The Pessimist Is Strong In Me. Go Birds.

I am not expecting the Eagles to win.

Yes I know the storylines of hope.

I just don't trust them.

Tampa doesn't have a complete complement of receivers and will be reintroducing a multitude of players coming back from Covid-19 and injury.

The Eagles can run the ball and keep the ball away from Tom Brady.

They have a tough and opportunistic defense, especially on the front line, where they have one of the best interior defensive lineman in the league in Fletcher Cox.

It's the NFL and anything can happen.

Yet, I just can't imagine it with this squad, and my history of watching and rooting for the game.

Tampa Bay, depleted as they might be, has perhaps the best minds in terms of understanding football and putting a team in the best play to win.  I think Tampa will be slowed, but I suspect they will have the right plays called more often than not to put their remaining stars and players in excellent position.  Even if you haven't heard of half the players catching passes from Tom Brady today, I suspect by Monday one them will be a new name to know going forward.

On the flipside, when the Eagles have the ball I can only realistically see a few occasional splash plays off of play action, or if Tampa Bay moves to a prevent style of defense once getting a lead.

Running in the playoffs, when the other team knows you don't have a consistent passing game is nearly impossible.

Right now the Eagles offense is dependent on some sort of effectiveness from a rushing attack that features multiple backs and big plays from its receiving group, and realistically, I just can't see it happening against a pretty stout Tampa Bay defense.

Still, I won't be able to tear my eyes from the screen this afternoon because at the end of the day, in one football game, you still gotta believe that anything can happen.

Go Birds.