Is your Bird bigger than my Bird?

Preview of Eagles vs. Cardinals

5 things to watch for:

Larry Fitzgerald and John Brown vs. Eagles Secondary

Can you believe this is Larry Fitzgerald's 11th season? It is, and the Fitz has been a Bird killer ever since he's entered the league in 2003. He's scored in every game he's ever played against these Eagles-10 TDs total to be exact-most notably the 3 TD performance against the Birds in the 2009 in the NFC Championship and a 9 f0r 114 and 1 TD spectacle in 2012. (And that was all without someone lining up on the other side of the line to help him!) So here comes rookie John Brown, a very fast and formidable foe (33 for 197 and 3 TDs) for our Birds who could easily burn our 'toast' CBs even if we keep Fitzgerald in check. This will ultimately be the match-up to watch. 

Who are these Birds, really?

The Eagles wins this year: Jacksonville (1-6), Washington (2-5), The Giants of N.Y. (3-4) Colts (5-2), Rams (2-4). Their only loss (albeit a close one in which they should have won) came against the 49ers (4-3)-a team that has yet to identify itself as a contender this year even though many pundits have picked them as a team to beat. You can't put too much into who the Eagles beat this year. However....

The Cards aren't that much better....

The Cardinals beat: San Diego in week 1 by 1 point (5-3, losers of 2 in a row), The Giants of N.Y. (3-4), San Francisco (4-3), Washington (2-5), and Oakland (0-6). Their only loss is to current Super Bowl Favorite Denver, who is 6-1 and let me tell you who they beat: These Birds (Arizona) handily 41-20, San Diego, San Francisco, Indianapolis, Kansas City, New York Jets. Combined record: 23-14. Tells you how good Denver is and tells you where these Bird teams need to go.

Jordan Matthews

Where has he been the last 3 weeks? Okay, so I know he's a rookie (and he's the front runner for my new, authentic Birds jersey), but after all that I feel he needs to have a huge game in order for the Birds to compete. His number thus far: 23 receptions for 226 yards and 2 TDs in 6 games. Not bad for a rook, but this is a game to which he can be utilized in order to keep drives alive and could be the deciding factor in a game like this. 

Special Teams

The Philadelphia Special Teams has scored 7 total TDs this year but might be without their 2 most explosive special teamers, Darren Sproles and Chris Polk. If so, the Eagles will actually have to find a way to win a game with their offense. Imagine that.

Bye week blues or Bye week trues

Okay, I hate to bring this up but Andy Reid was what, 13-1 in games after after the bye? I know this is only Chip's 2nd year, but since he preaches fresh legs and conditioned athletes, will this be a test of who's the fresher team in the 4th quarter? Will the layoff help or hurt the Birds? Inquiring minds would like to to know....

3 musings

• Dog shit, no matter if you see the exact spot your dog was doing his business or not, is terrible to try and find in a lawn full of dried up leaves in the fall. It's like the 'Where's Waldo' of finding shit.

• Honestly, after solving another one of life's riddles by using Google, I feel like I can become a heart surgeon just by typing 'how to remove the aortic valve of a human heart' into Google and come out looking like a genius.

• Dating an ex-child molester is the way to go, June Mama, or Mama Boo-Boo, or Mother Boo-Honey, whatever. This country is going to shit.

Reason No. 2,721 on why I suck at Fantasy Football

The theme of picking a defense continues to haunt me. Took Cleveland's D against Jacksonville last week and what did Jacksonville do? Only put up 24 points and drowned the Cleveland's offense for a 24-6 win. I did get some points in the loss but still....don't take Buffalo or Cleveland (again) today. You've been warned.

Prediction: Eagles 27, Cards 21

I honestly think the Eagles win this one. I don't think Carson Palmer has enough to win it, and I think the Eagles Offense puts enough points up to counter the Cardinals attack. Then again, what the hell do I know?