Eagles Pre-Game / Phillies Post Game
What a weekend for Philly sports. Tonight the hated Dallas Cowboys come to town to play the undefeated Eagles on the day after the Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves in convincing fashion to clinch the NL East, sending the defending champs to the golf course.
This year, the Phillies fired a manager and finished third in their division. Now they are playing for a pennant. There can be no doubt, even among the hidebound traditionalists in baseball that the expanded playoff series is good for the sport. I told my son that prior to 1969 there were no playoffs and whoever won the pennant played in the World Series and he couldn’t believe it.
The idea of making the league champion the winner of the 162 slog (a season far too long for even the players to care much about) is unfathomable. Next year with the pitch clock baseball might be reasonably watchable.
Last week the Eagles defense played a soft zone defense to contend with Arizona’s explosive QB. The “bend but don’t break” philosophy felt more like “bend but also break” early in the game, but the Birds scored when then needed to break a 4th quarter tie, then they got lucky when the opposing QB and kicker both choked. It wasn’t pretty but a “W” is a W. And if the Eagles ever needed a wake-up call they needed it it prior this this Dallas game.
This week’s game could be the game of the year in the NFC.
Philadelphia is loving its undefeated status but Dallas is feeling like they’ve found a groove with Prescott riding the pine.
Cowboys will be pining their hopes on star linebacker Micah Parsons. This year Parsons is leading the NFL in sacks (6), quarterback hits (12), tackles (19), and tackles for loss (7). Philadelphia will have to account for to account for Parsons on each offense snap.
They are expected to do that by relaying on their running game and quick pass attack. Philadelphia has and explosive offense, relying on plays that gain over 10 years, but tonight might be more about using the well stocked backfield to run the ball with purpose.
Kickoff from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia is set for 8:20 p.m. ET. Philadelphia is a 6.5-point favorite in the latest Cowboys vs. Eagles odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 42.
As for the expanded playoff and next year’s pitch clock – I think MLB is ready for my two additional rule changes that will significantly improve the game.
1) Make the game 7 innings. 9 is an arbitrary number of innings based on nothing. 7 is also an arbitrary number but one that would make the games more interesting. To head off the complaints of old folks, I’d add that if a team can’t win in 7, what’s the point of dragging it out?
2) “Double Home Run”. Erect a field goal type structure in center field. If the batsman knocks it over the fence and through the uprights, the homer can count for two runs – PROVIDED the batsman runs around the bases in a given amount of time. If he opts for two and doesn’t make it, then zero runs and he is called out.
Fucking exciting!