By John McMullen
Philadelphia, PA (The Phan) - No truth to the rumor Penn State coach Joe Paterno put together the next three weeks of the Eagles schedule.
That said, the Birds started one of their easiest stretches in recent memory by topping Central Florida...I mean Tampa Bay, 33-14, at the Linc on Sunday.
Coming in, the only suspense expected in the game was the play of quarterback Donovan McNabb, who was returning to the field for the first time since breaking a rib in the team's opener.
During McNabb's absence. Kevin Kolb played better than anyone could have expected and it was conceivable a quarterback controversy could have ignited if DMac laid an egg against the woeful Buccaneers.
McNabb put any doubts to rest quickly, scrambling for 13 yards on his first play from scrimmage and following that with a perfect pass down the left sideline to rookie receiver Jeremy Maclin for a 51-yard TD.
By the end of the first half, Philly's Pro Bowl signal caller was 8-of-11 for 180 yards and three TDs with another 30 yards rushing. Meanwhile, 305-pound tackle Donald Penn was arguably Tampa's most dangerous skill position player after scampering 15 yards with a batted ball.
Eagles fans should take a long hard look at these Bucs and welcome the upcoming extension for Andy Reid. Under Jon Gruden last year, Tampa was one implosion against Oakland from making the playoffs.
The organization overreacted to one embarrassing loss, hired a neophyte coach and now more closely resemble John McKay's bunch from the '70s than Gruden's. Once quizzed about his team's execution after another mind-numbing loss, McKay, who could have held down a second job as a standup comedian, deadpanned "I'm all for it."
I now understand McKay's pain after watching this Tampa team. I also understand the frustration of Eagles fans since Reid has never won the big one but it could be so much worse, Just peering across at the Bucs' sideline is indicative of that.
Reid won his 100th regular season game by beating Tampa, an Eagles record and fourth among active coaches behind Bill Belichick (141), Jeff Fisher (128) and Tom Coughlin (119). He's just the 34th head coach in NFL history to reach the century mark and only the 21st to do it with one team.
But one statistic defines Reid more than any other. The Eagles are now a perfect 11-0 under Big Red following a bye week. When given time to prepare, Reid gets it done.
The Giants may still be the Beasts of the East but with Central "Oakland" State and Eastern "Washington" next for the Eagles in the the Little Sisters of the Poor bracket, a birth in the Rose Bowl (playoffs) looks assured.
Will they win the whole thing?
Probably not..but you can't win the lottery unless you buy a ticket.
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