Eagles finish with a thud
Packers 21, Eagles 16
Eagles finish with a thud
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
The Eagles' season died, suddenly.
It is always the way at this time of year. Sudden. Empty.
The final score was Green Bay 21, Eagles 16. It played out in ways that a lot of people did not expect.
The Packers, the team without a running game, ran the ball early, often and effectively, and someone named James Stark ended up with well north of 100 yards.
The Eagles' defense couldn't come up with the big play when needed, especially on third down.
Michael Vick did not get hit as often as some people predicted by the Packers' blitzing defense, but he still could not make enough dynamic plays, either with his legs or with the big, downfield passes on which this team has so often relied. And he suffered some kind of a lower left leg injury on a failed 2-point conversion try with 4:02 left in the fourth quarter.
Andy Reid and Marty Mornhinweg had an extra week to game plan for the Packers, considering they didn't try to win the last game of the regular season, but they were able to work no schematic magic.
David Akers, the Pro Bowl kicker, missed twice, from 41 and 34 yards.
And even with all of that, the Eagles had a shot to win it at the end. The defense made a final stand, and the Packers were forced to punt the ball away at the 2-minute warning. Vick, with his foot taped up, returned to the huddle with 1:45 left and the ball on the Eagles' 34-yard line.
A 28-yard pass to DeSean Jackson got the ball to the Packers' 38-yard line. An incompletion to Brent Celek followed, and then an incomplete screen pass to Shady McCoy. Third-and-10. An 11-yard completion to Riley Cooper got the Eagles the first down, but then, on the next play it ended. Vick tried to force a ball to Cooper in the end zone, but Tramon William gained position undernearth. It was an easy interception with 33 seconds remaining.
So it ended. All that will be left are the recriminations.
oh yeah, if anyone even tries to play the missed field goal card, rewind to the perfect TD pass that james jones dropped just before the half .... and the int that williams dropped. just sayin' ... dont be a bunch of excuse makers like ur loser qb and his phantom injury that happened when he wasn't even touched. i called that one before it even happened. punk reminds me a lot of mike tyson.— vicksapunk- 51 years of this junk by the Eagles. It is time for Lurie to make a change and move Andy out the door. I'm tired of these playoff chokes by Andy Reid year and year out. All you ever hear is we were prepared but then game time comes and they looked lost. Tampa Bay,Carolina,Green Bay the broken record goes on and on.— slade1955
- Pathetic, disgraceful, disgusting and once again an embarrassment in front of the nation. Grossly unimaginative play calling. It's time for Reid and the entire coaching staff to take a hike.
— ottoschmitty - Of course I'm disappointed. Reid stuck it to Kolb because he wanted to win now, and banked on Vick to be the man to do it. Vick choked at the end, to end it with an INT. Between this game and the Vikings game, the old mediocre Vick is back. We need to go back to Kolb and start building for the future. We need to develop a young pocket passer for the next 7-10 years. Not some highlight film runner who is going to get himself killed out there and lose his legs in a year or two.— eisbchri
- If you really think Kolb would have been the difference in this one you must have missed the last game he played against Dallas.
- david green ackers from louisville EXPOSED!!!
he been one of the most overrated iggles since lj smith.
Sean young boy mcdermott in over his head.
andy fat boy reid took how long to get the ball to desean?
packer quite the show off boys. with every single play. they be flexin their biceps and taunting the crowd. they think quite highly of themselves!! cant wait to watch em get beat. and clay girly boy matthews with his long and pretty hair. I wonder if he still flex his muscles when they lose?
- And the experts say Marty Mornigweigh is in line a head coach job? Child Please.— Don Cornelius
- I thought MVP caliber QBs are supposed to take the team on it's shoulders and take over games...Where has Vick been in the last several weeks? He played really badly in the Giants game, then made some big plays late and got lucky that the Giants collapsed, or the Eagles would have lost that game. Then in a crucial game at home against an inferior team, Vick can't get it done and the Eagles miss out on the #2 seed and a bye. Now, this game Vick looked horrible for most of the game, until he made a late game comeback attempt. The game ended with a horrible decision and a horrible pass when there were open receivers. Of course Akers missed FGs hurt a lot, but Vick needed to show what he's made of in this game...maybe that's what he did.— ericyshel
Watched reruns of Luther - a great mini series from Britain. So I see Reid did not do a good job of preparing the troops again. Yawn!— pedge- We stink (again). Please don't resign Vick. Let Kolb be our QB. We'll save money. Better to go 8-8 or 6-10 than lose like this every year.— DallasEagle
- Let's see -- 2009 11 wins, ROAD playoff loss. 2010, 10 wins HOME playoff loss... yeah, it was all McNabb's fault....
Quarterback WAS not and IS not this team's problem... it's the fat guy on the sidelines and the defense that holds the Eagles back.— normalEagle - Another regular season championship for the con artist Reid. How many more times will the weak owner tolerate this. Another year, same story. Reid will NEVER win a superbowl, when will the dumb arse fans and ownership realize that Reid is just a good regular season coach. Vick will never win a superbowl either. The Vick supporters will blame Ackers or the defense...but 21 points given up by the defense should have produced a win. Vick like McNabb will be a regular season excitement machine that flops in the playoffs. Excitement QBs do not win superbowls they just entertain the druken naive casual fans. Another wasted season! Reid must go.— Carlos2
- Hey Carlos2-Whatya talking about----79.9 QBR is a true leader, winner, & pro bowler! — jwatson
- Still the only NFC East team with NO SB titles, 1-5 vs. the NFC NORTH, and just can't hang with the big boys....and WE'RE STUCK STILL WITH ANDY REID!!! Unreal. This team was 10-4 3 weeks ago, and finished 10-7, ouch.— boasocal
Like the Cubs with the goat, the Eagles are forever cursed because you spit on the star. At least we can look at our five trophies over the off season.
