Here’s what I know after watching the Eagles for three weeks.

Not a hell of a lot.

They blew out a bad Carolina team, then got smoked by a pretty good Saints club, and rebounded yesterday by crushing a truly dreadful Chiefs team.

There are, however, a few things that I do know.

First and foremost, Michael Vick’s re-entry to the NFL proved to be the most over-hyped story of the week. Vick’s total output? He appeared for
11 plays, which gained a total of 30 yards. He did not complete a pass.

That did not stop the networks and everyone else from falling all over themselves to tell Vick’s story – both before and after the game.

And that’s a shame. Because it overshadowed a first-rate effort by Kevin Kolb in leading the Eagles to an easy win.

All Kolb did was become the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for more than 300 yards in his first two starts.

Kolb was filling in for an ailing Donovan McNabb, who was sidelined for a second straight week with a fractured rib. Kolb sparkled, completing
24 of 34 for 327 yards while compiling a QB rating of 120.6.

Something else I think we have learned about the Eagles. They have a very good core of young star players at the skill positions. In addition to Kolb, second-year wide receiver DeSean Jackson is taking on the unmistakable look of an All-Pro star wideout. Rookie Jeremy Maclin also grabbed several passes yesterday. Tight end Brent Celek suddenly looks like the second coming of Mike Ditka. With Brian Westbrook once again on the shelf with a bum ankle, rookie LeSean McCoy filled in more than ably.

Look at it this way. If someone had asked you before the season what the Eagles’ chances were in a game when they would be without both McNabb and Westbrook, their top two offensive weapons, how would you have responded? Exactly.

I’m thinking not many would predict a win, let alone a 34-14 blowout.

Yes, these were the Chiefs. They are, in a word, dreadful. Worse than the Panthers.

Guess what? After the bye, the Birds are looking at Tampa Bay, Oakland, Washington. Anyone have any trepidations about those three games? That would put the Birds at 5-1.

Then the real season begins. And I suppose that is when we find out how good this team is – or isn’t.

In the meantime, spare me the Vick coverage. I am guessing Andy Reid will continue to sprinkle any number of variations on his “Wildcat”
formations into the mix.

But yesterday, the Wildcat actually was more effective when the direct snap went to McCoy.

Oh, and one other thing, which I will freely admit. Yes, I grimace a bit every time Vick jogs onto the field. It still bothers me that the Eagles rolled the dice on this story in the first place. Why they felt the need to do so I have no idea.

It’s now clear this team is going to go exactly as far as McNabb carries them, and if he’s not available then Kolb looks more than capable of shouldering the load.

Vick is a sideshow, one that already has been given way too much attention.

With Vick at the helm yesterday, the Wildcat did little more than meow.
While the memory of those dogs continues to growl in the deep recesses of my memory.