Bears maul Eagles
Bears 30, Eagles 24
Bears maul Eagles
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
Andy Reid was furious. Referee Scott Green had just cost the Eagles four points because of a roughing the passer call that he had made on defensive end Jason Babin, prolonging an extinguished drive. What should have been a Chicago Bears field goal in the last minute of the first half ended up being a touchdown because of that flag, and Reid was chewing out Green in a way that you rarely see: pointing, gesticulating, the anger shooting from his eyes.
It was a debatable call, to be sure. The hit on Bears quarterback Jay Cutler was a little bit late, and that was true enough -- but Babin did appear to be shoved from behind by the Bears’ Chris Spencer. It wasn’t much of a shove, but it also wasn’t much of a hit on Cutler, either. It was a play that the referee might have chosen to ignore in many circumstances. But Green didn’t, and Reid was wild.
Because that is the thing about this Eagles defense -- and Reid has to know it as well as anyone. That is, the margin for error is so small, still.
It is the story of this season, a defense that cannot quite be counted upon. They had come off a good game against the Washington Redskins and a great game against the Dallas Cowboys -- proving, perhaps, that the NFC East really isn’t very good this year. They had played those games, though, and they were beginning to develop a little bit of a swagger, and then they found themselves on the wrong end of a 30-24 score against the Bears at Lincoln Financial Field.
They blew another fourth-quarter lead, allowing the Bears to score 10 unanswered points at the end. It was their fourth blown fourth-quarter lead of the season and their third at home. And when Michael Vick couldn’t pull out the game at the end, the Eagles were left with a 3-5 record and all kinds of issues once again, starting with the fact that they are three games behind the New York Giants in the standings.
They have a run defense that aspires to be adequate. They are using a nickel cornerback, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who was having a really rough game against the Bears. At one point in the fourth quarter, after defensive coordinator Juan Castillo had words with Rodgers-Cromartie, the player stomped off, waving his arm in obvious disgust and needing to be calmed down, first by teammates and then by Reid.
Their game is speed. If their pass rush is not dominating, though, it is not enough. As a result, their games can often have a shootout quality to them. If the game is competitive, they cannot seem to keep a lead secure.
Other than that, things are fine.
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Has Michael Vick ever led a game-winning touchdown drive? ever? I remember a whole lot of failed 4th downs, but never a victory...never gonna win with that.— winoneplease- even if we did win every game the rest of the way......our kickers stink on every level— jham32
- Wow - first the Phillies disappoint to new heights and then this? I am so glad we spent so much money signing these wonderful free agents - what a bunch of busts - and are we to seriously take Jackson's word that he deserves a new contract and a huge pay raise? YOU DISAPPEARED BUDDY AND YOU MAY HAVE COST US THE GAME TONIGHT - take your talents elsewhere if this is all you have to bring - what a joke! I am still disgusted with the Phillies, but when does baseball begin? Anything to escape this comical joke we call the Eagles...Season over folks - 3 and 5 and NO WAY they recover from this...— tytler
- Andy is soft n has build a soft team !!! End of story !!! Maclin leads the parade !!!!— diehardeagle
- The Eagles looked like boys being manhandled by big strong and fast men. The Bears bullied them up and down the field and the Eagles failed to respond and instead cowered in the corner in the fetal position. The Eagles are a mirror image of their coach. Fat and soft. — essell
- for the first time since Andy Reid is the coach im going to say it, fire him , and please dont blame the poor rookie punter for missing that pass, he is a PUNTER not a QB that play is on the HC, also Juan Castillo is a joke, that wide nine technique also is never going to work when you dont have LBs, and that Kelce is not a good center, Jamal Jackson is so much better, but woow I thought this was our year— rod 12
- I'm afraid my punter would be looking for work somewhere else. That pass could have been made by my grandson PJ.— stoky
- There is your dream team led by the softest head coach in the league and a QB with a 62.1 QB rating for the game. Yep, season is over, decade too, if Reid sticks around.— Carlos2
- Im sitting here watching Fat B***ard Reid, once again saying he needs to put the guys in a better position. Hopefully you guys will have a new regime next year because the current people just arent going to get it done for you. I'm a Giant fan but i must admit i actually do feel bad for you guys. I mean after 12 years of mediocrity,youd think Lurie would can the guy tomorrow. Vick isnt going to get it done for you either. Fire Reid now and have an interim coach until the end of the season. Cut your losses and start rebuilding for next year because i dont see the iggs going anywhere unless they run the table and i doubt thats gonna happen.— 06hdfxdwg
- The "Dream Team" has yet to beat a team with a winning record this season. But they always walk around, pounding their chests, acting like they're Champs during the game. But after the fourth quarter is over they're simply CHUMPS!— Ron T
- Fraud......please get rid of Reid— klew
- Let me state again for the record: we have an offensive line coach coaching our defense. He last coached defense in HIGH SCHOOL.— coloradoeagle
- 13 years and counting. Please blow it up after this year and start over with a different coach. I don't care who it is, just ANYTHING other than this same movie we've been watching year after year after year.— jd509
- Why blame just Vick @winoneplease?? Has a Andy team ever won it on a last drive ??? N how about the DJax fumble ??? N our defense getting no sacks and giving up 30pts doesn't help !!!— diehardeagle
- Vick, the highest paid player and team leader, was as guilty as anyone on the team. Awful interception in the red zone that tuned into 3 points for the Bears. That's the game right there. He does not have the mental fortitude to pull out a clutch win. He's only slightly better than bench warmer McNabb. — eaglephanatic
