Former Bucs quarterback thinks that the Eagles are the best team in the NFC

SCOTT JACOBS

We’ve come to expect stupid comments from our sports analysts. We’ve come to expect controversial comments from our sportscasters. But it’s going to take some time before I get used to totally ludicrous claims. Shaun King, step up to the plank, jump off the ship, we’re throwing you overboard and giving you the “most moronic statement of the week” award.

Now King, the former Tulane quarterback, was never a great analyst. Nothing he’s ever said on ESPN ever made my head spin in awe. I’ve come to expect that from the majority of ESPN’s hires.

It does take talent (not the good kind) to make as dumb a bold proclamation as King did today. When asked who the best team in the NFC was, King was quick to answer, The Philadelphia Eagles.

Whatttttttttttttt?

Is he watching the same league that I am? Is he? Because the Eagles aren’t even the best team in their division, nevermind ALL of the NFC! The 3-3 Eagles? That’s the best team in the NFC? Now, I’m no rocket scientist or nothing, but how can you call a .500 team the best in the conference?

Some of his reasons, besides the fact that he picked them to go to the Super Bowl before the season, were:

*The signing of Asante Samuel
*They have a bye week this week to right the ship

Uh, whatever you say Shaun.

Here’s the thing about the Eagles. They probably are better then their record. They lost that nailbiter in Dallas 41-37 in week 2, and they are the only team to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are 4-1. However, they have lost to every other quality team they’ve faced, including the Bears and the Redskins. Two of their wins are over the Rams and the 49ers, and let’s be real here: those aren’t exactly bona fide contenders.

The Eagles are last place in the NFC East.

But yeah, they are the best team in the conference. Clearly!

Seven teams out of the 15 team conference are 4-2 or better. Yet, its the 3-3 Eagles that are the best?

I understand records can be deceiving. For example, if the Patriots announced tomorrow that Tom Brady was okay to play this coming week, everyone would scrap their 3-2 record and steady fall, and proclaim them one of the favorites again. Injuries give you excuses at least. But the Eagles are healthy for the most part. Sure Brian Westbrook has been hurt two of the past three weeks, but the Eagles have gone a respectable 1-1 in his abscence. Donovan McNabb hasn’t missed a game yet, and the Eagles are still just a .500 team.

I understand that on paper people want to believe the Eagles are a very good team. But no one’s ever won a championship on paper. See: Yankees, New York. You have to go on the field and prove it.

Let’s look at the numbers and see what they say (Rankings in conference)

Offense:
Yards per game: 7th
Points per game: 5th
Yards per play: 5th
Third down percentage: 7th
Time of possession per game: 11th

Pretty average numbers, though we will point out that they’re the least penalized team and they have the best turnover ratio in the conference, so we’ll give them that.

Defense:
Points allowed per game: 7th
Yards per play: 2nd
Yards per game: 2nd
Percent of 3rd down stops: 5th
Penalties per game: 6th most

Their defense is pretty good, but if you look a the numbers overall (offense and defense) this is far from the best team in the NFC, even during a year where there might not be one elite team that stands out from the rest.

Here’s the list of all the teams that are better (by record) then the Eagles right now:

Giants (4-1)
Bucanneers (4-2)
Cardinals (4-2)
Redskins (4-2)
Panthers (4-2)
Falcons (4-2)
Cowboys (4-2)

And please, can we stop vehemently proclaiming that the NFC East is the NFL’s best division, a no brainer? Because, the NFC South has three teams that are 4-2, and one that is 3-3. That’s pretty darn good if you ask me. Sure, they lack the “tradition” that the Giants, Redskins, Cowboys and Eagles have, but let’s look at the facts:

Three of the NFC East’s teams lost this past Sunday.
Three of the NFC South’s teams won this past Sunday.

If this is truly a what have you done for me lately league, then I’d say the two are just about neck and neck right now.

One thing’s for sure though: until proven otherwise there is no way that the Eagles are the best team in the NFC right now.

Up for grabs doesn’t mean pick a name out of a hat.

Hopefully Shaun King will learn that.

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