Archive: November, 2008
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
While breathing a sigh of relief that no Eagles players saw fit to spice up your Eagletarian's weekend by accidentally shooting themselves, we happened to take in a fair portion of the New York Giants' 23-7 victory over the host Redskins Sunday.
Hey, don't know if anybody else has noticed this, but the Giants are good.
They held Clinton Portis to 22 rushing yards. Eli Manning threw for more than 300 even without Plaxico "Friendly Fire" Burress. The Giants have won seven in a row, heading into next week's matchup with the visiting Eagles, six in a row over teams with winning records.
Daily News staff
One of the statistics that the Eagles like to tout is how well the team has done in the final month of the season under Andy Reid.
If you are still holding out hope that this team can make the playoffs, you obviously have to hope for similar success and some help along the way.
In 2006, the Eagles were pummeled in Indianapolis on a Sunday night game, 45-21, in Jeff Garcia's first game as quarterback following Donovan McNabb's knee injury. The Eagles then reeled off five consecutive wins to finish 10-6 and win the NFC East. That stretch included back-to-back-to-back road wins at Washington the Giants and the Cowboys.
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
For once, the need to do a better job putting players in positions to make plays was nowhere to be found at an
Andy Reid postgame news conference. No pieces of blame-sharing pie were served.
On Black Friday, the Eagles' coach was as bubbly as a shopper waving discount coupons. It was the morning after a 48-20 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in which Reid said he believed his team "played well, probably for the first time this year, with all three phases playing at a high level."
In case you dozed off early after a hearty Thanksgiving dinner, Donovan McNabb shook off his recent funk, completing 27 of 39 passes for 260 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. He also took off four times, gaining 24 of the Eagles' 185 rushing yards. Brian Westbrook, somehow revived just four days after limping off the unforgiving Baltimore turf in a blowout loss, gained 110 yards on 22 carries and became the first Eagle to score four touchdowns in a game since Irving Fryar in 1996.
Paul Domowitch, Daily News NFL Columnist
A bum knee that has robbed him of his explosiveness. A taking-forever-to-heal sore ankle that won’t let him make those stop-on-a-dime cuts we’re so accustomed to seeing him make.
A short week to recover from the beating he took in Sunday’s loss to the Ravens and get ready for last night’s game against the Cardinals.
When he hobbled into the auditorium at the NovaCare Complex Tuesday for his weekly news conference, it was even money whether Westbrook would even make it back to the locker room without assistance, let alone suit up and play 2 days later against the Cardinals.
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Tears streamed down the face of Max Jean-Gilles as the Eagles’ right guard left the field on a slow-moving cart.
Just 12 seconds from halftime, Jean-Gilles was blocking as Donovan McNabb scrambled, a flag down for holding on center Jamaal Jackson. Cardinals linebacker Chike Okeafor tried to dive at McNabb’s heels and missed, instead plowing into the back of Jean-Gilles’ right leg, bending him backward. It looked very much like a broken ankle, and that was what was announced, early in the second half.
Coach Andy Reid said after the game that Jean-Gillies would have surgery, although no date was set. He said the injury was similar to what Shawn Andrews suffered in the season opener in 2004. Andrews broke his fibula and had season-ending surgery.
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
The Eagles scored on their first two drives after starting the game having gone 99 minutes and 29 seconds without scoring an offensive touchdown.
Clearly, what this team needs is to work on a short week, in which Andy Reid and Marty Mornhinweg don't have time to overthink the offense.
The Eagles took the opening kickoff and drove 70 yards in 12 plays; Donovan McNabb completed all five passes in the drive, for 38 yards, including a variation on the familiar shovel pass play that took Brian Westbrook the final 5 yards for the TD. But the big story on Action News was the third-and-1 2-yard run for a first down by Kyle Eckel, who got a standing ovation from the Linc faithful.
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
The inactives for tonight's Thanksgiving feast have been announced and as expected, Eagles corner Asante Samuel will sit with a neck injury. It's a little bit of a surprise that Joselio Hanson, instead of Lito Sheppard, will replace Samuel. Sheppard was fooled badly on a 53-yard touchdown play in Sunday's loss at Baltimore.
Also notable is that Episcopal Academy alum Kyle Eckel is active for the first time as an Eagle. Eckel is a fullback but can also play running back, with Correll Buckhalter (knee) out and Brian Westbrook (knee, ankle) hurting.
For the Cardinals, a couple of ex-Eagles defensive backs will miss this game with injuries -- Matt Ware and Rod Hood. However, Eagles fans with encyclopdedic memories might recall wideout Sean Morey, linebacker Pago Togafau, punter Dirk Johnson and tight end Stephen Spach, all of whom are active for the Cards. Spach is scheduled to start.
Daily News staff
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you who have made stopping off at Eagletarian a part of how you follow the Eagles. We have enjoyed bringing it to you and look forward to keeping at it during what figures to be an interesting rest of the season and beyond ...
The Birds again look to bounce back with a Thanksgiving Night showdown against Arizona at the Linc
Les Bowen will provide updates from the stadium later, but we wanted to start your Turkey Day with our Game Day features.
Daily News staff
Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel was listed as doubtful for Thursday night's game against Arizona because of a neck stinger.
Samuel was injured in the Eagles' loss to Baltimore last Sunday and has not practiced this week.
That is bad news for a secondary that has just one interception in its last four games and is facing a high-powered Cardinals offense led by Kurt Warner with a deep passing game that features Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, Steve Breaston and Jerheme Urban.
Paul Domowitch, Daily News NFL Columnist
Here is our weekly look at what we'll be watching during the Eagles game ...
1. Hitting Warner. The Giants only sacked Kurt Warner once last week, but they got several good licks on him and it affected both his comfort level in the pocket and his performance. His .615 completion percentage was his lowest since Week 3. His 6.75 yards-per-attempt average was his lowest since Week 5. Eagles need to put him on the ground early and often.
2. Slumping McNabb. Andy Reid is giving the ball back to Donovan McNabb this week; a ball he’s turned over seven times in his last six quarters. He’s not seeing open receivers and missing them by entire area codes when he does spot them. In the last five games, he has a .526 completion percentage and has averaged just 6.3 yards per attempt. Another first half like he had against Baltimore and he could be back on the bench.
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