Eagles 2008 Season Log: Week 8, Westbrook Leads Birds to Victory

Every year after the Bye Week, it's always said how strong Andy Reid and the Eagles coming out of the break. Prior to this year, Reid was 9-0 after the Bye, which is very impressive. I get nervous when people bring stats like that up though, partially because I'm superstitious, and partially because no streak goes on forever. On that first point, when they said how unhittable Dennis Eckersly was in the 1988 World Series as Kirk Gibson limped to the plate, I called home run. But that's neither here nor there.

Playing the Falcons in Philly is one of the games that Eagles fans marked with a "W" before the season started. Since we lost to the Bears in Chicago and the Redskins at home, the margin of error in the games that we're supposed to win is almost nothing. We have to win them all, and we have to win some of the games we probably shouldn't.

The Birds didn't start strong on Sunday. McNabb looked Rusty, particularly his timing with WR Kevin Curtis, who got his first playing time this season after recovering from a sports hernia. Brian Westbrook, also returning from injury, was another story. Westbrook lit up the Falcons for 167 yards rushing (2 TDs) and another 40+ receiving. It's amazing how different the Eagles offense his with him on the field. McNabb warmed up as the game went on (and even got his first rushing TD of the season), the D had a couple takeaways, and the Eagles won 27-14. Unfortunately though, the Giants, Cowboys and Redskins all won as well, leaving the Eagles in sole possession of last place in the NFC East.

The next 3 weeks are crucial for the Eagles chances at making the playoffs. First we play Seattle on the road, then the Giants at home, and then the Bengals on the road. If we can win all 3 of these games, we will make up ground in the division b/c of who everyone else is playing. The Skins host the Steelers, have their bye, and then host the Cowboys. The Giants host the Cowboys, play us in Philly, and then play the Ravens at home. The Cowboys play the Giants, have their bye, and then play the Redskins. There is no longer any margin of error left for the Eagles--they are 0-2 in the division, and 3-3 in the conference--and I think they have to win all 3 of these next games to gain some ground and stay in the hunt. Unfortunately, the losses to the Bears and the Redskins put them at a disadvantage, because those are both games they should've won.

Seattle is 2-5 and is one of the worst teams in the league right now, so I expect the Eagles to win. But with this team, especially this year, you never know.

Back soon....

Eagles 2008 Season Log: Week 6/Bye, Phew!

Since the Eagles got a week off, I decided to take one too. I needed it after the gut wrenching first 5 games of the season.

In week 6, the Birds snatched victory from the jaws of defeat by beating the Niners 40-26. While our total points, and the margin of victory, are both impressive, for 3 quarters of the game, it was much closer. The Birds at a 1-point lead after the first half, but the margin should've been 17 points were it not for a blocked FG and subsequent TD that happened as time expired. The second half didn't start well either, with the Birds giving up a quick 10 points to a Niners offense that was playing very well. After 3 quarters, the score was 26-17 in a game the Eagles absolutely had to win.

Something clicked in the 4th quarter though. McNabb was steady most of the game, completing nearly 2/3 of his passes, and throwing for 2TDs with one INT. It was the defense, though, that let the game get to 26-17. They couldn't stop the Niners in any facet: no pressure, Frank Gore had huge holes, and their passing game was solid. Either Mike Martz decided to stop running in the ball in the 4th quarter (doubtful), or the Eagles just finally figured out how to stop the Niners game plan. Doesn't really matter, but the D really turned up the heat in the 4th. The wreaked havoc on QB JT O'Sullivan and picked up a couple sacks. The run game was stopped in its tracks, and our CBs played well. The 55yd INT return for a touchdown by Juqua Parker didn't hurt either.

The weekend of the Niners game was a good one for all my sports teams, actually. The Phils were in the process of defeating the Dodgers, PSU won, USC won, and I won my pool at work ($140). Of all those things, however, I'm most happy about the Eagles win.

Andy Reid is historically strong coming out of the bye week, so I feel good about tomorrow's game against the Falcons. Especially with Westbrook back, and Kevin Curtis likely to see his first game action of the year. Again, though, it is a must win. Even though the Cowboys are in a slump, we must keep pace and win all the games we're supposed to.

Eagles 2008 Season Log: Week 5, WTF?

Another must-win game, another loss by the Eagles. WTF can I say? I'm tired of the disappointment, the inconsistency, being outcoached, the emotional highs and lows, and most importantly, of the losing.

After a miserable road game loss to the Bears the previous week, one would think that the Eagles would've come out with a better effort than they did in their 23-17 loss to the Redskins yesterday. One would think, but apparently none of the Eagles coaches or veteran leaders thought.

In their two wins against the Rams and the Steelers, and in their loss to the Cowboys, the Eagles looked like they were the real deal. In their last two losses, however, the Eagles looked unmotivated, hurt, and poorly coached. I shouldn't be saying those things about a team that's been to 4 NFC title games, and a Super Bowl, this decade. They should know how to win a tough game on the road, protect a 2 TD lead at home against a division foe, and stop what by all accounts is a middle-of-the-road offense.

Typically, Philly fans unload their frustrations after a loss on McNabb, but he doesn't deserve the blame in this game. The D couldn't stop the Skins at all, our WRs dropped some key passes, and we had no running attack. That's why we lost--nothing else. I'd of course love to see Donovan lead the team to a victory in the 4th quarter, but those days might be long gone for Donovan. I don't know.

Like I said, I don't pin this loss on McNabb at all. But I'm beginning to lose faith. He needs to put this team on his shoulders like he used to do, and figure out a way to win. Instead, he looks so goddamn nonchalant all the time, and it rubs off on the rest of his teammates. Maybe it comes from Andy Reid? Again, I don't know.

We're 5 weeks into what I thought was a very promising season, and the Eagles are a long shot to make the playoffs. I don't give a shit that the Phillies made the NLCS. Philly is an Eagles town, and I bleed green. Next week, we have the Niners on the road. The last time the team travelled to SF, my wife's water broke and I didn't get to use the tickets I had. They kicked some ass that day though. I'm not sure if I'd even take free tickets to this game, cause they'll probably lose and I'll be out the $40 parking fee and whatever I drop on food and beer.

Bunk. That's all I have to say.

Eagles 2008 Season Log: Week 4, Choke in Chi-town

Another game the Eagles should have and could have won, and another loss. This, my friends, is the life of an Eagles fan. Ups and downs. One week, manhandling the class of the AFC. The next, a sloppy miserable loss to a team with a QB that should probably be teaching gym at some middle school.

The Eagles loss to the Bears (like any Eagles loss, actually), was tough to swallow. The team made Kyle Orton look like Tom Brady in the first half, and squandered too many offensive opportunities throughout the game. You can't spot the other team points in the NFL, and that's what the Eagles did with their sloppy play last weekend. I think last week's loss came down to coaching. Lovie Smith had a better game plan than Andy Reid, and his (healthy) team executed on it. There wasn't much else to it.

With Westbrook and LJ Smith healthy, the Eagles offense would have no doubt looked better, and they probably would've been able to turn Akers missed field goals into points. But the team needs to find a way to win, even when certain players are out. The NFC East is just too competitive to lose any games that you're supposed to win. We're lucky though, as the Cowboys did the same thing last weekend by losing to the Redskins. Thankfully, we're only 1 game back of each of those teams as we get set to face the Redskins in Philly.

The only other thing worth mentioning is that DeSean Jackson had a rough night. He muffed a punt, ran a bad route that led to a McNabb interception, and generally looked like the rookie that he is. Don't get me wrong--this kid is talented, and he deserves the playing time he's been getting. But Andy Reid will not tolerate gaffes like this much longer. Jackson can't make mental errors like the ones he made last week. We need him to act and play like the #1 receiver that he is. Yes, he's a rookie, and I'll give him certain latitudes because of that. But he needs to stay focused, limit his mistakes, and work hard in practice.

This Sunday, we got the 'Skins coming to town. This game very well might be a must-win. If we lose, we'll remain in last place, fall to 0-2 in the division, and 1-3 in the conference. Those are not the numbers of a playoff team.

Eagles 2008 Season Log: Week 3, Defense Stifles Steelers

With Dallas and the Giants at 3-0, and the Redskins at 2-1, the Steelers game turned out to be a must-win for the Birds. Fortunately, the Defense came through and the offense did just enough to win the game, leaving both the Eagles and the Redskins at 2-1 looking up at the undefeated Cowboys and Giants.

Jimmy Johnson's Defense put on quite a show against the Steelers. Our cross-State rivals were stifled in every aspect of their offensive game. We sacked Big Ben 9 times, and hurried or hit him dozens more. Fast Willie got nothing all game, and our CB trio of Asante Samuel, Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown shut down the passing game.

People have been wondering where this Defense was against the Cowboys. But the Cowboys are a different team with a monstrous offensive line, Marion Barber and Felix Jones in the backfield, and TO catching passes. Oh, and one of the best Tight Ends in the league beating people up over the middle. I don't know--maybe the game plan could've been more aggressive against the 'Boys. I tend to think that both teams game planned for a shoot-out, and that's what we got. The Cowboys got the better of us mostly b/c of the late fumble by McNabb.

Anyway, I digress away from the Steelers game. This game was like a classic, late-season, battle of NFC East teams. The Eagles D beat up the Steelers, but we got beat up too. Westbrook sprained his ankle, McNabb missed a few plays, LJ Smith's back acted up, and Tony Hunt left the game with a concussion. Fortunately, the Defense and Special teams did enough to keep the Eagles offense in the game (the same was not true for the Steelers) and we escaped with a 15-6 victory, and no serious injuries.

Many of the experts put the Steelers in the top tier of the AFC, but the Eagles exposed them--at least on the offensive side of the ball. They will have a hard time beating a team like the Broncos or Chargers if they can't find any playmakers on offense. But I don't care about the Steelers. The Birds played a solid game and escaped with a victory. That makes me happy.

This week, we travel to Chicago for a Sunday night game against the Bears. The Bears aren't good, but they're still the Bears and the game is still on the road. Even though Westbrook will probably sit this one out, the Bears offense is so terrible that the Eagles should have enough to get it done. After this weekend in which the Giants are resting, the Redskins will either be 3-1 and tied with the Cowboys, or 2-2, leaving the Cowboys atop the division at 4-0. Another must win?

Eagles 2008 Season Log: Philly Media on McNabb, Steelers Game a Must Win?

On Tuesday morning after the loss to the Cowboys, both the national and local media were tipping their hats to the Eagles for their effort the previous night. Both the Philly media and Eagles fans have always had mixed views on McNabb, so I was particularly surprised at the positive messages coming from both about the loss to the Cowboys. Later during the week, however, things quickly devolved into "McNabb can't win the big one" and "McNabb choked" when he fumbled the handoff to Brian Westbrook.

I can't tell you how pleasurable it is to not have to be surrounded by that vitriol all the time. McNabb is a Pro Bowl QB, he's healthy and back to form, and he can win the big one. The Defense let us down against the Cowboys, not McNabb. And don't forget we were down two starting WRs in that game. If everyone stays healthy, I guarantee you that when Dallas visits Philly in Week 17, a)the game will mean something, and b)we'll walk away the victors. That's how close in talent I think these two teams are.

Anyway, back to matters at hand. On Sunday, the Steelers (2-0) visit Philadelphia. While it's probably a little early in the season to call a game a Must Win, this one is pretty close. Both the Cowboys (at Green Bay) and the Giants (hosting Cincy) have very winnable games. If they both win and the Eagles don't, we'll be 2 games back after Week 3, and that's not good. With how evenly matched the NFC East is and how much everyone beats up on each other when they meet, being 1 game back is nothing to worry about at this point in the season. Two is a different story altogether.

The last time the Eagles and Steelers met in the regular season was 2004, and the Steelers kicked our asses up and down the field that day, winning 27-3. It's a different Steelers team with a different coach, but the style of football is the same. The Eagles have to shake off the loss to the 'Boys and show up ready to play. If we do, and can stop the run, we should be allright. My man McNizz will come through.

Eagles 2008 Season Log: Week 2, MNF in Dallas

Wow. S**t. Wow. S**t.

Wow--it was a great game filled with big plays, turnovers, a healthy McNabb using his legs to keep plays alive, and tons of scoring.

S**t--the Eagles lost to the Cowboys 41-37 in a game they had control of and could've won. Yes, they made a great showing on the road against a very very good football team. But I don't give a s**t about that. The NFL is about wins and losses, and we didn't win last night.

The media--even the contemptuous Philly media--are all giving the Eagles props for keeping the game close and having a legitimate chance to win. The reason this is the case is that the Cowboys are everyone's favorite to win the Super Bowl this year. It's pretty clear I'm in the minority, as my opinion is not only influenced by my hatred of the team, but more importantly their 0 for the playoffs coach, their 0 for the playoffs quarterback, and their lack of a single playoff win since the Troy Aikman/Emmit Smith/Michael Irvin era. I also still believe, in my heart of hearts, that the Eagles aren't yet ready to give up the crown as the dominant NFC East team of this decade. Not with McNabb returning to form, not with Mr. Westbrook on the field, and not with the moves they made this offseason.

The Cowboys are a good team, no doubt, and I give them credit where credit is due. They have a high powered offense, a fast and strong defense, and get game breaking abilities from Felix Jones on Special Teams. But the Eagles should've won that game last night. At least they could have, and we blew it.

Here's where the Eagles fell short:

1. At least in the first half, TO ran all over our allegedly high-powered secondary and scored two TDs.
2. We gave up too many yards--particularly the TD--to Felix Jones in the return game.
3. Our weakness at WR was exposed, particularly in the second half, and we didn't get LJ Smith involved like he was against the Rams.
4. Protection of McNabb was great in the first half, but fell apart in the second half with him being constantly flushed out of the pocket and forced to use his legs in ways that make me (and probably every other Eagles fan) gasp until he would get up from the ground after being hit.
5. We had zero sacks. That's right, ZERO. You cannot beat Tony Romo without pressuring him.
6. For one night, Westbrook took on the hands of Dikembe Mutumbo.

On the bright side, all of these things are basically correctable, and were the game in Philly, the Cowboys might be saying the same things about why they lost. McNabb is back, and almost every other team in the league would've been blown out by the Cowboys last night. We hung tough and should've won. Nevertheless, it hurts, even more than the Patriots loss last year. We had this game in our grasp, but literally and figuratively fumbled it away.

It's only week 2, so it's important to keep things in perspective. Assuming everyone stays healthy, when Dallas visits Philly on the last weekend of the season, the two teams are likely to be playing in a game with a lot more significance, and they very well may meet in the Playoffs. For the Cowboys to earn their Super Bowl berth, they'll need to go through Philly in December, and probably New York too, as we can't forget who the reigning Super Bowl champs are.

We have the Steelers at home next week. It'll be good to return to the cozy confines of the Linc, but our cross-State rivals play a tough brand of Football, and the Eagles will have to be on their game (as they were in Dallas) to get the W.