From the Desk of Eagles Outsider Barry Bowe

DOWN TO TWO . . .

Week 10 started with three undefeated teams and then – shazam – the earth shook and now we’re down to two.

TEXANS 10 – BENGALS 6

Late Monday night, many residents throughout the Ohio Valley heard some rattling noises and observed knickknacks shaking on the shelves inside their homes. Seismometers registered 4.8 on the Richter scale.

The tremors coincided with the Cincinnati Bengals – pardon my French – landing flat on their asses as the Houston Texans eliminated them from the ranks of the undefeated.

I chose the word “flat” in the previous sentence because the Bengals played flat all night in the 10-6 loss – not that the Texans were all that animated in victory. In fact, the two teams combined for just three field goals through the first three quarters.

And then, on the first play of the fourth quarter, Houston quarterback T. J. Yates – suddenly subbing for a concussed Brian Hoyer – lofted a 22-yard pass into the end zone and DeAndre Hopkins made a spectacular, acrobatic catch for the game’s only touchdown.

Which means we’re down to two undefeated teams:

1. Panthers
2. Patriots

PATRIOTS 27 – GIANTS 26

And we were almost down to one.

The New England Patriots needed a 54-yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski on the last play of the game to survive the upset-minded Giants late Sunday afternoon. That final score was 27-26.

That outcome disappointed me because I see the Patriots as the only team with a chance to finish the regular season undefeated. If that were to happen, the Pats would have to win the Super Bowl to match the 1972 Dolphins Perfect Season.

The Pats have seven games remaining:

1. Nov 23 – Bills
2. Nov 29 – @ Broncos
3. Dec 6 – Eagles
4. Dec 13 – @ Texans
5. Dec 20 – Titans
6. Dec 27 – @ Jets
7. Jan 3 – @ Dolphins

The Pats should be favored in every game and Bill Belichick plays every game to the hilt. So there are only minimal chances of a let-down. Although trips to Denver, Houston, and/or North Jersey could be interesting.

So I’ll just sit back, wait, and hope for an upset.

PANTHERS 27 – TITANS 10

Cam Newton and the Panthers had little trouble disposing of the Titans on Sunday.

And although the Panthers are 9-and-0, I continue to see them as a so-so team that will accumulate multiple losses before season’s end. They’ve already been fortunate to escape defeat five times and I’m confident their number will run out soon.

Here’s their remaining schedule:

1. Nov 22 – Redskins
2. Nov 26 – @ Cowboys
3. Dec 6 – @ Saints
4. Dec 13 – Falcons
5. Dec 20 – @ Giants
6. Dec 27 – @ Falcons
7. Jan 3 – Buccaneers

Four games are against NFC South rivals and four games are on the road. I see at least two losses.

So my Andre remains in the refrigerator, chilled and waiting to be cracked open and consumed.

In addition to being the official Eagles Outsider for BlameMyFather.com Barry Bowe is also the author of:

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