The Bucs aren't the worst winless team

10/13 1:00 PM	Opening	BetOnline	5Dimes	SportBetting	Bovada
Philadelphia @ Tampa Bay	-1.5 49	-2 46	-1 45.5	PK 45.5	-1 45.5

Bonus Question: Can the defense give up 20+ points to the Buccaneers offense?

May the worse team lose

The Eagles 36-21 victory over the execrable NY Giants was enjoyable, but mostly uninspiring. Sure they won, but it took Eli doing his Eli thing and gift wrapping the victory for the Eagles. Up until that 4th quarter meltdown, the Eagles squandered trip after trip after trip into the redzone by kicking only field goals. And instead of being trounced, the Giants even managed to take a 21-19 lead midway through the 3rd quarter. But 3 straight series of Manning interceptions allowed Foles, subbing for an injured Vick, to lead the offense to touchdowns instead of field goals and the victory. Yay! First place!

Other notes:

• The Giants suck.
• While I view the defense as a Dodge Omni performing like a Dodge Omni, the offense's redzone ineptness is the biggest failure of this team. And I mostly blame the personnel. The same core group of Jackson, Avant, Celek, McCoy and most importantly, Vick failed repeatedly over the last 2 seasons and are failing again this season. Maclin being out makes it even more of a struggle. Will Foles make any difference?
• Vick was inept throwing the ball in this game despite playing the worst defense. He didn't even complete a pass until the second quarter.
• Vick was good running it though, until he pulled up lame.
• Kelly was kind of bragging this week about the Eagles not having any "soft tissue" injuries because of their sports science program.
• 3 drops for Jackson this week.
• No drops for Celek and one great touchdown catch.
• Eagles offense continues to rack up the massive yardage.
• In relief, Foles had an impressive 81.8 adjusted accuracy percentage if you take out the drops and throw aways.
• Eagles were the rare beneficiaries of bad refereeing this week with only one terrible call against.
• Then again the refs never called any of the obvious holding by the Giants all game...
• Yeah they were being held, but the Eagles defensive line's pressure was really weak vs. a terrible offensive line.
• Why didn't the Giants just throw that slant pattern all day or the down the middle pass?
• Speaking of the slant play, the last interception was not Manning's fault.
• Does Boykin get the credit for making Victor Cruz and his stupid dancing largely disappear?
• Boykin does get the credit for an incredible interception.
• Desean Jackson caught a redzone touchdown!!!

Double dose of Manningface could prove deadly

10/06 1:00 PM	Opening	BetOnline	5Dimes	SportBetting	Bovada
Philadelphia @ NY Giants	55 -4	53.5 -1	53 -1	53.5 -1	53.5 -3

Bonus Question: Who will have more drops, Celek or Hakeem Nicks?

I hate Peyton Manning

I hate Peyton Manning. I hate his "I'm the smartest guy ever, oh so focused all the time" act on the sidelines. I hate his tiresome pre-snap histrionics. I hate how his center can bob up and down all he wants all day long and how Manning can repeatedly flinch but if a defender moves an inch into the neutral zone that's offsides. I hate how the referees get cowed by him. I hate all his terrible ads. I hate his Manningface - Eli's is better. I do love his repeated choking in the playoffs though. Didja know the greatest football player ever has a worse playoff winning percentage than Donovan McNabb, and a losing one at that?

Anyway, the Eagles totally sucked and that's why they lost 52-20. Things I thought they would be rid of with the firing of Reid - the sloppiness, the stupidity, the horrible special teams, bad pass protection, red zone failure - have not gone away. The majority of these players are just sloppy and stupid, can't play and need to be replaced. A better coach can't coach up a stupid as bottomlessly stupid as the Eagles I guess.

So once again another game, another bunch of drops and killer penalties (some bogus) that the offense can never overcome. (Eagles had 8 penalties for 62 yards, Broncos had a ridiculously low 2 penalties for 25. Yeah right, refs.) Another game of special teams failures, this time as massive a failure as you can get with a kickoff return and a blocked punt that both go for touchdowns. And what's an Eagles game these days without Henery missing a field goal or Donnie Jones putting several punts into the endzone?

And another game of "what the hell are they doing" defensive performance. Was there anyone within 5 yards of a receiver in the entire second half? Why are the corners playing 10 yards off the line? Why are the linebackers so deep? Why are there linebackers and defensive ends lining up to cover Wes Welker? Why did they make it so easy for Manning to throw short passes all day that resulted in 10 yards after every catch? Why did the defense give up? I would think their anger at being made to look so bad would compel them to do something, but all they did was lay down and get walked over. The Eagles need a Zac Rinaldo.

So we know the players are soft and are morons, but I thought the coach was supposed to be smart and a risk taker. Instead Kelly coached this game in fear of Peyton Manning. As I noted already, the defense played scared to "give up the big play" and instead gave up a million smaller ones on the way to being steamrolled. But the offensive play calling was equally as timid. GO FOR IT on 4th and 6 at the end of the half. Instead they punt it into the endzone giving Manning a whopping 17 more yards to go than if they had failed to gain anything on 4th down*. Then later in the game when the blowout was in full motion, Kelly is kicking more field goals. Why? So Henery can get some needed practice? When you are the bigtime underdog you have to take more risks to have a chance. The team played terrible, but Kelly's timidity just made things worse.

Now the bright side: Sure the Eagles defense was a wall of wet Kleenex, but the Ravens defense was even worse. Manning put 49 on them. The Broncos are killing everyone right now. The Eagles offense once again gained over 400 total yards including 166 rushing and averaged 6.5 yards a play. They just keep stopping themselves, but at least no turnovers this week! And the last positive is the Eagles will now be facing very beatable competition as the next eight opponents are currently 7-24 including the winless Giants and Buccaneers. The Eagles are bad, but coming up we will find out if they are really bad, or can aspire to something more, like mediocrity.

*Yes, I know the Broncos ended up starting that drive at the 10 because of a rare Broncos penalty, but the Eagles did not cause that to happen, they got a rare break.

Let's convince Manning it's a playoff game

09/29 4:25 PM	Opening	BetOnline	5Dimes	SportBetting	Bovada
Philadelphia @ Denver	59.5 -13	57 -11	57 -12	57 -11	57 -11

Bonus Question: Which will be higher, Eagles turnovers or Manning TD passes?

Eagles totally defeat themselves like always

On the night of Andy Reid's return, the Eagles returned to the effort and execution of last two years that got Reid canned. The special teams which has been great the previous 2 games were terrible with bad coverage, another missed field goal and a muffed punt. Vick returned to the good ol' Vick throwing stupid picks, getting 4 or more balls batted down, and making bad throws and bad decisions. The bulk of this loss is on him and the offense. He killed them all game. The offensive line were often getting manhandled and giving up sacks, making bad snaps for fumbles or big losses, false starting and committing other killer penalties. The defense was actually really good for most of this game, but like the last couple years they came up extremely small in third and really longs. And when it really, really mattered at the end of the game they couldn't get off the field. So all around a total crap job by everyone!

Other notes:

• These Thursday night games really suck. But then again, they are so well played.
• It's a cliche, but no team can win turning it over 5 or 6 times (I lost count.)
• Shocking an Andy Reid led team failed so often in the redzone.
• Shocking McNabb gave such a stirring and sincere speech during his jersey retirement ceremony. I was truly moved.
• Riley Cooper blows.
• Kendricks blows.
• Henery blows.
• Avant made some great catches.
• McCoy was once again the best player on the field. Too bad only he and Avant showed up for the offense. Too bad they didn't pass it to him like they did last week. Why not?
• Defense held its own and played well, but Alex Smith isn't that good.
• The going for 2 play was stupid.
• Sad when the highlight of the game for Eagles fans was the good ol' Reid time management meltdown at the end of the first half. But how come the delay of game didn't lead to a 10 second runoff?
• I wonder if Kelly exploded in the locker room after the game. So many screwups and self-inflicted death blows. Kelly isn't used to this.

Big and red is back

09/19 8:25 PM	Opening	BetOnline	5Dimes	SportsBetting	Bovada
Kansas City @ Philadelphia	50 -3	50.5 -3	50.5 -3	50.5 -3	N/A -3.5

Bonus Question: How big an advantage does Reid have going against the team he assembled with one someone else assembled?

Defense is the worst

The defense is the worst. The Chargers went for 539 yards, only had to punt once all day and were forced into fumbles twice inside the 20, once at the 2. Other than that they scored on all their possessions including the game-winning field goal with 7 seconds left to win 33-30.

The defense is the worst. They made Philip Rivers look like the quarterback that a lot of people have been trying to sell us for years. He was 36-47 for 419 yards and helped convert 10 of 15 third downs. And he didn't even throw a pick six or implode in the fourth quarter!

The defense is the worst. The secondary can not cover, Nate Allen especially. But here's a plus - he led the team in tackles! I wonder why... Kendricks returned to last year's model - a can't cover and can't tackle machine. And where was the pass rush? Where was Trent Cole? There was zero pressure all day, every blitz was picked up easily* and this all with King Dunlop playing on the Charger's line.

The special teams were not terrible, but they also did not come through. Henery missed a very makeable 46 yard field goal and with the game on the line and the Chargers fumbling the kickoff, 4 stumbling and bumbling Eagles could not come up with it. If they had recovered that they would have won the game. But there were a lot of what ifs, that could have changed the outcome.

What if James Casey could catch a touchdown and not let the ball come free when hitting the ground? What if Vick and Jackson connected on more of the wide open bombs they tried instead of only 1? What if Lane Johnson lined up correctly on another Jackson touchdown that got called back? And the biggest what if is, what if the Eagles actually milked the clock on their last drive instead of running out of bounds, rushing to the line and leaving the Chargers with almost 2 minutes against this defense to move 60 yards to kick the winning field goal? That last one is on Kelly. (The offense should have scored a touchdown on that drive, but does anyone think it would have mattered?)

*After the game several Eagles players insinuated that Rivers knew what they were going to do on every play because he knew their calls. Billy Davis was the defensive coordinator under Chargers offensive coordinator, Ken Whisenhunt when they were together at Arizona, so it was probably more of knowing everything Davis does and Rivers was smart enough to figure it out when he came to the line and called the play.

Other notes:

• The defense is the worst.

Don't get cocky

12/23 1:00 PM ET	Opening	5Dimes	BetOnline	Bovada	SportsBetting
Washington @ Philadelphia	51.5 -6.5	54.5 -9	54 -7	55 -7.5	54 -7

Bonus Question: Is this the worst version of a team's song ever?

Eagles dominate, then take "foot off the gas," but hold on, 33-27

The Chip Kelly era begins with a weird game and a win, but not an entirely satisfactory one. Eagles blazed to a big 33-7 lead taking advantage of a rusty RG0, terrible play by the team from DC, and a superior effort. The Eagles were prepared, confident and energized while Washington was timid, shaky and confused. The Eagles should have scored over 50 points in this game given their great field position, the mistakes Washington was making, and how they were playing. It should have been 40-0 at the end of the half as well. A total beatdown and game over with the backups playing the last quarter.

But the Eagles made mistakes of their own and were victims of the usual terrible officiating we've all come to expect in every game. Then in the second half the Eagles let up and relaxed.

After going up 33-7, Washington was given life by a suddenly passive defense and scored a TD to make it 33-14. Then Jason Avant (who I can't stand) stupidly and carelessly coughed up the ball because he was holding the ball in the wrong hand. This switched all the momentum to Washington and they quickly made it 33-20 but failed on the 2 point try. The offense mustered a drive via some runs by Vick into the edge of field goal position but then a holding penalty pushed them out of it. The next drive Washington crossed the 50 and failed on a long 4th down try. The offense only converted 1 first down and then punted again. RG0 went right down the field and then tossed up another floater into the endzone that Chung watched float over his head for a TD looking like a little leaguer. This play reminded me of that terrible play last year vs. RG3 that Coleman and Boykin blew that also should have been a pick. Fortunately the Eagles recovered the onside kick to preserve the win and everyone could breathe a sigh of relief.

Other notes:

• Offensive totals: 26 first downs, 445 total yards, 180 passing, 265 running.
• Didn't Haslett say earlier this week that his defense would be ready for anything the Eagles did?
• This offense is not tricks. It's smart, fast and executed very well.
• They started the season with a pass play again, but had a 2 to 1 run/pass ratio in the end.
• The first quarter was as long as a half.
• It's telling when the Super Bowl referee that ESPN had commenting says a forward pass is a forward pass and then the incompetent clowns doing the game say otherwise.
• Also, too, it was a forward pass because the guy that knocked it down was downfield from where Vick was standing.
• What a terrible game by Alfred Morris: a fumble, a dropped pitch that led to a safety, and only 45 yards on 12 carries, with 28 of that coming on 2 of them (I think).
• RG0's QB rating was 2.8 in the first quarter.
• But how about that defense? Aggressive but smart, better than solid tackling, actually taking advantage of turnover opportunities and creating them, really good coverage and surprisingly stuffing the run, and several solid hits and sacks on RG3. Too bad about the let up in the second.
• On the Celek TD it's amazing how linebackers will bite on play action when you actually run the ball.
• Speaking of running the ball, amazing game by McCoy - 184 yards on 31 carries and a great, highlight laden TD run.
• Special teams was great too. Solid tackling, positional punting with an assist on the safety, nailed all the kicks, and recovered the onside kick to preserve the game. They were a big part in this game and had Eagles in great field position all game and Washington starting inside its 20 half a dozen times or more.
• Carey Williams played great - tight coverage, a sack, amazing interception, great defense on the 4th down play and only one fight.
• Vick missed some throws early and then seemed to be scared to throw the ball downfield in the second half, but overall was really good and took care of the ball. Still taking way too many hits though and not sliding or throwing the ball out of bounds.
• Also really good games on defense from Trent Cole, Kendricks, and Thorton. Boykin also had a really nice pick.
• Only Patrick Chung reminded you of last year's defense.
• Other injuries that are good to fake are stingers, twisted ankles and hip pointers.
• Redskins believed their hype. Can't blame them after their awesome 9-7 record last year though.
• Terrible challenge by Kelly on that Ernst drop.
• Jackson played really good, but is still a moron. Very lucky he didn't get a retaliation penalty after Hall horse collared him out of bound.
• Brown likes to freelance and bounce the runs outside instead of going where the play is supposed to go.
• Merril Hoge, who said this offense won't work in the pros, can eat it.
• Great prediction ESPN. I wonder why you didn't mention it during the broadcast.

Monday night vs. team with bigoted name

9/09 7:10 PM	Opening	5Dimes	BetOnline	TopBet	Covers
Philadelphia @ Washington	51 -6.5	52 -3	52 -3.5	51.5 -3.5	52 -3.5

Bonus Question: Is everyone sick of RG0 yet, the national sports media's latest mancrush?

2013 Predictions

New coach, new systems on offense and defense, and new attitude! But mostly the same old players that went 4-12 last year and were a complete embarrassment, especially on defense. There's also the same old storyline with Vick - he did this and that in the offseason, worked super hard, and is even watching film with DeSean Jackson (wow!) and he will be a real quarterback this year. Yeah, right.

On the positive side though the offensive line is healthy and there seems to be an acknowledgement that the most talented players on the entire team are in the backfield, so running the ball will not be an afterthought. However, depth everywhere else in nonexistent and many of the starters on defense would be benchwarmers on other teams or maybe not even in the league.

In the comments make your season long, game by game predictions for the Eagles and whatever reasons you might have to justify them. Also, what teams will be in the AFC and NFC championship games, the Super Bowl, who will win it all, and what teams will be this year's worst? As an added bonus, this year I'm putting up the various prop bets you can make on the Eagles. So if you want, predict those outcomes as well.

1 SEP 09 7:10 PM @ REDSKINS
2 SEP 15 1:00 PM ET CHARGERS
3 SEP 19 8:25 PM ET CHIEFS
4 SEP 29 4:25 PM ET @ BRONCOS
5 OCT 06 1:00 PM ET @ GIANTS
6 OCT 13 1:00 PM ET @ BUCCANEERS
7 OCT 20 1:00 PM ET COWBOYS
8 OCT 27 1:00 PM ET GIANTS
9 NOV 03 4:05 PM ET @ RAIDERS
10 NOV 10 1:00 PM ET @ PACKERS
11 NOV 17 1:00 PM ET REDSKINS
12 BYE WEEK
13 DEC 01 1:00 PM ET CARDINALS
14 DEC 08 1:00 PM ET LIONS
15 DEC 15 1:00 PM ET @ VIKINGS
16 DEC 22 1:00 PM ET BEARS
17 DEC 29 1:00 PM ET @ COWBOYS

OVER/UNDER BETS from Bovada
Eagles total wins: 7.5
Vick starts: 13.5
Vick TD passes: 19.5
Vick total rushing TDs: 3
Vick interceptions: 12.5
Vick passing yards: 3,200
Vick rushing yards: 450.5
McCoy rush yards: 1100.5
McCoy receiving yards: 400.5
McCoy total TDs: 10.5
DeSean Jackson receiving yards: 950.5
Desean Jackson total receiving TDs: 5.5
Riley Cooper total receiving TDs: 4
Trent Cole sacks: 7.5
Fletcher Cox sacks: 6

Awful game

This game was worse than the dreck that ended the season last year, but I watched anyway. I was helped through it however with a Brooklyn Cuvée La Boîte and a Great Divide Wolfgang Doppelbock Lager.

The Eagles started the game on defense and on the very first play "bubble player" Chris McCoy dropped an easy pick 6. Typical. But they overcame that blown turnover with a safety via a penalty in the endzone forced by Brandon Graham. And aside from a few decent hits, that was the highlight of the defense's performance. This secondary is awful. They will get torched in every single game despite playing 10 yards off the line of scrimmage. Even if the offense puts 30+ up no lead will be safe because of this. In addition to poor coverage they also tackle poorly. This does not bode well for stopping the run. Yeah, not every starter was out there on defense, but a bunch of them were and it did not look good.

The Eagles offense in the first half was also terrible and looked completely sketchy and even panicked. Foles was 6 of 17 for 63 yds, was sacked twice and everyone took a turn dropping passes that hit them right in the hands. Foles also fumbled again while being sacked. There were dumb mistakes and penalties that were absent in previous games. The backup offensive line was terrible. So if anyone gets hurt again like last year...

Barkley played the second half and had one good drive but was weak otherwise. He also threw a terrible pick six to ice the game for the Jets. It was the usual late and behind the receiver pass that he's been throwing all preseason.

Player notes

• Linebacker Acho probably will make the team and was the "star" of the game with 11 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. Kelly praised him in the postgame.
• Linebacker Knott was undrafted but will probably make the team.
• Bennie Logan is also receiving good reviews.
• Casey Matthews was bad. Despite playing for Kelly in college, he may finally be gone.
• Antonio Dixon also got poor reviews.
• Good ol' Danny Watkins may also be shown the door.
• I was surprised by the poor play of Clay Harbor who is on "the bubble."
• James Casey pulled his hamstring and had zero impact in yet another game. Is he going to be cut?

This weekend I'll put up the post to make your predictions for the season.

Same old crap as last year

Well it didn't take Michael Vick long to revert to being the real Michael Vick and the offense to look like Andy Reid was still coach and Mornhingweg was still calling plays with a 29-10 first half pass to run ratio. Just 4 days after winning the QB competition, Vick was back to holding the ball too long, throwing balls up for grabs, unnecessarily getting hit a lot and causing the offense perform inconsistently and without rhythm. It was the furthest thing from "unstoppable."

Vick is still really dumb. And just like he will never learn to slide, he will never learn to read blitzes or make the smart throw to a wide open guy for a sure, short gain or throw with anticipation, and instead he will hold the ball and will look downfield for the homerun play. The offensive line did its part by being poor at times in protection causing Vick to be rushed and scramble. For oldtime's sake they even let a guy come in for a sack largely untouched on a 3 man rush.

Foles on the other hand ran the offense how it should be run - fluidly. He made quick decisions, got rid of the ball quickly and took what the defense gave him and went 10 for 11 in the process. He led the team to the victory via two 4th quarter drives, one of 50 yards and the winning drive of 99 yards with time running out - JUST LIKE JOHN ELWAY. Yes, it was against lesser defensive players, but he was playing with the second team offense as well.

The defense was just as porous and shreddable as last year. They made Chad Henne and Justin Blackmon look like Montana and Rice and let Jordan Todman of UCONN and the 183rd pick in the 2011 draft run for 105 yards on 8 carries. The line was often blown off the ball on runs, and the secondary is pathetic. Nobody they have playing safety can cover or take good angles for tackles. The line does get good pressure on pass plays though, but what difference does it make when receivers are wide open?

Another repeat of last year was Bryce Brown running up and down the field and then flushing it all down the crapper with a terrible fumble. This time as he was about to score a TD. This was just 1 of 3 really bad, self-inflicted (via carelessness) turnovers committed by the Eagles. This game would have been a blowout (just like last week) if the Eagles could just take care of the ball.

Chip Kelly also did his part on retro night with a dumbass challenge that I couldn't really make sense of. Bart enjoyed it though.

Unlike last year, special teams were solid once again. Henery made all his kicks, coverage was good and the punters put the ball where it needed to be. And aside from one dumb decision and a bad fumble, Damaris Jackson was great on returns.

Also unlike last year, the Eagles won the game, 31-24, despite being bad. So that is promising...

Jacksonville's helmets are terrible.

Eagles defeat Panthers, 14-9

I didn't get to see last week's game because I was out of town so this was my first introduction to Chip Kelly's offense and I was impressed. The offense played with purpose and energy, the plays were not predictable and inventive, gained yards on almost every play and most promising, they were executed very, very well. There was even tons of time and room for the QBs when they dropped back. The Eagles looked like they knew what they were doing. The hurry-up strategy was also having the desired effect of keeping the opposing defense off balance and on their heels. Both Foles and Vick moved the team with ease and looked more than competent, with Vick getting the overall edge. McCoy looked great and according to the always excellent and error-free color commentary of Brian Baldinger, he literally broke defenders ankles.

The one huge negative, which is the same huge negative of last year and the year before, is turnovers. Foles stupidly and weakly threw a ball away that didn't make it out of the back of the endzone and instead was intercepted taking away guaranteed points. Later Polk lost a fumble as a result of a feeble slap at the ball and this also killed a drive destined for points.

The defense played much better than last week (obviously), but it also seemed like Cam Newton played really bad and Steve Smith wanted to be doing something else. The Panthers didn't seem to really care much about the game. The defensive line got some good pressure, Chung made a few hits and nice tackles, and Kendrick also made several really nice plays and tackles. Other players that made plays that stood out were Cox and Thorton. Cary "Big Mouth" Williams made no impact except with the ground when Steve Smith slammed him into it. The one huge negative, which is the same huge negative of last year and the year before, is the Eagles defense can not get a turnover. They blew several interception chances again this game and made no attempts to strip the ball.

Another aspect of the Eagles that is greatly improved over previous years is special teams. The kick returns actually gained yards and coverage was also really, really good. Prediction: Punter Brad Wing is going to the pro bowl. Henery blew a 44 yard FG though. It was probably Laurie who was being interviewed in the booth at the time saying, "Great kick." that doomed it to sailing wide right.

So overall there were signs of hope and future competence after watching this game. There definitely was new energy on offense. The defense will have flashes, but on the whole they aren't inspiring any delusions of making the playoffs though. They have a long way to go.