Flashback to Week 11 last year, when most everyone in the Philadelphia metropolitan area were throwing dirt on the Eagle career of 11-year quarterback Donovan McNabb after the Eagles were humbled 36-7 at Baltimore to fall to 5-5-1. A 48-20 win on Thanksgiving night over Arizona saw the Eagles rally to win four of five to end the season and back into the playoffs when Tampa was surprisingly beaten at home by Oakland. Wins in Minnesota and New York pushed Philly to the cusp of a second Super Bowl bid in the McNabb/Andy Reid era, but Arizona won an exciting rematch in the desert (32-25) and claimed the NFC's bid in Tampa. McNabb is back for another year, though this time the backup isn't overmatched Kevin Kolb, but Michael Vick, who was signed earlier this month and could give a serious extra dimension to the Philly offense. Considering it posted a franchise-record 416 points last year, the offense hardly seems to need much of an upgrade. Brian Westbrook is no longer as durable as he has been, and there might need to be more depth there at RB, and the tight end position loses L.J. Smith and will certainly lack the same productivity. The O-line should be strong, as are the explosive receiving corps, which are young but speedy.

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On defense, the Eagles ranked in the top five of most meaningful statistics in 2008. Unfortunately, defensive coordinator Jim Johnson succumbed to cancer at the end of July at age 68. His aggressive, blitz-heavy style of defense helped the Eagles play in FIVE NFC title games in the past 10 years. On Jan. 11, the Eagles went to the Meadowlands and beat the reigning Super Bowl champion Giants. The defense held New York to 11 points that day, when Johnson's back was hurting so badly that he had to coach from the press box. A few days before Johnson died, Reid named Sean McDermott the Eagles' defensive coordinator. McDermott is 35 and considered one of the most promising young defensive minds in the NFL. Middle linebacker Stewart Bradley will miss the season with an ACL torn earlier this month. Three aging free agents depart the secondary, and Ellis Hobbs and Sean Jones being the big additions.

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