Following in the tradition of Connor Barwin and Malcolm Jenkins, former All-Pro wide receiver and current Eagles broadcaster Mike Quick will write weekly for The Citizen this season, analyzing what the Birds will have to do each week on the field to emerge victorious. We’ve paired Quick with Professor Richardson Dilworth, Director of Drexel University’s Center for Public Policy, who will analyze how Philly stacks up off-the-field against the city we play each week. Dilworth, who knows nothing about football, is arguably Quick’s most unlikely teammate ever.
Mike Quick’s On-Field Scouting Report: After last week’s come from behind win against the Giants, we now have meaningful football in December again—truly something to celebrate. I don’t like to say I told you so, but, hey, it is what it is: My keys to last week’s game turned out to make all the difference. Winning the turnover battle and getting back to running the ball carried the Eagles to victory.
This week’s opponent, Washington, has cooled off since their fast early start this season, and they’ve recently lost Alex Smith, their starting quarterback, to injury. That said, the game might yet again come down to who turns the ball over. Washington is +9 in turnover/takeaway ratio, and that’s very good in this league. We saw last week how one turnover can change the tenor of a game, when Malcolm Jenkins intercepted Giants’ quarterback Eli Manning. The Eagles will need to do the same against Washington backup quarterback Colt McCoy.
Finally, when the Eagles won during last year’s magical season, it was because they leaned on their big guys. The Eagles strength last year was that their offensive and defensive lines could dominate the line of scrimmage. Last week, in the second half of the game, the offensive line shouldered the burden of moving the ball on the ground. Both lines will have to bring the ‘A’ games this week.
Prof. Richardson Dilworth’s Off-Field Scouting Report: The scores say that D.C. wins, most notably in terms of the number of people with bachelors degrees, the number of volunteers, and the number of people who bike to work.
I say the scores are wrong. I have to give D.C. credit for its parks, but I think we can all agree that many of those excess volunteers are probably unpaid interns working for members of Congress. That is, free youth labor being exploited by our federal elected officials. I’m not sure how great that is.
Second, the greater proportion of people with bachelors degrees in D.C. is simply just a reflection of income, and it costs way more money to live in D.C. than in Philadelphia, as reflected, for instance, in the fact that the median value of an owner-occupied housing unit in D.C. from 2012 to 2016 was $506,100, while in Philadelphia, it was $147,300. And for that you get to live not in L.A., or San Francisco, or New York, but…. maybe you’ll get to see Sen. Mitch McConnell, or get stuck in traffic because of a presidential motorcade. So, you better take advantage of that free zoo and those free museums (that are only free because we’re all paying for them).
Also, that greater bike ridership in D.C.? It is admittedly a more temperate city with less snow, and it is pretty flat, so it has a longer biking season than Philadelphia. But I also suspect that more people bike because D.C.’s subway system is in crisis, especially after the fatal smoke disaster in 2016, and more recent declines in ridership (admittedly a problem in most cities including Philadelphia, thanks to Uber). D.C. has an admittedly more comprehensive subway system than we have, but at least our two subways work. And we have trolleys, which is obviously very cool.
And, while our City Council may have some problems, no member ever claimed that the Rothschild family controlled the weather (good job, Trayon White).
Oh, and hey, looking for a restaurant that might literally bankrupt you? Look no further than DC’s “Minibar by Jose Andres.” I’m sure the $695-per person tasting menu is totally worth it. Here’s to democracy! There is simply nothing in Philadelphia that stupid (a $100 cheesesteak does admittedly come pretty close).
And finally, their football team is called the Redskins. No elaboration needed.
PhiladelphiaEagles |
WashingtonRedskins |
|
# of B-Corps
25 |
# of B-Corps
16 |
|
% Population with a BA
27.4 |
% Population with a BA
56.7 |
|
% Volunteers
26.5 |
% Volunteers
33.1 |
|
Violent Crime per 1000 people
9.92 |
Violent Crime per 1000 people
12.06 |
|
Diversity Rating
69.74 |
Diversity Rating
69.78 |
|
% People Bike to Work
2.2 |
% People Bike to Work
4.6 |
|
% Acres of Park Space
13.1 % |
% Acres of Park Space
21.9 % |
|
Public Transportation Score
67 |
Public Transportation Score
68 |
|
% Voters in Last Mayoral Election
24 |
% Voters in Last Mayoral Election
19.8 |
Vikings 
Rams 
Texans 