Awful Start, Allen Hurt
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Awful Start, Allen Hurt
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Updated: The end of the first half proved nothing is ever so bad that it can't get worse. The Eagles lost Nate Allen to a serious-looking knee injury -- scuttlebutt holds that he injured a patellar tendon -- went down 17-3 on a 25-yard field goal, then gave the ball back two plays after they got it on a Jeremy Maclin fumble with nine seconds left in the half. This gave the Giants time for an 8-yard TD pass to Hakeen Nicks and a 24-3 halftime lead.
Michael Vick endured his worst half of the season. He is 6 for 10 for just 33 yards and an interception. The Giants have converted six third downs of 6 yards or longer. The Birds broke out this four-safety look they worked on in practice, which was spectacularly ineffective before Allen went down, mercifully ending the experiment.
DeSean Jackson is active but has no catches.
Earlier: The Eagles' offense came out really cold. First nine plays, the only successful one was when Shady McCoy broke an inside run outside for 20 yards.
The Giants took a 7-0 lead on a 71-yard, nine play drive kept alive by two third-down conversions that might not have been catches, but the Giants lined up and snapped before extensive replaying viewing was possible, which was smart. Ultimately, Mario Manningham turned Dimtiri Patterson inside-out on third and 8 from the Eagles' 34, for the touchdown.
The Eagles got a field goal back on a Quintin Mikell pick and a Vick scramble that netted that long-sought roughness penalty for hitting Vick after he had turned out of bounds. But they still couldn't generate any real offense.
The Giants came right back after the punt and drove 73 yards in eight plays. Manningham got the TD again, again victimizing Patterson on a 33-yarder. The play before the touchdown, the Giants converted third and 12, on which the Eagles didn't blitz, got little pressure, and sat back in zone coverage waiting for the ball to be thrown.
Not looking real good in the new Swamplands. Minimal involvement for DeSean Jackson and Asante Samuel.
Earlier: Right tackle Winston Justice is inactive for today's game, but DeSean Jackson and Asante Samuel are playing. Also inactive for the Birds are LBs Keenan Clayton and Stew Bradley, who are injured, reacquired DE Derrick Burgess, safety Brandon Hughes and TE Garrett Mills.Mike Kafka is third QB. Stay tuned.
God awful play-calling. I mean why in the world aren`t you establising the run and how do you allow the Giant receivers 7 yards off the line without bumping them. If you ask me the Eagle coordinators have done a miserable job!— kevwheat1- The Eagles are showing what kind of team they really have. The secondary is awful. Demitri Patterson has no clue in covering. Realistically, this team has no chance this year.— eaglesman1
- Still want to send the Dog Killer to the Pro Bowl???— KimThL
- Eagles coaching has been pathetic today. This team can't adjust when something isn't working. The decision to let clock run but throw a pass deep in your own territory with time running, 30 sec left is ridiculous.— Philliesguy
- Where is Sheldon??— watsonmr
- Same scenario every year. This is a brand new team, we can no longer blame McNabb or the players. This is a coaching problem plain and simple. Defensive coaching blows. Offensive is not much better. There is zero adjustment in tough games.— Larry Byrd
- offensive line atrocious so far. defense is actually playing ok except for Dmitri Patterson
- playcalling... you have got to be kidding me? Its not the play calling its the PLAYERS! The entire team looks terrible, there is no play call for that.— jkidd49
Wow! I hate to give up on the team but in my mind this game is already filed in the dumper. Thanks to the 2008 Phillies, instead of screaming at the television and wondering why God hates me, I'm just gonna turn off the TV and go rake some leaves. Somebody text me if it gets interesting.- Good choice. You didn't miss much :) — samtheman
- Typical Andy; poor game plan, a team completely unprepared to play, and another season flushed down the toilet with a blown opportunity late in the season.— Blankman
- What was Reid and the coaching staff thinking? Embarrassingly bad game plan with no adjustment, as usual. Worst half of football this year. I hope they turn it around in the second half.— robertthomas
- How do you not challenge that fumble ruling? It doesn't matter if you didn't get the radio down, if that play stands its the ball game! WORST GAME DAY COACH EVER! This is why the Eagles will never win a super bowl with Andy, because in the big game Andy comes up Idiot.— Blankman
- Must be late December, the lame Eagles are coming up short. Again. Ho hum. Meanwhile, DeSean the fraud continues to disappear when it matters most. Can't play the Texans D every week, punk.— UncleEddie
- defense wins championships. Eli Manning is looking like vintage Peyton with our swiss cheese secondary. And...what's up with our star wideouts fumbling the ball? It's like the time when Vick threw 3 first half TD passes against the bears, then didn't because they dropped the ball.
Still, who among us wouldn't rather they drop the pass than cough it up and give away possession? sheesh. Looks like Vick isn't trying to let this one go. Nice play by Celek on the TD— thealphawolf
