Chances are slim, but slim has fit through the door before (see 2008).

No matter what happens in the end, Jason Babin and LeSean McCoy will have fans reminiscing about the 2011 season for years to come, and not just because of the Dream Team that created “Nightmare on Broad.”

With his second-straight, three-sack performance, Babin leads the NFL with 18 quarterback drops. With two games left, Reggie White’s franchise record of 21 is in sight, even if Reggie did that in less games.

Jason Babin's 18 sacks through 14 games has been a bright spot in a Nightmarish season for the Eagles. LeSean McCoy is also producing a season to remember.

Say what you want about the fact that Babin is all about sacks and does this only in Jim Washburn’s Wide Nine scheme, the fact is Babin’s high motor has allowed him to get to the quarterback and wreak havoc on offensive lines and coordinators all season long.

The Sack Monster does rank fourth on the team in tackles. That has to account for something. Not since the days of White, Clyde Simmons and Jerome brown have we seen someone come in and get after the quarterback the way Babin does.

William Fuller and Hugh Douglas were Pro Bowl caliber defensive ends, and Trent Cole has been a solid end for the Eagles recently. But, who has had a knack for getting to the QB the way Babin has? Cole’s career-high in sacks in 12.5, accomplished in both 2007 and 2009. For Babin, 18 sacks with two games to go is a season that will not be forgotten.

On the offensive side, LeSean McCoy continues to dazzle when given the opportunity. With three rushing scores on Sunday, the third year stud back from Pitt leads the NFL with 17 rushing scores and 20 overall. He holds the Eagles single season record in both categories.

What’s more, the man is just 60 yards behind Maurice Jones-Drew for the NFL rushing title. With games against the Cowboys and Redskins ahead, that is attainable — IF Andy Reid gives him the ball. In the eagles wins over the Redskins and Cowboys in weeks six and eight, McCoy combined for 311 yards.

Granted, he toted the rock 58 times over those two weeks. And, every time you think Reid realizes McCoy is his key to winning games, the man goes back to his Cheese-infested West Coast pass happy offense.

But, if the Eagles get to the finale and have a chance to have the league’s leading rusher, you have to think Reid gives McCoy a chance to go for it.

Philly fans might be ready to shed Eagles green for Flyer orange come the New Year, but that doesn’t mean Jason Babin and LeSean McCoy’s seasons will be lost. You have to respect what these two are accomplishing this year.

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.

To say Asomugha has been a bit of a disappointment is an understatement of epic proportions. He has not been the shut down corner Eagles fans envisioned when the Philly braintrust came out of nowhere to ink the Pro Bowl-caliber corner. Asomugha would create even more interception opportunities for Asante Samuel. Nobody throws at Nnamdi, and they have to throw somewhere.

Nnamdi Asomugha goes up against the team thought to be the favorite for his services last spring. The Jets seem to have made out better for the deal that never happened.

Then the games started and Asomugha hasn’t fit into Juan Castillo’s defense. He’s given up bad plays more than once. Teams are throwing his way. And, Nanmdi has three interceptions, the most he’s had since recording eight in 2006.

The fact is, you don’t want Nnamdi getting picks because you don’t want teams even looking at his side of the field. Having Nnamdi should mean taking away half of the field from an opposing quarterback.

That clearly hasn’t happened.

Maybe he plays better under Rex Ryan because the Jets would play to his strengths and make adjustments, something we really haven’t seen from Castillo or the Eagles. But, for the contract he agreed to, Nnamdi should be able to adjust to any system and play better. The Jets are getting better from Antonio Cromartie for a fraction of the price.

Maybe the biggest name isn’t the best after all.

– Adam Aron via Twitter

How can you not be proud of a team that opens up a rushed preseason with a 103-78 spanking of the Washington Wizards on Friday?

The 10-9-8-76ers flashed tons of brilliance and promise in the second half of last season under Doug Collins before bowing out to the Miami LeFrauds Heat in the playoffs. Apparently, a lack of a real training camp didn’t keep the squad from playing together on the court.

The Sixers were overly impressive in their 25-point spanking of the Wizards on Friday. There were many positives to take from the preseason opener.

Among the items that jump out at you in perusing the box score:

• Lou Williams and Evan Turner drop a combined 35 points in 40 minutes off the bench.
• Spencer Hawes had 14 points and nine boards in 19 minutes of action.
• Jrue Holiday dropped a dozen points and collected five dimes.
• Andre Iguodala added five assists in 20 minutes but failed to score, going 0-for-6 from the field.

That last line is scary.

The guy has been bashed in Philly for failing to live up to a contract that overpays him. He’s paid as an elite guy, but is more of a number two guy. His defense, passing ability and unselfish play makes him a commodity across the NBA. However, his lack of ability to hit the shot in the clutch — rightly or wrongly — has ruined his rep in the stands of the Wells Fargo Center.

Failing to score in the preseason opener will do nothing to help that. Granted, it’s one game — a preseason contest at that. But, zero points is zero points.

If one guy needs to come out and ball out in the team’s next — and last — preseason game, it’s Iggy. All eyes will be on him, and rightly so. The fact is, the Sixers need Andre Iguodala to be at an all-star level to truly compete for a top 4 spot in the talented Eastern Conference.

Just when you think Andy Reid finally gets the importance of using the running game to win football games, he goes right back into Happy Passer mode.The Eagles had a two-game NFC East winning streak by using LeSean McCoy early and often en route to dropping the Redskins and Cowboys.

Since the team’s rout of the Cowboys — a game in which McCoy carried the rock 30 times for 185 yards and two scores — Andy Reid has called his back’s number 30 times in two games. McCoy has continued to produce, gaining 152 yards the last two weeks — a 5.1 yard-per-carry average.

Somehow, the Eagles managed to lose leads in the fourth quarter last week against the Bears and on Sunday in a 21-17 loss at home to the Arizona Cardinals. When you don’t run the ball and eat up the clock, you don’t control the clock and your defense can get tired. A tired defense in the fourth quarter is never a good thing.

On Sunday, the Cardinals controlled the clock, 32 minutes to 28 minutes. They gave Beanie Wells 23 ineffective carries. Yet, they stuck with the run to control the clock and set up the big plays to Larry Fitzgerald.

LeSean McCoy piled up 81 yards despite just toting the rock 14 times in Sunday's loss to the Cardinals.

The Eagles seemed to have finally learned the importance of clock management and running the ball. McCoy received eight carries in the first quarter alone in Washington. He ended up with 28 carries for 126 yards that afternoon. Then came the Cowboys game.

Then, just when you think the Eagles are the Eagles we expected after winning the free agent wars, Reid goes back to ignoring a guy who led the NFL in rushing halfway through the season.

Until the Eagles get a coach who truly relishes in the fact that he has a premier running back in the NFL, this team won’t be back in the winning column on a consistent basis.

#FreeShady

LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson are the top cogs in the Eagles explosive offense. DeSean’s contract is up after this season and after being underpaid throughout his rookie contract, the Eagles real human joystick wants to be paid.

McCoy is the NFL’s leading rusher and has a year left on his rookie deal. The kid wants to be paid, too.

Both players were represented by Drew Rosenhaus until a week ago. That’s when Shady ditched Philly’s most hated agent since Scott Boras.

The contract negotiations with DeSean have been moving at a Rodney Peete pace. The Pro Bowl wideout has voiced his desire to get a new deal done; he wants to be paid among the NFL’s top wideouts. The Eagles clearly don’t view him in that regard, or a deal would have been done.

Jackson held out at the start of training camp after seeing money pour into the accounts of Nnamdi Asomugha, Cullen Jenkins and others. The Eagles said they wouldn’t negotiate with a player who wasn’t in camp. Said it was team policy.

There’s one issue with that. The Eagles have made exceptions to that rule in certain cases where special players are involved. See Westbrook, Brian. Had the Eagles truly believed DeSean was their current Westbrook, a deal would have been done. It’s not.

LeSean McCoy may be the guy who gets the big deal, leaving DeSean Jackson out of the mix.

While DeSean has handled himself well, you know he’s seething at a lack of a deal and game-changing plays in which his number is called. That might have boiled over this weekend when DJacc missed a team meeting Saturday and was subsequently deactivated for Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals.

This has Terrell Owens written all over it. Or, should I say Drew Rosenhaus. The agent and player see that the Eagles will not make a budget-busting long-term deal with Jackson. They don;t want the franchise tag used. So, do little things that make the point and piss off team management so that you are allowed to become a free agent. It worked with T.O., John Welbourn, Corey Simon and others.

Make no mistake, DJacc wants to either be paid here or become a free agent and Rosenhaus will help him at all costs.

So, where does McCoy fit in here? He likely is ready to sign a deal and secure his future. Maybe he even wants a below market deal now to protect against injury. The Eagles are notorious for offering security in exchange for top dollar. Agents hate it.

Maybe McCoy had an offer and was ready to pounce while Rosenhaus stalled saying, “I need to get DeSean done first.” Is that enough to piss off a player so much that he fires said agent? It’s reportedly happened twice this offseason.

If that’s true, how do McCoy and Jackson coexist? How does the huddle go when McCoy is getting touches in the running game that used to go to Jackson?

Player can say all they want that the outside stuff doesn’t matter once the game starts. They’re human and we all know this affects them even if it’s subconsciously.

Add this to the fact that the Dream Team is looking at early winter cruises this year, and you have a situation that could really unravel at a rapid pace.

Either way, the Phillies were getting a quality closer who can secure the leads given to them by their stud starting rotation — when the offense helps give them said leads.

Ruben Amaro was never going to let his investment in Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay and, presumably, Cole Hamels rest on the arms of unproven youngsters. That last sentence is why the Phillies signing of former Red Sox closer Papelbon should not come as a surprise. The fact is, the soon-to-be-31-year-old is far more accomplished in his role than Madson was.

Looking at the two guys, the are very similar in almost every area. Both will be 31 when spring training arrives. Madson had 32 saves to Paps 31 in 2011. Madson had a 2.37 ERA to Paps 2.49. Madson appeared in 62 games to Paps 63. Both were premier free agents at their positions.

Jonathan Papelbon brings 219 career saves to the Phillies, If the team couldn't get Madson at a reasonable number, Papelbon was the best option.

Having said all of that, Papelbon has something that Madson doesn’t — a body of work as the closer. Papelbon has been closing for six years and has 219 saves to show for it. Madson just wrapped up his first year as the closer — and that only happened after Lidge and Jose Contreras suffered major injuries.

If the Phillies were so sure about Madson’s ability to be THE MAN in the ninth, do they even go after Contreras? Maybe since their bullpen lacked veterans. However, make no mistake about the fact that Contreras was the insurance policy for Lidge.

Madson had been given his chances in the past. Dude had 24 blown saves in 44 opportunities. His conversion rate was less than 50 percent. He had blown six of 16 the year before.

Does that sound like a shutdown closer?

Look, the guy had a solid 2011 campaign and he likely has turned the corner. He has been a Phillie his whole career and the team likely wanted him back. Something tells me the 4-year, $44 million deal the sides “agreed” to this week never was an option. Scott Boras probably wants Madson to ink the richest contract for a closer in MLB history. Maybe the Nationals give it to him.

For the Phillies, the apparently have agreed to a 4-year, $50 million deal with Papelbon. They’re getting a guy who they know is a closer, not one who they think has turned the corner for the long haul.

Amaro couldn’t have done much better; he could have done much worse.

If Jimmy Rollins truly is hellbent on getting a five-year guarantee during his free-agent whirlwind tour come December, then the Phillies clubhouse leader won’t be back. That’s ancient news in this Internet age.

Should the guy who changed the culture in the Phillies organization truly exit, what do the Phillies do? How do they fill the void in the lineup? Short of oft-injured and sure to be overpaid Jose Reyes — and the Phillies can only have so many $20-plus million a year guys — there are no great options at shortstop. Good options exist, but not great ones. Maybe you can get a one or two-year stopgap to assess Freddy Galvis a bit more.

Maybe Marco Scutaro or Rafael Furcal come here. Even if they do, they are older and on the decline. Scutaro can still hit close to .300 and his approach may be what the Phillies want. Furcal isn’t an effective everyday guy anymore at the plate. His best years recently have come when he’s played 80-90 games. In 2010, he hit .300 in 97 games. Maybe a combination of him and Michael Martinez fills the void.

If the Phillies do indeed move on from Rollins, the void needs to be filled elsewhere — at third base. His name is Aramis Ramirez.

We’re not ready to write off Placido Polanco just yet. The double sports hernia affected him at the plate. The guy doesn’t go from a .300 hitter to an automatic out overnight. Still, he’s never been a power guy and the Phillies need one.

Ramirez is a potential free agent as he and the Cubs hold a mutual $16-million option for 2012. Whether or not Ramirez wants to search for another pay day or new team President Theo Epstein picks up the option is something to keep an eye on.

Aramis Ramirez would add power to the Phillies lineup.

The Cubs third baseman is coming off of a .306 and 26 home run season. He’d be the ideal five-hole hitter behind Ryan Howard. Except for 2010, the guy has hit .289 or higher ever year since 2003. Except for 2009, he’s launched at least 25 homers a year ever season since 2002.

Put Ramirez in this lineup with Hunter Pence, Shane Victorino, Ryan Howard and Chase Utley, and he likely at least equals those numbers.

Granted, Ramirz is 33 and a three-year deal puts the team in the same situation they are right now with Polanco. Still, the window to win is now. And, with the hopeful emergence of Galvis, the continued hope that Dom Brown “gets it” and the play of Vance Worley and the Phillies young gun bullpen, you hope you can afford a guy like Ramirez on the books in 2014.

Imagine a lineup of:
Victorino
Utley
Pence
Howard
Ramirez
Mayberry/Brown
SS
Chooch
Pitcher

Of course, the obvious question is what do you do with Polanco and his $6.5 million salary next year. You could use him as a supersub and the best PH in the NL. He also could be the answer to give the aging infield needed rest. Oh, and Utley can play first and Polly can man second until Howard is recovered.

Replacing Rollins won’t be easy, but upgrading another position in his absence might soften the blow.

Yet, 2-4 and last place in the NFC East is where the city finds its football team in a time when the residents need a pick-me-up from a failed baseball postseason.

Michael Vick has stretched his turnover streak to 13 games. The not-so-good offensive line has been banged up. And, the defense? Oh, the defense.

Yet, in a city known unfairly for its negative overtones, there is a silver lining. There is some positive to find. And, it comes from the three skill-position players who have the Eagles ranked third in the NFL in total yards.

Yeah, this team is pretty good between the 20s. Just keep them out of the Red Zone.

In any event, the Eagles average 441.7 yards-per-game through the first six weeks of the 2011 campaign. The team ranks tenth in passing with 271.7 yards each week and first in rushing with 170 yards a game.

While the team is 11th in scoring with 24.2 points-per-game, the fact remains that the offense is moving the ball. And, you can thank DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy for that. Yes, Michael Vick is behind the numbers, too.

The Eagles offense hasn't had problems putting up numbers in the team's 2-4 start.

In a quiet season for the Eagles contract-seeking stud wideout, Jackson has just 24 receptions yet ranks tenth in the league with 456 yards. Then again, Jackson has never piled up receptions. Even in his most prolific season, DJacc averaged 4.1 receptions-per-game. Dyanamic plays have been his thing and at 19 yards-per-catch, he’s still doing that.

His sidekick Jeremy Maclin is eighth in yards with 489 and fourth in receptions with 37. Only the unhuman Wes Welker and his 51 grabs are out of reach for Maclin.

On their current pace, Maclin and Jackson would be the first 1,000-yard duo in Eagles history, a feat they missed by 36 yards last season.

Meanwhile, the Birds finally have figured out how to feature a rushing attack with a passing game. LeSean McCoy is fourth in the NFL in rushing with 569 yards, just 41 yards behind Darren McFadden. The third-year back from Pitt is on pace for a 1,500 yard season. Add in the fact that McCoy is just one score behind Calvin Johnson for the league lead and you see what kind of special year he is in the midst of.

Rex Grossman, the one-time Super Bowl quarterback-turned journeyman, had the Redskins at the head of the NFC East and looked to be the leader of Mike Shanahan’s offense.

Saftey Kurt Coleman changed all that with an afternoon he’ll play over and over until his grandkids destroy his Blu Ray player — or whatever new electronic device they have in 40 years.

Kurt Coleman collects one of his three interceptions against rex grossman on Sunday,

Coleman, the second year player from Ohio State, recorded three of the Eagles four interceptions in the team’s 20-13 win on Sunday. Fellow second year safety Nate Allen had the other pick.

The result was the end of a four-game losing streak for the Eagles and a trip to the bench for Grossman. The Redskins starter ended the day 9-of-22 for 143 yards and four picks. It was the kind of afternoon that could change the season for both squads.

The Eagles could use this win as a starting point to a run after the bye. For the Redskins, this is the start of a quarterback controversy between Grossman and John Beck, the guy who saw his first NFL action since 2007 today. Beck ended the day 8-of-15 for 117 yards.