Improved Eagles, playoffs will come later

Brian O'Connell sports commentator

Now that the NFL season is well underway, Philadelphia fans are enjoying the success of their home team, the Eagles. Wait a minute? Success of the Eagles? Since when? Well, that's right The Eagles are 4-3 on the season and are much improved.

It all starts with the kid, Donovan McNabb. He is making wiser decisions this season, getting more players involved and is doing a good job of scrambling with the football. His passes are crisp and his knowledge of the game is much better. This season he is showing signs of what it takes to be a quality quarterback in the National Football League. I wouldn't go so far as to say he has the makings of a star anytime soon. I think he does in the distant future, maybe three years or so down the road. He is still learning the game, but getting better each week. His biggest mistake was probably the pass he meant to throw out of bounds against Washington with under a minute left. Instead of throwing it out of bounds, he threw it down field and erased any chances of an Eagles' comeback victory over the Redskins. But the Philadelphia fans just have to sit back and be patient as McNabb continues to develop.

As for the rest of the team, Brian Mitchell has shown signs of still having the power in him. He is 32 years old and some people might think he is too old and the game has passed him by. However, just look at what he has done for the team. Remember the game versus the Falcons at the Vet? The punt return for the touchdown? And also the handoff from McNabb he took for the touchdown deep in their own territory.

The special teams and the defense have done their part. The defense is very, very solid and is only ioing to continue to get better. The defense looks much more alert and has the makings of a solid line. However, the defense has managed to produce some very costly penalties. Remember the game against Green Bay? There is no way they should have lost that game. It was the penalties that killed them, but it appears they have learned from that by playing better each game.

And finally there is the man who is largely responsible for the turnaround of this team, Coach Andy Reid. The man has brought in a belief in winning and he has the players who have bought into this. He has a chemistry set up and the players are following it, and that is why they are winning.

Reid has become a town favorite mainly because of the improvement of this football team. And if this improvement keeps up, who knows how Jong he will be here? More than likely a Jong time.

Now the team should and will continue to follow the strategy they have followed thus far. And that is to focus on the next game. The Eagles next game is against the Bears at the Vet and they should have no problem winning this game. That will put them at 53 for the season.

Remember, they had five wins total last year and they could have their fifth win in only their eighth game of this season. That is a tremendous improvement over last year. In terms of the playoffs, maybe next year. I am not so sure about this year. Let's just sit back and watch this team continue to improve.