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.
Grade the Eagles: Report card
Buy Eagles tickets 
Goodbye Eagles, see ya next year. This season is done. Might as well at least tank the rest of the way so we get a higher draft pick. Time for a new coach. You don't give up 30 points and expect to win too may games.— Kanayd- If the Eagles really really try as hard as they did tonight, we may still qualify for the Anrew Luck sweepstakes. — essell
- 5280philly - try 51 years and counting— DallasEagle
- Where you find the losers that do your pre and post game show? They never give the opponent any credit. You know what? The BEARS are better than you are. They have beat you 4 of the last 5 times. They were in the NFC championship last year. They're better than you are.
— sam bonner - This team is one big botched punt fake.— cea
Comment removed.- Questionable play calling in the clutch. Check. Bone headed plays and penalties both sides of the ball. Check. Untimely turnover by Vick (could have been even more). Check. Choking when the game is on the line. Check. Wasted timeouts. Check. Outcoached. Check. SAME OLD ANDY REID EAGLES. Reid should have been fired 5 years ago. Don't buy and tickets until Lurie and Reid are gone, or you will continue to see more of the same!— eaglephanatic
- Guys its simple cant blame DJax and Maclin thats too easy. Once again it goes on Juan Forte 150 All purpose Earl Bennett 107 Cutler no sacks. Why do we blow 4th quarter leads No QB Pressure. Cutler no sacks,FitzPatrick no sacks,Eli Manning no sacks how can you hold a 4th quarter lead when the QB can just stand in the pocket for 7+ seconds.— #5 fan for life
- Oh I see, Rich. The Eagles lost becauise of the ref's bad call. "A bit late, not much of a shove" You sure know how make excuses for a team thjat wqas supposed to be a Dream Team and which will not even make the playoffs. One more time, it is always the wuarterback. Look at the otrher games this week and see what elite quarterbacks do in the last minute of the game to win it for their team, or are you blind.
Chicago 30, Philly 24. No excuses. Get away from your computer.— mario1239 - YES, THIS SEASON IS OVER.
WHAT
does Jeffrey Lurie have to see to fired Andy Reid & get a new head coach?
a coach who will make DEFENSE a priority & not an afterthought?
a coach who will RUN THE BALL more than (only) when his team has a 2-touchdown lead???
I've been a DIE-HARD, LOYAL Eagles fan for 25 years. I'm TIRED of drinking the cool-aid.. I'm TIRED of GETTING MY HEART RIPPED OUT
EVERY
SEASON
by this team.
FIRE ANDY REID
SEND VICK TO THE DOLPHINS
LET'S GET A REAL DEFENSE
that can stop an opponent even
25%
of the time.
& send Vince "dream team" Young out the door too
while we're at it.
— JTnelmondo - Nights like tonight are why the Iggles will never show Desean the money. Is he even interesting in playing for the Eagles anymore. Seems he only catches the ball when he's got a step or two. Can someone say T.O. At least, it will be interesting again.— jaidubb
- Relax everybody ! Reid will hold his day after press conference, state that they will look at the tapes, find out where the problems were, and correct them. He has been saying that since he came here and everybody gives him a pass on it.
That defense out there was'nt bad, it was putrid.Those high priced free agents don't like to hit or tackle, do they ? Now that they got their money, they don't want to hurt themselves.
Nauseating display. Wonder what Buddy Ryan thought of those wimps.— candidly - Hey, candidly. Buddy Ryan was happy no matter who won. Remember, Ryan was the DC of the Bears when they won the Super Bowl in 1985, so it was a win-win for Ryan.
The Eagles aren't hardly ready for prime time much less deserving a "Dream Team" status.— essell - Hey Philly fans let me remind you in 08 we were 5-5-1 Mcnabb had been benched it looked bleak. Andy can circle the wagons. 3-5 is our 2nd worse record under Reid. I am losing hope but we can do it. Remember giants were 12-4 dominated the division. It has happened before. This season is the exact same. Huge expectations that year we brought in Asante drafted D Jax. Andy can bring his team from the dead but the real question is how long we can stay alive?— #5 fan for life
- I'd like to know the answer to that question...
Are we 0-12 two weeks after the bye?
— Lonewolf11— jaidubb
