I think I can now authoritatively make the following statement about the
2009 Philadelphia Eagles: I still don’t know how good they are.

Yesterday the Eagles struggled mightily to beat a banged-up Redskins team with almost nothing to play for. The Birds were a 9-point favorite over the ‘Skins, which makes you wonder if the oddsmakers had watched this team at all this year. How could they be a nine-point pick over anybody?

This was a game where the Eagles simply should have lined up and beaten an inferior team. It was not a day for trickery and gadget plays.

Then you remember this is Andy Reid’s team. So of course the Eagles delighted their fans with an onside kick on the opening kickoff, which winds up in the hands of a Redskin, who immediately bolts through the charging Birds and sets up the ‘Skins at the Eagles’ 20. A few plays later and the Eagles are looking up at a 7-0 deficit. Thanks, coach.

To their credit, the Eagles battled back. And it’s also time to give some serious credit to Donovan McNabb, who for the second straight week led the Birds to victory by coming from behind in the fourth quarter. So much for that rap on the 11-year veteran.

The win makes the Eagles 7-4, and in very good position to make the playoffs. But realistically, do you expect them to do much when they get there? I don’t.

But they are light years ahead of last year, when it was about this time of year that they limped back up I-95 in total disarray after a loss that saw the benching of Donovan McNabb at halftime.

This team has a lot of new weapons, DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, LeSean McCoy and Brent Celek. That’s now been clouded – along with Jackson’s head – by a concussion that forced the star second-year wideout from the lineup in the third quarter. He did not return. He now joins Brian Westbrook in battling the concussion demons that suddenly are hounding the NFL.

But it is on the other side of the ball that the Birds are really struggling. On defense they have developed a sudden inability to stop foes on third down, including third and long.

This week will make the return of the Eagles’ own redemption project, Michael Vick, to Atlanta. It will be talked about at length. But it has little to do with what this team is all about.

That’s the problem. I’m still not really sure what this team actually is all about, nor how good they really are.

What I know is that they are 7-4 and likely headed for the playoffs.
Been there, done that.

Let’s see what happens down the stretch. I’m not exactly dreaming of a Super Bowl bid.

But then again, this is the NFL. Stranger things have happened. They almost happened to the Eagles last year.