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Even Eagles QB Donovan McNabb can't look
Lately it’s tough to be a Philadelphia Eagles fan. Really. I’ve been an Eagles fan all my life and I’ve seen them lose plenty of games. But yesterday was tough. But why? I mean, I’ve seen far worse Eagles teams. But maybe that’s the point. I had been seduced by the possibilities of this team. A healthy Donovan McNabb to start the season. An exciting playmaker at wide receiver in rookie DeSean Jackson. A fast, playmaking defense buoyed by a dynamic young linebacker corps, defensive end Trent Cole and newly-acquired cornerback Asante Samuel. But in the end, this Eagles team ultimately is destined to produce what previous Eagles teams have produced before it — heartbreak.
Losing 36-7 to the Baltimore Ravens is an embarrassment, plain and simple. This team should be better than that and on paper — where it does NOT count — they are. But the problem is that games are not played on paper. They’re played on grass and turf and on those surfaces, this is a team that is slightly below mediocre. They now stand at 5-5-1 and I can’t see how this team rallies to win enough games to squeak into the playoffs. Even if they win their last 5 games, I’m not sure that 10-5-1 is enough to win an NFC Wild Card berth when teams like the Giants (10-1), Bucs (8-3), Panthers (8-3), Cowboys (7-4), Redskins (7-4), Cardinals (7-4), Falcons (7-4), Bears (6-5) and Vikings (6-5) all ahead of them in the standings.
Yesterday Eagles head coach Andy Reid benched QB Donovan McNabb to start the 2nd half after halftime. I guess he felt that 2 INTs and 1 lost fumble in one half was all he needed to see. I concur. I was shocked when I saw that 2nd year backup QB Kevin Kolb was starting the 2nd half but I can’t say I was disappointed. And while Kolb hardly faired better in the 2nd half than McNabb did, it’s clear that McNabb has been playing poorly enough to deserve to be on a short leash for the rest of the season.
It’s said that when you jump/fall from a very high altitude, it feels the entire time as if you’re flying, right up until the sudden THUD at the end. The Eagles are in free fall right now. It could be that the thud came on Sunday, shortly after the half. We’ll know more on Thursday.
.chris{}
Philadelphia Eagles Head Coach Andy Reid
Positives? Ummmm, at least they didn’t LOSE? The Eagles, playing for their increasingly dim playoff lives, couldn’t even manage to beat the 1 – 8 Bengals, who are horrible this year and without their franchise QB Carson Palmer.
How frustrating is it to be an Eagles fan these days? For it’s part, the defense is playing OK, managing to rank in the top 10 in the NFL statistically — yards, points and versus the pass. Even the offense — statistically — is highly ranked, landing in the top 10 in the NFL in yards, YPG, points, PPG as well as passing.
However, those stats can be very misleading! The Eagles rush offense is ranked only 22nd in the league, averaging just under 100 yards per game (98.3). And while the Eagles haven’t had much trouble moving the ball between the 20′s, it’s been the red zone where this team has struggled, and it’s clear that the two are linked. Also, I don’t have the stats but would have to imagine that the Eagles offense has got to be at or near the top of the league in 3 and outs. I would also guess that they are at or near the top of the NFL in dropped passes.
Add all that up and you have a team that is explosive enough to get big plays and score points but struggles, particularly against good defenses, to sustain drives (or at times, even to get a single first down). With the Eagles, it’s either feast or famine. And better defenses can stop the Eagles from doing too much damage on big plays and force the Eagles to put together 8, 9 and 10 play scoring drives — something they have not been able to do consistently.
Thought? RUN THE BALL MORE!!!
.chris{}
Phillies are World Series CHAMPIONS!!!!
OMG!!! I’m still speechless! The Phillies WIN! The Phillies WIN! Theeeeeeee Phillies WIN!
It’s been so long that I almost let myself fall into the negadelphia mindset once game 5 initially was called on account of rain. I let it creep into my brain that since the game was called and Phillies ace Cole Hamels would no longer be able to pitch, the Phillies’ momentum would be halted and the Rays would be able to come back, win game 5 and move to Tampa where that horrible aiplane hangar of a stadium would give them home field advantage and allow them to win.
Not so! PHILLIES WIN!!!!!
BTW, only 5 more days until change!!!
.chris{}
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