Eagles @ Patriots: The Much Anticipated Tom Brady vs. A.J. Feeley Match Up

To get you ready for week 12, FanHouse is previewing all 16 NFL games. Here is the Philadelphia Eagles vs. New England Patriots preview.

2007 Records:

Philadelphia: 5-5 (last in the NFC East, a win last week against Miami)
New England: 10-0 (first in the world, a win last week against Buffalo)

The biggest question for most football fans regarding the Sunday night match up between the Philadelphia Eagles and the New England Patriots will be whether or not this contest will resemble anything remotely similar to a football game. Obviously this game is on Sunday night so that football fans can witness the Patriots leisurely stroll along their path to legendary status The Patriots may keep Tom Brady out on the field for all four quarters but on the other sideline, the Eagles will be starting A.J. Feeley at quarterback. Donovan McNabb has been ruled out with injuries to his thumb and ankle.

The football gods may have the Patriots favored more so than any team in history, but let's not forget that marginally bad movie that Al Pacino starred in back in the late '90s. Any given Sunday, my friends.Okay, so the Eagles probably won't win the game. I am, however, going to go out on a limb and say the Eagles will cover that amazingly large point spread.

For those not following the Eagles as close as some of us this season, let me remind you of a few facts. Last week, the Eagles played the win-less Miami Dolphins and found a way to win. It wasn't pretty, but after losing Donovan McNabb to injury, A.J. Feeley stepped in and walked the Birds to victory. Now, only a week later, the Eagles will face a team of a different caliber and a zero on the other side of the record column. Our Elias Sports Bureau people weren't available for comment, but it certainly can't be everyday that a team goes from playing a win-less team with 9 losses one week followed by an undefeated team with 10 wins the following week.

What can the Eagles do to win compete? If you look at the Eagles offensive situation, with A.J. Feeley getting his first start of the season, you'd think the key for the Birds would be to get Brian Westbrook the ball early and often. He's the lone bright spot in the Eagles mediocre season. But ESPN's NFL Matchup crew says that the Patriots masterfully stopped Westbrook when the two teams met in the Super Bowl. A better strategy: hope for a lot of deep pass interference calls.

So if Westbrook isn't the answer, what is? Well, besides a lot of prayer, you can always hope a big fat Eagles defensive lineman could land on Tom Brady and force Mr. Amazing out of the game. Otherwise, Brady could have a field day. Former Eagle Donte' Stallworth may like to show the Eagles what they are missing. The Birds will be starting third string safety J.R. Reed who barely made the Eagles roster this season. Surely Randy Moss will be no match for him.

Being serious for a moment, I'm hoping the Eagles don't get embarrassed. With both teams meeting in the Super Bowl just a few years ago, this game shows how two teams can go in different directions. This is a good thing for Boston, and a sad reality for Philadelphia.