Eagles One Step Back From The Brink
Philadelphia Inquirer Sports Columnist Bob Ford writes about the Eagles, the Phillies, the Sixers and the Flyers.
Eagles One Step Back From The Brink
Bob Ford, Inquirer Sports Columnist
The Eagles, facing a game that could have meant the virtual end of their season, fought back from the brink with a tough, efficient showing against the Washington Redskins on Sunday, embarrassing their division rival in front of a disgruntled home crowd for much of the game.
Washington quarterback Rex Grossman played so badly against a revitalized Eagles defense that he was benched after three quarters and four interceptions, three of which were swiped by safety Kurt Coleman.
The 20-13 win doesn’t get them completely out of the woods, but they don’t look nearly as lost as they did in dropping four straight games. It’s still a long way to the clearing, and their home game after the bye against Dallas is now an enormous test, but there is still reason to believe the Eagles can recover to become a playoff team this season. That’s particularly true because the NFC East, as demonstrated by the Redskins, is neither consistent nor all that good.
It wasn’t the sort of resounding beatdown that the Eagles put on Washington in FedEx Field last season, one in which Michael Vick announced his full comeback, but it was a solid win. After starting off 1-4 – and facing the reality that a 1-5 team has never the playoffs in the current configuration – they will take their wins where they find them.
In the first half, the Eagles were dominating in running out to a 20-0 lead, and it could have been even worse for the Redskins. The Eagles settled for a pair of field goals on drives in which they had 1st-and-goal at the Washington 9-yard line and the 5-yard line.
The scariest moment of the game, as it usually does, involved Vick, who came out of the game after taking a hard hit in the third quarter. He was replaced briefly by backup Vince Young, who looked overmatched to the task. Young threw a quick interception (one that was offset rapidly by a pick thrown by Grossman) and Vick was able to return on the next series and complete the game.
The much-maligned defense of Juan Castillo had a good take – with some help from Grossman – and held things in check when the offense slowed down in the second half. After surrendering a total of 67 second-half points in the four consecutive losses, the Eagles held the Redskins to just a field goal until the game was nearly out of reach. Washinton backup John Beck engineered a TD drive with less than three minutes to play.
You can pick at this one a little. The offense scored its last touchdown with 14 minutes, 15 seconds to go in the second quarter. The defense didn't face much of a test. And so on. That wasn't the way to look at Sunday's game, though.
After six weeks, a 2-4 record isn’t what the Eagles were expecting or hoping for this season, but it beats the heck out of 1-5. It also beat the heck out of a Washington team that was under the impression it might be good.
they tried hard to lose the game as their offense was completely inept after 2 early tds, but unfortunately Redskins had their own issues and coudn't take full advantage --nevertheless considering how poorly the Eagles played second half, shoudn't be difficult for them to finish season at 3-13 and to still get a new coach for next year --oppostion just needs to play a little better and complete the passes over the middle instad of underthrowing them -- Eagles defense is the gift that keeps giving— warbiscuit- Still look horrible......— IvanDejesus
- Did they just get shut out in the second half? Really? Well, everything is coming up roses for the Eagles. Plus, now with this win they don't have to draft anyone in the first round. They can trade down.— rubicon24
- OK, you have to give the Eagles credit--they did improve in several areas, although the lack of offensive production (again) in the second half is worrisome. They get a bye...now, please, lets destroy dallas, wait, romo just threw a pick— BirdofPray
- BOOK IT, Eagles will WIN the division. bye week, 3 in a row @ home after the break. WHO scares you in the division? Who scares you in NFC, the Packers--that's it. This team lost 4 in a row, all 4 games they led in the 4th qtr. Had they ended the other way, these idiot fans would be saying WE are going to the SB. Get off the bandwagon & stay off!
KING~out— thee~KING - They have to figure out how to keep the hammer down in the second half. This is getting weird for such a talented offense, but I put it on the playcalling and O-line play. Second half TDs are the boot on the opponent's throat and they just don't seem to know how to do that.— KNuff
- Things are starting to turn, maybe Andy IS smarter than posters on this site.— Grazman
- No doubt the parade of Super Bowls that Andy has won will continue. Yippee, they beat a mediocre Redskins team in a regular season game. — JonKap
- Oh yes, everything is MUCH better now! (Hahahahahahaha!!!)— ANGRY AL 2
- Like sitting at the bar @ 2:00AM. She'll have to do.— Wilhelm Von Humboldt
- Avery schizo team......and only an injured player away from drafting in the top 5 next year.— Mark1npt
- Just got back from Fedex feild...the loudest that stadium cheered all day was when Vick got hurt. People dog Philly fans..but that was pretty despicable.— mifunk
- Still don't know how good or bad this team is after beating a mediocre team in a mediocre NFC East.— fanup
- The Redskins are terrible. They don't have a quarterback. Beating them shows only that the Eagles aren't utterly horrible. For them to show anything meaningful, they'll have to win two of three of the coming home games against Dallas, Chicago and Arizona. That will be a challenge.— Dave Clemens
- 5'10 qb needs coaches to scheme so he can have lanes...he's not seeing over anyone...maybe they could copy sean peyton..— mlwmlw
- Anybody that thinks this is a team is delustional ! This is a team of players that does'nt know what the other is doing. Pathetic bunch of morons - that includes the head coach.— candidly
- WHOOPIE...Eagles beat the WORST QB in the NFL....now Vick and the DREAM TEAM is 2-4 and in LAST PLACE...whoopie.— frank105
- Go walk your dog!!! — sarah89
- What a bitter life some of you must lead. Even a win is treated as a negative. I can't find the words to describe my contempt for Philadelphia "fans". I guess I could start with "losers"...— Russ
- Show me one NFL city where fans would be positive when promised a contender and looking awful getting too 2-4.....there are none. — JonKap
- With nary a championship in 50 years for this team, losers just about fits. That said, Russ, your contempt is founded on what basis? What makes you an expert to have 'contempt'? — 24sDad
- Shut out in the 2nd half. 'nuff said.— Wilhelm Von Humboldt
- Your defense under the weather? Take a Rex Grossman and call me in the morning.— Hemingway
- That Vince Young can sure read defenses.— dasher
- it is a step in the right direction.— CenterFielderGaryMaddox
- A win is a win. Beats what has been happenning.— JimSeitz
