There’s no question that the Philadelphia Eagles and the Seattle Seahawks are the class of the NFC this season. The road to the Super Bowl will likely go through one of those towns.
I’ve been having an ongoing conversation with my old friend Flash, though, about just how vulnerable the Eagles may be. Sure, they got skills and they got swagger, but given their situation right now, they may be a key injury or two away from another pre-Super Bowl exit.
Season-ending injuries to running back Correll Buckhalter and right guard Shawn Andrews haven’t stopped the Eagles yet, but what about Jon Ritchie? The blocking fullback is out for the season with a torn ACL. Ritchie has been key to Illadelph’s running game and the success of Brian Westbrook. Can someone step into Andy Reid’s system and fill his spot? If not, Westbrook’s rushing totals may drop, putting more pressure on Donovan McNabb to make big plays. It will be interesting to see how the loss of Ritchie affects the team as the season progresses.
