Eagles' playoff hopes hinge on play at the Linc

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Only one team in the NFL has a better road record this season than the Eagles. And that might change this week.

Andy Reid’s Chiefs (9-0) are a perfect 4-0 on the road, but they’ll face their toughest test at Denver on Sunday night.

The Eagles’ 5-1 road record is one of the many surprises in the NFL this season, but no one has an answer for their struggles at home -- 0-4. Much has been made about the Eagles’ 10 straight losses at Lincoln Financial Field, dating back to Sept. 30, 2012.

Since moving into the Linc in 2003, the Eagles have a less-than-intimidating 44-33 regular-season record at home. Long gone is the dominating 7-1 home record of 2004. The Eagles haven’t had a winning home record since going 6-2 in 2009.

Several Eagles this week encouraged fans to be supportive Sunday. The boos have been prominent in the four losses this season, but who can blame the fan base on how the team played in those losses?

Are Philadelphia fans too demanding? Perhaps, but play well and there isn’t a better fan base to play in front of in sports. Players and coaches have always said it is tough to play in Philly. It takes a special kind of player who can handle the criticism and expectations, and find a way to excel.

This fall has been particularly frustrating rooting for the Eagles, Flyers and Sixers at home. Combined, Philadelphia’s three major sports teams currently playing are 7-14 at home.

That’s a lot of losses for a very passionate fan base. In fact, the Sixers are surprisingly sporting the best home record, 4-3, after the first two weeks of the NBA season. No one could have planned that.

The Eagles are not back on the road until Dec. 15 -- against the Vikings. Three straight home games will determine the fate of their season, and it all begins Sunday against the Redskins.

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