Philadelphia Eagles-Dallas Cowboys: NFC East Crown on the Line

At roughly 4:15 PM EST, the invasion will begin.

Both teams are in the playoffs, but there is much more at stake here. Not just a No. 2 seed, not just a division win, but a title. A chance to rub it in. A chance to exact revenge.

For the Eagles, it is a chance to stroll into Jerry Jones’ modern-day kingdom and escape with a most-prized treasure. For Tony Romo, it is an opportunity to free himself of the ghosts of woulda, coulda, and shoulda that have plagued him for two seasons.

A year ago, the Cowboys strutted into Dallas needing a win to make the playoffs. They left with their tails between their legs after a merciless rout. Fast-forward to today. The Eagles need a win in Dallas to clinch the division and steal the No. 2 seed. The Cowboys cannot get the No. 2 seed after the Vikings’ win earlier, but a title would be just as sweet for a team barraged by reports of a “December jinx.”

Donovan McNabb, DeSean Jackson, and Brian Westbrook will be the Eagles’ battering ram against the fortress of Cowboy Stadium. Romo, Roy Williams, and Jason Witten will be the counterattack.

With teams resting players for the playoffs, it is a rare sight that Week 17 brings us a match-up that football fans can really sink their teeth into. This is a true show-stopper in the making. Frenzied crowd, rivalry, revenge, glory, and bragging rights are at stake.

There was similar build-up to last season’s finale, but the Cowboys succeeded in deflating it with a spectacular implosion. That failure will no doubt be on their minds when they take the field today. For the Eagles, this is a chance to reclaim the glory of a season ago, and escape the house that Jones built with his most valued possession, a win.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Philadelphia Eagles-Dallas Cowboys: NFC East Crown on the Line

At roughly 4:15 PM EST, the invasion will begin.

Both teams are in the playoffs, but there is much more at stake here. Not just a No. 2 seed, not just a division win, but a title. A chance to rub it in. A chance to exact revenge.

For the Eagles, it is a chance to stroll into Jerry Jones’ modern-day kingdom and escape with a most-prized treasure. For Tony Romo, it is an opportunity to free himself of the ghosts of woulda, coulda, and shoulda that have plagued him for two seasons.

A year ago, the Cowboys strutted into Dallas needing a win to make the playoffs. They left with their tails between their legs after a merciless rout. Fast-forward to today. The Eagles need a win in Dallas to clinch the division and steal the No. 2 seed. The Cowboys cannot get the No. 2 seed after the Vikings’ win earlier, but a title would be just as sweet for a team barraged by reports of a “December jinx.”

Donovan McNabb, DeSean Jackson, and Brian Westbrook will be the Eagles’ battering ram against the fortress of Cowboy Stadium. Romo, Roy Williams, and Jason Witten will be the counterattack.

With teams resting players for the playoffs, it is a rare sight that Week 17 brings us a match-up that football fans can really sink their teeth into. This is a true show-stopper in the making. Frenzied crowd, rivalry, revenge, glory, and bragging rights are at stake.

There was similar build-up to last season’s finale, but the Cowboys succeeded in deflating it with a spectacular implosion. That failure will no doubt be on their minds when they take the field today. For the Eagles, this is a chance to reclaim the glory of a season ago, and escape the house that Jones built with his most valued possession, a win.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Wes Welker, Chad Henne, and Pat White Hurt in Week 17

Wes Welker left the Houston game today with a knee injury. He left on a cart with a towel over his head, which is usually an indication from the player that they know the injury to be serious.

It could be awful news for Patriots fans, but then again Belichick is the best at applying band aids to glaring sores.

I would be willing to bet his top two band aids may be journeyman Sam Aiken and rookie Julian Edelman.

Edelman is physically almost an exact replica of Welker, although not nearly as seasoned and unlikely to be as tough a runner after catch, and Aiken has some serious wheels for the long ball.

Expect both to get heavily involved in the postseason if Welker is out for the year.

After Chad Henne left with an eye injury, Pat White took a nasty helmet to helmet shot in the Dolphins-Steelers contest. The hit left White immediately motionless, and now Tyler Thigpen will get a chance to throw the ‘Fins last desperation tosses of the season.

I have a couple of remarks about this scenario. First, if I were a Miami fan I would be upset with the coaching staff for not giving White much of an opportunity to throw the ball.

This is their last chance at having an opportunity to get into the playoffs, and by not even attempting to throw with White playing QB, they created a huge bull’s eye on his back because the Steelers knew they were running every single play.

Secondly, I am a big fan of No. 3 QB Thigpen and who knows? They are down by 17, and last year playing on a bad Chiefs team he regularly put together some impressive fourth quarter drives.

I have seen enough of Thigpen that I think he is deserving of a chance to be the No. 1 long-term QB for some team.

Stay tuned.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Wes Welker, Chad Henne, and Pat White Hurt in Week 17

Wes Welker left the Houston game today with a knee injury. He left on a cart with a towel over his head, which is usually an indication from the player that they know the injury to be serious.

It could be awful news for Patriots fans, but then again Belichick is the best at applying band aids to glaring sores.

I would be willing to bet his top two band aids may be journeyman Sam Aiken and rookie Julian Edelman.

Edelman is physically almost an exact replica of Welker, although not nearly as seasoned and unlikely to be as tough a runner after catch, and Aiken has some serious wheels for the long ball.

Expect both to get heavily involved in the postseason if Welker is out for the year.

After Chad Henne left with an eye injury, Pat White took a nasty helmet to helmet shot in the Dolphins-Steelers contest. The hit left White immediately motionless, and now Tyler Thigpen will get a chance to throw the ‘Fins last desperation tosses of the season.

I have a couple of remarks about this scenario. First, if I were a Miami fan I would be upset with the coaching staff for not giving White much of an opportunity to throw the ball.

This is their last chance at having an opportunity to get into the playoffs, and by not even attempting to throw with White playing QB, they created a huge bull’s eye on his back because the Steelers knew they were running every single play.

Secondly, I am a big fan of No. 3 QB Thigpen and who knows? They are down by 17, and last year playing on a bad Chiefs team he regularly put together some impressive fourth quarter drives.

I have seen enough of Thigpen that I think he is deserving of a chance to be the No. 1 long-term QB for some team.

Stay tuned.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Indianapolis Colts: Individual Achievements Greater Than Team Goals

Another week, another controversial topic for a 14-win NFL team.

The Colts are in Buffalo at this moment, taking on the Bills in what is basically a pre-season game.

After last week’s decision to rest the starters late in the third quarter, the Colts organization has set themselves up for another interesting week of fan criticism.

With Wes Welker going down with a serious injury in a meaningless game in Houston, fans and teams are on high alert. Not Bill Polian.

With the snow pouring down on top of them in Buffalo, the Colts starters took to the field. The goal was obvious from the start; get Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne the ball, so they can get their 100 catches for the season. Mr. Polian, (which he insists on being referred to) may I ask, why?

The only thing this did was prove that the individual statistics are worth the risk of injury, but going for NFL history is not. This city would have imploded had Peyton slipped on the grass, or Reggie taken a slide and turned an ankle.

Not only did they play to get those statistics, but they would do whatever it took to get it done. Both Wayne and Clark’s final catches were for losses.

Even if you are making it obvious to the defense of what you are going to do, at least put Painter into the game. What difference does it make if the passes come from Peyton or Curtis?

The starters ended up playing into the second quarter before they took to the sidelines.

There is no doubt that Polian is the best in the business when it comes to evaluating talent for the draft, but these last two weeks have brought more questions and concern to the forefront than anything else.

Now it truly is Super Bowl or bust.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Indianapolis Colts: Individual Achievements Greater Than Team Goals

Another week, another controversial topic for a 14-win NFL team.

The Colts are in Buffalo at this moment, taking on the Bills in what is basically a pre-season game.

After last week’s decision to rest the starters late in the third quarter, the Colts organization has set themselves up for another interesting week of fan criticism.

With Wes Welker going down with a serious injury in a meaningless game in Houston, fans and teams are on high alert. Not Bill Polian.

With the snow pouring down on top of them in Buffalo, the Colts starters took to the field. The goal was obvious from the start; get Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne the ball, so they can get their 100 catches for the season. Mr. Polian, (which he insists on being referred to) may I ask, why?

The only thing this did was prove that the individual statistics are worth the risk of injury, but going for NFL history is not. This city would have imploded had Peyton slipped on the grass, or Reggie taken a slide and turned an ankle.

Not only did they play to get those statistics, but they would do whatever it took to get it done. Both Wayne and Clark’s final catches were for losses.

Even if you are making it obvious to the defense of what you are going to do, at least put Painter into the game. What difference does it make if the passes come from Peyton or Curtis?

The starters ended up playing into the second quarter before they took to the sidelines.

There is no doubt that Polian is the best in the business when it comes to evaluating talent for the draft, but these last two weeks have brought more questions and concern to the forefront than anything else.

Now it truly is Super Bowl or bust.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Cardinals Have All Eyes on Vikings

The Vikings are man-handling the Giants 31-0 at halftime; if the lead holds, the Cardinals may very well decide to take the foot off the gas in the Packers game less than two hours away.

ESPN’s Mike Sando concurs.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic also believes the Cards-Packers game will hold little meaning if the Vikings prevail.

The Milwaukee, Wisconsin Journal Sentinel team gives us a peak into this afternoon’s Cardinals-Packers match-up.

Michael Hunt of The Sentinel sums it best: “This could be like going to a concert, only to hear the bands tune up for three hours. In that case, you know who the real losers would be. Packers/Cardinals 34, Paying Customers 0.“

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Cardinals Have All Eyes on Vikings

The Vikings are man-handling the Giants 31-0 at halftime; if the lead holds, the Cardinals may very well decide to take the foot off the gas in the Packers game less than two hours away.

ESPN’s Mike Sando concurs.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic also believes the Cards-Packers game will hold little meaning if the Vikings prevail.

The Milwaukee, Wisconsin Journal Sentinel team gives us a peak into this afternoon’s Cardinals-Packers match-up.

Michael Hunt of The Sentinel sums it best: “This could be like going to a concert, only to hear the bands tune up for three hours. In that case, you know who the real losers would be. Packers/Cardinals 34, Paying Customers 0.“

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Welker Down With Left Knee Injury; Patriots Fans Left Asking Why

With wideout Wes Welker being carted off the field with what appears to be a serious injury to his left knee, fans of the New England Patriots have already begun asking the question why.

Why did coach Bill Belichick decide to play his starters in a near meaningless game?

Why did we have to lose the heart and soul of our offense?

Why have our playoff hopes been dashed for the second year in a row?

With the Patriots driving down the field in the first quarter of their game with the Houston Texans, Welker, who entered the game with a league leading 122 receptions, caught a ball from quarterback Tom Brady in the left slot and ran for a first down before getting his foot caught in the Texans turf and immediately grabbing for his left knee.

Welker was being covered by safety Bernard Pollard, though the injury was sustained before Welker was hit. Pollard was involved in a below the knee hit last season while playing for the Kansas City Chiefs. The play, which occurred in the first quarter of the first game, knocked Brady out for the season.

With Brady, receiver Randy Moss and the Patriots trainer looking on, Welker was helped from the field and was seen with a towel over his head in a display of obvious pain and disappointment. He was carted off the field to the Patriots looker room with approximately six minutes to play in the first quarter.

Many fans believe that any hopes of the Patriots competing in the upcoming AFC playoffs rest squarely on the shoulders of the diminutive receiver who has caught 345 passes over three years with the Patriots and is a key component to their effective passing offense.

The Patriots missed the playoffs last season after Brady was injured in the first period of their first game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Despite an 11-5 record, the Patriots missed the playoffs.

Entering today’s game with a 10-5 record, the Patriots have clinched the AFC East and a home game for the first round of the playoffs and are playing today’s game simply to determine whether they would be a number three or four seed.

Todd Civin is a feature columnist for Bleacher Report and Sports, Then and Now. His work can be found on his own blog at The ‘xoxo’ of Sports.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Welker Down With Left Knee Injury; Patriots Fans Left Asking Why

With wideout Wes Welker being carted off the field with what appears to be a serious injury to his left knee, fans of the New England Patriots have already begun asking the question why.

Why did coach Bill Belichick decide to play his starters in a near meaningless game?

Why did we have to lose the heart and soul of our offense?

Why have our playoff hopes been dashed for the second year in a row?

With the Patriots driving down the field in the first quarter of their game with the Houston Texans, Welker, who entered the game with a league leading 122 receptions, caught a ball from quarterback Tom Brady in the left slot and ran for a first down before getting his foot caught in the Texans turf and immediately grabbing for his left knee.

Welker was being covered by safety Bernard Pollard, though the injury was sustained before Welker was hit. Pollard was involved in a below the knee hit last season while playing for the Kansas City Chiefs. The play, which occurred in the first quarter of the first game, knocked Brady out for the season.

With Brady, receiver Randy Moss and the Patriots trainer looking on, Welker was helped from the field and was seen with a towel over his head in a display of obvious pain and disappointment. He was carted off the field to the Patriots looker room with approximately six minutes to play in the first quarter.

Many fans believe that any hopes of the Patriots competing in the upcoming AFC playoffs rest squarely on the shoulders of the diminutive receiver who has caught 345 passes over three years with the Patriots and is a key component to their effective passing offense.

The Patriots missed the playoffs last season after Brady was injured in the first period of their first game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Despite an 11-5 record, the Patriots missed the playoffs.

Entering today’s game with a 10-5 record, the Patriots have clinched the AFC East and a home game for the first round of the playoffs and are playing today’s game simply to determine whether they would be a number three or four seed.

Todd Civin is a feature columnist for Bleacher Report and Sports, Then and Now. His work can be found on his own blog at The ‘xoxo’ of Sports.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

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