Eagles fall to Steelers, 16-14
PITTSBURGH -- A cold rain fell intermittently on Heinz Field. It was the second half of Eagles vs. Steelers, and the Eagles were trying to overcome another first half of mistakes.
Eagles fall to Steelers, 16-14
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
PITTSBURGH -- A cold rain fell intermittently on Heinz Field. It was the second half of Eagles vs. Steelers, and the Eagles were trying to overcome another first half of mistakes.
It was a game where Michael Vick could not hold on to the ball, again. And where they couldn’t sack the quarterback, and where they trailed at the half, again. The deficit this time was 10-0, but that was just a detail. It is as if the first act of the script is written in ink now. There is nothing the Eagles can seem to do about it.
And this time, they could not overcome.
Vick led the Eagles on two second-half touchdown drives and the Eagles took a 14-13 lead in the fourth quarter. But in the end, the defense could not hold. A Shaun Suisham field goal from 34 yards with only zeroes left on the clock gave the Steelers the victory, 16-14.
Two Vick fumbles in the first half -- one of them just a yard away from scoring a touchdown -- doomed the Eagles to another afternoon of climbing out of a crater. Neither resulted in points for the Steelers, but one robbed the Eagles of points and the other just perpetuated a worrisome syndrome. It is a ridiculous way to try to make a living in the NFL, and the fact that they have been so good at it so far this season does not alter that truth.
It is too hard.
It cannot continue.
All of that said, the Eagles do make things thrilling. Down at the half, they kept coming. They scored their first touchdown with 6:32 left in the third quarter on a 15-yard touchdown pass to LeSean McCoy, a short throw that featured a devastating cutback move by McCoy that paralyzed Steelers linebacker Larry Foote.
Then, after a Steelers field goal, the Eagles put together a 17-play, 79-yard touchdown drive that ate up 8 minutes, 18 seconds. Along the way, they converted two fourth-down plays -- a gutsy fourth-and-1 from their own 31-yard line, when McCoy only gained the necessary acreage with a second effort, and another fourth-and-1 from the Steelers’ 47, when McCoy just slammed into the line for 2 yards.
The touchdown play was a 2-yard pass to tight end Brent Celek. Buried at halftime, the Eagles led by 14-13 with 6:33 left in the fourth quarter. Once again, their defense would either hold or not -- last week against the Giants’ Eli Manning, this week against the Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger.
This time, it could not hold. They could not sack Big Ben, and the Steelers’ quarterback hung in and made just enough plays to pull out the game. But he is a good player, and he is going to make some plays. This is not a defensive issue.
This is about fumbles. It is about another slow start. When will it end? If you know the answer to that question, you know how the Eagles’ season is going to turn out.
Vick sucks what yeah two fumbles but did you even look at the game. Oh and you think Foles can do better with this poor excuse of an o- line and its crazy knowbody sees that but they blame vick for everything even the defense not stopping them guys on 3rd and 12. Put Foles in and he wont ecen last a series behind that soft oline. The proof is there Bell sucks Mathis sucks Reynolds suck Todd Gerreman is sometiming. Go ahead and get Foles killed then Ill here something the offensive line then. You fake eagles fans are garbage, not even fans something like fair weather.— fromatl2philly- Every defensive player in the NFL is looking to strip Vick of the ball, and he has absolutely no answer.— Bob1
- It is easy for O line to block, when they know who to block. Eagles need to bring some Linebackers up to line, they need to make the other teams O line at least guess what is coming.— camasbud
- New nicknmae for Eagles offense - Green Phlegm - because they always cough it up.— JTM-LA
- The defense that was called on 3rd and 12 was a disgrace. Zone defense with no decent pressure on the QB. Why not just let them walk to FG range?— Bob1
- I expected the Eagles to lose today, but the game was much closer than I thought it would be, so I give them credit for playing Pittsburgh that close. HOWEVER.. they are about 5 close plays from being 0-5.— watsonmr
- Vick is horrible as well as Bell and Andy Reid. Defensive line has been reading too many stories about themselves as well. No sacks (again). Gut check time. Team is going nowhere with Vick/Andy/Marty.— alwaysphil1
- Eagles did not lose because of Steeler's late game rally; they lost because of turnovers. Let's at least be honest about this - they were not beaten, they lost the game. So sad.— mbcbecker
- Really it is getting pathetic, another game that was winnable if they
had an upper echelon QB, and I don't want to hear that Vick took them
down the field in the end blah blah blah, that was two HUGE plays by
Shadey all world RB McCoy that brought down the field in the end?
They need to put Foles in cuz you aren't going anywhere with Vick
even if they make the playoffs?? Is there anyone really out there that
still thinks Vick is a SB QB??? I don't know if Foles is, but
you might as well see if he is the QB of the future, and bury
the Mike Vick experience, it's getting older than the Jimi Hendrix
one? Also, get a decent coach next year, not some cheap scrub
assistant, or college coach, pay a Gruden or Cowher to come in here
and take the team to the next level??— mikey48 - I don't know whats worse, Reid thinking he can actually win with Vick or the fans actually thinking they can win with Reid. Same thing every season. I'd like to shave that cheesey mustache off his face and jam it up his arse.— Rowdy Yates
- CASTILLO MUST GO!! NO BLITZING ON THAT LAST DRIVE OR ALL GAME? THIS IS NOT EAGLE FOOTBALL!! HE HAS NO CLUE WHAT HE'S DOING AND SO MUCH FOR OUR GREAT D LINE 0 SACKS IN TWO GAMES. WHERE IS BABIN (CHASING BULLS?) WHERE'S COLE? , GRAHAM, COX? ALL TOO SMALL TO PLAY AND GET MAN HANDLED WHEN ONE ON ONE...WHAT A DISGRACE— kchaz
- They're going to be 4-2 heading into the bye. Stop whining. It's embarassing.— bobbyd24
- Had them penciled in for a loss and to be 3-2 at this point so it is what it is. Those turnovers will haunt us all year. Surprised at how easily Vick loses the ball. It acts like a watermelon seed in his hands. Those weren't huge hits causing those fumbles. On the other hand the D played well holding The Steelers to 16 points, there was another late game drive to take the lead and losing there is no surprise. Won't lose sleep over it.— tpizza
- Reid has No Balls.....Vick IS a Turnover Machine...Juan Costillio IS NOT A DEFENSIVE CORD......It's the SAME MOVIE EVERY WEEK.....— daryl b
- Let Vick sink this ship and its trio of buffoon coaches. Worst use of challenges and timeouts I have ever seen. The Defensive scheme was mind boggling. MornHENwig should be tarred and feathered when he gets off the bus/plane, no right to be an offensive coordinator in this league.— DaFatman
