Eagles collapse
It was a day that had trainwreck written all over it, almost from the beginning. It was Eagles and 49ers and dropped balls and gray skies and bizarre plays and bodies littering the road.
Eagles collapse
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
It was a day that had trainwreck written all over it, almost from the beginning. It was Eagles and 49ers and dropped balls and gray skies and bizarre plays and bodies littering the road.
And it was as bad a loss as many Eagles fans can rememeber. The Eagles blew a 20-point lead in the third quarter, wasted more than 500 yards of total offense and lost to the San Francisco 49ers, 24-23.
Even when the Eagles took a 20-3 lead at halftime, and led by 23-3 in the third quarter, they looked just so unimpressive in the process -- and they had collapsed so badly the previous two games -- that everybody in Lincoln Financial Field was looking up for the falling safe. Rapidly, it came into view.
Joshua Morgan caught a 30-yard touchdown pass. Vernon Davis caught a 9-yard touchdown pass. Alex Henery missed a 39-yard field goal and then he missed a 33-yard field goal, both wide right, both dismal. And as the fourth quarter began to wind down, the Eagles were hanging on, hanging on, hangng on to a 23-17 lead.
It is such an odd team right now. Michael Vick, wearing the Kevlar glove on his non-throwing hand, looked great -- running, throwing, the whole Vick experience. He set a career record for passing yards with 416. DeSean Jackson, after such a quiet start to the season, made several huge, long catches (while also dropping a couple of others). And on defense, as his fellow lineman have begun to drop from injury -- Trent Cole went off on a cart in the fourth quarter, and his loss would be devastating -- Jason Babin had three more sacks and conjured up all kinds of terror in the 49ers' backfield.
But the rest is still so messy. The red-zone offense, especially around the goal line, is an ongoing disaster -- with Ronnie Brown earning a spot in the bizzaro-world hall of fame by somehow trying to throw a ball to no one while being stopped near the goal line on a running play and losing a fumble. On the other side of the ball, the linebacker switch (from Casey Matthews to Brian Rolle) did not fix the problem. Neither did the safety switch (from Kurt Coleman to Nate Allen). And as for Nnamdi Asomugah, the big-money free-agent cornerback acquisition, he just doesn't look like that kind of a player right now. He doesn't look like nearly that kind of a player.
So, anyway, through all of that, it was 23-17 as the fourth quarter was winding down. With 3:00 left, Frank Gore scored on a 12-yard run. The play was reviewed, and it was determined that Gore was in. The extra point by former Eagles kicker David Akers -- who already had missed one field goal and had another one blocked -- gave the 49ers a 24-23 lead.
Three minutes left, then. With the Eagles driving, Jeremy Maclin and his sore hamstring caught a 17-yard pass, got caught from behind by defensive tackle Justin Smith and stripped of the ball. The 49ers recovered the fumble and the stands, already somewhat emptied, were the scene of fleeing. Except for the people who stayed behind and chanted, "Let's go Phillies...Let's go Phillies..."
Buy Eagles tickets 
I have never played or coached football, just been a tortured Eagle fan for the last 30+ years.
However, as old bird just posted, isn't rather obvious that Castillo is a moron who is unable to make second half adjustments.
Conversely, Harbaugh is very smart and like every other coach that the eagles have faced can make adjustments, and are able to make an Alex Smith into a Joe Montana.
CASTILLO MUST BE FIRED NOW!
That and maybe trying to obtain one talented linebacker would solve most if not all of the issues on this underachieving team.— danco225- Preparation lacking...a team that lays well for a while and then chokes. We keep on hearing about outcomes and indicators in the business world. We hear payers say the NFL is a businss. If it is a business, then th person responsible for the inability of the Eagkes to have a cohesive defense and team must be the one or ones held responsible. The same old tired mantra of AR is...it is mt responsibility....we agree,it is his responsibility and he needs to be relieved of his job....even thought concedes the season...but watching the Eagles now is VERY painful.— envirojoe55
- You have to give Lurie and Banner credit for successfully modelling their franchise after the Red Sox. They don't yet have the championship part down but they more than make up for it in the collapse department.— jtj06
- As big a failure as Obama— malice420dotcom
- Ooooo Dream Weaver,
You know we are not
the gold standard...
Oooo Dream Weaver...
I believe I can focus on the Phils...
— DreamTeamWeaver - Oooo Dream Weaver
I think you know we're
not the Gold Standard— DreamTeamWeaver - Paging Mr. Gruden!!... Paging Mr. John Gruden!!... Huh!..Oh...Yes sir... Are you Mr. John Gruden?!... Yes sir... Well, sir.... You have a call from Philadelphia on line one sir!... Yes sir... I believe the gentleman identified himself as a Mr. Jeffrey Lurie. He says it's extremely urgent sir...— essell
- Donny Mac, Come back!
Donny Mac...it's okay if you puke!— DreamTeamWeaver - Could not happen to a nicer guy them the dog mutilator MV. Has to be a toss up who is the most hated Blackman in America? Vick, Obama, La Boohoo or his running mate the man w/ the GED intelligence Wade. Karma is a pain.— albeemacaw
- No matter how bad things were in the past, at least there was the defense...bend don't break...It's sad to see what they have become since the passing of Jim Johnson, may he rest in peace.— mlwmlw
- Vick is 1-6 in the Eagles last seven games...that's pathetic for the $100 million QB....even McNabb would be the same 1-6 as Vick.— frank105
- Should be an interesting week ahead on WIP.— dasher
- Counting the end of last year, the Eagles have lost 6 out of their last 7 games. There's a pattern here, and its bad coaching and personal moves. There is no take charge player, and the team appears soft for the most part. You could see the difference in the way San Fran's defense hit compared to the Eagles D. How about Bowman, the 9'ers linebacker. Somebody ought to show Reid thats how a good linebacker plays the position.— watsonmr
- I ate light this morning,
16 eggs, 2 lbs. bacon, 24 sausage links, 3 lbs. fried tater tots, 18 pancakes, 16 waffles, 3 whole fried chickens, 3 gallons of chocolate milkshake, 2 gallons og coffee.
Andy Reid— DreamTeamWeaver - I couldn't be happier!! The Eagles get what they deserve for picking up and then resigning Vick. This is just one step closer to getting rid of Reid and all his draft misses and worthless free agent pickups. Karma is wonderful!!!— rmoore109
