Gameday: Eagles Trying To Hold It Together

When the schedule was originally released in April, this looked like one of the most difficult games on paper, a trip out west against a perennial playoff contender they only see every four years, right on the heels of back-to-back-to-back battles against division rivals. Nobody could predict at that time though the magnitude and the number of injuries they would have already incurred to this point.

The defense is haggard right now, but making matters worse will be a huge loss on offense, in both impact and size. Despite making his best effort to play, Jason Peters will sit out today. Todd Herremans will slide over to left tackle, where he at least had the benefit of a few reps in practice this week. The guards will be some combination of Nick Cole, Max Jean-Gilles, and the dreaded Stacy Andrews. Andrews allowed two easy sacks last week that proved very costly in the outcome of the game.

If they're going to win, that group is going to have to keep Donovan McNabb upright. As we noted Friday, the beleaguered defense figures to have some trouble matching up with all of San Diego's weapons, so they're going to need points. That shouldn't prove to be much of an issue if McNabb is comfortable in the pocket, but that won't be the case if Shawne Merriman spends his afternoon in the Eagles backfield. Merriman appears to be just beginning to get back to himself, and has posted 4.0 sacks in their last two games.

Brian Westbrook is actually going to play today. We've seen Andy Reid use a surprisingly balanced offense even in his absence, and if he sticks to that again today, it might take some of the pressure off the line. LeSean McCoy has looked excellent and is starting to show some explosion, but hopefully the re-insertion of 36 doesn't eliminate the touches Leonard Weaver was starting to see. He's really been a factor in the past few weeks, and they should stick with him in those tricky short yardage situations.

The only bit of relief the Eagles can take into this difficult west coast trip is this is an out of conference game, and a loss doesn't hurt them too badly in the standings. They'll simply sit beside a host of middle-of-the-road teams, but in good tiebreaker position with their division and conference records, poised for another December run to the playoffs. A win would certainly help take the taste of last week's loss out of everybody's mouths though.

Comments

[phillyfan412]

A loss doesn't end the season, but the schedule only gets tougher from here. I'm not exactly confident in a playoff run considering they went 5-3 in the easiest stretch of the season.

That being said, they're at a huge disadvantage right now with all the injuries. As I said before, I'm really surprised the injury situation hasn't gotten more attention. The injuries that they've had this year could not be any more numerous and costly.

[phillyfan412]

Oh, great. TE screen on 3rd and 5. Terrific play-call.

[will.H]

huge facemask on desean, no call and of course, no replay.

[Justin Evans]

McNabb and Reid continuing to prove day in and day out that the years of 2001-2004 were very contingent on such a pathetic NFC.

[will.H]

i dont often lose my cool with a regular season game.. but if we get another penalty on a good return im going to swan dive into a pile of shit.

[Zack]

Are the Eagles the most penalized team in the NFL?

If not they have to be like top 3

[phillyfan412]

This team is mind-boggling. What the hell are they doing going long to Reggie Brown on a 3rd and long? You haven't trusted him enough to even get him on the field all season long and now all of a sudden we're relying on him on 3rd and 8? Unbelievable...

[Trevor McFur]

There's a whippin' brewing in San Diego this afternoon.

[will.H]

quick poll.. has anyone seen jason avant drop a pass, ever?

[Spoony G]

Down 14-0, Westbrook might as well be in street clothes for the 2nd half.

[Trevor McFur]

Gotta go for it here.

[BadMotherFutley]

Can't punch it in from the 1? Special teams penalties? At least the problems are new, right?

[Zack]

that last drive illustrates why the Eagles will never win a super bowl

Absolutely pathetic...first and goal on the 1...you have to kick a field goal. How can a team STILL be this atrocious on short yard plays?

Guess they should keep using practice time for those wildcat plays with Vick instead of working on short yardage plays

[Justin Evans]

What about this shit does Lurie find so appealing?

[phillyfan412]

Field goal does absolutely no good there. Then again, they stood no chance on a 4th and goal there.

Side note: How many of you know good teams who will invariably fail in every single short yardage situation they face, for years on end?

[will.H]

utilize your best players, dont give it to weaver, celek and buckley. 1st ang goal from the 1 doesnt = cute. just run three times and call it a day if you cant punch it in.

[phillyfan412]

Thank you for losing 15 yards by taking a fair catch at the 5. Excellent strategy.

[Fall River]

Why did we pick up Weaver again? Short yardage or something?

[Creighton Rabs]

It's official. Andy Reid is a spineless coward. HOW THE FUCK DO YOU NOT GO FOR IT ON 4TH AND GOAL FROM INSIDE THE FUCKING 1 YARD LINE?!? HOW?!?

Does Reid WANT this team to lose out the rest of the season? Does he really want to get fired?

GROW A SET OF BALLS, BIG RED, AND GO FOR IT! THIS IS WHY THE IGGLES WILL NEVER WIN A SUPER BOWL AS LONG AS YOU ARE COACHING THIS TEAM.

And, while you're at it, could you please remind the defense that Ladanian Tomlinson is supposed to be washed up?

As for the original gist of the thread, injuries are not killing this season. Stupid and untimely penalties, McNabb's erratic accuracy (or lack thereof), recivers who drop key passes, a defense that is inconsistent at best, and a coach who can't seem to seal the deal in a big game are the reasons that the Iggles could (and the way things are going, probably will) miss the postseason.

If Jeff Lurie really gave a shit about the fans, he would fire Andy Reid at the end of the season. And I don't care how much it costs, HIRE BILL COWHER!

[REAAAZY]

this isn't really a complaint. i'm just wondering. have we ran the ball ever on 3rd and 3 this year?

[BadMotherFutley]

I think it's becoming clear that Andy Reid has David Akers on his fantasy team.

[Zack]

@REEEAZY

Eagles cannot pick up first downs on 3rd and 1

why would they run it on 3rd and 3?

[phillyfan412]

LMAO! Second running play in probably the last 15 offensive plays and it comes on 2nd and goal from the 9. They really are hapless.

[Trevor McFur]

Amazing they're only down by 8.

[will.H]

futley,

i laughed, good work.

[Creighton Rabs]

Here's a 700Level.com exclusive: Andy Reid's favorite dance is the "Chicken Dance."

And, of course, word is he was wearing this t-shirt while performing said chicken dance: "My boys visited the Red Zone twice and all I got were these lowsy field goals (and this half-assed t-shirt that's three sizes to small).

How else to explain his play calling inside the 10?

[Marc]

I just turned the game on and I see it's 3rd and goal on the 10. I KNEW they would throw the ball and it wouldn't be in the end zone (since they had to score a TD). I said they'll throw the ball to about the 5 and PRAY the receiver gets in. Well, obviously I was wrong. From the 10 yard line @ 3rd and goal he threw it to the 11, not the 5. Needless to say, Celek wasn't even within sniffing distance to the end zone.

For the first time I can remember, it seems Andy Reid is getting criticized nationally for his HORRENDOUS play calling. The national media has ALWAYS said that Philly fans are crazy wanting Reid & McNabb out of town saying that we won't know what we have until they're gone. This tells me that Reid is getting shit-canned after this year (esp. since he apparently didn't get his liitle contract extension they were talking about 4 or 5 weeks ago). I wish being fired on nobody, but Reid's time in Philly is OVER. He is too stubborn to be a GREAT football coach. He's good, but will NEVER be great until he stops being so stubborn.

And McNabb sucks too. I can throw the ball 4 yards left of the receiver and 3 yards short (into the dirt). It's been 10 years man. God, you suck. And your smile afterwards just aggravates me even more.

Sorry for ranting, but it is what it is.

[phillyfan412]

Is there anyone that thinks they're going to win this game?

[El Ricko]

Sheldon Brown out with hammy pull.

[El Ricko]

Put Vick in the secondary?

[will.H]

marc, the only vet he has to throw to is reggie brown. the only talent right now in the backfield is brinjury westbrook. the o-line is a mash unit. lets call it what it is.. a team out of sync.

[phillyfan412]

Down by 8. Running game: abandoned.

[El Ricko]

Wow, McNabb sacked himself. Nice work, dickbag.

[phillyfan412]

Donovan McNabb must throw short of the 1st down line on 3rd down more than any other quarterback in the NFL.

[will.H]

i actually like 3rd and 20 better, good work rook

[Jay]

This team is just too predictable. They're not going anywhere.

When do pitchers and catchers report again?

[will.H]

more pansy calls, horray

[phillyfan412]

I knew that was Samuel who missed the tackle without even seeing him. He'll miss that tackle every single time.

[El Ricko]

F! L! Y! E! R! S! FLYERS!

[phillyfan412]

Thank God they let Brian Dawkins go, with all of the sound tacklers on this defense.

[Zack]

Man...I gave the Eagles D way too much credit for fantasy...LT is having his best game of the season

[will.H]

we got 'em right where we want 'em

[phillyfan412]

Big game tomorrow night with the Devils coming to town. Go Flyers!

[BadMotherFutley]

@412

Fokou makes some nice tackles. They're just all either out of bounds or when he's blocking for a kick return.

[phillyfan412]

@ BMF

I lol'd.

[Creighton Rabs]

I know this much... That weasel Merril Hoge is going to have a field day tearing Philadelphia a new one.

And LT just scored again... GAME OVER, GOOD NIGHT.

THANK YOU ANDY REID AND MARTY MORNINGWIG FOR YET ANOTHER WASTED SUNDAY OF CHICKEN-SHIT PLAY CALLING, ESPECIALLY IN THE RED ZONE.
THANK YOU DONOVAN F MCNABB FOR YET ANOTHER SPOTTY PERFORMANCE.
THANK YOU #53 (AKA "MR. FUCK-YOU" OR HOWEVER YOU SPELL YOUR FUCKING NAME) FOR ANOTHER STUPID PENALTY THAT ALL BUT KILLED THIS TEAM AT THE WORST POSSIBLE TIME.
THANK YOU TO THE REST OF THE DEFENSE FOR PLAYING LIKE SHIT FOR THE SECOND WEEK IN A ROW.

Did I leave anyone out?

Right now, I'd rather be watching the Packers try to beat the Cowgirls than watch this sorry, half-assed exhibition by the Iggles.

[phillyfan412]

This team never ceases to amaze. Can't really do anything but laugh anymore.

[Creighton Rabs]

@ BMF

You got that right...

[phillyfan412]

Over/under on timeouts they have left by the 2 minute mark of the 4th quarter: 0.5.

[will.H]

if brian westbrook gets the ball in the redzone, im afraid he might pass it

[Creighton Rabs]

WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?

And, yes, I know I'm "yelling" but I'm kinda pissed off at the way these morons are playing today.

[will.H]

4 more field goals and we can tie the game!

[phillyfan412]

When I saw there was a flag on that kickoff I literally said to myself "somehow this will be against the Eagles". And sure enough!

[Creighton Rabs]

Billick on the Iggles D: "They can make life tough for you."

What game is this jackass watching?

[phillyfan412]

I hate Samuel. I don't care how many interceptions he gets, he's an unbelievably horrible tackler and he gives up big plays at key moments in every single game.

[BadMotherFutley]

Naanee Naanee
Naanee Naanee
Hey Hey Hey
Good Bye

[nevergonnawinasuperbowl]

E-A-G... FUCK THE EAGLES (and andy reid and pretty much everyone else)

[Creighton Rabs]

@ Zack

To answer your earlier question, the Iggles are the 5th most penalized team in the league.

They sure as hell are playing like it today.

[Zack]

@Phillyfan

I agree...it is just kind of funny at this point

[phillyfan412]

McNabb will easily have over 50 passes in this game. He'll probably get hurt again.

[will.H]

actually, 7 more field goals and we're right back in this.

[BadMotherFutley]

I know the game's over, but how was that not 15 yards on the late push out of bounds?

[Jeremys14]

The real question is, when is one of the media pussies going to get real with McNabb and Reid at their press conferences?

Ask them the damn questions we all ask ourselves every Sunday!!!!!!!!!

Someone needs to hold them accountable for why they do the shitty things they do ever GD week!...and dont give me the "i need to to a better job" speech. Fuckin do it!!!

[will.H]

futley, i saw that.. cromartie on maclin. he shoved him after he was PAST the white box. unheard of.. especially after fokku's bump on LT 3 feet out of bounds.

[Trevor McFur]

Yay.

[Dave]

Can we please end the "Gocong as MLB" expirement? He's been atrocious today, either running directly into blockers (which he's completely unable to shed) or making the wrong read entirely.

[Creighton Rabs]

WOW! Was that a touchdown by the Iggles? I forgot what an Iggle touchdown was like...

[will.H]

i feel like im on a complaining binge, but why the hell do we want to be down by 12? go for two, you're down by 11 (fg, td/conversion). if you miss the conversion, youre still down by 13 and you still need two TD's.

[BadMotherFutley]

Did Andy's 2-point conversion chart get wet?

[phillyfan412]

No penalty on the kickoff there! We're making progress...

[Mark D.]

Don't think McNabb is going to get grilled by the "media pussies" today, guy is on pace for 400 yards. Standard amount of grounders, but he's playing decent considering we've stopped running. This game is on the D and the penalties giving away absurd field position.

Don't worry, there is still time to find a tenuous reason to blame him for the potential loss. Game isn't close to over either.

Hope you fairweather kooks remember these kinds of comments when they're winning. Sure is fun to enjoy the thrill of victory and then spit venom when things go poorly. Lot easier than believing in the team and just quietly hoping they win.

/awaiting the lame superfan rebuttal that ignores the basic argument that you're a bunch of frontrunners.

[Adam B]

@Jeremys14:

Who's gonna ask the question(s)?

What are the questions to ask? "Do you have no faith in the runners? No faith in the O-line? All that faith in Donovan? All that faith in Marty M? Did you see something in the Chargers' D?"

And do you really think Reid's going to "answer" the question, or even display any sort of emotion beyond stonewalling when the media questions his actions?

I haven't been this angered by the team in a long time, but today's game has been a microcosm of the Reid-McNabb era, highlighting Every. Single. Big. Problem.

[sean]

So. That it for Westbrook's career? If so, a shame.

[phillyfan412]

This will end up being close but they'll lose once again because they didn't have enough timeouts to stop the clock.

[Zack]

@Mark D

We are a bunch of frontrunners?....it has been the same old shit every single year!

They never run the ball / McNabb has to throw 60 passes a game/ cannot EVER convert short yardage

I can already call it...somehow the Eagles will go on this huge win streak to end the season and get into the playoffs. They will beat their first (and maybe second) opponent and we will all think "hey...they finally got it together" Then they get to the next game...look like absolute shit...and we are back to the offseason again.

It is basically the exact same script every single season. I don't know how you can call that being a frontrunner

[Mark D.]

I sure hope Westy is ok. If not, I'm sorry his two brilliant seasons came a few years too late. He created a shitload of memories for fans these past 5-6 years.

...This game is not over, but a Kaeding FG seems likely coming up.

[Adam B]

@ Mark D.:

Yeah, the D had everything to do with us getting just 9 points in three early red-zone trips. Sure.

We've just scored our second TD in the fourth quarter, which is great. Both were on passes. None of this changes the fact that we can't run the ball, play smart/non-penalized football, or manage the clock when we should, when we're supposed to, consistently.

I can root for the team and still be pissed enough to call for someone's head.

[will.H]

if we win, it'll epitomize why we love football. if we lose, it'll epitomize why we get so frustrated with football.

[phillyfan412]

Game over. Same story, different week, same end result.

[BadMotherFutley]

When was the last time the D managed to get off the field on a crucial 3rd down?

[phillyfan412]

Hey Mark D., I'm sorry none of us can be the fan that you are and tolerate the same old mistakes every single goddamn week.

Questions for you: How long have they been wasting timeouts? How long have they been abandoning the running game? How long have they been unable to win a close game? How long ago did they last win a Super Bowl? Get over yourself.

[BadMotherFutley]

Last hope is that this game ends like the last time the Eagles played SD.

[Creighton Rabs]

Anyone else get a sense of deja vu? No time outs in the last two minutes and the opposing offense is grinding the clock down to the inevitable end.

[phillyfan412]

Clock has been screwed up all game long. It's been going for two seconds after every whistle.

[El Ricko]

Potential end of the game, poetic justice version: Eagles get a miracle touchdown, but can't convert the 2-point conversion.

[will.H]

complain alert again, but did anyone else notice the 3 seconds dripping off the clock after every whistle on that drive? i hate football.

[El Ricko]

Or I guess there's that, too.

[Creighton Rabs]

Well, at least the Cowgirls are losing to the Packers.

[phillyfan412]

@ will h.

That's what I was saying. Oh well. With the amount of extra time that rolled off the clock, they would've had one more play on which they would've scored a touchdown but missed the two-point conversion. So it's probably better off...

[BadMotherFutley]

Good news: 10-6 will win this awful division.
Bad news: Trying to envision a 5-2 run to finish the season.

[Creighton Rabs]

I'm sure the NFL will investigate the "clock issues" in San Diego today... Of course, since the "other" team in question is the Iggles, don't count on it.

[El Ricko]

Welp, here we go: No running game against a terrible run defense? Check. Shitty play in the redzone? Check. Absolutely horrific management of clock, short-yardage, and 3rd- and 4th-down situations? Check check check.

Andy Reid's Philadelphia Eagles, ladies and gentlemen.

[Creighton Rabs]

@ futley

I wouldn't be shocked if 9-7 wins this division.

[Jeremys14]

@AdamB

I have been in those press conferences back in '03! They are rediculous. The fans (who might I add, theoretically pay their salaries) deserve the right to know why it is they can't convert from the 1 yard line over and over and over and over again. The media and writers shouldn't settle for the "I gotta do a better job of blah blah blah" Its been like that for 10 years! Why can't he finally put some bitches in the right positions.

@MarkD

You don't know any of us!!! How can you call us front runners. How about passioniate and sick of the same shit!! You go ahead and be happy with mediocrity in the city, but this city is better than that. The Eagels had 10 years of "just being good enough" and especially after seeing the way the Phillies franchise has done it, we as a fan base aren't going to nor should put up with it.

You can be optimistic, we all can. But that doesn't mean we dont have the right to bitch about seeing this insanity the last 10 years!! (and we all know the definition of insane)

[Mark D.]

Front running (channeling my inner J-Roll) was a poor choice of words. I guess my point is, if you're so freaking sick of the same old, same old, find something else to do with your time. Pissing and moaning every week about the same thing is the definition of insanity as well..

Don't know any of you, yes, and I imagine if my comment resonated with you, you probably felt it applied to you.

Look, we all love this team. I'm fighting a losing battle with my optimistic fan theme here, so I'll quit it with these types of posts. I just feel strongly that jumping on & off the wagon to save yourself some sort of emotional pain is chickensh*t. If that's not your M.O, and you truly want Reid/McNabb/etc. gone, then I would assume you'll refrain from enjoying the victories and stay on the sidelines as a fan during the victories while they're here. Anything else, seems to me to be a half-ass commitment and disingenuous. But whatever, each his own. Go Birds. NFC East is still there for the taking.

[Ben E]

I don't care about winning the division anymore. We've done that what five times in the Reid era. It's Super Bowl or bust at this point, and it's not looking good. Horrendous game management all year.

[michael scotch]

F Reid, he is an idiot.

Im also sick of hearing, "the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." That is not f'ing definition of insanity, it is Einsteins definition of insanity. Honestly, Einsteins definition does not make much sense.