Season Recap - 2010 Philadelphia Eagles

Final Record: 10-6 (0-1)

Finished: 1^st Place in the NFC East; Lost in the Wild Card Round

2011 Draft Position: 23^rd

Preseason Ranking:   16
Preseason Letter of Misfortune:

Ah, Philadelphia. The city of brotherly love and home to a football team I despise more than almost every other team in the NFL. My ideal season would end with the Cowboys winning the Super Bowl and the Eagles finishing with a 2-14 record. Despite my dislike of this team, I have a healthy respect for them. For years, the games between Philadelphia and Dallas have been physical, hard-fought clashes that have determined sovereignty in the NFC East. Even when there is no division title on the line, the rivalry between them makes any victory worth celebrating. If Dallas finishes 3-13, at least one of their victories better be against the Eagles.

The Eagles have been impressive over the past decade – pretty much the Atlanta Braves of the NFL. Almost always in the playoffs, constantly in the championship mix, but never quite able to take that final step and win the championship or find consistent success in the postseason.

Following an offseason of change, I expect Philadelphia to falter this year. You can’t trade away a perennial all-pro quarterback, still quite able to be successful on the gridiron, and not stumble a little bit in the adjustment. Philadelphia deserves praise on the trade of McNabb to the Redskins. They showed they had the courage to do what Green Bay was afraid to do – trade a superstar quarterback to a division rival. Now you have two games this season to prove your decision was worthwhile.

The quarterbacks left after the McNabb trade are quite capable of steering the Eagles to a winning season, if they stay true to their abilities and make the most of the offensive talent already in place. Kolb has proven he can play in the NFL. He now needs to prove he can play at a high level for 16+ games a season. Vick, in the final year of his two-year contract, is out to vindicate the Eagle’s decision to bring him on board and needs to be successful this year in order to have a shot in the league next year. He needs to remember how to make the spectacular plays without making costly errors in the effort. And rookie Mike Kafka, well, he’s just lucky to be here and should embrace his opportunity to learn without any pressure.

This season, all eyes will be on Kolb and on his former counterpart, now playing in Washington. The Eagles are a better team than the Redskins. If Philadelphia finishes behind them in the standings, all fingers will point to management’s decision to cut ties with their star quarterback and hand the keys of the franchise over to a capable, if not yet proven, player.

Week 1: Lost to Green Bay Packers, 27-20

Ranked – 22

A loss to Green Bay for the first time in decades and a new quarterback controversy to boot. It would be fun to be a Philadelphia Sports Talk guy this week.

Week 2: Defeated the Detroit Lions, 35-32

Ranked – 15

The defense made the battle with Detroit far more interesting than it needed to be and cost me a fantasy victory by allowing Megatron to score a late touchdown. Way to ruin my weekend, Philadelphia. It's not the first time. I'm sure it won't be the last.

Week 3: Defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars, 28-3

Ranked – 11

Maybe Vick is the answer after all, but he has yet to be tested by a strong defensive team. Next week McNabb comes back to town. How will the Philadelphia fans greet him?

Week 4: Lost to Washington Redskins, 17-12

Ranked – 14

Ouch. Injuries and poor time management - the bane of any Andy Reid-led team.

Week 5: Defeated the San Francisco 49ers, 27-24

Ranked – 8

Kolb or Vick? It doesn't really matter as long as McCoy can run with the ball.

Week 6: Defeated the Atlanta Falcons, 31-17

Ranked – 6

The high-flying Eagles overwhelm the Falcons en route to one of the best records in the NFC.

Week 7: Lost at Tennessee Titans, 37-19

Ranked – 14

Vick may be the answer for Philadelphia, but the defense can't allow career days to young wide receivers if they hope to stay with the Giants.

Week 8: BYE WEEK

Ranked – 14

Even the extra week off might not be enough for the Eagles to scheme for Peyton Manning. 

Week 9: Defeated the Indianapolis Colts, 26-24

Ranked – 13

The Eagles defense made Manning look mortal and Vick's scrambling ability once again saved the day.

Week 10: Defeated the Washington Redskins, 59-28

Ranked – 6

Quite an explosive way to move into a tie for first-place in the division. The stretch run will determine if the Vick-led Eagles are truly the best in the NFC.

Week 11: Defeated the New York Giants, 27-17

Ranked – 6

Vick may be the answer at quarterback, but Kolb better be ready to play if Vick keeps scrambling and getting hit. 

Week 12: Lost at Chicago Bears, 31-26

Ranked – 9

Vick is suddenly mortal and Chicago made the Eagles look like chumps, instead of the media-anointed NFC champs they were just a mere two weeks ago.

Week 13: Defeated the Houston Texans, 34-24

Ranked – 9 (ROCKY WEEK!)

[Michael Vick and Andy Reid are watching film from Vick's first few seasons with Atlanta]                   

                   

Coach Reid: Scrambling, run-first quarterbacks, they're the worst. They try to get the big play with their feet. Arm's no damn good. They ought to outlaw run-first quarterbacks!

Michael Vick: Why didn't you tell me that before?

Coach Reid: I didn't want to hurt your feelings.

Week 14: Defeated the Dallas Cowboys, 30-27

Ranked – 6

The high-flying Eagles are a big-play team, but can they win a knock-down fight with a power running team on the road like they will have to in order to go deep into the playoffs?

Week 15: Defeated the New York Giants, 38-31

Ranked – 3

I have never been a big fan of the Eagles, but you absolutely have to be impressed by their never give up attitude. Teams have been propelled to Super Bowl championships by far less epic wins in the past.

Week 16: Lost to Minnesota Vikings, 24-14

Ranked – 8

Michael Vick lost his bid to be the league's MVP with the sub-par performance of the Eagles on Tuesday. He still will be the Comeback Player of the Year and may do some damage in the post-season, but the Vikings gave the league a beautiful blueprint on how to short-circuit the high-flying Eagles explosive offense.

Week 17: Lost to Dallas Cowboys, 14-13

Ranked – 10

Crawling into the playoffs, beat up and disillusioned, is never a good way to start a Super Bowl run.

Wild Card Game: Lost to Green Bay Packers, 21-16

Final Rank - 11

Season recaps continue next week with the Super Bowl XLIV champion New Orleans Saints…