A Philly newspaper poll reveals plenty of Eagles fans would rather get a glimpse of their team's future than go all out to beat the Cowboys on Sunday. The Bucs need an Eagles win - and a their own victory against Oakland - to get into the playoffs.

As you’ve heard over and over this week, the Bucs need a win and an Eagles victory against the Cowboys on Sunday to make the playoffs.

The good news for the Bucs is Philadelphia has prepared all week for a must-win game against the Cowboys at 4:15 p.m. The bad news is the Eagles collectively will be punched in the gut if the Bucs beat the Raiders at 1 p.m., thereby eliminating Philly from the playoffs.

Anybody who thinks a Bucs win will not negatively impact the Eagles is not thinking clearly.

Whether Dallas is a bitter Philly rival or not, nobody can convince Joe the entire Eagles roster will have maximum fight in them if the Eagles are trailing late in the game after already being eliminated from the playoffs.

This is why the NFL is a big fat fraud for moving the Cowboys-Eagles game to 4:15 p.m., from 1 p.m., rather than play it simultaneously with the Bucs game. The Glazers should hide their heads in shame for not issuing a major public protest.

Even more troubling for Bucs fans is the growing possiblity that the Eagles might sit Donovan McNabb if the Bucs beat the Raiders. 

Tampa Bay sports radio legend Steve Duemig and other experts have said all week that the Eagles would never let up against their hated rivals, the Cowboys. “Their fans wouldn’t allow it,” Duemig said.

That’s why Joe was shocked to see the results of a Philadelphia Inquirer poll that asked fans whether the Eagles should start backup QB Kevin Kolb rather than McNabb, if the Eagles are eliminated with a Bucs victory.

More than 42 percent of Eagles fans voted to go with Kolb.

Uhh, where’s the hate for the Cowboys and the burning desire to beat them?

Kolb was a second-round pick in 2007, and is considered the heir to McNabb’s throne at quarterback. But Joe and every Bucs fan and Eagles fan should want McNabb to start the Eagles-Cowboys game. Kolb has proven nothing other than he’s a good talent with potential. His lone NFL start was this season against the Ravens; He threw for just 73 yards.

Joe wonders if so many fans want to see Kolb versus McNabb,  then would Eagles managment also want to sit McNabb for Sunday’s game following a Bucs victory. And is that even more likely considering the rampant speculation that  the Eagles will trade or cut McNabb in the offseason to get rid of his fat contract and take the team in a new direction?

Bottom line: The NFL could have done the right thing for fans of all teams involved by simply keeping the Cowboys-Eagles game at 1 p.m.