By losing to the Packers the way they did, the Eagles made tonight a must-win situation. They have to beat the Redskins, a team possessing just the sort of weapons the Eagles haven't been good at containing - not one but two crafty, strong running backs who wore down the Miami Dolphins last week and delivered a season-opening overtime victory.
"If you didn't have a chip on your shoulder from going to Green Bay, you should have a chip on your shoulder to play with right now," Brian Dawkins said Friday. "If you needed any motivation, which you shouldn't need, if you did need any motivation to really get up and let your emotions go, we're playing 0-1, NFC East, Washington [is a] physical team, playing in the house, Monday Night Football. You've got a whole bunch of things that can motivate you.
"I'm excited. I'm jacked up about it."
It sounds like Dawkins was talking to his younger teammates. If you did, which you shouldn't, but if you do? What is that? Heavy words.
Yes, it's only Week 2, but don't kid yourself. This one matters. This one will determine a season. This one will decide success or failure.
The prospect of 0-2? Don't even go there. Here's what Dawkins said about it: "That's something we do not want to be. You don't want to be that anyway, but you definitely don't want to be that with a younger team."
Imagine how the Giants are feeling today. Or the Saints. Or the Bills. Or, heaven forbid, the Falcons.
Fragile. Vulnerable. Despondent.
Sure, the Eagles started the 2003 season with losses to Tampa Bay and New England, then after an early bye week rallied to win 11 of their next 12 games, finished the regular season 12-4, and hosted the NFC title game, losing to Carolina.
