Eagles-Niners report card
After giving up 48 points to the New York Giants last week, the Philadelphia Eagles defense bounced back in a 27-13 win over the 49ers. What did Domo make of the Birds' performance?
Eagles-Niners report card
Paul Domowitch, Daily News NFL Columnist
RUSHING OFFENSE
Eagles averaged just 3.5 yards per carry and didn’t have a run longer than 9 yards. But they ran the ball effectively on their game-clinching 89-yard drive early in the fourth quarter and notched 2 rushing touchdowns for the second game in a row. Grade: B
PASSING OFFENSE
DeSean Jackson recorded his fifth 100-yard receiving game of the season and had a big 59-yard third-and-2 catch on the Eagles’ 89-yard scoring drive. But Donovan McNabb had a very uneven performance, throwing two interceptions, including one in the end zone, and overthrowing a wide-wide-open Jackson on a third-quarter pass.
Grade: B
RUN DEFENSE
The Eagles’ top priority was stopping tight end Vernon Davis. So they went with an extra corner and just two linebackers much of the game, which left them susceptible to the run, which was a big reason Frank Gore rushed for 107 yards on 16 carries. But 4 of Gore’s 6 second-half runs gained 3 yards or less. Grade: C
PASS DEFENSE
The Eagles held QB Alex Smith to a puny 4.7 yards per attempt, sacked him 3 times and also intercepted him 3 times. They held the Niners’ dangerous tight end, Vernon Davis, to 3 receptions for 43 yards. Grade: A
SPECIAL TEAMS
Quintin Demps opened the game with a 48-yard kickoff return that kick-started yet another first-possession score. Eagles’ punt coverage was outstanding, but their kickoff coverage again was shaky (30.5 yards per attempt). DeSean Jackson had just one PR for 6 yards. Grade: B
OVERALL
If nothing else, the Eagles proved they can win even when Donovan McNabb doesn’t bring his `A’ game. Sean McDermott’s defense racked up 4 more takeaways, put a muzzle on TE Vernon Davis and did a much better job of tackling than they did a week earlier. Grade: B-plus
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To read Andy Reid's postgame comments, click here
To read Les Bowen's in-game report, click here
watched the game on my bud's high def - you know what really looks kookie on it... FAT ANDY's SUPER BOWL RING THAT REGGIE WHITE BROUGHT HIM !! HOW CAN HE WEAR THAT RING IN ALL OUR FACES WHILE HE CHOKES THIS TOWN ON PLAYOFF LOSSES all the while our heroes age !!— daveH
When your RB has 48 yards on 9 touches on a cold day. It is a CRIME that he does not get another 15 touches. MARTY is still not fully wake...— Seed- Run offense should get B+ for carrying the team at critical time. Lining up McCoy and Weaver behind McNabb is the best offensive formation Eagles can have. It opens up all options for Reid.— Seed
Dawk!— Earl J- All of the people that are giving up on Westbrook do seem pretty lame to me. The guy is one of the best players in franchise history. The reason he hasn`t been playing the last few games is because of a head injury. If he was coming off a lower body injury I guess I could understand everybody`s concern. You gotta give him a shot when he feels ready to go.— FaithInMcNabb
- I remember a time when Troy Aikmen would get a concussion every other week and still play the following week. Times have changed.....— ajcash
- Philly Squid you are right. If the Eagles win out and Minnesota loses one of it's last 2 games then Philly would have the 2nd seed and a 1st week bye.— Nothing but the truth
- Funny how everyone complained when they thought WBrook was not going to be around..."Pay Him he's worth it!!" you all screamed. You wrote that the Birds were gonna cheap out. Now half of you want to run "Softy" out...that's pretty lame.— mrflopes
- I am looking for the Eagles to get that 2 seed!!— Philly Squid
- dr.elektrika I hear ya. For some strange reason Alex Smith kept testing Sheldon Brown and Brown kept making play after play. As for the running game it looks like Andy went with the NE approach which is a no frills (i.e no sweeps or tosses) just a plain 2/3 gap up the middle with an occasional 5 gap inside tackle. It's not getting us big runs but it give us a manageable 2nd and 3rd down. This team is really built for speed and the top 2 seeded teams play in domed stadiums.— Nothing but the truth
- This was Chris Gocong best game covering the TE.......what was that? He didn't play? Oh well I guess that's why Alex Smith was throwing all those balls away , he was looking for the guy Chris Gocong was covering.— Nothing but the truth
Comment removed.- Why do fans (antoinet) always question a players toughness or lack thereof, when they themselves would be crying in their momma's lap over a splinter in the finger. I wonder what they'd call you if someone banged you in the head a couple of times? I for one am tired of seeing the Westbrook bashing the cat has had two concusions thats serious, how well would you stand up. WHEN Westbrook gets back, yeah, this offense will be crazy dangerous.— realtruth
- Antoine. Not sure what your saying.. Westbrook is one of the most respected and feared players at his position. The only plus to him sitting out is other players getting the chance to flourish in this system. He's carried the offensive load for so many years on this team he should be respected.— MJPD345
- Sawgrass: he was thinking our defense was playing well against Singletarys philosophy that he could run up the middle or that Alex Smith can throw against our coverages.....which he couldn't. Granted, I'll give you Sheldon made a great play on the ball to cause an immediate turnover, but that is why, again, Sheldon has no business NOT STARTING in the Pro Bowl!!! This team has intensity and has been carving up big play after big play. Love it! Can it continue is not the question because when the Eagles offense isn;t executing big plays they are running the ball effectively enough to set up 2nd and 3's and 3rd and 2's to throw the ball to Celek or Jax for big yards or, at least, first downs. Andy is finally figuring it out with Weaver and McCoy and that is DANGEROUS!!!! GO BIRDS!!!!— dr.elektrika
- C they need a lot of cleaning up!!! And what was reid thinking going for it on forth down on our 29 yd line what an idiot!!!— sawgrass
@antoine, I'm confused by your post.... are you're saying what the Eagles are lacking is a fragile running back, or they need a tough proven high level game changer?- 1 A, 3 Bs and 1 C does not equal a B+.— P Even
- Comment removed.
- Birds are in GREAT shape.....— t8034mc1
- If Paper Mache' Westbrook ever plays again this team will become a Jugernaut.— antoine
- good win.....next week will be weird watching BDawk in Denver's uni...well it seems if they game plan to stop a tight end they can, but what happens when a team has other options....this team has holes but imo the NFC is really wide open...if we get healthy we will have as good as shot as anyone which is all you can really ask for...— phillyfan94
