EAGLES NEWS

It was not a positive season opener for the Birds today. Leonard Weaver and Jamaal Jackson were both likely lost for the season today. Meanwhile, Stewart Bradley and Kevin Kolb both went down with concussions and could be out for a few games. The Eagles also committed a whopping 10 penalties and struggled with their kick return coverage all the day long. Despite all that they actually had a chance at the end to tie the game and force overtime, which just goes to show you the true talent level on this team.

The story of the first half for the Birds was their defense which had them ahead 3-0 until late in the 2nd quarter. Then Stewart Bradley left the game and Packers were able quickly score 10 points to claim a 13-3 lead at the half. The Eagles' offense did very little in the first half. Kolb completed just 5 of 10 passes for 24 yards and the Birds never really even came close to the end zone. Desean Jackson and Brent Celek both had 0 catches in the 1st half. Kolb just couldn't link up with them. He had time to throw most of the time but he just seemed lost and unsure of who to throw to. Part of that was probably the untreated concussion he suffered and then strangely played through until half time, but on the whole he just wasn't sharp. David Akers did look good booting a 45 yard field goal, after Aaron Rodgers tossed the 1st of his 2 interceptions, but that was the only Eagle highlight in the 1st half.

Early in the 2nd half the Packers took advantage of the Bradley - less Eagles defense to run up another 14 points and a 27-10 lead. After that though, the Eagle defense strengthened and Mike Vick finally energized the offense with a pair of scoring drives. In the 3rd quarter Lesean McCoy capped off a 60 yard drive with a 12 yd TD run. Early in the 4th quarter Vick fired a 17 yard TD pass to Jeremy Maclin to cut it to 27-17. Then Nate Allen hauled Aaron Rodgers 2nd interception of the day, setting up another Aker's field goal to cut it to 27-20, after Vick and the offense were unable to punch it in from 1st and goal at the 10. The defense held again on the next drive, setting the stage for Vick to take the Eagles down the field for the tying score. He drove them down to the Packer's 42 yard line where the Eagles had a 4th and 1 with a little under 2 minutes left to play. Vick took himself on a QB draw but was stuffed short of the 1st down by Clay Matthews and Packers ran out the clock from there for the 27-20 win.

Ultimately the Eagles weren't expected to win today so isn't a total downer that they didn't. It really hurts though that they are once again without a proven center and fullback. It's going to be tough now for them to run the ball for the remainder unless Eldra Buckley learns how to block quickly, or they bring in another talented fullback. Mike Vick had a very good game, completing 16 of 24 passes for 174 yards and a TD and rushing for 103 more. It did look he could have run for a touchdown on 3rd and goal from the 5 with the Birds down 27-17, but he threw incomplete instead. That was really his only mistake of the game. If not for Vick if would have been an awful day for the Eagles' offense but he redeemed them somewhat. Still, Lesean McCoy was the leading receiver with 42 yards and Vick himself was leading rusher with 103yards, not exactly a winning formula. If nothing else the Eagles defense seems to be in good hands, as long as Stewart Bradley can stay on the field.