{"id":80358,"date":"2017-11-14T21:44:37","date_gmt":"2017-11-14T21:44:37","guid":{"rendered":"\/rcntv\/?p=80358"},"modified":"2023-04-25T14:41:27","modified_gmt":"2023-04-25T14:41:27","slug":"competition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/competition\/","title":{"rendered":"The Competition"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Even though I am sure the <a title=\"Philadelphia Eagles\" href=\"http:\/\/www.philadelphiaeagles.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Eagles<\/a> were quite happy that every team in the NFC East lost this past Sunday while they were enjoying a pleasant bye week, this week\u2019s results actually did not help them as much as one might think.<\/p>\n<p>Right now, the Eagles have the best record in the NFC and, for that matter, all of football. But, that honor is a precarious one.\u00a0 The <a title=\"Minnesota Vikings\" href=\"http:\/\/www.vikings.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Vikings<\/a>, the<a title=\"New Orleans Saints\" href=\"http:\/\/www.neworleanssaints.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Saints<\/a>, and the <a title=\"Los Angeles Rams\" href=\"http:\/\/www.therams.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rams <\/a>all won their games this past Sunday and they are all 7-2 and certainly ready to become the team with the best record in the NFC should the Eagles falter.<\/p>\n<p>If you are so inclined to use analytics, a crystal ball, or tarot cards, take a look at the remaining schedule for the Eagles and the teams chasing them:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Vikings (2 game lead in division) \u2013 Rams, <a title=\"Detroit Lions\" href=\"http:\/\/www.detroitlions.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lions<\/a>, <a title=\"Atlanta Falcons\" href=\"http:\/\/www.atlantafalcons.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Falcons<\/a>, <a title=\"Carolina Panthers\" href=\"http:\/\/www.panthers.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Panthers<\/a>, <a title=\"Cincinnati Bengals\" href=\"http:\/\/www.bengals.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bengals<\/a>, <a title=\"Green Bay Packers\" href=\"http:\/\/www.packers.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Packers<\/a>, and <a title=\"Chicago Bears\" href=\"http:\/\/www.chicagobears.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bears<\/a><\/li>\n<li>LA Rams (1 game lead in division) \u2013 Vikings, Saints, <a title=\"Arizona Cardinals\" href=\"http:\/\/www.azcardinals.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cardinals<\/a>, Eagles, <a title=\"Seattle Seahawks\" href=\"http:\/\/www.seahawks.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Seahawks<\/a>, <a title=\"Tennessee Titans\" href=\"http:\/\/www.tennesseetitans.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Titans<\/a>, and <a title=\"San Francisco 49ers\" href=\"http:\/\/www.49ers.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">49\u2019ers<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Saints (1 game lead in division) \u2013 <a title=\"Washington Redskins\" href=\"http:\/\/www.redskins.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Redskins<\/a>, Rams, Panthers, Falcons, <a title=\"New York Jets\" href=\"http:\/\/www.newyorkjets.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jets<\/a>, Falcons, and <a title=\"Tampa Bay Buccaneers\" href=\"http:\/\/www.buccaneers.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bucs<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Eagles (3 game lead in division) \u2013<a title=\"Dallas Cowboys\" href=\"http:\/\/www.dallascowboys.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Cowboys<\/a>, Bears, Seahawks, <a title=\"New York Giants\" href=\"http:\/\/www.giants.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Giants<\/a>, <a title=\"Oakland Raiders\" href=\"http:\/\/www.raiders.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Raiders<\/a>, and Cowboys<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The Eagles will certainly win their division \u2013 their toughest opponent may be the Seahawks. They will not encounter a suspended Ezekial Elliott the first time around against Dallas and may miss facing left offensive tackle Tyrone Smith for both games with the Cowboys.<\/p>\n<p>The Vikings look like the most likely team to surpass the Eagles for the home field advantage based on remaining schedules.<\/p>\n<p>There are, also, teams lingering: Dallas (5-4), Atlanta (5-4), Detroit (5-4), Carolina (6-3), and Seattle (6-3).\u00a0 Remember there are four division winners and two wild card teams in the playoffs.<\/p>\n<p>The final six weeks should be very interesting and Eagles fans should be excited! They could not be in a better position at this stage in the season.<\/p>\n<p><strong>ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Did you see where Colin Kaepernick\u00a0was named \u201cCitizen of the Year\u201d by <a title=\"GQ Magazine\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gq.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">GQ magazine<\/a>? In the article entitled \u201cColin Kaepernick Will Not Be Silenced\u201d, he is not quoted once.<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0In case you were wondering, the win Sunday by the <a title=\"New England Patriots\" href=\"http:\/\/www.patriots.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Patriots<\/a> was the 270<sup>th<\/sup> for Bill Belichick. He is now tied for third place with the Cowboys\u2019 Tom Landry. Do you know who #1 and #2 are? The answer is at the end of the musings.<\/li>\n<li>According to the <a title=\"ESPN\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ESPN <\/a>Power Rankings, the <a title=\"Philadelphia 76ers\" href=\"http:\/\/www.nba.com\/sixers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">76ers<\/a> are now #11 up from #17 last week. This could be the year that proves the last five awful years were worth the pain!<\/li>\n<li>Well, <a title=\"University of Notre Dame Men's Football\" href=\"http:\/\/www.und.com\/sports\/m-footbl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Notre Dame <\/a>and <a title=\"Penn State University Men's Football\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gopsusports.com\/sports\/m-footbl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Penn State <\/a>fans in the Valley (and there are plenty of them) have been in tears the last few weeks. Penn State lost two in a row before this weekend and Notre Dame was routed by <a title=\"University of Miami Sports\" href=\"http:\/\/www.hurricanesports.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Miami<\/a> on Saturday after climbing into the Top Four. Notre Dame is now #9 and Penn State is #13. Maybe they could play each other in a bowl game. It would not be for a national championship, but the stadium and television interest would be off the charts!<\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Parkland High School\" href=\"http:\/\/www.parklandsd.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Parkland<\/a> will try to win their sixth straight <a title=\"PIAA District XI\" href=\"http:\/\/www.districtxi.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">District XI AAAAAA <\/a>championship this Friday when they take on <a title=\"Freedom High School\" href=\"http:\/\/www-fhs.beth.k12.pa.us\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Freedom<\/a>. The game will be LIVE on RCN-TV at 7:00 from Northampton.<\/li>\n<li>On Saturday RCN-TV will have the 153<sup>rd<\/sup> addition of <a title=\"Lafayette College Football\" href=\"http:\/\/www.goleopards.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lafayette<\/a>&#8211;<a title=\"Lehigh University Football\" href=\"http:\/\/www.lehighsports.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lehigh<\/a>, college football\u2019s most played rivalry. Game time is 12:30.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>P.S. #1 \u2013 Don Shula (347); #2 \u2013 George Halas (324)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><br \/>\nGary\u2019s Guesses: NFL Picks \u2013 (LAST WEEK \u2013 9-5; OVERALL \u2013 91-54 \u2013 63%)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Week Eleven<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Pittsburgh Steelers\" href=\"http:\/\/www.steelers.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>PITTSBURGH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>DETROIT<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Kansas City Chiefs\" href=\"http:\/\/www.chiefs.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>KANSAS CITY<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>TAMPA BAY<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>GREEN BAY<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>RAMS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>ARIZONA<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>JACKSONVILLE<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>NEW ORLEANS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>CHARGERS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>CINCINNATI<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>NEW ENGLAND<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>PHILADELPHIA<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>ATLANTA<\/strong><\/p>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Even though I am sure the Eagles were quite happy that every team in the NFC East lost this past Sunday while they were enjoying a pleasant bye week, this week\u2019s results actually did not help them as much as one might think. Right now, the Eagles have the best record in the NFC and,&#8230;<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"Yoast SEO Relevanssi index exclude","inline_featured_image":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-80358","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-behind-the-mic"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The Competition - ATVN<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Competition - ATVN\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Even though I am sure the Eagles were quite happy that every team in the NFC East lost this past Sunday while they were enjoying a pleasant bye week, this week\u2019s results actually did not help them as much as one might think. 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