First-Half Fiasco: Eagles' Struggles Continue
Orchard Park, NY -- Update: Michael Vick's third interception, tying his career high, was a pick-six to linebacker Nick Barnett that put the Birds in a 21-7 hole. Vick, obviously frustrated after seeing the defense give back momentum he had just given the team, forced a pass as he took a hit and made the situation worse.
First-Half Fiasco: Eagles' Struggles Continue
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Orchard Park, NY -- Update: Michael Vick's third interception, tying his career high, was a pick-six to linebacker Nick Barnett that put the Birds in a 21-7 hole. Vick, obviously frustrated after seeing the defense give back momentum he had just given the team, forced a pass as he took a hit and made the situation worse.
The Eagles had a chance to show some life just before halftime when their defense created an actual turnover, Jamar Chaney intercepting Ryan Fitzpatrick. The Birds got the ball on Buffalo's 48.
They quickly moved it to the 26, where Vick spiked the ball with 13 seconds left. But instead of kicking a field goal, with no timeouts left, they tried twice to throw for a touchdown, the final heave a throwaway that seemed to end with a second left/. But the clock went to zeroes, and the officials ran off the field. FOX opted to show players running down the tunnel instead of a replay with the clock shown on the screen.
Earlier: Two deflected Michael Vick interceptions and a familiar inability to tackle or stop the run at all led to an early 7-0 deficit for the Eagles. But a big defensive stop led to a 65-yard touchdown drive, kept alive when Bills linebacker Danny Batten hit Vick helmet--first in the facemask, got the Birds even, very briefly.
Vick at least temporarily solved the Eagles' horrendous red zone problems, hitting Jeremy Maclin on play-action from 2 yards out.
The score was tied only as long as it took the Bills to drive 77 yards in 7 plays, most crucially a 49-yard screen to Fred Jackson on which Jamar Chaney pretty much was blocked onto the Eagles' bench. Asante Samuel seemed to make no effort to stop the ensuing 6-yrd touchdown pass to David Nelson. Bills lead 14-7 in the second quarter.
Earlier:
The inactives are up, and as seemed likely Friday, defensive end Juqua Parker will try to play.
Parker suffered a high ankle sprain in the Atlanta game and wasn't optimistic about playing this week until he suddenly felt better Friday. His presence takes on increasing importance with the absence of defensive end Trent Cole (calf).
Darryl Tapp, returning from a pectoral muscle strain suffered in the season opener, will start for Cole, but it isn't clear how many snaps Tapp can take. Cole plays more than any other Eagles defensive lineman.
Inactive today: G Kyle DeVan, QB Mike Kafka, safety Jaiquawn Jarrett, croner Curtis Marsh, offensive tackle Jason Peters and and guard Jualian Vandervelde.
That means defensive tackle Derek Landri is up. Landri, cut at the end of the preseason, rejoined the team this past week when Antonio Dixon needed season-ending triceps surgery.
It's a little surprising that the Eagles are going with just two quarterbacks, making Vince Young the backup to Mike Vick. Young has not played as an Eagle.
Eagles marginalize mental & physical mistake beat the redskins go to the bye-week regroup and get healthy.— Lonewolf209
Comment removed.- Anybody know whose on the new coach short list? I think after they fire Andy this week they should make Juan interim head coach so we can get a better draft pick.— Phils_World_Champs
- Vick and Reid both suk. Scream team; not dream team— igglesuk
- Trade Vick already.
QB's need to pass and not run— igglesuk - so much fail.
5 turnovers pretty much negates 490 yards of offense.
and the defense can't even get off the field when Buffalo doesn't even try to run a play.— ekw555 - Looking at a 6-10 season if everything goes there way from here out. Obviously over-rated by local media...........again!!!! All you blokes keep buying.— Northcountry
- Looking at a 6-10 season if everything goes there way from here out. Obviously over-rated by local media...........again!!!! All you blokes keep buying.— Northcountry
- That was my guess after last week. But they'll probably end up going 8-8 or something and Lurie will talk about the great job dum-dum did and bring him back again to torture us. — Phils_World_Champs
- They might be the worst team in the NFL. Just think, if your not a hockey fan like me the much anticipated Fall sports season is over.
Barring any major injuries, the Packers will repeat.— MilesLong1 - What happened to the super bowl, losers?— ursad&pathetic
- I’ve never seen such coaching mismanagement in my life. It’s so very clear Andy’s poor decisions have finally caught up with him. Anyone with a brain would have assumed starting a rookie DC in the NFL would result in a throw away season. If the Birds do win Andy will act like he’s a genius so the players will have to make due with the Marx brothers coaching staff.— epalmer
- This is just too disappointing. The coaching has failed the Eagles.
http://tinyurl.com/3povj5c— Reevon - Eagles take a snap inside the 10. They hand it off to McCoy. He scores a touchdown...It only took 5 weeks for our NFL coach to figure that out. Does anyone think we will see it again before Week 10?— Yonkersphilly
- Fire. Andy. Reid. Now.— rubicon24
- This debacle of a season could have been predicted. Reid's off-season moves made no sense at the time and the chickens are coming home to roost:
1. Appointing an offensive line coach with no defensive coaching experience to be the defensive coordinator was idiotic.
2. Totally undervaluing linebackers and going into a season with a rookie playing middle linebacker who clearly was not ready is incomprehensible. In addition, letting Stuaert Bradley walk might have been right except he was still the Eagles best linebacker.
3. Failing to trade one of their cornerbacks for a linebacker opr decent offensive lineman.
4. The draft showed poor talent evaluation. None of the top choices are helping at all.
5. Ignoring the safety position was also a disaster. None of their safeties can tackle.
6. Failing to sign DeSean Jackson and instead gi ving that contract to an injury prone and small QB. HELP— Drumgoole - dear andy
ive always wanted to be a nfl defensive coordinator.
i will do a good job.
plz hire me. ok?
thnx.— bloodymess - Fire Andy Now.— PhillyfaninMD
- Tired of Big Red trying to prove he's smarter than everyone else and being wrong...time for Reid and staff to go.— Yonkersphilly
- Poorly constructed and terribly coached from top to bottom. How often do we continue to see the same idiotic clock management mistakes from Andy?
Fire the fat idiot. It's the only chance to eventually maybe winning a super bowl.— Blankman - This team compares to the worst under past infamous Eagle coaches. They can't defend the pass even though they have 3 of the best corn ers in the league. They can't defend against the run. Their special temas suck and their offensive line is well, offensive. I predict 4-12.— Drumgoole
- Comment removed.
