PHILADELPHIA _ The Eagles can sprint into the postseason. Why? They're getting better.
At 4-4 they're a game behind Washington (5-3), but they will play each other twice. On Sunday, Washington got blown out by the Falcons, at home, and saw their offensive line deteriorate further. The Cowboys' line is a big reason they're 3-5. The Giants are the NFL's punchline at 1-7.
A 6-2 record in the second half will put the Eagles at 10-6, which should be good enough to win the NFC East, because that would make Washington a five-loss team at best. Anybody think Washington can win all six of its other games? Why 6-2? Because the Eagles should run the five-game table against the NFC East. A win over Houston in Game 15 on Dec. 23 would help them absorb likely losses at New Orleans on Nov. 18 and at the Rams on Dec. 16.
How can the outlook be this rosy? Because the Eagles are a better team now than at any other point this season, and they're coming off a bye.
"We needed that," Fletcher Cox said about the bye. "It came at the right time."
They traded for receiver Golden Tate. Defensive tackle Tim Jernigan is revving up for a late-November return. They thought they would have Darren Sproles for the second half of the season, but his hamstring reportedly didn't make it through his first practice back. And the banged-up defensive backfield has to survive the next couple of weeks. But, there are still five solid reasons the Eagles can make it deep into January. Again.
