So it's officially the NFL playoffs now. The regular season has ended, with my team, the Philadelphia Eagles, having clinched home field advantage throughout the playoffs several weeks ago. Since they clinched, the Eagles have performed poorly, dropping to 13-3 (still 2 wins better than any other NFC team), mostly due to playing their second string and giving their starters a rest.
I really didn't want to see that happen. It's great that the Eagles clinched so early and that their starters could rest for a few weeks, but psychologically other NFC teams are now looking at the Eagles as vulnerable. At 13-1, they looked nearly invincible. No so, now.
I understand it's important to keep everyone as injury-free as possible going into the playoffs. After all - in the 2003 playoffs, Donovan McNabb was injured and just came back for the NFC championship game (which they lost). In 2004, Brian Westbrook was out and they lost the NFC Championship game. Now, in 2005, both McNabb and Westbrook are healthy and should be well-rested, but Terrell Owens, arguably the biggest difference-maker on the Eagles team, is out for the playoffs (although there is an outside chance he could return for the Superbowl if the Eagles make it that far).
But having two consecutive losses going into the playoffs, regardless of the circumstances, is not a positive situation. Will the Eagles be rusty after nearly one month of resting their starters? Will they have lost the psychological edge against the rest of the league? Will they be unable to match the intensity of teams who have had to fight their way into and through the playoffs?
I don't know. I just hope they can actually make it to the Superbowl this year. Three consecutive NFC Championship game losses are enough for me.