M & H Sports Blog: The Best of the West vs. The Beast in the East

E-A-G-L-E-S Eagles!!!

The so called beast of the NFC right now is everyone one's favorite "trending topic" Philadelphia Eagles. They stacked their roster with overpaid talent and spent a couple extra bucks than normal. So this makes the world think this is their year. (Laugh out Loud) Michael Vick took over last year and showed the world his black ass by putting together highlight after highlight last season. With him at the helm from the start of training camp the Eagles could possibly soar high and get it done, maybe. It all depends on health and keeping wide out DeSean "Action" Jackson happy, but I digress, I'll let my partner in crime Haz Bey tell you why the Birds are for-real.

HAZ: The Birds are for real for only one reason, Michael Vick. In his short time as the Eagles starting quarterback, Vick has change the culture throughout the whole organization from a team that is good enough to compete with the elite teams in the league to a team that is ready to buy themselves a championship now. Some may argue that during the "McNabb" tenure the Eagles held back on giving McNabb what he needs to get the franchise over the hump, but now with Vick playing at an all-time level, the Eagles management feels like they must capitalize on Vick's talent and maximize their chances on bringing a Super Bowl title to Philly. Vick's presence alone attracted the services of Nnamdi Asomugha, the most sought after free agent in football this off season. Not to mention with Vick running the show, Kevin Kolb needed to go, which made way for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to be part of a 3 headed monster at cornerback teaming up with Pro Bowlers Assante Samuel and Nnamdi Asomugha. The Green Bay Packers are still the team to beat, but the Eagles will be one of the teams ready to dethrone them.

MIKE: I agree with you that Vick is a great talent, but to me he is the Dominique Wilkins of the NFL all highlights, all stats, and always injured. Like "Nique" Vick is going to "oooh" and "awwe" the crowd but also like the "human highlight film" Vick will come up short of getting the job done on the field. To me it's not just the Packers they need to worry about. They should keep in mind that the Saints are only two seasons removed from being champions, the Bears, believe me or not, were one game and one "wimpy" ass QB from being in the Super Bowl last season, and the whole NFC East is going to be gunning for this ,back up QB Vince Young, proclaimed dream team. Haz the birds are not going to get it done behind Vick and his $100 Million arms and legs.

HAZ: Dominique Wilkins, great name drop, but not good enough my friend. The Eagles produce too much talent on offense for Vick not to be successful. Your hatred for the Eagles blinds you from the fact that Philly has a very favorable schedule which will automatically land them anywhere between 13-3 and 11-5. That means playoffs and another division title. No one team, not even the mighty Green Bay Packers wants to see Philly if they are clicking on all cylinders come playoff time. Vick strikes fear into a defense not seen since the likes of Randall Cunningham and Steve Young. So let's see what happens when I prove you to be wrong, Michael.

MIKE:Yea Yea, I've herd it all before. I will admit this though the birds are "flocking" together as a unit this year and the most electrifying man in the game Mr. Vick will probably take them deep in the playoffs, but like I always say the NFC is a toss up and who ever is hot at the right time usually prevails.

RAIDER NATION

The laughing stock of the NFL from 2003-2009 has been the Oakland Raiders, not Lions, not Browns, and not even the St. Louis Rams. It has been one of the most popular and one of the winningest teams in football history the Oakland Raiders. With a bunch of no-names and a "soft" talking and playing QB in Jason Campbell the Raiders took a couple of steps in the right direction last season by going 8-8 overall and undefeated in division play at 6-0. If running back Darren McFadden can stay healthy and the Raiders can continue to play good to great defense then they have a shot to win the lowly AFC West.

MIKE: If Jason Campbell can stay average and not at any point of the season drop below average then the Raiders have a great chance of winning the division because they already have a great ground attack in McFadden and Michael Bush and in a pass happy league the Raiders are really good at rushing the passer. The only other flaw that worries me outside of Jason Campbell is the Raiders run defense. It has always ranked low in the league since 2003 but with 2nd year player Rolando McClain improving off his rookie season last year I think he will rally all the other young guys in that LB and DL core. Last year Raiders ranked 3rd in pass defense and even with the loss of Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha to the Eagles I don't expect that to change. Michael Huff and Tyvon Branch ranked high among safeties in interceptions and sacks and with a young CB group led by Standford Routt the Raider can stay in contention all season.

HAZ: Now the fact that you are saying that Jason Campbell will lead the Raiders to the AFC West title is ludicrous, he is the forth best quarterback in the AFC West which consist of 4 teams, plus I am pretty sure Phillip Rivers will have plenty to say on the field about it. For the Raiders to win the division they will have to be lights out on the defensive side of the football, period. With McFadden and Bush in the backfield, they should be able to control the clock with there above average running game, which will give the defense the rest they need to beat up on the opposition. I do not think the loss of Nnamdi Asomugha will devastate this team at all. There is plenty of speed on defense to contend with the likes of San Diego, Denver and Kansas City, but at the end of the day Jason Campbell is going have to make plays that will decide the outcome of a hand full of games this season and I do not trust that he will get the job done more times than not. San Diego will rebound with a determined Phillip Rivers and capture the AFC West.

MIKE: LOL, laugh out loud! The fact that the Raiders went 6-0 in the AFC West last season is yesterdays history, I agree. But my point to you Mr. Bey is this, with a young and talented defense and one of the best front 7 in the league, check the stats, how can you bet against the Raiders to win the division when nobody else in the AFC West did anything this off-season to improve.? So I say your train of thought is absurd because Jason Campbell won't have to make plays to win the Raiders games, he will have to not lose games for the Raiders by being what he already knows he is, and that's an average QB. The main focus for the Raiders is to stay healthy and then I believe they can win the AFC West division and get back to the playoffs and get back to being the BLACK & SILVER of old.

HAZ: Did you just tell me to check the stats? Jason Campbell doesn't have to win games, but he just can't lose games? Oh you're telling jokes now, but seriously the Raiders are outmatched. San Diego will not lose the AFC West again. So now the Raiders must focus on the wild card. Teams like the Jets, Steelers and Bills seem to be the early favorites to claim 2 wild card spots available come season's end, but if the Raiders can somehow win 10 games, they might just get there, which would be great for the league.

Raiders vs. Eagles Superbowl!!!

Will the Eagles and Raiders meet in the Super Bowl this year? Probably not, but in the NFL anything can happen. Both teams have a lot to prove, but for very different reasons. The Eagles have put themselves in position to win a Super Bowl now and will have very high expectations to live up to all season long. The Raiders on the other hand lost a lot close games last season and still wound up with an 8-8 record. Now Oakland looks to take the next step of their progression and reach the post season by winning the AFC West. It will be a very tough task, but it definitely not out of their reach. The new season is upon us, so lets see where these two teams are at come January or even February. Like Kevin Garnett said after beating the Lakers in the 2008 NBA Finals... "ANYTHING'S POSSIBLE!!!"