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War Room: Eagles vs Browns

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  • War Room: Eagles vs Browns

    Why To Watch

    By Geoff Mosher and Steve Doerschuk

    Few things are more exciting in sports than watching an NFL team fight for its playoff life every weekend in December. That's the situation facing the Eagles, who thrust themselves back into playoff contention with consecutive victories over Arizona and the defending Super Bowl champion Giants.

    To earn a wild-card berth, the Eagles (7-5-1) likely have to win out. If they don't, the Donovan McNabb era could be nearing its end. The coaching staff has ditched the finesse passing game in favor of a run-first attack, starting with Brian Westbrook, who's gaining steam down the stretch after a rough start. He scored six touchdowns in the past two games and ran for more than 100 yards each time.

    Jobs might be on line in Cleveland, starting with head coach Romeo Crennel. The Browns are already guaranteed to miss the playoffs again and they're down to third-string quarterback Ken Dorsey, who passed for just 150 yards against Tennessee and couldn't get the offense into the end zone. Still, they have a chance to play spoiler here.



    Browns Keys For Success

    1. Make hay with short passes: The Eagles use an eight-man defensive line rotation that keeps legs fresh and gives them one of the league's top fourth-quarter pass rushes. Ken Dorsey must frustrate the rush by throwing before it arrives. Quick reads and passes are his strength, so this plan is a natural. Dorsey's secret weapon could be little Syndric Steptoe, who has to quickness to get open underneath.

    2. Balance Jamal Lewis with Jerome Harrison: The Browns are out of the playoff hunt, and Lewis is at the age where he's unlikely to stay in the league as a 25-carry workhorse. This is a perfect time to see if big-back Lewis can get in a rhythm with a lighter workload, while the electrifying Harrison gets more chances to hit home runs. The Browns shouldn't abandon Lewis, though. At the same time, they must end their tendency of going away from Harrison too early, assuming Harrison's rib injury is not serious.

    Avoid soft coverage: The Eagles lack elite receivers, but their stable is good enough to hurt Cleveland if the Browns allow big cushions. The Browns have been at their best, as in a recent game against the Colts, when they take their chances with tighter coverage, playing enough man to man to keep a safety in the box for much of the game. Young corner Brandon McDonald is susceptible to getting burned, but at this point there's no harm in letting him learn from his mistakes. McDonald must avoid losing focus as the season slips away.



    Eagles Keys For Success

    1. Do run, run, run: It's pretty simple: When the Eagles run, they win. They ran 81 times in the past two games -- the most ever under coach Andy Reid in a two-game span -- and came out with victories each time. Westbrook and the offensive line appreciate when the coaches call a smash-mouth game plan. It galvanizes the offense and takes pressure off Donovan McNabb to be brilliant every game.

    2. Destroy Dorsey: He's a third-string quarterback on one of the NFL's worst teams. There's no reason Ken Dorsey should resemble anything close to a starting NFL quarterback after coordinator Jim Johnson is through. Johnson should unleash the hounds, blitzing from all directions and from every position.

    3. Remember who you are: The Eagles had trouble earlier this season playing down to their opponent's level, especially in losses to Chicago and Washington and a tie against Cincinnati. They absolutely can't give the Browns any reason to believe they can win and since their backs are still against the wall in every game, the Eagles need to play with the same sense of desperation they had against Arizona and the Giants.


    The Bottom Line

    The margin between good teams and bad teams in the NFL is usually slim, so even though it appears the Eagles should win by three touchdowns, nothing is given. Still, the combination of Westbrook's rushing and the Eagles' aggressive defense should be enough to sink Cleveland, even if the Eagles don't play their best game.

    Pick: Eagles 31, Browns 12
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