Call this one Andy Reid & Michael Vick: The Final Countdown.
It was just two years ago that Reid and Vick walked off the field in North Jersey ebullient after one of the most thrilling comeback wins in Eagles history. Vick guided the team to 21 unanswered 4th quarter points – capped off with a DeSean Jackson punt return for an exhilarating victory. Things would never be the same. The Eagles lost to the Vikings in that snow-delayed game, and the rest of the league noticed something. Vikings defensive coordinator (and former Eagles defensive backs coach Leslie Frazier) seemed to have figured Vick out. Everyone copied Frazier’s blueprint. The Eagles have not been the same since. They lost to the Packers in the playoffs, and last year they struggled to an 8-8 mark. The increasingly brittle Vick started this year by turning the ball over in bunches. Then he lost his job rookie Nick Foles after suffering a concussion. Ironically, it was a similar malady to then-starter Kevin Kolb that opened the door for Vick to take over the starting role.
Even with all that, the Eagles almost always find a way to beat the Giants. Hell, they beat them last year with Vince Young at quarterback.
On defense, the Giants remain shaky, in particular against the run. So do you think Reid and Marty Mornhinweg will simply pound away at them with the twin towers of LeSean McCoy and Bryce Brown? Of course not. In what likely will be his last game as Eagles coach, Reid will stick with what has been his enigma for years: I’m smarter than all the rest of you. Expect a rusty Vick to be throwing the ball all over the yard, and the Giants to take advantage with a boatload of turnovers.
Reid’s moves have been debatable for years, but nothing stands out quite as much as his insistence on ignoring the run and featuring the pass. That will once again be his downfall on Sunday.
Andy Reid has had a great, 14-year run. He’s won more games than any other Eagles coach. He’s won playoff games and taken a team to a Super Bowl. But he’s never won one. Now it’s time for the Andy Reid Era to end.
Time’s no longer yours, Andy.
The Pick: Make it Giants 29, Eagles 26. Vick will be rusty as he steps back into the starting role for the injured Nick Foles. He’ll fumble once and throw one pick. Eli Manning will do enough to keep the Giants’ faint playoff hope alive. They’re still the longest of long shots.
Last Week: The Eagles got another look at what they missed – and what will torture them for years to come – as Robert Griffin III beat them on one leg. Griffin is the real deal. Nick Foles probably is not. The Eagles have a huge decision to make this offseason, and it’s not just who will be their head coach. They also will need to decide who their starting QB is and if Vick has any future with the team. That and what time Jeff Lurie wants to call the press conference for on Monday to formally announce the end of the Andy Reid Era.
Season Record: The Birds sit at 4-11. Andy Reid and the Eagles did not even come close to Jeff Lurie’s mandate of avoiding another 8-8 season. Instead they imploded. I don’t see them winning Sunday either. I continue to win by picking against the Eagles. Hard to believe that at one point this team was 3-1. Last week’s win by the Redskins raised my mark to a gaudy 10-5.
Game by Game: Eagles 17, Browns 16 (My Pick: Eagles 27, Browns 13)
Eagles 24, Ravens 23 (My Pick: Eagles 24, Ravens 23 - On the Money!)
Cardinals 27, Eagles 6 (My Pick: Eagles 29, Cardinals 13)
Eagles 19, Giants 17 (My Pick: Eagles 19, Giants 17 - On the Money!)
Steelers 16, Eagles 14 (My Pick: Steelers 24, Eagles 16.)
Lions 26, Eagles 23 (My pick: Eagles 19, Lions 17)
Falcons 30, Eagles 17 (My pick: Eagles 29, Falcons 17)
Saints 28, Eagles 13 (My pick: Saints 37, Eagles 19)
Cowboys 38, Eagles 23 (My pick: Cowboys 23, Eagles 17)
Redskins 31 Eagles 6 (My pick: Eagles 29, Redskins 24)
Panthers 30, Eagles 22 (My pick: Eagles 23, Panthers 13)
Cowboys 38, Eagles 33 (My pick: Cowboys 33, Eagles 23)
Eagles 23, Buccaneers 21 (My pick: Eagles 26, Buccaneers 17)
Bengals 34, Eagles 13 (My pick, Bengals 23, Eagles 17)
Redskins 27, Eagles 20 (My Pick, Redskins 26, Eagles 13)
Comments