The Birds traveled to Dallas this early evening for their 1st game at the Cowboys brand new stadium. With a win they would finish 12-4 overall, win the NFC East, and clinch a 1st round bye as the #2 seed in the NFC, a golden opportunity for them to perhaps host the NFC championship game and get back to the superbowl for the first time since losing to the Patriots back in 2005. Unfortunately, it wasn't to be. Coming into the season the Eagles had the 2nd youngest team in the NFL, in terms of average age and they really showed that youth on this day. For many of the Birds this was their first taste of a high pressure situation and they just weren't ready to handle it. There were 6 dropped passes, poor run defense, blitzes that didn't work because of the poor run defense and overall just a total lack of execution and focus. All of which led to a bitter 24-0 loss to the Cowboys. Despite missing Jamal Jackson at center the Eagles o-line actually held up just fine. Donovan Mcnabb had time to throw, but his receivers either dropped his passes or didn't get open. Mcnabb himself also missed an opportunity early in the game when he overthrew Desean Jackson down the field, on a play that could have gone for 6. At the same time though, it appeared Jackson stopped running once he got open and starting looking for the ball before Donovan ever let it go. If he had just kept going at full stride he probably would have been able to run under Donovan's throw. When they ran the ball they did it okay, but they just fell behind so quickly that they didn't have time to run that much. Ultimately, you can't blame one person or another for this one. It was a total team loss. The Bird just didn't have it today for whatever reason. So the Eagles finish 11-5 overall, 2nd in the NFC East, and 6th in the NFC which means they will go back to Dallas next week for a wild card matchup. Given that Andy and Donovan have never lost a wild card game, while Tony Romo and Wade Philips have never won a playoff game, there is still a good chance the Birds will get through next week at least, but it will be very tough for them to beat the Saints in the divisional round, although New Orleans has been struggling as of late so who knows.
2 comments:
Just an ugly ugly game to watch. It seemed like nothing was working for the Eagles. The only positive thing to say about this game is that its motivation for the Eagles to spank the Cowboys next game. Everyone is going to have ot play better if they want to get somewhere in the playoffs.
-to ph1llysports
yeah this just wasn't good enough
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