Who Are Those Guys?
Philadelphia Inquirer Sports Columnist Bob Ford writes about the Eagles, the Phillies, the Sixers and the Flyers.
Who Are Those Guys?
Bob Ford, Inquirer Sports Columnist
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.
Stop blaming Donovan... No wind, No rain, No Achers(sic), No defense. Achers(sic) changed the game missing the extra point... The FG miss didn't hurt as much (early in game). Kurt Warner was playing Arena Football in a closed dome home advantage...Asante was out-played and overmatched by Fitzgerald. He also needs to go to 'Tackling School'. Bottom Line: Out-coached and unprepared!— NRGjunk- BTW.. The passing interference non-call, AGAIN at the end of a game, needs to be addressed by the NFL. The Colts, Titans, Ravens, and now the Eagles games and their outcomes were determined by that lowly Ref/Official! I WANT THE NAMES AND REFEREE CREWS IN THE BOX SCORE BEFORE AND AFTER THE GAME, JUST LIKE THE PLAYERS. FAIR IS FAIR.— NRGjunk
There is no doubt in my mind after watching the defense that they were "off.." I think that "Dawk" said it best.........WE let you down. Jimmy Johnson's coaches did not cover and certainly did not anticipate well.— rlkantor- yup, keep Mcnabb and we'll make playoffs...but he'll never win it. Yeah the D played poorly, but for the 5th time this year, Mcnabb had the ball in his hands to tie or win it and ...(he's consistent 5 for 5)— JamesJ
