Domo: Day-after dissection
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Domo: Day-after dissection
Paul Domowitch, Daily News NFL Columnist
Some incoherent thoughts and some off-the-mark observations in the wake of Sunday’s Lazarus-like resurrection against the Giants:
* Can the Eagles win a Super Bowl with a defense that already has given up 30 touchdown passes? Can they win one with a defense that has the worst red-zone rate (76.9) in the league in the last 22 years? Stay tuned. It looks like we’re going to find out.
The Eagles gave up 4 more touchdown passes Sunday, which makes 12 in the last 4 games and the afore-mentioned 30 in 14 games. That’s 3 more than last year and one more than any Eagles team ever has allowed. The only 2 teams in the league that have given up more TD passes this year than the Eagles are Dallas and Houston. Both have given up 31. Both also are 5-9.
* Until the last 3 ½ minutes Sunday when they made a pair of big stops, the Eagles’ defense wasn’t very good on third down Sunday.
The Giants converted 8 of 17 third-down opportunities. Eli Manning completed 8 of 14 third-down passes for 126 yards and 2 touchdowns. On the plus side, Manning also threw a third-down interception and was sacked once on third down. Manning and the Giants managed to convert 5 third downs of 7 yards or more. Until Sunday, the Eagles actually had done a pretty good job against the pass on third down. In their previous 8 games, the Eagles had held opponents to a .508 completion percentage and a 43.3 passer rating on third down. In the Eagles’ first win over the Giants in Week 11, Manning was just 4-for-9 for 43 yards on third down. What a difference a month made.
* LeSean McCoy has really developed into a very dependable blocker. On Vick’s game-tying 13-yard TD pass to Jeremy Maclin, McCoy helped give him the necessary time to make the throw by picking up blitzing safety Deon Grant.
* The Eagles' usually effective screen game, hasn’t been very effective the last 2 games. They threw 2 screens to McCoy on Sunday. He picked up 5 yards on one, lost a yard on the other. The week before against the Cowboys, they also threw 2 screens to McCoy. One resulted in a 2-yard loss. The other went for no gain.
* I think the Eagles will be OK with Kurt Coleman at free safety. The rookie seventh-rounder played well Sunday. When the Eagles were trailing 31-24 and needed a stop on third-and-8, he helped get it with a perfectly timed blitz that forced an incompletion. Earlier in the second half, he dropped 260-pound Brandon Jacobs for a 2-yard loss on a run play.
* The Eagles didn’t use wide receiver/running back Chad Hall nearly as much Sunday as they did against the Cowboys. He was on the field for just 3 plays from scrimmage against the Giants, compared to 18 the week before against Dallas. He lined up at wide receiver twice in a 5-wide receiver set, and also lined up as the lone back in a four-wide, 1-back set. Didn’t have any touches.
* The Eagles went with 4- or 5-wide receiver sets just 6 times in 59 offensive plays against the Giants. All 6 were pass plays. Vick completed 3 of 5 passes for 22 yards and was sacked once out of the formations.
* The Eagles used 2-tight end sets on just 11 of 59 plays Sunday against the Giants. A week earlier against the Cowboys, 21 of 55 plays were out of 2-TE formations. The fact that they were behind most of the game had a lot to do with that.
* The Eagles did an effective job of shutting down the Giants’ ground game. The Giants, who had averaged 181.7 rushing yards per game the previous 3 games, were held to 100 yards on 31 carries. In 2 games against the Giants, the Eagles held them to 161 yards on 50 carries (3.2 yards per carry. The Giants had just one double-digit run, an 11-yarder by Brandon Jacobs. In the last 10 games, the Eagles have given up just 18 runs of 10 yards or more.
* The Giants matched up their corners with DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin on Sunday. Corey Webster stayed with Jackson most of the day and Terrell Thomas was on Maclin. Maclin had 2 TD catches, including a 13-yarder that tied the game with 1:15 left. in the fourth quarter. He caught the ball and spun away from Thomas.
* For the second straight week, Quintin Mikell had a diving interception, getting his arms under a Manning pass that was tipped by defensive lineman Darryl Tapp late in the first quarter.
AFTERTHOUGHTS
* The NFL needs to do something about the NFC West, and quickly. Blow it up. Set it on fire. Park it on a drug corner and leave the doors unlocked and the keys in the ignition. Swap it for the Mountain West Conference. Drive it off a cliff. Give it to the Kardahsians as a Christmas gift. Sell it to Oprah. Something. Anything. The Rams and Seahawks currently are leading the division with 6-8 records. One of these embarrassments is going get a postseason invitation while somebody else, probably either the 8-6 Packers or the 9-5 Giants is going to sitting the playoffs out.
* Thirty lashes to the assistant coach up in the booth who failed to tell Reid in no uncertain terms that he absolutely, positively needed to challenge DeSean Jackson’s fourth quarter fumble. The television replay, which they saw contrary to what Big Red claimed Monday, left no question that Giants linebacker Jon Goff had touched Jackson as he was going down, which would’ve negated the fumble and allowed the Eagles to retain possession.
* Rookie Jamar Chaney, who made his first start at middle linebacker, had an outstanding game against the run. He was in on a team-high 16 tackles and did a good job of shedding blocks and making plays. But he still is struggling with his coverage responsibilities in Sean McDermott’s defense. You saw that on Kevin Boss’s 8-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter that gave the Giants a 31-10 lead. Boss was Chaney’s responsibility, but he came off of him when he saw a crossing route in front of him. That left Boss open and a passing lane for Manning to get him the ball.
* If I were the Eagles, the team I would least want to see in the playoffs is the Giants. Yes, they’ve beaten them twice this season and six times in a row. But sweeping a team 3 times in the same season, especially one that took you to the mat in both of the first two games? I’d like their chances better against the Falcons in the Georgia Dome than at home in a Game 3 death match against the Giants. But that’s just me.
BY THE NUMBERS
* In 14 games, opposing tight ends have 69 receptions for 820 yards and 10 touchdowns against the Eagles, including one Sunday by the Giants’ Kevin Boss. Those 10 TDs match their season total from last year, when opposing TEs caught 102 passes for 1,079 yards.
* The Eagles have outscored their last 4 opponent 68-14 in the fourth quarter, including 28-7 on Sunday.They’ve scored 125 of their 412 points this season in the fourth quarter.
* The Eagles have scored 27 or more points 8 times this season. They are 8-0 in those games.
DID YOU NOTICE?
* Michael Vick had 5 passes tipped or batted Sunday. The Giants’ rookie defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul had 2 of them. Defensive tackles Chris Canty and Rocky Bernard and safety Antrel Rolle each had one.
* The ``trips’’ formation the Eagles used on a first-down play late in the first quarter. They lined up Jason Avant, DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin behind each other on the right side. Jackson got open deep on the play, but Vick didn’t have time to get the ball to him. He was flushed from the pocket and ran for 11 yards. Collected another 15 when he got hit out of bounds by Giants linebacker Jon Goff.
* The multitude of missed tackles by Eagles defenders.
* On the Giants’ second sack of Vick, they lined up Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora on the same side, with Tuck running a stunt around the outside. King Dunlap did a good job of staying with him and blocking him to the outside. But Umenyiora’s inside rush prevented Vick from stepping up and he ran right into Tuck’s arms.
* Dimitri Patterson did a nice job of hanging on to Mario Manningham’s third-quarter fumble. Ernie Sims came sliding in and almost knocked the ball out of bounds, which would have allowed the Giants to retain possession. But Patterson managed to hold on to it even as Sims was colliding with him. The Eagles converted that turnover into their first touchdown to make it 24-10.
* DeSean Jackson didn’t have his first reception until there were 50 seconds left in the third quarter.
* Justin Tuck did a much better job of coping with those slant blocks by tight end Clay Harbor than DeMarcus Ware did last week.
* Jeremy Maclin, who had 2 touchdown catches, almost had a third early in the fourth quarter. He beat cornerback Terrell Thomas on a post route. But as was the case most of the game, Vick was under duress and was unable to step into his throw. He underthrew the pass, allowing Thomas enough time to recover and force an incompletion.
* The nice blocks by pulling guard Max Jean-Gilles and LeSean McCoy on the 5-yard quarterback draw by Vick for a touchdown with 5:28 left to close it to 31-24.
* Safety Quintin Mikell was shaken up on his near-interception on the Giants’ final possession. He dove for a pass for tight end Kevin Boss and accidentally slammed his head on the ground. If the game had gone into overtime, there’s a good chance Mikell wouldn’t have been allowed to play. He stayed on the field for the next play, but was being examined by the team’s training and medical staff during DeSean Jackson’s game-winning punt return.
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"I don't know why people who've been through the mill with the Eagles for many years, have to shout Super Bowl." BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT SCARED LIKE YOU! This is a Super Bowl year. Get on the train or go home.— sbdons1982- Hahahaha. Scared. I don't get scared of entertainment. 1982...was that the year you were born? If so, I was on the couch every week to watch the Swamp Fox's Eagles. Including Anthony Carter. So, a little more respect. Thanks.
— road515 - I predicted an 8-8 season at best due to Kolb's growing pains as a starter. No one predicted a season like this out of Vick. Actually, I do remember one guy claiming Vick would take over and light it up, but I figured he was just a delusional homer.— balitok
- road515, well said. I just don't see this team making much noise without a defense that can stop someone in the red zone. I was at the game and wasn't really that surprised with how they were dominated for the first 3 quarters. The rest was shocking. With that said, I was one of the 'experts' who predicted a 7-9 or 8-8 season. Who knows.— sore richard
- Patterson needs to be on the bench or on a bus. he stinks.— hititwheretheyaint
- It was only after that onside kick that the Giants felt the inevitable, the 5 game losing streak, the air going out of the balloon, the gag reflex...— robinlupe
- Akers sweeet onside kick— robinlupe
- Coleman can play, but there's a reason Allen was starting. The other teams can now pick on the Patterson/Coleman duo. I'd rather face the Giants than the Saints, because of our secondary. I believe Brees and Co. can get a TD on every series against our D.— tacklinjoe
- The screens are too predictable! Need to be done in none obvious situations. Harbor has a chance to step up with Ingram being cut; he needs to show he wnats it. Tuck had a week to watch film on him. Welcome to the NFL! The FB needs a half a dozen touches a game; he is a good 3rd read on blitzes. Hall is an inspiration, but is a liability as a blocker. If teams run blitz when he is in there, he will never get off the line of scrimmage. And he is not fast enough on the reversde.
- This is definitely fun to watch and be a part of, but after seeing the Pats play for the last several weeks - no one is going to stand in their way. That team is hitting its stride at the perfect time and is going to steamroll through the playoffs. If the Eagles were to meet them in the Superbowl it would be no contest; Brady would put up 45+ on that defense.— CTL
- I'm glad there are realistic fans here. I am enjoying a better season than I thought would happen at the beginning of September. But, I wish the Eagles would be able to get it together for once. There are always too many key injuries. Those defensive red zone numbers are not good. It was fun on Sunday, but the Eagles did not play well at first. So, I don't know why people who've been through the mill with the Eagles for many years, have to shout Super Bowl. I did not think the Phillies would win the World Series in September 2008. Why, can't we always be objective? Then, life would be better.— road515
Where are the "experts" who predicted an 8-8 or 7-9 season?- Team is already well ahead of the 7-9 or 8-8 I thought likely during the pre-season. Thats GREAT. Vick is a difference maker. Disappointing to note in Domo's comments that defense is for all practical purposes playing worse than last season (McDermott's first). Some defensive changes seem in order before 2012.— Smashmouth
- Are you kidding me? The Giants do nothing if not implode. The idea that you can't beat a team three times in one season is an historically disproven myth.— thefadd
- Lonewolf11: In case you missed it, Red had this in the plan. Lull the Gints into a stupor then unleash the team in the last 9 mins. Even DJax final play was in the plan. They practiced it all week. Even the fumble bit. It was all designed to have Coughlin whine on Nat'l TV & blame his kicker. Worked too!
— jjthree 
After enjoying one of the greatest days in Philadelphia sports history, I’ve been reluctant to post anything negative.
However, 24 hours later, I am left with one sobering question: Why was such a comeback necessary?
Obviously, all great comebacks are preceded by an equally disastrous beginning. And no one can argue that we didn’t suffer through such a start.
Vick’s been taught to throw first and run second. He’s also been taught to trust his coaches and the game plan. Hadn’t everyone patted him on the back for doing so? I certainly did.
At the game’s outset, Vick did nothing different. He made his reads, stayed in the pocket and tried to deliver the ball to his receivers. So, why were the results so drastically different? Why did this game resemble last season’s playoff game against the Cowboys?
I believe the problem was with the game plan. In our most important game of the season, the plan was horrible.
Reid was thoroughly out-coached, that is, until his master stroke — the on-sides kick. I’ve got to give credit where it’s due. Reid helped resurrect his offense, which smelled that of a rotting corpse.
Despite the lack of success for most of the game, Vick played within the framework of the offense and continued to trust his coaches, until he could no longer do either.- Yes, a sub-.500 team may make the playoffs. But that's the system. The NFC West has gone 6-4 in the Super Bowl. All four teams have won at least one NFC title. The 9-7 Cards came within minutes of winning it all just a few years ago. And a 9-7 Rams team had a fourth-quarter lead on the Steelers in the '70s. The NFC South is only 2-2 in Super Bowls, including the Saints' win this year. The Eagles went 10-6 in 1991 and missed the playoffs as did the 11-5 Cowboys and 10-6 49ers. Redskins won the East at 14-2. Meanwhile, three teams in the AFC West went: 12-4 Broncos, 10-6 Chiefs and 9-7 Raiders. Jets and Dolphins went 8-8 and Steelers were 7-9.— Slovs
If there was ever a team that could pull off winning a SB with 'this' defense... it will be the 2010 Birds edition. Should be a load of fun...- Yes the pass defense is a problem but look at the other elite teams in the NFL. NE ATL NO defenses is just about equal to our if you look at recent games. And the other teams with good defenses have decent offenses. This is an offensive year in the NFL and with our offense, the sky is the limit.— phillystrome
- When it became obvious to everyone that the Birds would not win, unlike McNabb, Vick went against his coach. He abandoned the game plan and wrote his own script. Perhaps “abandoned” is too strong a word. Let’s say that Vick “revised” the plan.
Just as he had done in Atlanta for years, Vick looked to run first and pass second.
It is said that necessity is the mother of invention, and out of that necessity, Vick, in middle of a game, re-invented himself.
No one was ready for that drastic change, least of all the Giants, and they were held defenseless against Vick’s metamorphosis. As he done for years in Atlanta, Vick looked to run first and pass second.
And his “street ball” led to the most incredible comeback in the history of Philadelphia sports.
While I don’t endorse that style of football for an entire season, it worked like a charm yesterday. And more importantly, it’s good to know that when all else fails, Vick can and will take control of the team as he sees fit.
I noticed that the Vick took more snaps from under center than usual.
It was pointed out during the post-game that Reid chose to play his offense tight and not spread them (until the 4th quarter). I don’t know if that’s true, but Vick being under center somewhat validates that claim.
If, however, that claim is true, Reid is almost singularly responsible for such a poor offensive showing.
Just one man’s opinion.
- Wolf.. I hear ya man... but let's just ride this one for awhile. If you told me back in July @ Lehigh that this team would be playing for the divison lead with a shot at a bye... I'd advise you to lay the crackpipe down. We have lightning in a bottle... let's blow this thing up !!!!!!!!!!!!1
- I was saying this earlier. I DO NOT want to see Giants in playoffs at all!! they will be out for blood and foaming at mouth, i agree id rather play ANYONE else.
if we go back to superbowl, i am scared of a pats-eagles rematch, brady looks inhuman— rayne215 - This is a nice team. It is not a Super Bowl team, alas.— andrewfrombrooklyn
- We walk on water. We spread joy and sunshine from the talented left arm of the resurrected Michael Vick. We are a travelling Circus. Hey, POPCORN here...Crackerjack! We are the Diving Horse on the Steel Pier in Atlantic City. Almost akin to an 'ol-time religeon tent show. You name it, we probably do it. There is a fervor starting to roil around this team, and Michael Vick is at the epicenter. And after yesterday.....! Nobody knows where this train's a-headin'...but nobody's gettin' off, and the stations down the line are getting VERY crowded! Last night, Bob Costas was effusive in his praise for V-7. It was well deserved. FLY IGGLES FLY!!!
— TBear - That's a bold statement. I'll take the home game.
