Post by prossman on Dec 25, 2008 6:36:28 GMT -7
Camden Courier-Post: Playoffs or not, it's still the Cowboys
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Playoffs or not, it's still the Cowboys
December 25 Camden Courier-Post
"Depending on the outcome of Tampa Bay's game early Sunday afternoon, one principle will be at stake for the Eagles: postseason or pride.
The Buccaneers can bounce the Eagles from the playoff picture by defeating AFC weakling Oakland, a 4-11 team with an 0-3 mark this season against the NFC.
The 1 p.m. start in Tampa means the Eagles should know by kickoff Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field if they're still in pursuit of the sixth and final spot in the NFC playoff bracket.
They'd still also need either Minnesota or Chicago to lose. Either way, head coach Andy Reid insisted that he'd coach to win.
"It won't change a thing," Reid said during Wednesday's press conference. "I'm not big into 'if' questions, but we're going to play and everybody is going to play and that's what we're going to do."
Asked if he anticipated trouble rousing maximum effort from an eliminated team, Reid dismissed the notion.
"It's the Cowboys," he said. "You play."
His sentiment resounded throughout the NovaCare Complex, where the team danced around questions about early elimination and promised to give top effort from kickoff to finish.
Dononan McNabb said the Eagles can "leave our mark" in the season finale, even if the playoffs aren't within reach. He expects that Reid will make good on his word to play his best players.
"I don't see why he wouldn't," McNabb said. "There's no reason to take people out. We're trying to win this ballgame. If that happened, that would be a shock to me, but again, I don't see that happening."
Just in case, Reid clarified his original position when asked if he'd be prone to take a closer look backup quarterback Kevin Kolb.
"We're going in to play the Cowboys. I can't make it any clearer to you," he said. "You can take these 'if' questions and throw them out the window right now. We are going in to play our best game against a very good football team."
Despite the obstacles, the Eagles still think fate can open the doors for them one more time. They had destiny in their hands briefly on Sunday, before Washington nearly slammed the door shut.
"I just want to win this game. That's all I care about," strong safety Quintin Mikell said. "I want to win against Dallas. I want to finish the season strong and hopefully get the chance to make it to the playoffs.
"We still have hope that we can get in. Obviously, a lot of stuff has to happen, but if don't believe, you shouldn't be on the field."
Brian Westbrook, who's still far from full strength after being kicked in the ankle late in Sunday's 10-3 loss to the Redskins, would probably benefit from some time on the sideline.
Westbrook, though, said he'd expect to play under any circumstances.
"I would want to, yes," he said. "No matter if we are in the playoffs or not, I still have a strong dislike for Dallas. I still am going to go out there and fight like we have an opportunity to get into the playoffs
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Playoffs or not, it's still the Cowboys
December 25 Camden Courier-Post
"Depending on the outcome of Tampa Bay's game early Sunday afternoon, one principle will be at stake for the Eagles: postseason or pride.
The Buccaneers can bounce the Eagles from the playoff picture by defeating AFC weakling Oakland, a 4-11 team with an 0-3 mark this season against the NFC.
The 1 p.m. start in Tampa means the Eagles should know by kickoff Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field if they're still in pursuit of the sixth and final spot in the NFC playoff bracket.
They'd still also need either Minnesota or Chicago to lose. Either way, head coach Andy Reid insisted that he'd coach to win.
"It won't change a thing," Reid said during Wednesday's press conference. "I'm not big into 'if' questions, but we're going to play and everybody is going to play and that's what we're going to do."
Asked if he anticipated trouble rousing maximum effort from an eliminated team, Reid dismissed the notion.
"It's the Cowboys," he said. "You play."
His sentiment resounded throughout the NovaCare Complex, where the team danced around questions about early elimination and promised to give top effort from kickoff to finish.
Dononan McNabb said the Eagles can "leave our mark" in the season finale, even if the playoffs aren't within reach. He expects that Reid will make good on his word to play his best players.
"I don't see why he wouldn't," McNabb said. "There's no reason to take people out. We're trying to win this ballgame. If that happened, that would be a shock to me, but again, I don't see that happening."
Just in case, Reid clarified his original position when asked if he'd be prone to take a closer look backup quarterback Kevin Kolb.
"We're going in to play the Cowboys. I can't make it any clearer to you," he said. "You can take these 'if' questions and throw them out the window right now. We are going in to play our best game against a very good football team."
Despite the obstacles, the Eagles still think fate can open the doors for them one more time. They had destiny in their hands briefly on Sunday, before Washington nearly slammed the door shut.
"I just want to win this game. That's all I care about," strong safety Quintin Mikell said. "I want to win against Dallas. I want to finish the season strong and hopefully get the chance to make it to the playoffs.
"We still have hope that we can get in. Obviously, a lot of stuff has to happen, but if don't believe, you shouldn't be on the field."
Brian Westbrook, who's still far from full strength after being kicked in the ankle late in Sunday's 10-3 loss to the Redskins, would probably benefit from some time on the sideline.
Westbrook, though, said he'd expect to play under any circumstances.
"I would want to, yes," he said. "No matter if we are in the playoffs or not, I still have a strong dislike for Dallas. I still am going to go out there and fight like we have an opportunity to get into the playoffs
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