Perry Perspective: NFL Feature Nov 18
From The Lines Dept Of
BetWWTS.com
Eagles go with McMahon the mystery man
Like sands through the hourglass, these are the Days of the Eagles? Lives.
Yes folks, the NFL season has been hijacked by Terrell Owens, Donovan McNabb and the soap opera that is the Philadelphia Eagles.
The ongoing drama in the City of Brotherly Love has dominated the sports headlines since August, and we can?t get enough of it.
The plot took a turn for the worse Monday night when Donovan McNabb threw a shocking interception that cost the Eagles the game against heavy-hearted Bill Parcells and division rival Dallas.
In the process, McNabb aggravated his groin injury (or was it his sports hernia?) forcing him out of Sunday?s game against another division rival, the New York Giants (1 p.m. ET, FOX).
This has resulted in a new, mysterious character entering the stage. Until recently, Mike McMahon was the Eagles? third-string quarterback. This weekend, he will assume the role of the Eagles? most important player.
So who is this guy and where did he come from?
Well, he?s a 6-foot-2, 215-pound native of Wexford, PA who was taken in the fifth round of the 2001 draft by the Detroit Lions. He spent four years in the Motor City before getting picked up by the Eagles in the offseason.
In 22 regular season games, McMahon has 138 completions on 314 attempts for a 43.9 completion percentage. As a starter, he?s 1-6. Ouch.
This Sunday?s game will be McMahon?s first start since December 29, 2002. That year, his most active to date. McMahon appeared in eight games and threw for seven touchdowns for the Lions.
He also threw nine interceptions, fumbled the ball four times and was sacked 12 times. The year before, in his rookie campaign, McMahon also appeared in eight games and was sacked 21 times.
So far this season, McMahon has appeared in two games with the Eagles, having completed three of six passes for 36 yards and no TDs. On the bright side, he threw no INTs, did not fumble the ball and was not sacked.
McMahon was chosen to start over regular backup Koy Detmer for his alleged mobility - he has run for 299 yards and four TDs on 50 carries.
Yet, with Owens and McNabb out and unproven McMahon taking snaps, there is the possibility that the Philly soap opera could turn into a tragic comedy come Sunday.
Bettors are certainly not giving the Eagles much of a chance. We currently have Philly (4-5 SU, 2-7 ATS) listed as a 7-point dog against the NFC East-leading Giants (6-3 SU, 5-3-1 ATS).
Yet, there is one little sub-plot that could play a role if you believe in wacky things like karma. McMahon, 26, was a star pivot at Rutgers University, which is only a short pass down the turnpike from Giants Stadium.
So it?s a homecoming of sorts for McMahon, who threw for more than 6,600 yards and 41 touchdowns while with the Scarlet Knights. He ranks second on Rutgers? all-time passing list and was the school?s first QB ever selected in the NFL draft.
Will McMahon?s glory days in Jersey help bring positive energy to his game on Sunday? Go ask your local guru.
Suffice it to say McMahon is going to need all the help he can get this week to have any chance against the Giants, who are showing some serious promise.
On offense, quarterback Eli Manning is making big strides every week, TE Jeremy Shockey has settled down off the field and is pulling down more catches, and RB Tiki Barber is racking up yards on the ground.
On defense, LB Antonio Pierce (78 tackles) and DEs Michael Strahan (7.5 sacks) and Osi Umenyiora (8 sacks) form the foundation of an impenetrable wall that has not allowed a touchdown in more than three full games.
In terms of the karmic energy factors, three weeks ago the Giants lost one of their beloved co-owners, Wellington Mara. That seemed to help elevate them in a 36-0 pasting they gave to Washington.
This week, they lost another beloved co-owner, Robert Tisch, to brain cancer. This will undoubtedly provide added elevation against Philly, as will their embarrassing 24-21 loss to the awful Minnesota Vikings in a mistake-filled game last week.
The total in this game has been pegged at 40.5. Collectively, the two teams are 7-10-1 on the OVER/UNDER this season.
Other notable games:
Colts at Bengals (4:15 p.m. ET, CBS)
The unbeaten Indianapolis Colts (9-0 SU, 6-3 ATS) face their second-biggest test of the season when they visit the surging Cincinnati Bengals (7-2 SU, 5-3-1 ATS).
We have the Colts listed as 5.5-point road favorites. Indy has been favored in all its games this season, six on the road including this Sunday.
The total in the game has been pegged at 47. That matches the highest total of the year for the Bengals, who are 2-7 on the OVER/UNDER; the Colts are 4-5 on the O/U.
Buccaneers at Falcons (1 p.m. ET, FOX)
The Atlanta Falcons (6-3 SU, 5-4 ATS) will be 6-point favorites when they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3 SU, 4-5 ATS) Sunday.
The Falcons are coming off a disappointing loss to the 2-7 Green Bay Packers, while the Bucs are coming off a dramatic 36-35 win over the 5-4 Washington Redskins.
With two talented defensive teams, the total has been set relatively low at 39.
Sporting a top-ranked defense and a mediocre offense, the Bucs are 3-6 on the OVER/UNDER this season; the rush-happy Falcons are 5-4 on the O/U.
From The Lines Dept Of
BetWWTS.com
Eagles go with McMahon the mystery man
Like sands through the hourglass, these are the Days of the Eagles? Lives.
Yes folks, the NFL season has been hijacked by Terrell Owens, Donovan McNabb and the soap opera that is the Philadelphia Eagles.
The ongoing drama in the City of Brotherly Love has dominated the sports headlines since August, and we can?t get enough of it.
The plot took a turn for the worse Monday night when Donovan McNabb threw a shocking interception that cost the Eagles the game against heavy-hearted Bill Parcells and division rival Dallas.
In the process, McNabb aggravated his groin injury (or was it his sports hernia?) forcing him out of Sunday?s game against another division rival, the New York Giants (1 p.m. ET, FOX).
This has resulted in a new, mysterious character entering the stage. Until recently, Mike McMahon was the Eagles? third-string quarterback. This weekend, he will assume the role of the Eagles? most important player.
So who is this guy and where did he come from?
Well, he?s a 6-foot-2, 215-pound native of Wexford, PA who was taken in the fifth round of the 2001 draft by the Detroit Lions. He spent four years in the Motor City before getting picked up by the Eagles in the offseason.
In 22 regular season games, McMahon has 138 completions on 314 attempts for a 43.9 completion percentage. As a starter, he?s 1-6. Ouch.
This Sunday?s game will be McMahon?s first start since December 29, 2002. That year, his most active to date. McMahon appeared in eight games and threw for seven touchdowns for the Lions.
He also threw nine interceptions, fumbled the ball four times and was sacked 12 times. The year before, in his rookie campaign, McMahon also appeared in eight games and was sacked 21 times.
So far this season, McMahon has appeared in two games with the Eagles, having completed three of six passes for 36 yards and no TDs. On the bright side, he threw no INTs, did not fumble the ball and was not sacked.
McMahon was chosen to start over regular backup Koy Detmer for his alleged mobility - he has run for 299 yards and four TDs on 50 carries.
Yet, with Owens and McNabb out and unproven McMahon taking snaps, there is the possibility that the Philly soap opera could turn into a tragic comedy come Sunday.
Bettors are certainly not giving the Eagles much of a chance. We currently have Philly (4-5 SU, 2-7 ATS) listed as a 7-point dog against the NFC East-leading Giants (6-3 SU, 5-3-1 ATS).
Yet, there is one little sub-plot that could play a role if you believe in wacky things like karma. McMahon, 26, was a star pivot at Rutgers University, which is only a short pass down the turnpike from Giants Stadium.
So it?s a homecoming of sorts for McMahon, who threw for more than 6,600 yards and 41 touchdowns while with the Scarlet Knights. He ranks second on Rutgers? all-time passing list and was the school?s first QB ever selected in the NFL draft.
Will McMahon?s glory days in Jersey help bring positive energy to his game on Sunday? Go ask your local guru.
Suffice it to say McMahon is going to need all the help he can get this week to have any chance against the Giants, who are showing some serious promise.
On offense, quarterback Eli Manning is making big strides every week, TE Jeremy Shockey has settled down off the field and is pulling down more catches, and RB Tiki Barber is racking up yards on the ground.
On defense, LB Antonio Pierce (78 tackles) and DEs Michael Strahan (7.5 sacks) and Osi Umenyiora (8 sacks) form the foundation of an impenetrable wall that has not allowed a touchdown in more than three full games.
In terms of the karmic energy factors, three weeks ago the Giants lost one of their beloved co-owners, Wellington Mara. That seemed to help elevate them in a 36-0 pasting they gave to Washington.
This week, they lost another beloved co-owner, Robert Tisch, to brain cancer. This will undoubtedly provide added elevation against Philly, as will their embarrassing 24-21 loss to the awful Minnesota Vikings in a mistake-filled game last week.
The total in this game has been pegged at 40.5. Collectively, the two teams are 7-10-1 on the OVER/UNDER this season.
Other notable games:
Colts at Bengals (4:15 p.m. ET, CBS)
The unbeaten Indianapolis Colts (9-0 SU, 6-3 ATS) face their second-biggest test of the season when they visit the surging Cincinnati Bengals (7-2 SU, 5-3-1 ATS).
We have the Colts listed as 5.5-point road favorites. Indy has been favored in all its games this season, six on the road including this Sunday.
The total in the game has been pegged at 47. That matches the highest total of the year for the Bengals, who are 2-7 on the OVER/UNDER; the Colts are 4-5 on the O/U.
Buccaneers at Falcons (1 p.m. ET, FOX)
The Atlanta Falcons (6-3 SU, 5-4 ATS) will be 6-point favorites when they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3 SU, 4-5 ATS) Sunday.
The Falcons are coming off a disappointing loss to the 2-7 Green Bay Packers, while the Bucs are coming off a dramatic 36-35 win over the 5-4 Washington Redskins.
With two talented defensive teams, the total has been set relatively low at 39.
Sporting a top-ranked defense and a mediocre offense, the Bucs are 3-6 on the OVER/UNDER this season; the rush-happy Falcons are 5-4 on the O/U.
