Never Saw It Coming

A friend writes:

Akers clearly got hurt on the extra point. It was very odd that Fox didn't mention it.

That shoulda made it a 27-24 game with our lead.

Still, the defense sucked today. I never saw that coming. Never.

Outcoached

mcnabb and jackson got the go ahead score but the D couldn't hold - ironically - on4th and inches and then in keeping to a FG.

Akers didn't help. missed a fg and tra point = forcing the 2pt. conversion.

Ultimately, eagles got outcoached. The Cards made adjustments from their last game with the Eagles and the Eagles didn't.

i'm crushed

i am literally at a loss as to what to think.

jim johnson's defense got abused the first half.

eagles offense stunk first half

mcnabb threw some terrible passes that cost the eagles plays - curtis, jackson, avant incompletes. and yet, lewis, particularly and others shoiuld have made some game turning catches;

mcnabb drove them down for the wining score but akers cost them 4 points.

o-lline  couldn't open up runninng holes but alllowed mcnabb 10 seconds on most pass plays - literally.

how many titles do the eagles have with fitzgerald?

i'm crushed

mcnabb and jackson got the go ahead score but the D couldn't hold - ironically - on4th and inches and then in keeping to a FG.

akers didn't help. missed a fg and tra point = forcing the 2pt. conversion.

ultimately, eagles got outcoached.

Prop lines

McNabb O/U 258 passing yards

Warner 265 passing

Westbrook - 66 1/2 rushing yards

James - 52 1/2 rushing yards

Fitzgerald - 6 1/2 receptions, 96 1/2 receiving yards

Jackson 60 1/2 receiving yards

Akers total points scored - 9

Over under final scores

Eagles 26
Cardinals 21

A New Defining Moment?

Could McNabb significantly remake/rehab his reputation with the know-nothings if he has a stellar game today?

Here's hoping 300 yards passing, 2 TDs, and one rushing TD today can and will cleanse some of the feelings from the past couple of years (the knee, the vomiting, TO, etc.).

Falcons- Eagles Revisited

At this time and on this day five years ago, we had already gotten a ride from a downtown Philly hotel to the airport parking lot from some guy that whiled away the time hand drawing patriotic bumper stickers like "KILL TERRARISTS!!"

We had persuaded an airport snow removal crew to use their front loader to clear a path for the RV so we were able to get it out of its spot regardless of the 6 inches of snow that had fallen the night before.

By this time five years ago, we had already gotten in to the tailgate parking lot because Baby Cogs had managed to save an extra spot next to a corner dumpster.

And by this time five years ago, we were playing Beirut on the Strapper-hand made playing table and it was so cold out that the beer in the cups and especially the foam was freezing during each of the games.

Perhaps the RV and the Eagles finest day.

Here's hoping the rest of that day is recreated again this afternoon.

More Burrell Appreciation

With the total flameout of Andruw Jones' talent (steroids, anyone?), its worth reflecting again on Pat Burrell's underappreciated stats.

From Sports Illustrated:

Yesterday the Dodgers cut ties with one of the greatest free-agent busts in recent history with the release of centerfielder Andruw Jones. The longtime Brave played just one season for L.A., hitting .158 with three home runs and 14 RBIs in 209 at bats. Jones still ranks third among NL outfielders in home runs since the start of the 2005 season, with 120. The only NL sluggers to hit more from an outfield spot are free agent Adam Dunn, who hit 146 for the Reds and D-Backs, and Pat Burrell, who hit 122 for the Phillies before bolting for Tampa Bay this offseason.

In other words, Pat Burrell is the top OF slugger since 2005...if not before then.

Prediction

So the Sports Guy clearly hates the Eagles (see 10 reasons why Cards will beat Eagles).

But why is he and alot of every other people so enamored with the formerly no account Cards? Why isn't the Eagles 3rd ranked defense - which absolutely shut down the Cowboys, Vikings, and Giants - not getting any respect?

Why is Kurt Warner getting props as a comeback player but Donovan McNabb is being overlooked?

Why is the Eagles ability to score against the Vikings and Giants defenses being discounted and the Cards ability to beat a rookie quarterback making his first start on the road and Jake Delhomme's 5 turnovers being made into a world dominating defense?

Admittedly, the Eagles have not traditionally played well in Arizona. But I'm almost happy that Anquan Boldin is going to try to gut out a hammie tomorrow. Please, by all means. Dress and play and perform at 70%. Please. It will make the Larry Fitzgerald double teams that much more effective.

The Eagles are going to #1 with a bullet as Dick Clark might say.

And much like McNabb's coming out against his hometown Bears in a divisional playoff in the Windy City seven (eight?) years ago, i expect a similarly stellar performance for his winter home neighbors tomorrow.

Eagles 27
Cardinals 13

Arizona

My brother travelled to Arizona yesterday. Is staying at a fancy Westin resort in Scottsdale, 45 minutes from the stadium in Glendale.

He got two tix for he and his wife online (not sure if it was ebay, craigslist or stubhub): lower bowl for $425 each - face was, i believe $190. but really, when you are already spending way more on airfare - $700 on Southwest! - both the resort and the game tix begin to look like a bargain.

Anyway, says the weather is great - sunny and 77 degrees. A far cry from the 1 degree that i awoke to this morning!

My Prediction?

Pain!

Hands to the Face?

If not a face mask,shouldn't this at least be illegal hands to the face on the part of Bradshaw?

Did Anyone Notice?

That with 9:09 left in the game yesterday the game clock stopped?

The Giants had the ball and ran two plays and the clock did not run.

Finally, Fox removed the score and time graphic from the screen, the time came back up and the clock was running, but it read 7:58. A lot more time than one minute 11 seconds had run off between when the clock was supposed to have started and when it finally did.

McNabb

everyone will say what they want about the benching, but it unleashed something in McNabb. Maybe that was when it actually hit him that he might not be back next year. Since then, the normally buttoned down "company man" seems to be playing loose and having fun - something we maybe have not seen since his first 2-3 years in the league - before all his other QB draft counterparts flamed out, he became the "franchise" and took on the crushing pressure of expectations (right after the Rams championship loss?).

Anyway, at the time i hated the phone thing yesterday when Mcnabb drew the personal foul and turned a 3rd and 1 conversion from ending the game into an impossible 3rd and 16 that gave the Giants one last shot. 24 hours later however, with the penalty not hurting anything, i see it as the play of a straight arrow guy that really is just having fun -  a 10 year veteran playing like a rookie. i find it very encouraging.

It is unbelievable that D stuffed the Giants on 4th and short TWICE on must have first downs by the Giants. INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!

I mean, on that Eli QB sneak (and what a disaster that play call was, why are you not giving the ball to Jacobs?), i don't think the refs even measured for the first after 4th down, there was no question he didn't make it.

part of me doesn't like having to go out to Phoenix, the Eagles don't' traditional play/travel there really well. The other part of me likes it cause it fits in with the fast, loose, and world against us nature of this team right now.

Defense

Patterson and Bunkley really shone yesterday in stuffing those 4th and 1s. what i really like is the depth and flexibility of this line. you've got huge guys run stuffing tackles like the aforementioned two. and Laws is being worked into the mix. and they've got speed rushing, athletic d-ends like Juqua and Cole. And they've got Howard that shifts to d-tackle in passing downs, Abiamiri, and the late season emergence of Clemons who is playing a lot like the old Jevon Kearse - did you see him dropping back into LB pass coverage yesterday?

good point about Jackson. It might have made sense when he was "only" a rookie and they wanted to get him in the game. but now that he is the go to WR, why is he fielding punts? especially when you've got a good experienced returner who is 3rd string d-back.

Unofficial 2nd Half Donovan Stats

An ink stained wretch writes:

In both games, we've now won basically because - in a game in which both defenses played hard - our QB made more plays, way more, than their QB.

Our special teams were also huge, huge. God, even Rocca's been punting well. But in 2 straight games Donovan's been great in 2nd half, the other team's QB has been terrible.

Roughly, I think Donnie's 2nd half numbers in 2 games are:
26-37, 320 yds, 2 TDS, 1 INT.

Best Eagles D?

My brother chimes in:

I would say this is the best LB group he has had.  Its youth is the only reason it's not credited like the others.  You are watching one of the best MLB's in football and barring injury we will see him in a pro bowl very shortly.  Bradley is unbelievable.  Gocong is a great SAM – as good as the Carlos Emmons era and big upgrade over Dhani.  What sets them apart is that they can play run and pass which we know Trotter couldn't (certainly not in 2^nd stint).

I'll also go with this d-line being deeper than Hugh's years.  Patterson and Bunkley are underrated because they don't play a lot on passing downs (not saying PK was not giving credit, just talking about in general you never hear much about them, but they are very solid).

Don't look now, but Abiamiri is quickly looking like a good draft pick.

Can't touch the 2001-2003 DB's.

Top to bottom this is his best D.  No real weak spots.  For goodness sakes Lito can't get on field!!

Did anyone notice Lito playing on punt return team.  I saw him out there.  If Jackson has become crucial to the offense why haven't they moved to put Lito back on punt returns.  I know Jackson is better, but there was a reason we removed westbrook from that duty a few years ago.  Lito was very, very good when he did it.  If he can't play D why can't he return punts.  I know it's worked out well and Jackson has been nothing short of great, but at some point you can't have your #1 WR returning punts (at least no one else seems to do that).  It's like having your starting QB hold for the kicker – see Cowboys 2006 season.

Historical thought –These next few weeks could prove vital in the HOF candidacy to Dawkins and McNabb.  Just huge.  Without SB rings I think both will have trouble getting in.  With them I think they are both in.

5 of his 10 years they have played in NFC championship (and 5 of last 8).  Please tell that to anyone/everyone that says McNabb can't win a big game.  That stat is incredible.

Eagles Best Defense?

A friend writes:

The defense is just soooo tough. I said it at the start of the playoffs, I believe this is probably the best unit Johnson has ever had. He's had years when his D-line was better (the Hugh Douglas prime of '01), he's had years with better LBs (Trotter in '01/'02), he's had better secondaries (those years of Taylor/Vincent/B-Dawk were sick).

But I think this D is probably, all together, as good as the '01/'02 squad, if not better.

To put that point into full view, in their last 4 games the Eagles have played 4 great offenses:

Redskins (10 points); Cowboys (6 points); Vikings (14); NYG (11).

And let's not forget that the Skins TD came on a short field after a McNabb fumble, and 2 of those FGs yesterday were on short fields -- 1 after the opening kickoff return, the other on the batted into the air INT and Mr Fatso running it down to the 30.

Paul Kane

to put that point into full view, in their last 4 games the Eagles have playe...

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Paul KaneLoading...

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Avant

A friend writes:

Has he come outta nowhere to become The. Go-To Receiver? Or have we wasted a few years on Reggie Brown instead of turning Avant into our No 1 receiver?
All Avant does is make clutch catches for 1st downs.