Another year, more heartbreak.
A different quarterback, same result.
And, of course, the same old Andy Reid.
The Eagles season is over, but the questions are just beginning. Vick threw an interception in the end zone, Eagles lose, 21-16.
Ironically, Vick seemed determined to take a page right out of my “Dreaded Saturday Eagles Pick.” Vick got the ball back with a little more than minute left and a chance to win the game, and promptly started moving the team down the field toward what would be a game-winning score.
I indicated Eagles fans had waited through 11 years of Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb mangling just such opportunities.
Make it 12. And we can’t blame this one on McNabb.
The Eagles had just picked up a first down via a Vick to Riley Cooper pass. They had the ball at the Packers’ 27, with the clock ticking down to 33 seconds and no timeouts left. Instead of spiking the ball to kill the clock and regroup, as several of his teammates apparently thought he was going to, Vick instead too it on himself and signaled another play.
It was something Donovan McNabb never would have done.
The result was the same: Another dagger in the heart of Eagles’ fans.
Vick’s lob for Cooper in the corner of the endzone was picked off. Game over.
I’m not going to argue with Vick’s decision. I’m the one who’s been waiting for somone to take control in these situations, instead of the usual lack of leadership the Eagles have displayed in such key moments for years.
I have plenty of other questions.
All week most people urged Reid to run the ball at the Packers to blunt their fierce blitz and make them play more honest. But, of course, Reid knows better. His idea of “putting players in a position to make plays” means coming out throwing the ball. That’s what Reid did on the first play of the game. What a surprise. And imagine, Packers’ star linebacker Clay Matthews, who no doubt was foaming at the mouth all week at the thought of going up against Reid and the Eagles’ offensive line, came in untouched and buried his helmet in Vick’s back from the blind side. I was surprised Vick managed to hold onto the ball.
McCoy would continue to be a rumor most of the day, as Reid relied, as he always does, on the pass.
One thing is certain about the Eagles. Actually two. They come up short on both the offensive and defensive lines. They just flat aren’t good enough.
Winston Justice, who earned a nice contract extension last year, was horrendous, playing so poorly he was finally benched.
The Eagles defense has been porous all season. I don’t know if it’s Sean McDermott coming up short, or if he just does not have the horses. Ernie Sims has been a rumor all season. The off-season free agent has been a huge disappointment. Trent Cole this year does what he always seems to do, start off on fire and then cool off toward the key end-of-season games. Was he on the field yesterday?
The Packers had not run the ball against anyone all year. Of course, they featured rookie James Starks and ran it right down the Eagles’
throat. Imagine that, Andy, a team establishing the run to take the heat off their QB.
There is one thing that defines this Eagles defense. They simply were unable all season to get off the field. It bit them again yesterday in maybe the key play of the game. After scoring on a 24-yard strike from Michael Vick to Jason Avant in the third quarter to close the gap to 14-10, the Eagles had the Packers in a third-and-10 hole.
Naturally they converted. Teams have done that to the Eagles defense all season.
Naturally, all-Pro kicker David Akers missed two field goals that could have been the difference in the game. Naturally, Reid cowardly decided in his post-game interview to throw Akers under the bus.
Naturally, Vick would put the Eagles on his back and will them into a position to win the game.
And naturally, they would come up agonizingly short. Again.
A couple of years ago Joe Banner, in the rubble of a hugely disappointing loss to the Arizona Cardinals in an NFC title game most people expected the Eagles to win, offered his own view of things.
He said insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.
Crazy, huh?
How long until pitchers and catchers report?
A different quarterback, same result.
And, of course, the same old Andy Reid.
The Eagles season is over, but the questions are just beginning. Vick threw an interception in the end zone, Eagles lose, 21-16.
Ironically, Vick seemed determined to take a page right out of my “Dreaded Saturday Eagles Pick.” Vick got the ball back with a little more than minute left and a chance to win the game, and promptly started moving the team down the field toward what would be a game-winning score.
I indicated Eagles fans had waited through 11 years of Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb mangling just such opportunities.
Make it 12. And we can’t blame this one on McNabb.
The Eagles had just picked up a first down via a Vick to Riley Cooper pass. They had the ball at the Packers’ 27, with the clock ticking down to 33 seconds and no timeouts left. Instead of spiking the ball to kill the clock and regroup, as several of his teammates apparently thought he was going to, Vick instead too it on himself and signaled another play.
It was something Donovan McNabb never would have done.
The result was the same: Another dagger in the heart of Eagles’ fans.
Vick’s lob for Cooper in the corner of the endzone was picked off. Game over.
I’m not going to argue with Vick’s decision. I’m the one who’s been waiting for somone to take control in these situations, instead of the usual lack of leadership the Eagles have displayed in such key moments for years.
I have plenty of other questions.
All week most people urged Reid to run the ball at the Packers to blunt their fierce blitz and make them play more honest. But, of course, Reid knows better. His idea of “putting players in a position to make plays” means coming out throwing the ball. That’s what Reid did on the first play of the game. What a surprise. And imagine, Packers’ star linebacker Clay Matthews, who no doubt was foaming at the mouth all week at the thought of going up against Reid and the Eagles’ offensive line, came in untouched and buried his helmet in Vick’s back from the blind side. I was surprised Vick managed to hold onto the ball.
McCoy would continue to be a rumor most of the day, as Reid relied, as he always does, on the pass.
One thing is certain about the Eagles. Actually two. They come up short on both the offensive and defensive lines. They just flat aren’t good enough.
Winston Justice, who earned a nice contract extension last year, was horrendous, playing so poorly he was finally benched.
The Eagles defense has been porous all season. I don’t know if it’s Sean McDermott coming up short, or if he just does not have the horses. Ernie Sims has been a rumor all season. The off-season free agent has been a huge disappointment. Trent Cole this year does what he always seems to do, start off on fire and then cool off toward the key end-of-season games. Was he on the field yesterday?
The Packers had not run the ball against anyone all year. Of course, they featured rookie James Starks and ran it right down the Eagles’
throat. Imagine that, Andy, a team establishing the run to take the heat off their QB.
There is one thing that defines this Eagles defense. They simply were unable all season to get off the field. It bit them again yesterday in maybe the key play of the game. After scoring on a 24-yard strike from Michael Vick to Jason Avant in the third quarter to close the gap to 14-10, the Eagles had the Packers in a third-and-10 hole.
Naturally they converted. Teams have done that to the Eagles defense all season.
Naturally, all-Pro kicker David Akers missed two field goals that could have been the difference in the game. Naturally, Reid cowardly decided in his post-game interview to throw Akers under the bus.
Naturally, Vick would put the Eagles on his back and will them into a position to win the game.
And naturally, they would come up agonizingly short. Again.
A couple of years ago Joe Banner, in the rubble of a hugely disappointing loss to the Arizona Cardinals in an NFC title game most people expected the Eagles to win, offered his own view of things.
He said insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.
Crazy, huh?
How long until pitchers and catchers report?
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