So that's how a season's playoff hopes and an entire era end...in a dismal second half against the Ravens in Baltimore.
So much for running the table or making a playoff push. There is now a very real possibility that this Eagles team finishes the season at 5-10-1. Who could have known?
My prediction of a 12-17 Eagles victory was very much a possibility right up until Andy Reid panicked and benched McNabb for the second half down only 10-7.
Incredibly, Reid could still have saved face and perhaps the game had he reinserted McNabb after several ineffectual Kevin Kolb offensive series. Take your pick, he could have done it after the safety or Kolb's first INT. Post-game Reid could have suggested the "temporary" move was meant to spark his team. Either way, the Eagles were still only down by 5 and then 8 with more than a quarter to play in A MUST WIN GAME.
Admittedly, McNabb was not very good in the first half. But that's what you get with him, often slow uneven beginnings to games. Fortunately, over the past ten year he has shown a knack for getting hot at some point during the game.
Kolb's second half put the full extent of this team's now glaring deficiencies on display. To wit,
A complete breakdown in special teams. A blocked punt for a safety? From right up the gut? If Reid really wants to make changes and "shake things up," he shouldhe fire special teams coach Rory Segrest. Yes, Q. Demps had that kick return for a TD that helped keep the Eagles close, but that has been a single bright spot in a very disappointing special teams season.
Personnel decisions. Westbrook's injured status and Buckhalter's sprained knee in the first quarter showed that 1) the Eagles don't have much depth at RB and 2) why in the world did Lorenzo Booker not suit up given the banged up halfback situation. Was it really so important to have Greg Lewis available rather than have an extra running back in case Bucky went down and Westbrook had nothing in the tank, which is exactly what happened.
Play calling. It's a cliche that second stringers are expected to step up when called on and that coaches don't adjust their game plan (i.e., simplify it) to compensate. And yet, Reid apparently gave no consideration that his second half quarterback had not played with the first team all week and hadn't had the practice and reps as the starter. So why on earth did Reid/Mohrninweg call a pass play on second and goal from the 6 inch line? Surely even Westbrook in his banged up condition, Jackson out of the wildcat formation, or even Dan Klecko could have gained six inches in three plays (it was four down territory). Instead, we're treated to a play action pass with LJ Smith and Reggie Brown as the two primary receivers. Result? Ed Reed 108 yard touchdown INT the other way.
Clock management. Letting 30 seconds burn off the clock at the end of the first half while the Ravens lined up for a FG was inexcusable. It would have given the offense at least two more plays when they got the ball back and may have allowed them to get into range for an Akers field goal attempt. Is McNabb benched if the score is 10-10 at the half?
Replay Challenges. How can a head coach not know when he can or can't challenge plays. More importantly, why doesn't Reid challenge pivotal plays? Look again at Ed Reed's "illegal forward lateral." Was it really a forward pass or did the ball carrier's momentum make it appear as the ball was thrown forward. In any case, the Eagles recovered the ball and it was critical that the Eagles not give the Ravens the ball at the 7 yard line. Why not challenge the call there? So you burn a first half timeout. The risk/reward of getting the ball back there vastly outweighs any other consideration.
