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 D coach would put a rookie saftey on the best wide receiver in the game? Not once, but over and over again Jarrett was trying to cover Fitzgerald.
You pay all that money to the best cover corners in the game, and you have a rookie safety cover Fitzgerald? Dumb!— camasbud- I admit, I'd never heard of John Skelton before today...the Eagles made him look like John Unitas in the 4th quarter.— J H
- There were so many stupid plays by the Eagles today that one would think it was played by a bunch of 5-year-olds! Asomugha lined up in the neutral zone on a must stop play; Steve Smith dropped at least two balls and when he finally caught one didn't make the 1st down although he was wide open; Vick playing like he was still in high school. The list goes on! And why in the world does the defense dance around after making a stop? You're paid to do just that and besides you're 3 and 6! You guys stink and it's time to act like that! I didn't see the great Larry Fitzgerald showboat after his two TOUCHDOWN catches! Why were there no long passes down field until AFTER both deep threats were out of the game? This team should just pack it in because they just put another nail in Andy Reid's coffin.— erniebanks14
- The season can still be a success. Loose the rest of the games, Miami wins 2 games, Indy wins 3 games, reid gets fired, vick released, hello Luck!— San Diego Nat
- I would guess Andy did not put his players in the best position to win— Seal Rock
- What team leads the league in blown 4th-quarter leads?— jman
Time to fire Castillo. He has no business being a defensive coordinator.— Boto- We have the one of, if not THE best running back in the NFL and he's being wasted by this idiotic coaching staff. And how in the h-e-double hockey sticks did Steve Smith catch 100+ balls for the giants a couple years ago? He's awful and needs to be cut tomorrow for that pathetic effort going for a crucial 1st down.
- The problem lies with the infamous dog killer who has brought his horrendously bad kharma to this team, the city of Philadelphia, and now Happy Valley. Get rid of Vick and things will change, but his continued presence will ensure a lot of unhappiness for the Philadelphia fans.
P.S. Did y'all see how he cheated on his "fiancee" last week - the guy has no scruples at all!!!!!
— Truth_Teller - What team leads the league in stupid penalties?— jman
- What team leads the league in failing to "do a better job" week after week?— jman
- This teams season makes absolutely no sense at all, totally unbelievable. Why didn't they run the ball, WHY!
— DJ - What team leads the league in losing at home?— jman
- it's beyond pathetic at this point...Vick looks like the same chump he was in Atlanta, Reid's coaching is hitting an all time low, and the Castillo experiment has been an unmitigated disaster...this team might not win 6 games...they had a nice 3 game home stretch to get things right and went 1-2 on it...— soalivetoday
- goodby andy, goodby andy, goodby andy, we hate to see you go!!— thunderstick
