An All-Too Familiar Scene: McNabb Hurt Again

As if things couldn't look worse for the Eagles in the first half today, Donovan McNabb just left the field for the locker room with a heavy limp. Other than the flea-flicker TD that was negated by L.J. Smith's hold, McNabb was having a terrible game, throwing 2 picks on plays in which he had a lot of time. A.J. "The Gambler" Feeley takes over in a game eerily reminiscent of last year's game against the Titans. Kevin Kolb is inactive, a move that had us scratching our heads this morning [explained in comments].

At least the Dolphins are doing their best to let the Eagles stay in it, with two of the worst punts I've ever seen.

Update: X-rays taken at halftime were negative, but McNabb remained on the sidelines with a sprained ankle. Andy Reid said after the game that it wasn't of the "high-ankle" variety. McNabb's status for Week 12 at New England is unknown, but Reid confirmed that he'll be the starter if he's healthy. Sadly, I'll be reppin The 700 Level at the bloodbath, 8 rows behind the Eagles bench.

Comments

[Chris]

Is there ANY reason we aren't even attempting to run the ball?

I'm gonna need more beer ...

[Joe Manning]

Tommorow is the one year anniversary of McNabb's season-ending ACL injury.

[PhanAddict]

My God. This game is terrible.

[GreggyD]

I complained earlier in the week that I would not be able to see the game today because it is on CBS and at Millersville Univ. they show the Steelers at 4:00 and not the Eagles. However, I could not be more excited that I do not have to watch this crapfest. I am listening to Merrill on NFL Field Pass and good lord am I glad that this game is not on TV. It could not be worse. If the Phins come back and win this game someone's head is going to be on the chopping block. And why is Kolb inactive??? Makes no sense whatsoever.

[the_major]

ah good ol millersville I miss the days of having to watch the steelers and or ravens over the eagles

[GreggyD]

Maybe this past drive will allow the fact to sink into Andy Reid's head that he has one of the premiere running backs in all of football in his backfield. Westbrook just torched the Dolphins defense and has over 130 yards on the game now and hes averaging almost 5.5 ypc.

I'm glad so many people are familiar with my situation here at Millersville. That's the second person to comment on it. Let's just hope the Eagles can stop the Phins on this drive.

[GreggyD]

What an effort by the Eagles defense inside the 5. I am highly impressed by what the defense did today and they, along with Brian Westbrook, are the reason the Eagles will pick up this W. They did a wonderful job today.

[El Ricko]

Wow, the Eagles came through with an outstanding nail-biter of a victory over... the winless Dolphins. Hooray.

Didn't get to watch the game, so you guys'll have to answer this question: Is the better performance after McNabb left the game just a turnaround in luck, or is it a sign that McNabb just truly sucks at running this offense? An how would the first half of the season gone with someone like Jeff Garcia behind center -- that is, someone who might lack McNabb's raw talent, but who is PROFICIENT at running the Eagles' offense? Granted, last season's turnaround after the Indy game had a lot to do with the porous defense finally filling the holes. But could it be that the team really isn't as bad as our record says -- a post-ACL blowout McNabb just isn't up to running it anymore?

Another question I had, related to Kolb's being inactive today: What's the word on his development? How has he looked in practices (does he get much practice)? Could it be that he was inactive because, well, he's just no good? I know, tough to imagine, the Eagles' completely blowing a draft pick...

[mike'm]

So the AP headline (over at ESPN) for this game's recap reads "Feeley fills in for McNabb, lifts Eagles past Dolphins". I'm pretty sure the game I saw featured Westbrook, and not Feeley, leading the Eagles over the 'Fins. Sure, Feeley played well and through a touchdown, but there is no way the Eagles win today without Westbrook's career day.

[mike'm]

*threw; Feeley threw a touchdown and I feel like a dumba##

[kate]

yeah.
as joe manning pointed out its the anniversery of his knee injury,
and im really not whatto think about it anymore.
but anyone see the last 11 seconds of the ravens game!?
sorry i live in baltimore,
and it makes my life that the eagles won,
and the ravens CHOKED.
soo funny.
and that interception by boller?!
all i could watch was the ravens game,
so i did.
and it made the fact that i couldnt watch the eagles game sooooo much better.

[John]

Why is J.R. Reed still on this team? We have a guy who can't move one of his legs without the assistance of a brace returning kickoffs. He's been cut by 4 teams but he's good enough to not only make the Eagles roster but return kicks an play safety on occasion.

[Jay]

That Westbrook kid might just have a future in this league.

[Doyle]

John-
here are your knocks on JR Reed-
Knock-he can't move leg without a brace.
Retort-good thing he wears a brace then.

Knock-he's been good enough to be cut by 4 teams, but make the Eagles roster.
Retort- the dropoff between our starters and the bottom of our roster is noticable - as is most NFL rosters. It's not like JR is a lynch pin on the team, and he probably won't be here next year.

Knock- and he plays safety and returns kicks.
Retort- Who else would you have return kicks? He at least has KR experiance (sadly can't say the same for PR experiance), and hey, we're not very deep at safety.

[Jay]

Knock-J.R. Reed Blows!

Retort-Yes, yes he does.

[will]

kolb is the 3rd string qb. the 3rd string(emergency) qb is always inactive. if he comes in, i believe no other qb can re-enter the game.

the only good thing about mcnabb getting hurt, sadly, is that it forces reid to rely on the team's best offensive player.

[El Ricko]

The NFC is batshit crazy.

If Dallas hangs on to beat Washington, then the Eagles will be in a 3-way (at least) tie for the last wildcard spot. One of those teams will be... Arizona. One of the teams higher up the wildcard ladder is... Detroit.

Nuttier than a fruitcake.

[El Ricko]

On the other hand, given their schedule down the stretch, the Eagles could end up 5-11.

[Joe Manning]

Speaking of J.R. Reed ... why was he in there so much today (at safety) ??

Is something wrong with Quintin Mikell ?

[Matt P]

Mikell left the game with an MCL sprain. Severity TBD. That oughta help next week.

[Sanganoski]

A win is a win and we'll take it, but, and this isn't a knock about our defense, they played great, I didn't think there was a coach out there that could look more confused than Gibbs did last week. This Miami coach, and I don't even know his name, doesn't have a clue on what's going on, 1st and goal at the one and you can't send a back into the line for a touch, at least 3 times and then take the three??? Seems to me there might be a "look in to" because the spread was 10 and the win was by ?????.

[Mark K_NJ]

I think AJ is reviving the "neck beard." He looked like a scruffy extra from The O.C. at the press conference. But hey, just hand the ball to 36 West and you'll do your job.

On another note...I see the Axe Man has returned doing Cherry Hill car commercials.

[MaddenFl]

So why was Kolb inactive? Did I miss the reason why?

[enrico]

The third string QB is never active for a game. If the second string QB, in this case Feeley, gets hurt, Kolb can then come into the game as the emergency QB, but at that point neither Donovan nor Feeley could return to the game.

[Tom]

It's easy to boo, to choose to look only on the negatives. How easily we all forget the many many plays made from nothing, the countless scrambles and electric plays, the amazing throws and unbelievable highlights. The things he made happen with nothing & nobody around him. Yet when our leader is down, how do we repay him for his many years of loyal service - we boo him? We kick him and spit in his face the way we did in his most proud hour entering the NFL as a rookie on draft day. We should all be ashamed of ourselves as fans, as fanatics & as Philadelphians. If I am the only one, I will rally behind #5 and support him as he rehabs his knee, his ankle, his pride. He deserves as many chances as he wants, and he deserves better than how we have treated him. Aside from the stupid black on black, black qb comments, he is a great QB.

[theKrisheim]

what was that about Eagles fans being terrible?

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/20/sports/football/20fans.html