Eagles hold the advantage
While the rejuvenated Philadelphia Eagles are trying to find their way into the NFL postseason, the mathematically eliminated Cleveland Browns are just trying to locate the end zone.
The Browns, who play at Philadelphia tonight, have gone 12 consecutive quarters without an offensive touchdown. That in part accounts for their six losses in eight games since stunning the then-undefeated New York Giants on “Monday Night Football.”
Half of Cleveland’s four victories have come in Monday games, first with Derek Anderson starting at quarterback against the Giants, then with Brady Quinn directing the offense at Buffalo. With those players injured, it’s up to Ken Dorsey tonight. Things look grim.
“What we’re doing is not enough,” Cleveland linebacker D’Qwell Jackson told reporters last week. “Guys have to do a little extra. I wish I had a magic wand to wave and fix all of the problems, but I don’t. That’s the life for us this year.”
The 7-5-1 Eagles, meanwhile, are enjoying a dramatic uptick in their performance since a loss-tie-loss stretch a few weeks ago. They are coming off impressive victories over a pair of NFC division leaders, beating Arizona, then the Giants at the Meadowlands.
Philadelphia, along with Dallas and Atlanta, is vying for a wild-card spot.
“We’ve got three more games that we have to take care of business with,” said Eagles Coach Andy Reid. “It’s not a time to sit back and relax.”
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Tonight’s game
Cleveland at Philadelphia
5:30, ESPN
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