will we ever win?

Houston, they have a problem

It's a good thing the Eagles were playing the Houston Texans, a snakebit team that always seems to find a way to lose. The Eagles went up 17-3, but then were outgained 297 yards to 53 and outscored 21-3 and found themselves behind 24-20 by the end of the 3rd quarter. The reasons for the turnaround in fortunes were the usual ones - redzone failures and dropped TD passes by the offense and terrible defense.

The Eagles offense seemed to wake up after the lead was lost, and finally answered Houston to go back up 27-24. The Texans responded with a drive of their own, once again easily moving the ball against the Eagles thin, wet paper towel defense, but then came the play that maybe lost the game for the Texans. On third and 5 Schaub could have easily run the ball for the first but instead McNabbed a pass to his receiver. The Texans were forced to punt and you could see them saying to themselves, "Here we go again."

The Eagles offense didn't squander the rare defensive stop - but they almost did. They got in the redzone again and then started screwing up again. First a false start and then a holding call and it was quickly 3rd and 19 and another field goal seemed certain and the game was setting up for a final of Houston 31, Philadelphia 30.

Then came the play that maybe won the game for the Eagles.

Vick dropped back and had time but couldn't find anyone deep so he dumped it to Celek on a crossing route. Celek was tackled, but landed on the tackler so he wasn't down and on the bounce smartly extended the ball to the marker. The refs marked him short by half a yard. Then a Christmas miracle happened - Andy Reid won a challenge. And he even did something smart in the process - he let the clock wind down to the last second before throwing the challenge flag and took time off the clock. So after being awarded a first down, the Eagles had first and goal on the 5 and scored a touchdown the very next play to make the score 34-24, which is how the game ended.

Other notes:

• Did you know the Eagles are the best screen team in the NFL?
• Who didn't know the Eagles first offensive play was going to be a pass to DeSean Jackson? Oh yeah, Houston.
• Stupid plays: any Chad Hall running play, any Desean Jackson play where he runs into the line, long bombs to Maclin on 3rd and 2, every offside by the defense, Vick (after he's been hit repeatedly and hobbled earlier in the game) running the ball on a designed play other than an QB sneak, and throwing the ball when you are trying to run out the clock.
• At least 4 times in the game Theisman asserted something, sometimes backed up with video, and the very next play went exactly the opposite of his assertion. His worst moment was his "Schaub was hit in the head" followed by a rant blah, blah, blah and then they showed a replay and Schaub was not hit in the head at all. Theisman==idiot.
• Refs did let a lot of actual "QB getting hit in the head" plays go uncalled on both sides, as they should have since they were all minor love taps.
• Lindley hit a Houston receiver head to head after a catch that wasn't call probably because the hit was not that violent.
• Unlike Avant, Owen Schmitt has not dropped a pass all year, and he's a fullback.
• Vick was the leading rusher, McCoy was the leading receiver.
• On Trevor Laws interception, Lindley smartly just fell on the ball after Laws dumbly fumbled it. On Nate Allen's sack and strip of Schaub, Tapp smartly fell on the ball while Trent Cole was stupidly trying to pick it up and run.
• This defense is painful to watch. They make 1 good play for every 5-7 bad plays or non plays and offenses can just drive down the field on them unless they screw it up themselves.

Nine days to rest up before crushing Dallass, who sucks.