Battle of the NFC has beens

12/02 1:00 PM ET	Opening	BetED	Sportsbook	WSEX	5Dimes	SPORTSBETTING
Seattle @ Philadelphia	43 -3	42.5 -3	42.5 -3	42 -3	42 -3	42.5 -3

Matchup

BONUS QUESTION: If McNabb starts, how much time will be left in the 1st quarter when the boos begin? Whoever is closest wins a Fox robot.

What I want for Christmas

A Fox robot!



Is there anything lamer?

Typical

Blogs are cool cuz you can quote yourself:

"56-10, eagles lose.

but theres a part of me that says the eagles keep it close and even have a chance to win but end up blowing it at the end. that would be the true philadelphia way."

Oh well. The Eagles did play their best game of the season. (I'm not counting the fluke against Detroit.) But in the end they made too many mistakes like spotting them 7 points in the first moments of the game and then the killer -- throwing a pass to the endzone on 2nd and 4 from the 30 when you want to eat up as much clock as possible. Run the damn ball! So despite all the great things Feeley did and was the Eagles best player, he ends up being the goat too. BUT at the same time, McNabb is NOT a better QB than Feeley and was NOT a better QB than Garcia either. He was once upon a time but not anymore and Feeley is only an above average backup.

Under Feeley the offense for the first time this year resembled let's say, a nicely tuned Honda Accord instead of the usual sputtering and stalling beater that McNabb pilots. The entire reason this game was enjoyable and entertaining (except for the end when Feeley reminded us why he's a backup) was because the offense put long sustained scoring drives together and kept the Patriots off the field. How odd the offense performed similarly last year when Garcia came in. I wonder why that is? Hmmmmm...

I guess the defense played good holding the Patriots to "only" 24 points but utimately they couldn't hold the lead. The defensive surprises of the game were the sacks and the pressure, JR Reid making Dawkins like hits, and consistently solid tackles all around. Gaither wasn't too bad in coverage either. The unsurprising things were lack of takeaways (the difference in the game) and giving up lots of 3rd down conversions.

Anyway it's late and I'm tired. But look for a big letdown next week by the Eagles and the same substandard blog posts as always by me.

Only 22?

11/25 8:15 PM ET	Opening	betED	Sportsbook	WSEX	5Dimes	SPORTSBETTING
Philadelphia @ New England	50.5 -22	OFF OFF	OFF OFF	50.5 -22	50.5 -22	OFF OFF

Matchup

Bonus Questions: In what quarter will McNabb leave the game? Also how many bad Thanksgiving puns will be uttered? "Birds roasted", "These Eagles are turkeys. Perhaps Ben Franklin was right about our national bird!", etc.

There's a reason the Dolphins are 0-10

Another near unwatchable game against another horrible opponent that outsucked the Eagles. Eagles started the game in typical Eagles fashion - flat and anemic. Against one of the worst defenses in the league and the 30th ranked run defense, the Eagles for the first half managed 3 measly points. A large part of that can be attributed to the idiocy of Andy Reid's game plan of insisting on constantly throwing the ball, McNabb's horribleness at quarterbacking and throwing the ball, and LJ Smith's idiocy and horribleness.

Before getting hurt McNabb was 3 for 11, 34 yards, 2 interceptions and a couple of good runs. He did have a long 49 yard flea flicker TD pass but that was wiped out by LJ Smith holding. (Interrupting this game summary I'd like to propose a new term called the "LJ Smith Hat Trick". This would be 1 drop, 1 penalty, and 1 turnover. LJ had a drop, 2 killer penalties, and a horrible missed block that led to Feeley getting blindsided and fumbling and then to top that LJ couldn't manage to fall on the ball. So essentially he was responsible for the turnover twice. Lucky for him and the Eagles the play was offside.) As the first half progressed with the offense sputtering and McNabb throwing horrible picks, at a very opportune time McNabb was hit after another incompletion and got his ankle all bent up. He walked off the field on his own with barely a limp but was sent to the locker room for x-rays. I doubt that would have happened if he wasn't so awful and he definitely would have been starting the 2nd half. Remember the Arizona game a million years ago? The injury was a very convenient reason for Reid to sit him down.

Feeley came in and finished off the half just as bad as McNabb had started it. Then a miracle happened at halftime. Reid had a revelation and decided to start feeding the ball to Westbrook. Woohoo! Feeley was effective with the short passing game, Westbrook was great running the ball with Buckhalter chipping in with a few as well, the defense shut the Dolphins out including a great goal line stand, and the special teams didn't give up another return for a TD. When the borefest finally ended, the Eagles had managed to win and reach .500 for the season.

Other notes:

• Eagles have given up 30 sacks, 2nd most in the NFL, but none today.
• On McNabbs first interception he had all damn day to find someone open. On his second pick he had Westbrook on a 8 yard crossing route wide open and plenty of open space down the right side of the field ahead of him.
• The DirectTV ad with Beyonce is the worst.
• CBS's coverage today was way better than the usual from Fox. They had replays when you wanted them, a good eye in the sky replay view, no Siragusa and no dancing robots.
• Rich Gannon is ok but repeats way too much of the conventional wisdom that you wouldn't say if you watched all the Eagles games this season.
• After the Eagles went up 17-7 the defense predictably relaxed. But they held at the goal line aided by a horrible 4th down call. But overall the defense was really good. There's a reason the Dolphins are 0-10.
• Only Dolphins would allow the 3rd down swing pass to Tapeh to work. There's a reason they're 0-10.

Who starts for the turkey slaughter up in New England next week? Hopefully Feeley so they run the ball a bunch again. It's their only chance.

Gary Papa said on the news, "Let's hope the Eagles can put the squeeze on Cleo Lemon".

11/18 1:00 PM ET	Opening	BetED	Sportsbook	WSEX	5Dimes	SPORTSBETTING
Miami @ Philadelphia	40 -3.5	40.5 -10	40.5 -10	40.5 -10	40.5 -10	40.5 -10

Matchup

BONUS QUESTION: Does anybody know who Cleo Lemon is?

Taking out the Trash

When perennial Pro-Bowler James Trash went down with a leg injury during a kick-off return following the Eagles go ahead touchdown, the wheels came off the Redskins offense. Before that the future Hall of Famer had 85 yards and 2 touchdowns and was certainly going to be key in any Redskins game winning drive. Instead the Eagles defense, which provided little resistance most of the game, suddenly looked like the Eagles defense of old and the Eagles held on for the win.

In actuality the Eagles deserved to lose this game but the Redskins did themselves in all game. One of their key mistakes was Cooley's false start that helped the Eagles hold the Redskins to a field goal late. On the play Trash was wide open in the endzone too. Then again the Eagles, well mainly McNabb, did everything they could to lose the game as well. When will McNabb ever learn to throw the ball away? Never, I know. When will LJ Smith ever learn not to fumble? Never, I know. But McNabb did redeem himself with a brilliantly thrown ball to Reggie Brown for a TD and later a clutch go ahead for good 57 yard TD pass to Westbrook. ALL McNabb.

Other notes:

• McNabb sucked. But how was he 20-28, 251 yards and 4 TDs?
• I will give McNabb credit for some really good scrambles and runs with the ball, but how many horrible, drive killing passes did McNabb throw this game?
• How bad were the throws on the 2pt conversions?
• Westbrook is great.
• On the long screen play for a TD, loved Runyan's forearm shiver to the head block.
• LJ Smith probably fumbles once every 10 passes caught.
• Remember back in the day when the offense would turn it over the defense would hold the opposition to a field goal almost every time? Well they did it once today, with the Redskins help, and it won the game.
• Special teams suck on returns. They crossed the 30 once on kick-offs.
• Avant, when you catch the ball right at the first down marker, lean forward moron, don't run backwards.
• Way to go for it from your own 40 Reid. Good call.
• That call on Greg Lewis was crap. Then the refs probably made up for it by calling Springs for illegal contact on the next play. But Fox, as usual, didn't bother showing a replay.
• Did the Redskins let Westbrook run in for that 10 yard TD untouched on purpose?
• Can you believe the Eagles won this game?

Addendum: So I actually watched a bit of post-game player reaction on the news and was pretty amused by it. Many actually thought they won this game because they had heart and never quit and stuff like that, not that the Redskins gave it to them. I guess they have to say crap like that but how can they actually believe it? It was like the Eagles were playing themselves - wasted time outs, terrible clock management, missed PATs, dropped passes, fumbles when driving (but McNabb gave it right back), penalites at the worst possible time, penalties keeping the opposing offense on the field, penalites keeping your offense out of the endzone. It made the game fun though. After they squeak by the Dolphins they'll be talking Super Bowl.

Also, what Reid was whispering into McNabb's ear: How 'bout that Westbrook! A third round pick and the best guy on the team! You want to go in halfsies with me on a nice watch and dinner at Bookbinders for him?

Another Sunday afternoon of dross

11/11 1:00 PM ET	Opening	betED	Sportsbook	WSEX	5Dimes	SPORTSBETTING
Philadelphia @ Washington	38 -3	38 -2.5	37.5 -2.5	38 -3	38 -2.5	37.5 -2.5

Matchup

Bonus Question: What game will Kolb make his first appearance?

Casualties of the NFL

As fans we all like the rip and criticize the malfunctioning millionaires that crush our hopes every Sunday during the fall and winter, but lots of them pay a heavy price for our entertainment, not just physically but mentally and financially as well. Mens Journal has an article worth reading on the permanent and often severe damage done to players in the NFL during their short careers. Read it if you have the time.

They put their bodies on the line every Sunday to stage the most brutal, ravishing, and profitable pageant in sports. But in a scandal of staggering proportions, they play hurt, sustain severe physical and mental damage, and are denied help when they need it most.

Andy Reid looking for a fix

Last Christmas in Dallass the Eagles won 23-7 with Garcia at QB. In 2007, Dallass beats the Eagles 38-17 in Philadelphia. How can there be such a huge reversal? The Eagles were beaten in every single aspect of the game. They got their ass kicked on the offensive and defensive lines, in coaching, in preparation, in QBing, in receiving, in running, in defending, in turnovers, etc. But with the recent sentencing of Reid's criminal sons they did beat out Dallass and Tank Johnson in related criminal activity and jailtime stats.

This season has been over for weeks now, but it's now become just as obvious that "the window is closed". McNabb is done, Reid is done, Jim Johnson is done, and lots of changes are needed in skill positions. WEAK is the word. Colb is the next QB but look at the slop he's going to have to throw to. Who is going to block for him? And the defense is just going to get worse. And Marty Mornhinweg is going to be the next coach. Time to start accepting that the Eagles are going to suck for the next several years to come. Oh well.

Other notes:

• McNabb single handedly gave Dallass 14 points and pretty much blew any chance the Eagles had of winning this game.
• Madden's critique of McNabb's lack of interceptions was spot on - his bad passes suck so much no one has a chance to catch it - but he left out that 80% of his good passes are 5 yarders to his 3rd option, aka Westbrook.
• Will McNabb ever learn to throw the ball away? Rhetorical question I know. You'd think he's have perfected it by now since it's obvious his crap receivers can't get open.
• How bad was that interception down the middle? Brutal.
• McNabb is so easy to bring down right now I could do it.
• I can only remember 1 long pass downfield attempted all game. Wasn't this supposed to be how to attack Dallass?
• Defense is a joke. How stupid were they on TO's TD?
• No pressure at all on Romo all game. Did Kearse and Howard even play?
• Compare Considine's coverage in the endzone to Dawkin's. Who could have guessed that facing the QB and seeing the ball would be the way to go?
• Lito had a nice pick but bounced off Owens twice trying to tackle him, including his TD.
• Dallass converted on 8 of 12 third downs.
• Dallass had over 400 total yards in offense.
• TO had 175 yards.
• Down 28-7 and you kick a field goal?
• Stop helping Dallass players up.
• It took NBC till 5:51 left in the game to show and talk about cheesesteaks. No mention of throwing snowballs at Santa Claus though.
• Dallass still sucks.

Does anybody care who the Eagles play next?