So who's gonna win?

I got nothin'.

Pathetic

Despite 4 sacks and 4 turnovers, the Eagles still managed to lose this game. McNabb's winning streak at Chicago is over and the Eagles losing streak in prime time continues. Eagles are now in a must win game next week vs. Washington to keep pace with the NFC East.

Both sides of the ball took turns losing this game. In the first half, the Eagles lost the field position battle and the all-star secondary was burnt repeatedly for TDs. DeSean Jackson's punt return fumble didn't help the cause either. In the second, the field position situation reversed but the offense couldn't take advantage, dropping the ball repeatedly and failing miserably in the red zone. They had the ball twice inside the 5 and only got 3 points. And if you can't score a TD from the 2 (or 1) on 3 tries you deserve to lose. The offense puts up the points in the first half every game and then almost nothing in the second. You can blame Reid who always gets outcoached with the halftime adjustments. And let's not forget Shakers, who can't make anything over 40 yards anymore.

I'm sure the Eagles will try and excuse the loss by saying they would have won with Westbrook. Well, they should have won without him, but they blew it. This game felt a lot like a game from last year.

Other notes:

• It's good to know when LJ goes out the Eagles can just plug in the backups and theres no discernible difference.
• As usual, first drive of the game and the defense gives up points.
• Great pass on the TD to Jackson.
• McNabb really didn't throw a bad pass until he threw that one behind Reggie Brown late in the first.
• Can Darren Howard play tight end? Nice catch on his interception.
• Kudos to Michaels for not saying, "Akers was making them from 60 in warm-ups." But then again he probably wasn't making them from 60 in warm-ups.
• Should have gone for it on 4th and 1 anyway instead of try a 50 yard FG.
• How fat is Madden's thumb?
• Am I the only one that thinks that spot on third down right before the 2 minute warning was terrible and gave Chicago a first down?
• Orton fumbled that before the end of the half. He lost the ball, it popped up in the air, and then he pushed it forward on the follow through.
• Madden and Michaels didn't mention the Cubs until the start of the third quarter. Must be because baseball is on Fox.
• Kudos to Quintin Mikell, who unlike every moron in the NFL, took a knee in the endzone instead of running out and getting tackled at the 4.
• Good thing Reid passed on Felix Jones because he already had Booker in house.
• I can't believe the end around worked 3x in this game.
• McNabb didn't even make a move once to run with the ball.
• Is everyone as shocked as me regarding the fumbles? Eagles keep getting almost everything the other team puts on the ground.
• How about a QB sneak from the 1 yard line?
• How about a real fullback on the team?
• Hey Schoebel, how about blocking someone on 4th and goal, like maybe #96? Great job. Would LJ have made that play?
• All game the defense stuffed Forte except of course on 3rd and 6 and the game on the line.

At least Dallass and the Mets lost too.

Repeat NL East Champs

Phillies are once again NL East Champs, this year after 161 games instead of 162. (They're improving!) But I was pretty sure Lidge was going to blow his first save of the season because that would be the Philadelphia way. And he almost did, doing a Mitch Williams impression as he allowed a run and loaded the bases before Rollins saved the day with a great diving play to start the game winning 6-4-3 double play and a region wide exhalation. Rollins acknowledged the drama in his post game Fox interview by remarking, "It wouldn't be the Philly way if it was easy."

No, it wouldn't.

Favored vs. the Bears

9/28 8:15 PM ET	Opening	betED	Logans	5Dimes	SPORTSBETTING
Philadelphia @ Chicago	41 3	40.5 3	OFF OFF	40.5 3	OFF OFF

Matchup

BONUS QUESTION: How many times during the broadcast will it be mentioned that McNabb is from Chicago?

Green Curtain

When was the last time the Eagles defensively dominated the other team so thoroughly? 1991? And how satisfying was it to watch? Makes me wish I had a Tivo so I could watch it again. For the day the defense had 9 sacks, 2 forced fumbles AND they recovered both of them, 1 great interception, a safety, allowed only 2 of 13 third downs conversions, only 180 total yards given up and most importantly only 33 net yards rushing with 6 attempts resulting in losses. By refusing the Steelers any yards running the ball, the Eagles forced them to throw it 32 times and the Steelers obviously suck at that, especially the part that involves pass blocking. And aside from the usual first drive and last drive before the half where they always give up points, the defense was pretty much perfect. But where was this last week?

The offense could have given us more this game. They should have had more points in the first half and those turnovers were what kept the score close, but I'll let them slide considering Westbrook went out and McNabb was hurt as well. But at the same time they did nothing at all in the second half except not blow the game which I guess is an accomplishment. Lucky that Steeler didn't pick that pass to Baskett around the 20 yard line. It could have been an entirely different result to the game if he did and we'd be ripping McNabb again this week.

Other notes:

• I don't like Tony Hunt and think he's mediocre, but I can't blame him for fumbling the ball since he got speared in the side of the head.
• CBS, instead of advertising for some NFL show on Showtime that nobody is going to watch, how about explaining the defensive delay of game call.
• Have I ever mentioned that along with end arounds, reverses, and double reverses, I also hate flea flickers? I'm always shocked when any of these plays are successful against pro defenses.
• Has Buckhalter ever looked this quick? Not just on his TD run, but how about how quick he got upfield on the screen in the first and some of his other runs?
• In case you've forgotten, LJ Smith sucks, but how about a good replay CBS on the attempted TD pass? Was it actually catchable?
• Trent Cole gave Pittsburgh 2 first downs via penalties but made up for it with pressure and sacks.
• Great interception by Samuels.
• For Kolb's first pass of the game, why would you throw it to LJ Smith? Little John is 5 million dollars of QB kryptonite.
• On the saftey, does it count when the refs get a call right by accident? 2 wrongs in this case do make a right.
• The refs other blown call was not calling Roethlisberger for another intentional grounding when he launched the ball into the sidelines after Gaither blew that sack. Was he outside the tackles? No.
• It looked like the first play the offense ran after the Dawkins forced fumble was the play McNabb botched the handoff on last week.
• Nice punts by Rocca when it mattered.
• Continue to praise the defense in the comments.

Weapon X!

Another test

9/21 4:15 PM ET	Opening	betED	Logans	5Dimes	SPORTSBETTING
Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia	45 -3.5	44.5 -3.5	45 -3	44.5 -3	OFF OFF

Matchup

BONUS QUESTION: Which was the stupidest move of the Cowboys game, DeSean Jackson's showboating idiocy or McNabb taking that last sack instead of throwing it into the stands?

BONUS LINKS: If you're looking to kill some time.

How the 1958 NFL championship game looks 50 years later, through the eyes of Andy Reid by Mark "Blackhawk Down" Bowden.

Roynell Young, the former defensive back for the Eagles, has dedicated his post-football career to helping at-risk youth.

Cowboys fans are idiots

Typical

But atypically the Eagles defense was frustrating this game, not the offense. In fact, the defense pretty much sucks. But when the pressure was really on, McNabb got tight (as usual) and started panicking (as usual) and then he also had the usual brain freeze to top it all off. THROW IT AWAY YOU IDIOT. TWICE! 10 frickin' years in the league and he still doesn't have a clue. How many times have I written it in this stupid blog? Can't he read? And then the hook and ladder/lateral at the end of the game? Are you kidding me?

The last 3 minutes of the game RUINED the previous 57 because of the complete stupidity of the Eagles and McNabb. Up until then I wasn't even going to be angry if they lost because the offense played so well for the most part and was dominant, but this team and Andy Reid are the most frustrating team in history and they found a way to piss me off anyway. The Eagles snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

So the end of the game sucked and the crucial McNabb mix-up on the Westbrook handoff was horrible, but if you look at the game in total the Eagles really blew this game in the first half. They had 3 field goals where they should have had at least 2 touchdowns. The first case being the DeSean Jackson fumble on the first drive that was recovered in the endzone for a touchdown that Reid didn't challenge. What was he afraid of, wasting a timeout? Then right before the half the Eagles screwed around trying to run out the clock instead of being aggressive and going for a touchdown. And what good was it anyway because the defense gave the field goal right back in 40 seconds? Other big first half loser moments was the 72 yard bomb to TO and the 98 yard kick-off return for a TD. The Eagles should have been up by at least 20 instead of 6 at halftime.

Other notes:

• Dallass sucks.
• How many third and longs did the defense give up? Where was the vaunted blitz and the rush? What's up with only 4 guys rushing?
• The defense gave up the traditional first possession of the game touchdown.
• In case you had forgotten, Considine sucks.
• Why wasn't Lito on TO the entire first half? TO disappeared in the second.
• Kick-off coverage sucks.
• How much do the refs suck?
  • Westbrook tackled out of bounds, no call.
  • Blowing play dead for unabated to the QB when the guy was laying on the ground. Should have been a free play.
  • Obvious to even the blind Westbrook facemask non-call.
  • Asante Samuels facemask after his interception non-call.
  • Greg Lewis drawing an interference call when it should have been on him.
  • DeSean Jackson showboat fumble they blew.
  • Marion Barber fumble? How about a replay ESPN?
  • False start and then unsportsmanlike on Trent Cole for reacting to it? Are you nuts?
• I didn't care about all the Mexicans until I realized they're all Cowboys fans. Deport now and build that damn wall.
• How good was that super slow motion replay of Romo fumbling the ball in the endzone, picking it up, getting hit, fumbling it again and watching Gocong finally recovering it for a TD?
• DeSean Jackson, you're an asshole. So lucky the refs weren't paying attention.
• LJ Smith sucks.
• Speaking of M.I.A., where was Yoko Romo?
• I will say the Eagles did have a pretty good run defense, but i thought the pass defense was supposed to be a strength.
• In case you stopped hating Tony Kornheiser, his asslicking soliloquy on the Cowboys should have reignited it. But he just did it to needle Philadelphia. More importantly though he's a terrible announcer. Dude, just shut up.
• Sadly, Dawkins doesn't really have it any more. He just doesn't look slow, he is slow. Quentin Mikell should get more time
• I've always hated reverses and end arounds.
• Nobody can cover Witten, the only guy on the Cowboys I respect.
• How important was it that Shawn Andrews went out near the end of the game?

So if I was a dispassionate observer, this was a great football game to cap off a great NFL weekend, but I'm not so I really can't take any real enjoyment from it. Sad, I know. The Eagles had this game but blew it. Sigh. I'll never get used to it.

Give Us Some Love!!!

Sure, Philly is on the cusp of a MNF matchup vs. the Cowgals, but we're tied for the Wild Card and only 1.5 games back of the Mets. All this in the midst of some nasty double header scheduling, where the pitching staff, including Old Man Moyer, has stepped it up big time on 3 days rest a few times!!! With The Braves and Marlins left on the road, followed by the Braves and then the Nationals at home, we're poised to win the Division (at least get the Wild Card) or CHOKE. Fear the Manuel managing blunders, as the Phils just aren't good enough to minimize these things, all of which are critical down the stretch and in the playoffs.

Pitching, pitching, pitching!!! The Phils got it. Can they keep the bats hot?

Dallass sucks

9/15 8:30 PM ET	Opening	betED	Logans	5Dimes	SPORTSBETTING
Philadelphia @ Dallass	47 -7	47 -7	47 -7	47 -7	47 -7

Matchup

BONUS QUESTION: How much does Dallass suck?

Let us count the ways:

All Andy Reid's dreams come true

Well, if Andy Reid's dreams weren't dominated by cheesesteaks, pizza, and donuts, he would dream this game. For a day at least all his decisions and assertions panned out.

• Scrub receivers Greg Lewis and Hank Baskett with big plays.
• Tony Hunt with a short yardage run for a touchdown.
• LJ Smith with a "redzone" TD.
• Special teams were great.
• DeSean Jackson was great. Finally a receiver pick pans out.
• McNabb was almost flawless.
• Asante Samuels had a really good game (should have had some picks though).
• Only one wasted timeout.
• Defense was great.
• Kolb got some gametime.
• Eagles won, 38-3.

I'd write more but I was hosting a party and didn't pay full attention. You'll have to fill in the gaps in the comments.

Dhani Jones, hipster d-bag?

Dude, you don't have to ride fixed-gear bikes like the "cool" urban white kids, or wear bow ties either. You're black. And pining for more time with the "group ride" is no way to stop being cut by NFL teams.

On a more positive note, while searching for a Dhani photo I came across this pic of ex-Bird Jevon Kearse. Enjoy.

At last, real football begins

9/07 1:00 PM ET	Opening	betED	Logans	5Dimes	SPORTSBETTING
Saint Louis @ Philadelphia	44.5 -7	45 -7	44 -7.5	44 -8.5	44 -7.5

Matchup

BONUS QUESTION: The 2002 NFC Championship game seems like a million years ago, without Googling, what was the final score?

And don't forget to make your season predictions below if you havent already.

5 years of asking, "Will we ever win?"

The idea for this site started in the ashes of the Eagles soul crushing defeat to Tampa Bay. Everything was lined up. Everything. And yet the Eagles still lost. At that point people started wondering, "Will we ever win?"

Whelp, so far the obvious answer is no. And at this point I really am starting to believe it will always be no. What has pushed me even further in this depressing direction was watching the Giants win the Super Bowl 5 years after watching the Eagles blow it versus Tampa Bay. The Giants were not an elite team, they weren't even the best team in the NFC East let alone the NFL, but lucked into their third Super Bowl championship. This coming after years and years of the Eagles being the best or near best NFC team, an "elite" team that always comes up short.

Ok, maybe a Philadelphia team actually will win again before I die, but one thing I am completely certain of is a Philadelphia team will NEVER win the way the Giants did. Never. The only way any one of our teams will ever win again is if they are as totally dominant as the last team that won, the 1983 Sixers. Sure a couple of improbable teams like the 83-84 and 86-87 Flyers, the 93 Phillies or even the 2000-01 Sixers can get close, but rest assured that giant break, that flukey play, that unlikely hero, that singular brilliant performance when it matters the absolute most is never going to come our way when the championship is within grasp. The fat rebound will always get shot into their goalies chest, our pitcher will serve up the series winning homerun, their guy will hit the miracle clutch 3s, and our quarterback will rethrow the interception that had been given back on a penalty the play before.

And I think writing about all the agony on a website and talking about it is good therapy. There's only so much yelling at the TV that is healthy.

///

The other reason I started WWEW is that I have a memory that needs to be jogged. The site has recorded events, feelings, and opinions that I would have otherwise forgotten. In this way it functions as a diary or journal, something I'm too lazy to write otherwise. So a big thanks to all the contributors over the years in posts and "gripes."

So if you're bored someday you should go back and read some of the last 5 years of posts. Relive all the complaining, all the raw, emotional outbursts, all the disappointment, and all the stuff we thought was brilliant at the time we were writing it that now looks stupid in hindsight. But there's also some winning to relive, some celebrating, some happiness, and some genuine insight and prescience as well. It's also worth reading the comments, which in many cases contain some of the best and funniest stuff. But most of all just read to remember. Even though our teams never win, it still has been a lot of fun.