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What they're saying about the Eagles

Here's the weekly roundup of what the national media are saying about the Eagles as they prepare to take on the Cowboys Sunday night.

Here's the weekly roundup of what the national media are saying about the Eagles:

SI.com's Don Banks has the Eagles ninth in his power rankings:

The Eagles haven't had a losing streak yet this season, following their first three losses with at least two wins each, and they'll be trying to go four for four in that department with a victory this week at resurgent Dallas. That's the way you build a playoff season, and Andy Reid knows a little something about those. He's had eight of them in his past 10 years in Philadelphia, and there's a pretty good chance he's going to make it nine out of 11.

SI.com's Peter King also has the Birds ninth:

Michael Vick on the succession of hits he's taken (which, by the way, I don't see the same way he does), to WIP radio: "I'm getting hit after I throw the ball, repeatedly. I'm getting my facemask pulled, I'm getting hit in the head. The calls are not being made. I see other quarterbacks standing in the pocket, and the minute they get touched, there's a flag on the field. This has been happening [to me] the last four or five weeks. I haven't complained, but it's getting to the point where I'm tired of getting off the canvas.''

King's also seen enough of the Vick one-on-one interviews:

I'm not telling networks what to do or anything, but the tell-all, gut-wrenching Mike Vick interviews are over. I love the story, and it is well worth telling. But he's said the same thing 63 times now. Enough.

Mike Sando of ESPN.com has Vick second in his MVP race:

Vick ranks second to Brady in passer rating. His 15-2 ratio of TDs to INTs might seem unfathomable most seasons. Not this year. Brady has practically doubled those totals.

ESPN.com has the Eagles ninth in its power rankings:

With as many hits as Michael Vick takes, it's good that he trains at the NovaCare Complex.

Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com makes the case for the Eagles as the NFC's second-best team behind the Falcons:

The Bears have the second-best record, but I still have concerns about their offensive line. The Packers? They're considered for the choice, but my pick is the Eagles for now. Having said that, I think when it's all said and done the second best team will be the Giants. I know they lost to the Eagles, but they've battled through a ton of injuries and they get the Eagles at home next week. The Giants have that defensive front that can change games. And they can throw it and run it on offense. Let's also not forget about the Saints. They might end up beating out the Falcons in the NFC South. My pick for now is the Eagles. My pick for the next month is the Giants, even though their record isn't second best right now.

Prisco has the Eagles sixth in his power rankings:

They have to be careful this week in Dallas. The Cowboys are suddenly playing better. And you know they hate the Eagles.

Adam Caplan of FoxSports.com has the Eagles seventh in his power rankings:

The Eagles did what many expected them to do against the Houston defense last week. However, Philadelphia's red-zone woes on defense could prevent from going far in the playoffs. Nearly 79 percent (78.79 percent) of the offensive possessions from their opponents that reach the red-zone area result in touchdowns (worst in the NFL).

Alex Marvez of FoxSports.com offers his take on how the Eagles rookies have performed:

It took a season, but the Eagles finally found a long-term replacement for Brian Dawkins in second-rounder Nate Allen. First-round defensive end Brandon Graham is slower to blossom with 13 tackles and three sacks in 12 games. Wide receiver Riley Cooper shows earmarks of being a fifth-round steal. Wisely sensing value in the middle rounds, 11 of Philadelphia's 13 picks are on the 53-man roster.

Jason La Canfora of NFL Network predicts that the Eagles will grab the No. 2 seed in the NFC:

I like the Eagles as the second seed in the NFC and could see them getting to at least 11 wins. They can test Dallas' suspect secondary and Michael Vick gives them the most unique weapon in the league. They can be overpowering in the run game, and have playmakers on defense. I'm giving them the NFC East.

Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio has the Eagles 10th in his power rankings:

With two games against the Cowboys, things can still fall apart for the Eagles.

Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports says the MVP race right now is between Vick and Brady, and Brady has the edge:

So the debate, for some, comes down to heart v. head, even if backstories aren't supposed to be voting criteria. But what Brady is doing overwhelms Vick's potential Hollywood ending. ...

It's been a great year. In a lot of seasons, it would be enough. Not this time though. There are still four games to play, but at this point, Vick is the story of the year in the NFL. As someone who watched him chew gum in the face of a federal sentencing judge, that's an impressive, and unexpected, accomplishment. It's just Tom Brady is the league's Most Valuable Player. And it isn't even close.

Michael Silver of Yahoo Sports has the Eagles eighth in his power rankings:

When Andy Reid complained about Michael Vick taking big hits from defenders, how many defensive coordinators felt like telling him to break out the violins?

Football Outsiders says Vick delivered the fourth-best quarterbacking performance last week:

The Texans got back in the game, meanwhile, during a three-drive stretch in the second and third quarters that saw Vick go 5-of-12 for 28 yards with just one first down, ending in a deep interception. The Eagles went from leading by 11 to losing by three in the meantime, but Vick turned the jets back on after that stretch; Philly scored touchdowns on their next two drives to get the lead back, and Vick led the way by going 6-of-8 for 115 yards, throwing for one touchdown and running in another.

Football Outsiders has the Birds third in its rankings - third on offense, 13th on defense and 18th on special teams.

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