Fantasy Finals, Eagles MVP thoughts, and more Jets analysis...

This blurb will come at you in layers, hopefully as the Eagles defense will do likewise against the Jets on Sunday...

Time to start thinking about the 2011 Eagles MVP nominees...

I've got my mind made up already, even with 3 regular season games stiill to go:


Todd Herremans has come into his own as an elite all-purpose offensive lineman.

I'm going with Herremans for MVP. This year he has really put the "Yo Adrian!" into the term "yeoman effort"...  The guy reported to camp in the best shape of his life and has been tearing it up ever since, a consistent point of light on this team despite a bruised ankle and bruised biceps through much of the year. Left Guard?---one of the best in the league... Need him at Right Tackle? No problem... He's been great at both positions, and not only in road-grading work but also pass protection. And the guy gets out on a screen and keeps blocking downfield until the whistle blows. His hustle and professionalism have never waned during a losing season.

Please feel free to suggest your personal nominees in the Livefyre comments over the coming weeks. I'll do my best to tally individual poster's nominations and then we'll see if we can come up with a bona fide EEB MVP Award by the end of the year.
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EEB BriSucksegg Fancy Fantasy Football Playoffs and Finals

Thanks to Boner and Hud for constant updates, we are down to the Final Two... and the upcoming championship match:
The Amputatoes  (Jerked Up) eliminated Team Jax Eagles (Andrew Mandarakas), 136 -119...
and The Nut Chokers (JB) put away Marty Funkhouser (Harry Organs), 165 -110.

So it is written: Amputatoes vs. Nut Chokers, circa 2011... This is the weekend. Group rate tickets and travel packages are still available. The game will be held at a neutral site, this year the gazebo in Sonbutt's condo garden. Bragging rights and a special EEB award are at stake.
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More stuff about the Jets that doesn't get talked about much...



That report coming up in another hour or two after this layered break!..

OK, we're back!

Yep, here are the mass media talking points---

While a three-game winning streak has the Jets headed in the right direction, the Eagles are clinging to very slim playoff hopes. With major playoff implications on the line, the Jets go for their first-ever win over the Eagles on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field. New York (8-5) and Philadelphia (5-8) were expected to be - at the very least - serious contenders to win their respective divisions heading into this season.

That hasn’t been the case, as the Jets enter their final three games of the regular season two games back of AFC East-leading New England while surrendering the head-to-head tiebreaker.

The Eagles turned into perhaps the NFL’s biggest disappointment. They’re two games back of the first-place tie between Dallas and the Giants in the NFC East, and are outsiders for a wild card.

“It’s exciting. We’ve got three games left and it’s up for grabs,” coach Andy Reid said. “I’d say that’s a good thing.” Reid’s enthusiasm may take a dramatic turn Sunday if his team loses, which would eliminate Philadelphia from playoff contention.

The Jets, meanwhile, have rebounded from back-to-back losses with three straight wins over lesser opponents. New York continued its momentum with a 37-10 rout of Kansas City last week. It was the team’s best offensive showing of the season, topping the previous week’s 34-19 victory at Washington.

The Jets are still 25th in total offense, but have produced 13 touchdowns over the last three weeks. They’ve scored TDs in each of their last 12 trips into the red zone - their best streak since 1993.

“I think we’re all just playing a lot better across the board,” said quarterback Mark Sanchez, who had a season-high 121.3 rating against the Chiefs and has thrown seven TDs with one interception in three games. “I think hopefully we’re just starting to hit our stride, and we’re not there yet.”

Shonn Greene is getting there, rushing for 295 yards on 59 attempts over the last three games, scoring four touchdowns in the last two.

The Jets have lost all eight meetings - four on the road - against the Eagles, and haven’t visited Philadelphia since Oct. 26, 2003. “This time of year, it doesn’t matter where you play, you better go win,” coach Rex Ryan said. “This is going to be a big challenge. I know the Jets’ history; 0-8 against the Eagles.

“Obviously, they’re an excellent football team and we know it’s going to be a big challenge. We got three games left that are going to be tough, but we’re confident.”

While Sanchez and New York’s offense are gaining momentum, the Eagles’ defense is looking to build on its best performance of the season. The unit collected nine sacks and forced three turnovers while allowing a season-low 204 yards - 95 passing - in a 26-10 win at Miami last week.

Philadelphia needs to beat the Jets, Dallas and Washington in the final three weeks and get outside help to have any chance at the playoffs. The Eagles, 1-5 at Lincoln Financial Field in 2011, haven’t lost six regular-season home games in a single season since 1983.

“We have a chance. It does matter,” tight end Brent Celek said. “That’s all you can ask for after the position we left ourselves in. We just have to capitalize on every opportunity we have.”

Michael Vick is expected to start after making his return last wek against Miami after recovering from two broken ribs, which forced him to miss three games. He completed 15 of 30 passes for 208 yards with one touchdown and one INT last week, but was sacked four times and was hit hard on several occasions. Vick is sore but ready to go...

Now let's look closer at what we're up against here...

RB LeSean McCoy is facing a Jets defense that is allowing an average of 83.7 yards on the ground during their recent three-game winning streak. Running the ball effectively could be a huge key for the Eagles, who will be facing the league’s sixth-best passing defense and two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis.

Revis will likely match up against DeSean Jackson, a deep threat with 21 TDs of at least 30 yards in his four-year career. His 34-yard touchdown grab last week was just his third of the season and ended a six-game drought.

The Eagles are yielding 255.8 passing yards at home, and Ryan feels Revis isn’t only better than Nnamdi Asomugha or Asante Samuel or DRC, but the best in the NFL.

“He is a tremendous corner, the best corner in football. It’s not even close,” Ryan said of Revis. “Nnamdi is an outstanding corner. Samuel is an outstanding corner. They have a lot of talented guys over there, but there’s only one Darrelle Revis.”

Hmmmmmm...

Team Stat Leaders

Passing Yards

• Mark Sanchez NYJ 2859 yds
• Michael Vick Phi 2401 yds

Rushing Yards

• Shonn Greene NYJ 868 yds
• LeSean McCoy Phi 1172 yds

Receiving Yards

• Dustin Keller NYJ 620 yds
• DeSean Jackson Phi 757 yds

Welp, here's what I see...

Eagles win this thing... Antonio Cromartie has problems with penalties at CB ... S Jim Leonhard is out , and that's a big deal (Leonhard is the "Leo Pizzini" of the Jets secondary, the smart guy that calls the signals back there and makes the big hits and the smart plays)... Jets kicker Nick Folk is erratic... Rex Ryan takes stupid risks with all-out blitzes and insane 4th-down gambles...CB Drew Coleman is suspect in coverage...Revis has streaks where he struggles... ILB Bart Scott cannot cover Brent Celek or Clay Harbor... The Eagles know how to block the Jets' blitz on third down... The Jets defensive scheme is still a basic 3-4, but they often mix in 4-man fronts, which the Eagles offense will eat alive... The Jets D-Line is old and busted up and has no dominant pure pass rusher... Mark Sanchez will be thrown out of rhythm by a well-called pass rush and will never find his tight end option Dustin Keller when he realizes Plax and Santonio are covered like a glove... The Jets offensive line is horrible and needs to be re-tooled...Shonn Greene will fumble at excruciatingly awful times for the Jets... Jets will use their fullback in a lot of pre-snap motion to confuse the Eagles, who will not be fooled, and only bury Sanchez deeper in his tracks... Jets hurry-up offense will also backfire with improved film study by the Eagles anticipating his every post-snap move...

No doubt the Jets are a talented team. But it's time the Eagles taught them (and Rex) a lesson...again.