This One's On Andy
The Eagles' head coach gave away what should have been a victory in Chicago.
This One's On Andy
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Early this morning, at the end of a hectic day, your Eagletarian finally was given enough time with the stat sheet to figure something out:
The Eagles lost a football game Sunday night to a quarterback who threw for 17 net yards in the second half, and who looked like he needed a change of underwear every time the rush closed in.
Yes, they are singing Kyle Orton's praises along the shoreline of Lake Michigan this morning, because the Bears somehow won. Their four turnovers -- two picks and two Orton fumbles -- cost them a couple of piddling field goals. The Eagles turned the ball over twice, once leading to a touchdown. Advantage, Chicago, 7-6.
Remind me of this game, someone out there, please, the next time I pick the Birds and Andy Reid to beat anybody on the road, without Brian Westbrook.
Reid is the man who kept sending David Akers out to try to make 47- and 50-yard field goals, in a place they call the Windy City, even though it's been a few years since Akers consistently converted from such distances. He is the man who didn't want to run a quarterback sneak because of Donovan McNabb's contused chest, even though McNabb said afterward he would have done whatever was necessary to win, and even though it is hard to recall the last time McNabb got stuffed on a sneak. McNabb weighs 240 pounds and has the shoulders of a fullback. He can take the ball from Jamaal Jackson and lean forward to substantial effect, before the defensive line gets penetration.
Reid is the man who called four successive inside runs down at the goalline against a Bears defense that entered the day fourth against the run and 28th against the pass. Reid, the most pass-happy coach in Eagles history, watched McNabb go 4 for-4 on the drive that ended with Correll Buckhalter getting stopped short of the goalline on third and fourth down. (Buck barely functional, by the way, after getting kicked in the back making a tackle on the pick, which happened when DeSean Jackson broke off his route prematurely and went the opposite way from where McNabb thought he was going.) Reid did not call a pass, or even have McNabb roll out, on any of the four downs the Birds got following Tony Hunt's first-down catch at the 4.
It was Reid who never threw the challenge flag, though there were key refereeing decisions that should have been challenged. Here's one example: just before the two-minute warning in the second quarter, on third and 7 from the Bears' 28, Chicago rookie running back Matt Forte was given credit for a 7-yard pass reception and a first down. Replays sure seemed to show Forte's knees down before he extended forward with the ball and picked up the first down. Eagles defensive end Trent Cole said afterward he noted this, and was vocal about the need for review, which was not forthcoming. The Bears went on to score the touchdown that put them ahead for good.
To me, this debacle was all about Reid. McNabb was fine, especially for a guy with a bruised chest. The pick he threw wasn't his fault. The Eagles outgained the Bears, 340 net yards to 256. But they converted just 2 of 13 third downs, which is what happens when you don't have the weapons to get it done when the going is tough. And when your playcalling is all over the place.
Blame Jim Johnson if you want, for letting Orton throw three first-half touchdown passes, something that should have never happened. But Johnson's defense allowed three points in the second half, and took the ball away three times. The Bears gained all of 60 yards after halftime. Reid kept pushing the wrong levers from beginning to end, on an evening when he had little margin for error, without Westbrook, and the Eagles lost.
There will be a lot of positive spinning from NovaCare this week. You'll hear a little about what a good team the Bears are (from this perspective, they looked mediocre, at best) and a lot about how the Eagles continue to show their potential, how good they will be on that happy day when they put it all together.
Woulda.
Coulda.
Shoulda.
Didn't.
sad end to a truly poor performance.....the coach needs ex-lax for his second half calls.....— SkipinWV- Again les has perfect 20/20 hindsight. Everyone knows what you should do after the fact. If McNabb tries to sneak it in and is stopped, its why didn't they pass. In the past when the eagles were stopped inside the 5 and tried 2 passes, its why didn't they try to ram the ball in. Obviously when you loose a game, there are numerous things you could have done, that may have worked, but i bet you when they got the first down at the two, Les was saying just ram it in. Good ole 20/20 hindsight les.— mmonahan
- not throwing the challenge to that first touchdown started it all - I could see he was out of the end zone even before they did the replays— jefgov
- Poor play calling all night by Big Red, especially not going for it on 4th and 1 and letting Akers try a 50 yd field goal. The goal line stand plays were a little odd as well, although if you note on the overhead shot, if Matt Schobel blocks the end on that side (who made the tackle), Buck gets in the end zone. Another inconsistent effort all around, and a wasted opportunity on a day the Cowboys lost. We're in last place in our division this morning!— JoePAVA
- Andy should open a "Food and Drug Emporium"... the players treated this trip like it was a vacation with the Wilma McNabb feast on Saturday that they actually showed during the telecast. How about losing 100 pounds Andy... maybe then you can focus on game management. Reid always costs the team a couple of games this year.— BFlint
- was thinking same thing birds4ever, wheres the Baskett fade? I still dont mind running it to get in at the goalline. Still would like to see them go for it on 4th and 1 before the 50 yd fg attempt and at least run a sneak with mcnabb. I havent been this frustrated and angry with a loss since the superbowl because we need these wins to stay on pace in this division.— peteike
- NBC forgot one small detail when they showed the Walsh/Montana Reid/McNabb stat - um how's 3 Super Bowls to zero sound.— kse
- Did anyone notice that the Schobel missed his block on the Bears defensive end who grabbed Buckhalter around the neck. If he makes the block, Buckhalter scores without any problem. He stood there watching the play until the very end when he finally jumped in.— nate
- I was wondering about that fade pattern to Baskett myself. Or anything more imaginative than 4 straight runs to the middle. Just a side note;why was everybody so excited about Lorenzo Booker?— chgtown
- Thank you Les for finally being one of the only sports writers in this town that makes sense. Totally agree it looked like Donovan had a hard time moving around in the pocket in those soiled pants, he threw the ball rushed even when there wasn't one... Andy Reid are you kidding? He makes for a great GM but a horrible coach...why not throw the challenge flag? They give you 2 a game...atleast throw 1 for crying out loud. Don't give me the excuse you don't want to waste time outs....you don't know how to use them anyway. Finally is it me or why not challenge to see if Buckhalter broke the plane of the goal line on that 4th down play..no one seems to be mentioning that...sure looked like it was close enough to throw the red flag...afraid of pulling it out of your pocket Andy...nothing to lose....but the game.— JackJr
- Another 8-8 Season, by Andy the Boob, and the owner who makes the $$$$ no matter what.— GalRand
- David Akers is a problem for this team- the last 2 years his FG % from beyond 40 yards is 23%- thats beyond awful— ilario
- No Andrews equals no running game and poor pass blocking. No L.J. equals no red zone offense. We have seen this before.— hawaiichess
- I just posted the same thing on another forum. If fans can see this game after game, why cannot Andy? Stubborn or just out of it when it c omes to common sense play calling. 4 runs when Donnie could have rolled out and found Celek or even Schobel. So far, this is an 8-8 team as long as Andy plays so conservatively. It is not the team, it is Andy. BTW, Johnson is still doing the job.— KGKoons
- You take the ball out of your "best player's" hand supposedly because he is not playing well and I think he's hurt again more than he's showing. Feeley or Kobb in there and they throw for an extra score or two. 4 turnovers by the defense and the O can't put it in the end zone starting in Bear's territory. That being said, the sneak for McNabb was a no brainer and Andy inexplicably called yet another dive. I don't think even the Bears D believed it when they saw it.— MidGreen
