From the Desk of Eagles Outsider Barry Bowe

Three Dog Night

Three Dog Night’s first million-selling single – back in 1969 – was titled “One” and its tagline was “One is the loneliest number.”

After yesterday, I’m going to amend that tag to “One is the only number.”

That’s because I was the only one in our weekly football pool who picked the St. Louis Rams to defeat the undefeated Arizona Cardinals. In case you haven’t been following the Rams, after beating the Seahawks 34-31 back on Week 1, the Rams lost their last two games:

1. Lost 24-10 to the Washington Redskins.
2. Lost 12-6 to the Pittsburgh Steelers and failed to score a touchdown.

That said, I picked the Rams to beat the powerhouse Cardinals who’d rolled over their first three opponents by a cumulative 126-49:

1. 31-19 over the Saints
2. 48-23 over the Bears
3. 47-7 over the 49ers

Why Did I Pick the Rams?

Four reasons:

1. I believe the Rams are legitimate contenders in the NFC West and wouldn’t allow themselves to fall to 1-and-3 and wind up three games behind the Cards.
2. I believe the Rams have one of the best defenses in the league and would hold Carson Palmer and the Cards’ offense in check.
3. I believed that rookie Todd Gurley was ready to begin establishing himself as one of the premier running backs in the NFL.
4. Unlike many Eagles fans – make that many suddenly-disgruntled Eagles fans – I believe that Nick Foles is a franchise quarterback who would refuse to allow his team to lose this critical game.

As it worked out, it looks like I hit on all four points:

1. The Rams beat the Cardinals 24-22 yesterday to pull within one game of the division lead.
2. The Rams’ defense held the Cardinals to four field goals on five trips inside the Red Zone – and created two game-changing turnovers. Check out both in the highlights video below and watch an incredible interception by Janoris Jenkins.
3. Todd Gurley rushed for 146 yards – including a 52-yard romp that set up the winning touchdown.
4. Nicky Football pump-faked a linebacker off his feet and into the air, and then he drilled the winning 12-yard pass to Tavon Austin, who made a diving catch in the end zone. You can watch it in the video below.

Foles was 16-for-24 for 171 yards, three TDs, and no INTs. Look for Nicky Football and the St. Louis Rams to compete for the title out West. Highlight video below.

One

To repeat myself, I was the only one who picked the Rams.

And after sweating out the Saints 26-20 overtime victory over the Cowboys last night, it’s all over. I’m ahead by one win. I picked the Seahawks tonight and so did the only two people who weren’t mathematically eliminated.

So I don’t care who wins tonight – the Lions or the Seahawks. It doesn’t matter. I won the – pardon my French – the friggin weekly football pool.

One is the only number.

For old-time’s sake, here’s Three Dog Night singing “One” is the video below.

In addition to being an official Eagles Outsider, Barry Bowe is also the author of:

• Born to Be Wild
• 1964 – The Year the Phillies Blew the Pennant
• 12 Best Eagles QBs
• Soon-to-be-published sexy, police procedural Caribbean Queen
• Soon-to-be-published novel Stosh Wadzinski
• Soon-to-be-published novel Polish Widow
• Soon-to-be-published Birth of the Birds