It is already week 6 and the Eagles are under 500 at 2-3, dead last in the ultra competitive and best division in football, the NFC East. Of the remaining 11 games, they would realistically need to win 8 of them to capture an outside and slim chance of making the playoffs with 10 wins. That is not guaranteed. The 3 teams ahead, in their own division have twice as many wins as the Eagles.

Winning 8 out of 11 would be no small feat because the Eagles have yet to play the defending Super Bowl Champions AND undefeated New York Giants. I just didn’t think I would ever have to write Super Bowl champs and New York Giants in the same sentence…with that other Manning behind center. So thanks a lot to the best “regular season” team for not winning the Super Bowl! I digress.

Seven non NFC East teams are scheduled with a strong conviction. I believe the Eagles will beat S.F., Atlanta, Seattle (who looks like an abortion of its former self), Cincinnati, Cleveland and Baltimore. The difficult game will be against Arizona, albeit it will be at the Linc. Arizona has a high powered passing offense and it will put Samuel and his 20 mill guaranteed to the ultimate test, especially if Boldin makes a recovery by then.

My prediction puts the Eagles at 6 wins, bringing their total to 8, with the remaining games against the NFC East Beasts. Splitting the Giants series will give them 9, but following that up will be Washington at week 16. I hate to be negative, but Washington will be no easy task, especially the way they manhandled the Eagles at home on Sunday.  However, it’s a definite possibility with a little more pressure from the defense on the unproven Jason Campbell. Look what they did against the proven Big Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers – 9 sacks and constant pressure from Jim Johnson’s defense.

Week 17 could decide the fate of the Eagles’ season when Romo’s Dallas team invades the Linc. If the Eagles have already clinched a playoff spot by then, will the Cowboys lie down? My money is on no because it’s a divisional game and the rivalry is too strong for the ‘Boys to give a win to the Eagles, especially if a win guarantees the Eagles a playoff spot.

Westbrook’s injury is a concern at this moment but Sunday is a long way away so we will have to see what happens. Hopefully, he will man up, tape up those ribs, run between the tackles and post 120 total yards and 2 touchdowns.  The team is just not the same without him, but the season must go on.