Will the Eagles win the Super Bowl in 2003?

[BigLou+]

Last year I was on Philly to win it all but they came up short. This season they are the odds on favorite at a few places to win it all. So will they bring home the Vince Lombardi trophy to long suffering Eagles fans?

No.

As ugly as the Vet was, it was one of the few places left in the NFL that had a true homefield advantage. The stadium floor took more then its share of guys out of commission and was something you had to prepare for when you played the Eagles. In last years Divisional Round playoff game the speed of Michael Vick was taken away because of the slippery surface of the field. How many stadiums can boast about something like that? That is literally like having an extra defender on the field, and now that advantage is gone as they open the 2003 season at Lincoln Financial Field. (Just doesn't sound as imposing as "The Vet", does it?)

But the main reason is the loss to the Buccanneers in the NFC Championship. Losing at home in the conference finals is THE single toughest playoff loss you can suffer. The psychological hangover that comes with losing in front of the home crowd in the Conference Title game is unmatched.

Since the inception of the Super Bowl in 1966 there have been a total of 25 teams, not counting the '02 Eagles, that lost at home in the Conference Title game and not one of them has gone on to win the Super Bowl the following season. Here is the list of teams previously mentioned and how they did the year after:

1966 Bills - missed playoffs
1966 Cowboys - lost in the Conf. Finals
1968 Browns - lost in the Conf. Finals
1969 Raiders - lost in the Conf. Finals
1970 49'ers - lost in the Conf. Finals
1972 Steelers - lost in the Div. Round
1973 Cowboys - missed the playoffs
1974 Raiders - lost in the Conf. Finals
1975 Rams - lost in the Conf. Finals
1978 Rams - lost in the Super Bowl
1979 Buccaneers - missed the playoffs
1980 Chargers - lost in the Conf. Finals
1985 Dolphins - missed the playoffs
1986 Browns - lost in the Conf. Finals
1988 Bears - missed the playoffs
1990 49'ers - missed the playoffs
1992 49'ers - lost in the Conf. Finals
1992 Dolphins - missed the playoffs
1994 Steelers - lost in the Super Bowl
1997 49'ers - lost in the Div. Round
1997 Steelers - missed the playoffs
1998 Vikings - lost in the Div. Round
1999 Jaguars - missed the playoffs
2000 Raiders - lost in the Div. Round
2001 Steelers - lost in the Div. Round

That's 0 for 25. Can Donovan NcNabb and the Eagles take that next step? History says no.

Big Lou

 

[petyos]

No because they lost too many guys. It might not seem to great but that is why St Louis fell back plus injuries. A contributor here, a good guy there. It adds up
They need more. Defense might take a step back. Offense still should need improvement.

 

[johnnie2times]

The Philly run started 4 years ago when Fat Andy Reid came to town.On to bigger and better things.2000 was the year to get the money.Philly is just another opponent for somebody every sunday.I wish their total # of wins for the year was 6.5 like a few years ago....

 

[ChadC]

Nice write up Lou. I do agree that Philly probably will not make it. Stranger things have happened though. Philly still has a great squad and they should be the consensus #2 pick to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. Have to go with Tampa, hard to discount what they did last year and how few players they lost as well. We'll see though, who knows maybe the Bengals and Lions will be playing for it all in January....... yeah right!

 

[BigLou+]

ChadC,

Nice to hear from you. Tampa still looks very good while Philly has made some questionable moves this offseason.

Big Lou

 

[trench1978]

Big Lou, I agree with you. I would never go against odds like 0-25. However, the Eagles will still be a tough team this year and will likely make the playoffs. Although, I think Tampa and Atlanta will be the top two NFC teams next year. History is the only concrete thing we have to go by.

Trench

 

[BigLou+]

Trench,

They really missed out last season. Could you imagine closing out the last game at Veterans Stadium with a conference title? They would have partied for a week. Instead they leave there with their tail stuck between their legs and hoping they get another chance this year.

Big Lou

 

[Oren1]

Don't think so either. Tampa has a much better shot at repeating, as hard as that is to do in this day and age.

 

[winbet]

The eagles have never been a true contender and have only been in the limelight bc of a weak division.Can anyone other than a fan name more than one of their offence?. Their defence has been keeping them above water, but nowadays that can only last so long.

 

[bblight]

BigLou - an excellent analysis! After looking at the Eagles schedule for 2003, it appears that thay might have a hard time achieving a winning season.
I think you're right about the Vet. Do you remember the cancelled preseason game a few years ago, because the field was in such horrible condition?

Good luck!

 

[BigLou+]

The only time in NFL history a football game was cancelled because of poor field conditions. Only at the Vet!

Big Lou

 

[HacheMan]

Lou, Im surprised you would even ask such as question. No.....No....No....way Eagles win SB. They'd be lucky to get there, much less win it.

 

[BigTwelveFan]

Big Lou,
I am a huge Eagles fan, and must say that I agree with you and find myself worried about a few things. Donovan will continue to run around and make things happen and they will win a bunch of games, but... The D is losing quality players, and the ones they keep are getting older. Now there are potential pro-bowl holdouts in the secondary (never a good thing). This would be the first holdouts for contract reasons since Andy Reid arrived in town.
I also don't like the fact that they still don't have a money WR, or a franchise RB. My heart is still with the birds but I don't think they are the best team in the NFL right now.

 

[BigLou+]

I brought it up because a lot of places had them as the favorite to win the Super Bowl.

Big Lou

 

[sampl497]

I got them at +850, so that's not what I'd call an odds on SB favorite. I took them last year pre-season to win the NFC and had a chance to make a nice hit, but when they hosted TB I went heavy on the Bucs knowing I'd win either way. They may not stand out, but they outscored opponents by almost 11 a game last year, and if McNabb had stayed healthy would have been even better. TB's defense has been tough over the years, but it will be tough for them to play up to last year. I'm not worried about the new stadium, Philadelphia has been much better on the road than at home under Reid.

 

[BigLou+]

While the odds have changed a bit they are still right up there with Tampa and Oakland as the favorite to win the Super Bowl, depending on where you look.

Big Lou

 

[johnnie2times]

I am looking the other way.

 

[bblight]

Tampa looks to have a fairly easy schedule - but the voices of dissension are already rumbling, so who know's what'll happen with them - plus everyone will be "UP" to play them. Who in the NFC can challenge them in 2003? That's the big question.

As far as Oakland is concerned, I don't know if they made it to the SB because of Callahan, or in spite of him - either way, the West looks to be a tough division to play in. I think Oakland will have a very hard time repeating.

I'm wondering where Cleveland will be in this years mix - they've appeared to be a team on the brink; what will this year bring?

The Patriots are assembling a very potent defense - one of the best I've seen in years (at least on paper) - keep an eye on the under with them.

Good luck!

[This message was edited by bblight on June 11, 2003 at 02:58 PM.]

 

[BigLou+]

bump

 

[KMAN]

Some of you may think this is crazy but I think the Giants are in good shape to make it to the NFC championship game atleast.

KMAN