Eagles collapse again
Cardinals 21, Eagles 17
Eagles collapse again
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
It was a spectacularly bad game. It was a game so terrible that, sources say, the NFL’s marketing office has already requested every available copy of the film and prepared the kindling for a bonfire.
And it might just have been the end of the Eagles’ season.
It was a day when the Eagles, yes, blew another fourth quarter lead. Because of that, the game was 14-14 in the middle of the final period. Then, Alex Henery kicked a 36-yard field goal with 5:06 remaining to put the Eagles back in front. It followed an interception by Nnamdi Asomugha.
But then the Eagles blew the lead again. Cardinals quarterback John Skelton threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Early Doucet to put Arizona ahead for good, 21-17, with 1:53 remaining. It was a touchdown set up by a long pass to Larry Fitzgerald -- who had two earlier touchdowns -- a play in which Fitzgerald was inexplicably being covered by safety Jaiquawn Jarrett.
And on their final possession, Eagles quarterback Michael Vick was unable to muster the kind of come-from-behind drive that would have redeemed what was, for him, a disappointing day.
So, the Eagles’ record is now 3-6. Their chances of somehow making the playoffs are predicated upon their ability to run the table from here and win their final seven games of the season.
You do the math.
The pre-game headline was that wide receiver DeSean Jackson was inactive because he slept through a meeting on Saturday morning. After the kickoff, the story was all about the offensive ineptitude of both teams. The Cardinals’ problems made sense, given their overall talent level and the fact that Skelton was running things in the absence of Kevin Kolb and his bum toe. The Eagles’ problems made much less sense -- because while Jackson has his explosive moments, no wide receiver alters games that much by himself. Of course, Jeremy Maclin’s in-again/out-again day -- because of shoulder and hamstring injuries -- were also a significant issue.
Continuing a pattern, Vick was erratic and ineffective. He threw two interceptions overall. One was a red zone interception. He had another one called back because of holding penalty that occurred 20 yards away from the interception in the end zone, and had another one overturned by a replay challenge that only took place because the scoreboard operator came up with a definitive replay and then froze it on the Linc’s enormous video screens until Eagles coach Andy Reid finally dropped the red challenge flag.
The final interception, with 34 seconds remaining, on a ball badly overthrown up the left sideline, was the end.
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What team has a RB that leads the league in rushing, but they stop using him for 15 minutes at a time?— jman- Should be an exciting presser for Big Andy tomorrow. "Andy, has this allegedly soft, uninspired team of free agents quit on you?" "As the Eagles seem to be spiraling in, Andy, do you personally have an answer to pull them out of this?" "Andy, has the front office expressed their support for you lately - like in the last 10 minutes?" "Is it safe to say, Andy, that the Eagles are looking ahead to next season?" "Is DeSean still on the team, and what are the odds we'll be seeing him next week?" "Andy, what are the odds of 'Juan Mo' Time' against the Giants?"— NM Eagle fan
- Hoffman says "And it might just have been the end of the Eagles’ season." Now that's optimism, baby.
— phiami11 - Come on Lurie do it. We're beggin— power808
- What team leads the league in failing to learn from their mistakes, and whose coach continues to act like he invented football?— jman
- Quitters. Quitter QB. Quitter Defense.— oldBird
- FLYERS!!!!!!!— fman727
- What team benches their top WR to "teach him a lesson", but it only ends up hurting the entire team?— jman
- What team has a coach that has clearly lost the players, yet he still has a job?— jman
- Before the season Joe Banner basically said on the Mike Missanelli radio show that the Eagles had the money, if they wanted to use it, to sign DeSean Jackson. He sounded about as enthused as a guy going to the electric chair. It was pretty obvious that the Eagles how virtually no intention signing Jackson to a long term deal.
Once I recognized this attitude, I knew Jackson was going to be punished for his mini-holdout during camp. It's the Banner/Laurie way of saying "no one holds out on us." All year they've cut down his role in the game plan to get the public to believe Jackson's not playing well.
- Just got home from the game. How much longer before they fir Reid?— imarealist
- Embarrassing.— Relocator
- Well, the only thing that really matters is the Cowboys are getting it together and should run the schedule the rest of the way. If I were philly I would start getting a package together to send to Indy to grad Luck, or you could draft another UH QB, Keenum looks pretty good compared to vick— mavsman
- Reid press conference..."that's my responsibility, we have to do a better job"!! Same old....is getting old. Enough is enough.— dogman5
- Quitters. Quitter chump QB. Quitter Defense. What's the matter, Namdi wanted no part of 11 at crunch time. Let Jose and Jarrett cover him. Bizarre.— oldBird
