It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. That was the state of the two cities which control my sports focus after the Super Bowl this past February.
The Patriots had proved once again that they were indeed the best team in the NFL. And the Eagles had proved once again that Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid have trouble winning the big game.
I listened to all the gloating from you New Englanders. I admitted that the better team had prevailed and that the Patriots were champions (although I wasn't about to call it a dynasty just yet).
And I yelled and cursed the play of the Eagles in the second half, complaining that they had blown a genuine chance to win the title. The Birds had made the NFC Championship four years in a row and finally moved on to a Super Bowl. Teams can't sustain that type of success for very long before the rest of the league catches up.
Nine months later, it's still the worst of times in Philly. The rest of the league has caught up to the Eagles. It's tough to be a fan of the last-place Eagles. It's even tougher to have a team that's 5-6 sit in last place in their division.
Their defense is 22nd in the league in points allowed and 25th in yards allowed. The offense is third in passing, but 28th in rushing. The team broke a four-game losing streak yesterday by narrowly beating the 2-9 Packers. The reality has set in. For the first time this century, the Eagles will not be going to the playoffs.
But the Eagles aren't the only team to have suffered a fall from grace. It's the worst of times right here in Boston as well. The Eagles' Super Bowl opponent has seen better days. The 6-5 Pats, who were beaten 26-16 Sunday by Kansas City, have given up an average of 267.1 passing yards per game, good enough for 31st in the NFL. And while the Eagles may be 22nd in points allowed, the Pats are 25th.
The Patriots will be spared the shame of going from the Super Bowl to missing the playoffs because they play in the NFL's equivalent of the NL West. The teams in the AFC East are so bad that Brooks Bollinger, Gus Frerotte, and J.P. Losman all have starting jobs.
The Patriots have been routed by Denver, San Diego and Indianapolis, and Brady (literally) threw away this week's game against Kansas City (four interceptions). For the Eagles, McNabb has done his share of hurting the team, throwing costly interceptions in big games against the Redskins, Cowboys and Broncos, and was not able to scramble throughout many of his starts.
Meanwhile, both teams have had problems defensively, which has been surprising since both teams have had defenses carry them to big games in years past. The AFC West teams have exploited the secondary and scored at will against Belichick and the Pats (maybe the team really does miss Romeo?).
The Philly defense gave up so many points against Denver, KC and Dallas that the offense would start the game in the hole, having to get back in it through downfield passes. Not having Terrell Owens means the Eagles' downfield threat is gone.
A year ago I wrote an article about how these two teams would meet in the Super Bowl. Now I'm writing to assure that this is not the year.
Sure, you can blame the injuries for hurting both teams. Philly is missing more than just McNabb (hernia) and TO (hernia where his brain should be). Three of their five starting offensive linemen (Tra Thomas, Artis Hicks, Hank Fraley) were out of Sunday's game and pro-bowl cornerback Lito Sheppard is gone for the year. The kicker (David Akers) and the tight end (L.J. Smith) are ailing as well.
But it's been that type of year for the Eagles with injuries. One of their defensive linemen has missed the whole season because he was shot in the stomach (Jerome McDougle) and punt-returner J.R. Reed suffered nerve damage jumping over a fence. Power running back Correll Buckhalter has also been out all season and number-two wide receiver Todd Pinkston ruptured his Achilles in training camp. When it rains, it pours.
Then there are the Patriots. This team has so many injuries that Tedy Bruschi came back from the verge of death to play. Playmakers Rodney Harrison and Richard Seymour, pro-bowler Corey Dillon, offensive linemen Matt Light and Tom Ashworth, fullback Patrick Pass, and tight end Daniel Graham are all injured. That's seven of the starting 22 players, or almost a third of the starting lineup. Injuries even caused the team to switch to the 4-3 at one point.
There's also the fact that the Patriots are starting a secondary that makes Troy Brown look like Champ Bailey, resulting in the aforementioned stat about passing yardage. The Pats' key problem is big play yardage, having surrendered 20 plays of 20 yards or more going into November.
Whether you, Mr. Pats Fan, wants to admit it or not, Philadelphia and New England are in the same boat. Both are headed for an earlier-than-expected offseason after throwing away football games.
This is a time when Eagles fans and Patriots fans can come together in our misery. Our teams, while not abysmal, will certainly disappoint us this year and we just have to lower our expectations. My weekly NFL picks have been marred by too many Eagles and Patriots picks. It's time to be realistic. A win over the Dolphins in Miami is suddenly an accomplishment. Beating the Arizona Cardinals this year may prove to be one of Philly's finest performances.
Sure, it may be hard to give up those Super Bowl pipe dreams. Going deep in the playoffs is second nature in Philadelphia. And I know you Patriots fans cling to Belichick as the ultimate intangible.
Give it up. Our teams don't have it this year. The tale of two cities has become the same tale. We just have to wipe away the tears and move on.
Alexander Bloom is a sophomore who has not yet declared a major. He can be reached via e-mail at Alexander.Bloom@tufts.edu.
