efficient which more than anything else will help out the D. McNabb was king of the 3 and outs. glad they made the change.— notch44
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