Posted: Monday, January 19, 2009, 1:10 PM | 34 comments |
 

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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- During all those years of coming here to watch the Eagles play the Cardinals in Sun Devil Stadium, the events of Sunday are still difficult to process.

In those days, not so long ago, the fans put bags on their heads and screamed terrible things at owner Bill Bidwell and accepted the fact that they would sit on those searing aluminum bleachers every September and, through the eye holes in the bag, watch another season get thrown away.

Maybe that's part of the reason I was so sure the Eagles would beat the Cards in the NFC Championship game. Call it muscle memory, but when you see that bird on the side of the helmet, you expect the team to fall apart.

 That's also what happened after halftime, but then the Eagles lost the game a second time. So, how did the Cardinals prevent the Eagles from getting to the Super Bowl?

Well, in three postseason games, the Eagles scored 26, 23 and 25 points. In those three games, the Eagles gave up 14, 11 and 32 points.

So, the issue is obvious. The offense was just as productive. The defense fell apart. They didn't do the one single thing that had to be done: Get to Kurt Warner and rattle him. Why not? Heck of a question. Warner mixed it up well, got rid of the ball quickly and had a running game that kept the Eagles off balance.

Still, Jim Johnson got outcoached and he would be the first to admit that his first-half scheme wasn't as good as the first-half scheme of the Cardinals.

The Cardinals.

Oh, and my apologies for touting the Eagles and the under. Didn't work out well for me, either.
Posted by BOB FORD @ 1:10 PM  Permalink | 34 comments
34
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:34 PM, 01/19/2009
    Now Bob, tell us just where we get some D help in either draft, trade or free agency? And just who would you release? After all , the media is always so smug in their choices. Frankly, they do need help but who will it be and is a WR any choice, or a huge RB or even a taller Def.Back?
    — KGKoons
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:39 PM, 01/19/2009
    The D fell apart no question--both outplayed and outcoached....but give the Cards their due...they made plays when they had to....Kurt Warner brought his team right down the field after the Eagles took the lead and got it back....Donovan had the chance to do the same with three minutes left and he didn't get it done...yet again. This is why Kurt Warner has a ring, and will be a in the Hall of Fame and Donovan doesn't and won't
    — Will T.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:52 PM, 01/19/2009
    McNabb/Reid haters, read this again. And again: In three postseason games, the Eagles scored 26, 23 and 25 points. In those three games, the Eagles gave up 14, 11 and 32 points.
    — doorspj24
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:26 PM, 01/19/2009
    Ok, I will ask again, did I miss something yesterday or were we a stop on 4th and 1 away from the Super Bowl? I know all the fixes that are being suggested but one more 4th and short stop and ....well...
    — wynnewoodroad
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:26 PM, 01/19/2009
    Ok, I will ask again, did I miss something yesterday or were we a stop on 4th and 1 away from the Super Bowl? I know all the fixes that are being suggested but one more 4th and short stop and ....well...
    — wynnewoodroad
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:31 PM, 01/19/2009
    The "D" has some young players and they made young guy mistakes, they are still the best unit on the team. The problem is the offense, and mostly the QB, yes, he put up points in the second half, but that doesn't wipe out what he did in the first half folks! I'm sick and tired of waiting for him to get into "his" rythem, I mean really sick of it, yes he is a good QB but not a great one (and before you call me a Donlvan basher just hold that thought, I've supported him the whole time he was here, glad when he had a good quarter or even a half, but enough is enough, I can't deal with it anymore. C'mon, how many of you watched that first half and said "@#%@" here we go again, I'm just tired of it, really, really tired!!!
    — DJ
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:36 PM, 01/19/2009
    hey will t donavan doesnt play defense or kick fg's and extra points. kurt warner has 3 1000 yard receivers to go to who does donavan have of that caliber??? it says a lot about our wr's when a rookie can come in and be our best wr. until they get donavan a legit receiving core we wont win the big game. he can only get us so far by himself w/o weapons. the one yr we had a true #1 wr we made it to the big game and if we had 2 solid wr's that year we may have won the big game
    — the tru 1
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:40 PM, 01/19/2009
    JJ did'n adjust! If you have a QB is beating your blitz then fake the blitz and fall back how hard was that to see from above? Plus when you see the other side of the ball and "O" is doing nothing for 1/2 of the game how can you get up? yes the first TD the "D" came alive then drop a egg at the end of the game! Plus you had a a 37 year old bag boy who ate your lunch and made McNabb look like a green rookie! It is really time for change ! Bye Reid, McNabb,
    — losteagle
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:18 PM, 01/19/2009
    This is a REPLAY each year! When are you going to make a change! Maybe OBama can bail them out! I heard Reid say "THEY WERE WHO WE THOUGHT THEY WERE! Give Kolb better receivers, and a running game and get Jerry Rhome to come up and be the QB coach.
    — losteagle
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:26 PM, 01/19/2009
    When I watch the highlights in slow motion, I see defensive mistakes not being physically beaten. Guys running wide open. The Cardinal receivers had numerous plays where there was virtually no one covering them. They were playing catch. Overwhelmed, rattled and paniced. But, they recovered, we took the lead, and our d couldn't stop them. Bottom line. That was the deciding series.
    — MikeP
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:37 PM, 01/19/2009
    For any of you idiotic enough to suggest Kevin Kolb, cancel your day tomorrow, and go see your shrink. You need stronger medicine. As Colin Cowherd said today on ESPN- Donovan was not the one who missed the coverage on LF's 3 first half TD's. He was not the one who failed to stop Hightower's first down on fourth and one. He was not the one who failed to tackle Hightower on the game-winning 8-yard screen pass. We WAS the one who orchestrated an incredible 3rd-quarter comeback, only to watch the D blow the game. Get rid of Donovan? Bring on Kolb? And wonder for the next 15 years if that was not the stupidest thing you ever wanted...
    — JosephL


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About Bob Ford
Bob Ford has been writing about Philadelphia sports since 1981, and is still trying to figure it all out. A former beat writer covering the Phillies and the 76ers, Ford became a general sports columnist for the Inquirer in 2003, following in and occasionally falling in the deep footsteps of Bill Lyon, Frank Dolson and many distinguished others. He comes to the Philly.com blogosphere after award-winning success as designer/editor of the fabulous Pen & Pencil Club softball blog. Likes: Palestra, inside-the-park home runs, sunny days. Dislikes: phony people, cloudy days, rewrites.
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