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.
Comments (34)
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- 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.
- 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
- 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
- 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.- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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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- 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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- 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
- I thought maybe Sean Peyton was Arizona's ofensive coordinator yesterday. They played JJ just like he used to when he was offensive coordinator with the Giants. They anticipated what he was going to do and had the answer for it, and JJ never adjusted to take away those short, crossing routes. And, I don't understand why Demps was on the field so much? He had not played that extensively in the past, but jj went to a three-safety set instead of a three corner set. Demps just doesn't have enough experience to be playing that much in a title game and it showed. Over all though, throughout the season the defense played well and gives us hope for next year.— Yorker
- Donovan played a great game, mcnabb haters don't seem to know anything about football. greg lewis isn't larry fitzgerald. mcnabb played reasonably well in the first half with a big drop and a big missed PI call that killed a drive (and led to a missed FG). True, McNabb couldn't get the last drive done but he had just put together three consecutive touchdown drives. the flip side of that is the cardinals d did what the eagles d couldn't, get a key stop (even if they had the help of tripping up curtis before the ball got there on 4th and long)— dreinterests
- Amen JosephL, Amen. Don is not our problem. He misses passes, ok so he is human. I will say it again, look at the pittsburgh steelers, Big Ben, with better Wr's completed a lower percentage of passes then Don, his team won because they had a Defense that came to play. Kolb is not the answer, I am positive of that. Donovan just needs the same help around him other top Qb's have, ie better play calling, better pass-run ratio, better WR's. He will lead us there with proper help, and I think that includes a coaching staff that can make good in-game adjustments.— Knock0ut12
- Joseph- werd. For all of the Donovan bashers I wonder if you were watching the same game. Yes he can be sporatic but no QB throws every pass perfect, once again our receivers failed to get open, fell down or just dropped a tough catch you have to make in the Championship game. Considering how poorly the defense played in the first half and 4th quarter. The offense racked up 454 yards including 370 by D-Mac. He threw for more yards than Warner did and we converted 50% of 3rd downs. He does this every year with a bunch of no name support staff. Warner did it with 2 of the best receivers in the league. Imagine if he had 1 great go to receiver, big bodied that runs great routes and has great hands. He doesn't even have to be the fastest guy. Oh and what has Sheldon Brown being doing lately? He get's burned on every other pass it seems like. 1 Int in 2 years?— bobf123
- JosephL: Amen to that! The D lost this one. Getting rid of McNabb will be a death knell. We had two dropped passes in the first half, one which was for a long gain and would have put us in scoring position. It we catch that long ball and score, it would have been a different ballgame. Two 1st round picks coming up. How many stud receivers will be available? We definitely need one. Given his draft history, I am concerned how AR will use these two 1st round picks.— BMan
- Donavan would'nt have had to have a great 3rd quarter come back if he could ever have a solid 1st half of a game. I'm so sick of hearing how it takes him some time to get into a groove every game. What other QB cant get into a groove before the 2nd half every game . He had 1 good quarter then he was throwing all over the place again in the 4th quarter. McChoker— phillybruce
- You win and lose as a team. Leave the scapegoating to politics.— tbone pickins
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- I to was frustrated with DMAC not making better throws in the first half and on the last drive. But then I thought about it, he did play sick in the 3rd qaurter and brought us back from down 18 in like 10 minutes flat. His 4th and 10 throw was on the money. This loss was not on him It was on the D and Akers.— swinger18
- Simple: watch the SB and lets wait for draft day.— starman
- Simple: watch the SB and lets wait for draft day.— starman
- Our Eagles T E A M just did not play their best game. Nuff said.— LRayG
- Man...this sucks!!! Is it Training Camp yet?— extremebeat
- Why is Asante Samuel considered such a great player? Sure, he gets the occasional pick, but he can't tackle even as well as Akers can! The occasional pick isn't worth his constant gambling, poor coverage and lousy tackling.— reb
- Just like Dawk said, our D didnt stop them when it mattered. Don threw 4 375 yards and 3 tds and both turnovers were not his fault— bigscot36
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
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About this blog
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.
Reach Bob at bford@phillynews.com.
Bob Ford
Inquirer Sports Columnist
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