by Jeff Young , Intelligencer Journal/New Era

How they got back here is another story, though. One of spectacular highs and maddening lows that threaten to drive their less cynical followers to appoplexy, if not AM radio abuse or unbridled cheesesteak rampages.

But you won't find any such shenanigans here. Instead, the attempt is to offer a reasoned, rational look back at the season's first half, perhaps followed by a peek into the near future.

Best Performance (Team): One of the easier choices. Their 40-17 dismantling of the Giants stands out not only for the trademark big plays, but also for the offensive balance (180 yards rushing, 240 passing) as well as the outright domination that is rare for either club in this long-standing rivalry.

Second place goes to the 38-10 rout at Carolina in the season opener. Maybe it has lost some luster as the Panthers have stumbled to 3-5. But given the preseason setbacks (Brian Westbrook, Stewart Bradley, offensive line), it was a great first impression.

Worst Performance (Team): This is also a no-brainer. Losing 13-9 at Oakland without even a single touchdown speaks for itself. You figure it must have been a case of turnovers, and then you recall the Eagles didn't have one - while the Raiders had a pair. Who were those guys?

Runner-up is just four days old. Somebody must have told them they were pretty good after ripping the Giants, and worse yet, they must have believed it. Because they tossed away a great opportunity to go 3-0 in the division and lead the division Sunday night against the Cowboys. Count on this loss to haunt them.

First Half MVP: Last year we had honors for offense, defense and special teams. This year, everybody's in the same race. Winner is DeSean Jackson, whose explosive skills help win games even when they are contained, because the attention Jackson commands opens doors for others. Like Brent Celek, against the Chiefs, and Jeremy Maclin, against Tampa Bay.

Donovan McNabb deserves mention, for obvious reasons. And defensively, so do Trent Cole (7.5 sacks, third in tackles) and Sheldon Brown (4 interceptions). Yeah, Asante Samuel has 5 picks, but his pathetic tackling tends to offset the turnovers.

First Half Zero: Shawn Andrews and his brother Stacy can say whatever they want, but there's a reason Andy Reid sent the two-time Pro Bowler home that has nothing to do with Andrews' back. And there's a reason it conjures up memories of 2005, when the Eagles paid Terrell Owens to sit out the last five weeks of the season.

Maybe this isn't fair to a guy coming out of a two-year layoff, but here's to Michael Vick, too. More accurately, here's to the Eagles' plan for Michael Vick, whatever that is. Because it sure seemed to have a lot more potential than it does now.

Coaching Highlight: New defensive coordinator Sean McDermott, whose game plan for the season opener at Carolina was sparkling, particularly the use of Cole as a standup rusher from the middle.

Coaching Lowlight: Reid, for calling 54 pass plays in the loss at Oakland, against a team that at last look ranked 29th in the league against the run and 24th in rushing yards allowed per play. Why does it seem that he's good for at least one of these per season?

Best New Addition: This could be a rookie, but it doesn't have to be. Which means the choice here is defensive end Jason Babin, the sixth-year pro signed in August. He's played in just four games, but has sacks in the last three, and figures to hold a regular spot in that all-important defensive line rotation.

Maclin would be the more obvious selection, but maybe a performance that ranked with the worst against Dallas is being weighted a little too heavily, since it's so fresh in the mind.

Unsung hero: Jason Avant has just 15 catches and one TD, but the fourth-year wideout from Michigan has become a clutch performer who may have the best hands on the team. If he had Jackson's speed ...

And Now: Nine weeks ago, you read here that these guys were headed for 9-7 and out of the playoffs. With a tougher second-half schedule, and five road games coming up, that 9-7 still looks pretty good. But perhaps the competition was overestimated a bit.

Let's just say that if their 9-7 includes two more divisional wins, they'll make the playoffs. If it doesn't, the off-season comes a little sooner.

jyoung@lnpnews.com

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