Eagles’ Spikes finally on playoff contender

He spent his first nine seasons with the Bengals and Bills.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Takeo Spikes has spent plenty of Monday nights sitting on a couch in front of a television watching football.

The two-time Pro Bowl linebacker left the popcorn at home this week. He’s played under the glare of the Monday night lights for the first time in his 10-year career when the Philadelphia Eagles played host to the Washington Redskins.

Spikes spent his first five seasons in the NFL with Cincinnati and the next four in Buffalo, establishing a reputation for being one of the top playmakers at his position. The Bengals were the “Bungles” back then, and the Bills had a winning record once when Spikes was there. So, neither team got an opportunity to play before a prime-time, national TV audience.

First-round selection

A first-round pick by Cincinnati in 1998, Spikes had at least 100 tackles in each of his five seasons with the Bengals. But it wasn’t until he went to Buffalo in 2003 that he got widespread recognition. Spikes had 144 tackles in ’03 and 111 tackles with five interceptions in ’04, making the Pro Bowl both years.

“As an individual player, you have goals, you have things that you want to achieve and accomplish at the end of the year,” Spikes said. “But, it’s hard for you to get the defensive player of the year, it’s hard for you to get the defensive player of the week, when you’re not exposed to everybody, where everybody can see you play. Not only just your colleagues, but I mean everybody. The thing that makes it so special is that you’re the only show on that night at that time period, and everybody loves to watch Monday Night Football.”

Spikes has never been to the playoffs, either. He’s thrilled to finally be part of a team with legitimate postseason hopes. First, he wants to help the Eagles get their first win.

“Monday night, that’s something that I’ve always wanted ever since the day I stepped into the league,” Spikes said. “But, with the talent that we have around, and the stability in the coaching staff, it makes it that much more exciting.”

XMonday night’s game was not completed in time for today’s edition. The Redskins led 20-9 in the fourth quarter.