Oh well, we still have the Flyers and Sixers to follow and pitchers and catchers will be reporting before we know it.

We have two interesting match-ups to watch on Sunday and plenty of story lines to go along with them. Let’s start with the first game on Sunday, the Ravens and Patriots.

This should be a fun one. You have a tremendous defense against a tremendous offense. It’s the one seed against the two seed. I see this being a great game, but from what I’ve been hearing so far this week, I feel like I’m one of the few that believes it.

I actually heard a popular Philly radio host tell a Ravens fan who called in that he didn’t believe this game would be close. This didn’t bother me that much. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

The thing that bothered me was how he attempted to defend his argument. He kept driving home the line on the game asking the Ravens fan why the line wasn’t closer if it was going to be a close game.

I feel like sports betting has become increasingly popular, especially among younger generations and the mobile NFL betting apps that can be used with smart phones. However, I don’t see a line that Vegas makes being a staple in an argument why one team will beat another.

If you want to argue that you think the Patriots will win easily because of how Tom Brady is playing right now, I understand that. However, you don’t play a defense as talented as the Ravens everyday.

I think the other sides for both teams will have a big impact on the game. Can the Ravens offense maintain drives and keep the ball out of Brady’s hands? Can the Patriots lowly defense step up and make some plays?

I’m excited for the match-up and think a lot of people aren’t giving it enough credit.

On the NFC side, I find it sickening that the Giants are in the NFC Championship but you can’t deny how well they’ve played this postseason. They dominated the Falcons and handled the Packers in Green Bay. Eli Manning now has people debating who the best quarterback in the family is. The majority still seems to be in Peyton’s corner, but Eli is clearly turning some heads.

That Niners game against the Saints was just outstanding. With the way Drew Brees was playing, I wasn’t sure if anyone in the NFC could take him down. However, Alex Smith and company clearly had other intentions.

Unlike the match-up in the AFC, I see these teams each being much more balanced on both sides of the ball. I really don’t even know how to feel about this game.

The Niners seem to be a team carried by their defense, but Smith really proved something to me last week. Playing at home also seems to be a big advantage for them. They’ve been solid all year and continued that against the Saints last week.

On the other side, we often see a team who just creeps into the playoffs getting hot and making a serious run. The Giants fit that bill perfectly this postseason and have been a real challenge.

I could this one going either way, but I give the Niners a slight edge with that run-stopping defense and home-field advantage.

There’s a limited amount of NFL games left, so I hope to see two great ones this Sunday. The good news is I think there’s a great chance of that happening.

Lurie still believes in Reid, but he made it very clear how disappointed he was about this season, calling it the most disappointing season since he has owned the team. His words were strong, they were honest and agreeable.

Come next season, we’ll see Reid back on the sideline but I think one thing will be a lot different. That will be the length of the leash the front office has on Reid.

When the Eagles were collapsing earlier in the season and the hot seat started heating up, one thing seemed very clear. The continuation of the Reid era in Philadelphia was in jeopardy, but Big Red had a pass for the rest of the season. There would be no firing midseason.

Is that something he earned while being here? Depends who you ask. I don’t expect there to be complete agreement on this, but that’s irrelevant. Reid is still here. If you thought he should have been fired during the season or that some NFC Championship and Super Bowl losses shouldn’t earn you a free pass, it doesn’t matter.

If you watched or even just heard about Lurie’s press conference, the overall tone was pretty clear. The 8-8 season this team put together was simply unacceptable. The expectations were high. They weren’t meant. There is plenty of blame to be spread around, but at the end of the day, it falls to the top.

So here we are, back at the top with Reid. The owner has put him in the position to call the shots and lead this team to the Super Bowl. Like every year, the expectations will be high. It seems just like any other year.

However, I truly believe this is it. This is the do or die season. One last run with Reid. Start the season off slow, hit the unemployment line.

Lurie thinks Reid can do it, but he’s clearly frustrated. Reid won’t have the type of leeway he’s had in the past. He’s going to be under the microscope from day one. The bar has never been set higher for the coach.

Time to man up Andy, this is your last chance.

All things considering, I’d personally say the offensive line has played above my expectations. So entering last weeks game against the Dolphins, my biggest concern was seeing Michael Vick get hit while scrambling, not in the pocket.

However, the offensive line was abysmal. Vick saw pressure in the backfield all game and has missed practice this week due to soreness in his previously injured ribs. The Dolphins have some talent up front on defense, but I didn’t think it was anything the Eagles offensive line couldn’t handle.

The good news out of last weeks game is that Vick didn’t get seriously hurt and the defense carried them to a victory.

The same thing can’t happen this week against the Jets. It really can’t. The offensive line needs to step up and play like they have been throughout the season.

LeSean McCoy had two touchdowns last, but he didn’t have the running lanes he’s been seeing all year. He was bottled up and often had defenders hitting him before he could even cross the line of scrimmage. The Eagles run blocking has been very good for the most part this season and they need to get back to that.

On defense, the Jets have two talented corners in Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie who are very physical. When corners play physical, it can take longer for a receiver to run their route. This means the quarterback needs more time in the pocket.

Vick was getting barely any time last weekend, and the Eagles only saw success when they adjusted the play calling and started running short routes and screen passes. These plays work, but the Eagles have a lot of talent that can stretch the field and that’s not something they want to have taken away from them.

Another thing that concerns me is Vick’s health. He proved to us last week that the whole “I’m going to start sliding more” thing was a lie. It doesn’t surprise me. The guy plays the game hard and you have to give him credit for that. However, it has resulted in many injuries for him in the past.

The Eagles playoff hopes are slim, but I’m not holding my breath. They may not go to the playoffs, but I want to see Vick finish out the season and play well. His play has been very inconsistent this season and I’d like to see him finish 2011 on a high note.

In order for Vick to do that, his line can’t play like they did against the Dolphins. They need to step up and it all starts this weekend against the Jets.

We start by talking a little bit about Mark Sanchez and the Jets current chances of making it into the playoffs. We also talk about how much the Jet’s will miss Jim Leonhard as well as how former Temple Owl Muhammad Wilkerson has been playing this year.

We then get into the game, looking closely at where each team will have an advantage on Sunday and we end with a prediction on the game from Joe.

BirdsFan: Mark Sanchez is one of those guys who just can’t seem to play with any consistency. What are your feelings about Sanchez? Do you think he could ever lead the Jets to a Lombardi trophy?

TurnOnTheJets: I think Sanchez is one of the most unfairly criticized players in the NFL. If he was a religious man playing in Denver, he’d be lauded for his ability to win. The guy is 28-17 as a starter with 4 playoff wins already and hasn’t even played 3 full seasons yet. Yes, he struggles with his accuracy and decision making at times but he is a winner and players better the bigger the spot gets. I absolutely believe he can lead the Jets to a Super Bowl.

BF: The Jets sit in the driver seat right now. How do you see the rest of the season playing out? Do they make the playoffs? If so, how far do you think they can go?

TOTJ: I think the Jets will ultimately find a way into the playoffs, probably as a 10-6 team. Once they are in, they are dangerous as we’ve seen the past two years. I think they can pull off an upset or maybe two but I am not sure they are equipped to get over the hump this season.

BF: How much of an impact do you see the loss of Jim Leonhard having on Sunday’s game? The rest of the season?

TOTJ: It hurts, particularly in the punt return game. The Jets haven’t any consistency there except for Leonhard. On defense, they will miss his leadership but if Brodney Pool can stay healthy they should be okay.

BF: Muhammad Wilkerson, the Jets first-round rookie draft picked, used to play his home games at Lincoln Financial Field with Temple last season. How has he performed for the Jets this season?

TOTJ: Wilkerson has quietly put together a very good year. He is solid against the run and has got a decent push rushing the quarterback. I am not sure he will ever be a Pro-Bowl type player but will likely be a key piece of the Jets defense for years to come.

BF: On Sunday, where will the Jets have an advantage on offense? On defense?

TOTJ: The Jets biggest advantage is their physicality and ability to play well in the fourth quarter. On offense, I expect Shonn Greene to have a big day going North and South on the Eagles. On defense, I think Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie can get Desean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin out of their game.

BF: Where will the Eagles have an advantage on offense? On defense?

TOTJ: The Eagles speed on offense will be a big problem for the Jets, particularly from LeSean McCoy on the edges. On defense, Jason Babin could be a big problem for Wayne Hunter, the Jets inconsistent right tackle.

BF: What player could be a potential x-factor for the Jets on Sunday?

TOTJ: Aaron Maybin. He is the only Jets player in the front seven with the speed to chase around Vick. If he can bring him down for a few sacks and force a fumble, it could be the difference in the game.

BF: Give me a score prediction.

TOTJ: I think the Eagles will be leading the whole way, but the Jets will put together a big fourth quarter to escape with a 27-24 victory.

One thing I didn’t take into consideration when talking about Vick having a good game was the play of the offensive line. They’ve really made strides this season, and it’s pretty remarkable considering they are starting two rookies. However, they had a horrible performance against the Dolphins this week and Vick had absolutely no time to do anything.

When it was all said and done, Vick went 15-30 for 208 yards with a touchdown and an interception. These weren’t the best numbers, but he did a pretty good job with what he was given.

One thing that immediately caught my eye was came on the first series. He scrambled a bit in the backfield and broke out on a run. Instead of sliding like he said he would start doing, he went head first into two defenders.

Although I would have preferred not to see that, it didn’t come as a big surprise. Whether or not you like Vick, it’s really hard to deny how hard he plays the game. He’s super competitive and he puts forth as much effort as anybody else on the field.

Seeing Vick get put on his back was a common theme though. He was sacked four times and hit a bunch more. Again, I put just about all of this on the line, but there were some times that Vick shouldn’t have held the ball as long as he did.

The Eagles did make a pretty good adjustment offensively around the end of the first quarter. With Vick seeing instant pressure on just about every play, the play calls were changed to short pass plays and a lot of screens.

I love seeing the Eagles stretch the field with Vick’s big arm, but that just was not a possibility in this game. Vick did not have enough time to make a throw deep down the field. This was a good adjustment though as it allowed the Eagles play-makers to get the ball in their hands quickly and make plays.

His best series probably came in the second quarter where he had a nice roll out play where he hit Jason Avant along the sideline. He then came back and ended that series with a beautiful throw to DeSean Jackson for a 34 yard touchdown.

The second half was a lot less exciting as the offense didn’t end up scoring any points. Vick threw an interception in the third quarter that he’d clearly like to have back. Other than that, he was pretty careful with the ball.

His most memorable plays in the second half were a scramble in the third quarter where he ended up hitting Riley Cooper for a 29 yard completion and a scramble in the fourth quarter where he only gained four yards but made a bunch of defenders miss in the process.

It wasn’t the best performance of Vick’s career but it was nice to see him get a win in his first game back. He got very little help from his line, but he did all he could with what he was given.

I hope to see a better performance out of the line next weekend so that Vick gets more of a chance to shine.

Early in the first quarter, the Eagles had a punt blocked that the Dolphins were able to immediately turn into a touchdown and take a 7-0 lead. The touchdown came on a reception from Brandon Marshall with Nnamdi Asomugha in coverage. It wasn’t the worst coverage I’ve ever seen. However, Asomugha twisted himself in a weird position before correcting that move and trying to make a play on the ball. It was a great throw and the small miscue from Asomugha allowed Marshall to score.

After that, it was quite the performance by the Eagles defense. They recorded a safety, a total of nine sacks, forced a fumble, and recorded an interception that was almost taken all the way back for a touchdown.

On a few drives, they gave up more on the ground than they would have liked to but the effort was pretty solid for the day overall.

Offensively, we got to see the return of Michael Vick. Unfortunately for Vick, his offensive line had an atrocious game. They couldn’t block at all and the Dolphins defensive line pretty much lived in the backfield.

The coaches were able to make some adjustments to get Vick throwing out of short drops and using the screen game, but it was a difficult day for Vick.

Running back LeSean McCoy didn’t put up very big numbers in terms of rushing yards, but he did find the end zone twice. DeSean Jackson also had a nice little game catching four passes for 59 yards and a touchdown.

After the defense seemed to be the biggest issue, they clearly outperformed the Eagles offense today. However, it was nice to see that effort out of them and was nice to see the Eagles walk away with a win.

They will return home to host the New York Jets next weekend.

The Eagles had a choice to make at the quarterback position in the offseason, and I think they handled it the right way. Unfortunately, we’re not seeing nearly as much of the superman Vick as we would have liked.

When Vick signed his contract before the season, it meant that he was supposed to be the quarterback of the future. If Vick continues to play like he has been this season, it’s hard to say the future looks very bright.

As many expected, Vick hasn’t been able to start every game this season. However, it’s not like the Eagles were right in the thick of the playoff race when he was healthy.

I have two hopes for Vick the rest of the season. The first is that he can stay healthy and play in all four games. The second is that he shows the fans and the Eagles front office that he is worth the investment.

This all starts on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. Vick was less than stellar in his last outing, but he needs to put that behind him and move forward. He really needs to put the whole season behind him and start fresh.

It’s still the 2011 season, but I’m already thinking about 2012. Most of my questions for next year surround the defense. However, one of the biggest questions I have on the offensive side of the ball is about Vick.

Is he capable of leading this offense deep into the playoffs? Could he lead this team to a championship? I think both are possible given the weapons Vick has around him. He doesn’t have to put the entire offense on his shoulders. He simply needs to be efficient and make good decisions with the football.

Vick has the opportunity to instill a lot more confidence in both myself and the Eagles fan base this weekend. It won’t be easy. The Dolphins are a team that has played very well lately. I also question how inspired the Eagles are right now. How deflated are they? The bar was set so high coming into the year and has been no where close to reached.

It’s going to be on Vick to inspire his troops. It’s going to be up to Vick to get the ball to his playmakers. It’s going to be up to Vick to be smart with the football.

This isn’t what Eagles fans expected from their $100 million man. It’s time for Vick to bounce back.

One thing that you can’t deny about Bush is his speed. He’s fast. It’s that simple. The good news for the Eagles is that they’ve long preferred speed over size at the linebacker position. This is something I’ll be interested in seeing on Sunday. Can the Eagles linebackers run with Bush? More specifically, I look at Brian Rolle.

You can argue that Rolle made his way into the starting lineup because of how poorly Casey Matthews played. I won’t deny that. However, I’m not going to knock him for the job he’s done since giving the opportunity.

Not to sound like a philosopher or anything, but anytime you’re given an opportunity in life, you have to make the best of it. Rolle has done just that and has been a pleasant surprise on an otherwise awful Eagles defense.

Rolle isn’t the biggest guy on the field, but he’s not afraid to be physical. More importantly, he’s fast and has the ability to get to the ball very quickly. This is a big reason why I think he’ll be a big key for the Eagles defense on Sunday.

Bush is coming off a good game. Combine that with the fact that the Eagles got killed by Marshawn Lynch last week, and it adds up to Bush getting a fair share of touches. Bush and Lynch are completely different runners, but when you tackle the way the Eagles did last week, it doesn’t really matter who is running the football.

Unlike Lynch who can dominate you up the gut, Bush loves to get to the outside and showcase his speed. Rolle will need to play a key part in making sure this doesn’t happen. He’s going to need to take good angles and really use his athleticism.

He should also be a key in defending Bush in the receiving game. Bush catches the ball very well out of the backfield. The Eagles (ok maybe just Casey Matthews) made Brandon Jacobs look like a track star earlier this year. If Rolle doesn’t keep a close eye on Bush, he could potentially have a huge day for the Dolphins.

Football is a team game and the Eagles are going to need a solid performance out of their entire defense. However, I think Rolle is a guy that matches up well with Bush and will be relied upon heavily this Sunday.

I never really believed that there was a possibility of the Eagles not resigning him until a few weeks ago. They have depth at the position, but I always believed Jackson was too big of a play-maker to simply let him walk away.

This isn’t to say that I don’t want to see Jackson back with the Eagles, because I really do. However, I’m not sure that the Eagles feel the same way. It seems kind of crazy, but the Eagles could potentially let him walk at the end of the season.

So is Jackson disgruntled with the Eagles front office? Yea, I’d say so. Is he disgruntled with Andy Reid right now? More than likely. Does this mean he can just cruise through these last four games and then see what happens this offseason? I think he’d be foolish to have that mentality.

This has been and continues to be a “contract year” for Jackson. He has proven himself in the past, but if he wants to get the type of money he thinks that he’s worth, he needs to continue proving himself. Not just to the Eagles but to the entire league.

If he continues to crash and burn here the rest of the way, it’s not going to help his case with the Eagles or any other team.

Whether he feels like it or not, Jackson has to go out there and give it his all this weekend. He really has to the remainder of the year. It’s a shame that it’s coming down to this, because he has handled the whole situation very well until recently. He’s just going to need to man up a bit longer.

The good news for him is that Michael Vick will be back in the lineup. He clearly enjoys playing with Vick so I think that will help motivate him. Also, Vick’s ability to stretch the field helps Jackson use his ability to run the deep vertical routes he’s had success with in the past.

Regardless of whatever grudges Jackson has now, he needs to do everything he can to finish the season on a high note. It’s the best move for his career, whether or not it’s in Philadelphia.

Brian starts by reflecting on the Dolphins season thus far as well as the play of Reggie Bush. He then looks to see where both teams will have an advantage of both sides of the ball and tells us who could be a possible x-factor for the Dolphins. In the end, Brian concludes with his final score prediction on the game.

BirdsFan: Looking at the Dolphins season, it looks like a tale of two teams. Why did they struggle earlier in the season and why are they finding success now?

PhinPhanatic: That is the question that everyone is asking and no one has an answer for. In my opinion it was the lockout. Matt Moore, Reggie Bush, Mike Pouncey, Charles Clay, and Daniel Thomas all received no off season work with the team until training camp started. Injuries piled up early as a result.

BF: With four games remaining and the playoffs clearly out of reach, what are you looking to learn from the Dolphins the rest of the season?

PP: It has become more about Tony Sparano and whether he will keep his job, something impossible a month ago. Many are watching to see if the team continues to improve.

BF: Reggie Bush had a solid game last week. What have your thoughts been on Bush this season?

PP: He is proving to be more than a one dimensional back. In fact he hasn’t actually been used to his strengths yet which has a lot of Miami fans talking that we haven’t touched the surface.

BF: Michael Vick should be returning to the lineup this week. What do you think the Dolphins will look to do defensively against Vick?

PP: With the Eagles struggling but still solid with their running game I look for Miami to try and force him to throw and keep McCoy in check. Vick is coming off an injury so Miami will try and keep him pressured.

BF: On Sunday, where will the Dolphins have an advantage on offense? On defense?

PP: On defense, the run defense will be the key. On offense, again our running game should give us the slight edge.

BF: Where will the Eagles have an advantage on offense? On defense?

PP: Defensively the Eagles should be able to cover our WRs and take that option away from Matt Moore. Offensively, the Eagles passing game could bring the edge to Philly.

BF: What player could be a potential x-factor for the Dolphins on Sunday?

PP: Charles Clay could be the difference maker. His versatility at FB and TE puts him in good positions to make plays.

BF: Give me a score prediction.

PP: Miami 30 – Philly 21