Anyone who wanted Andy Reid and/or Juan Castillo on the unemployment line to start the New Year just saw their wishes go up in smoke. With a resounding 45-19 win over the seemingly playoff-bound New York Jets, the Eagles are once again finishing strong just enough to give Big Red one more chance at that elusive Super Bowl championship.
Two weeks ago, the Eagles were 4-8 after losing to the hapless Seahawks. Reid was all but out the door — either by his own accord or that of Jeff Lurie/Joe Banner. Now?
Now the Eagles are on their typical December roll.
No matter what happens next week, the Eagles should beat the Redskins to finish — at worst — 7-9. They will have won three of the last four and finish one — maybe two — games out of the NFC East.
Fire Andy? Not fter Sunday's impressive blowout of the New York Jets. Reid and Juan Castillo likely saved their jobs over the last two weeks.
The wins will have been against the Dolphins, Jets and Redskins. Super Bowl contending teams? Hardly. But, wins that Reid can use to persuade his bosses to give him one more shot with his dream gadget offense and hand-picked defensive coordinator? You bet.
The Dolphins currently sit at a seemingly putrid 5-9. However, they have won five of their last seven, losing only to the Cowboys by one in Dallas on Thanksgiving and at home against the Eagles last week. That’s hardly a team playing out the string.
The Jets are in the thick of a playoff hunt and feature one of the more vaunted defenses in football. A 26-point win over that team is impressive.
The Redskins may seem hapless, but they did just spank the Giants who are also fighting for their playoff lives. Mike Shanahan is coaching for his football reputation. A win in the season finale is a win.
As far as Castillo goes, his defense has looked much better the last two weeks, holding the Fins and Jets to 29 total points while recording 13 sacks, three picks and a touchdown the last two weeks.
The argument will go that the Eagles lost games early because of a defense that couldn’t close out games in the fourth quarter. Said defense added many new faces, coaches and a coordinator in an offseason without mini camps. Castillo was totally new to his job with zero preparation time. As the season progressed, his unit gelled into a cohesive one. Given a full, normal offseason with his squad intact, maybe adding a safety and/or linebacker, Castillo will have his unit playing at a championship-level next year.
Reid will be safe because he didn’t lose his players. Castillo will be safe because the defense improved, featured the NFL sack leader in Jason Babin and Reid can’t fire his coordinator two straight years.
This isn’t to say the fan base needs to believe/buy into the argument. Nor is this to say keeping Reid/Castillo is the right course for the Eagles organization going forward. However, by virtue of today’s win, this is the direction the team will take going into next season.
