Eagles flop in opener
Packers 27, Eagles 20
Eagles flop in opener
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
Put it this way: the Eagles could not have written a darker, more wretched start to their 2010 season -- not without a pharmaceutical assist, anyway.
Quarterback Kevin Kolb played a bad first half and then suffered a concussion. Middle linebacker Stewart Bradley also suffured a concussion. Fullback Leonard Weaver reportedly tore his ACL, which would end his season. Center Jamaal Jackson, whose knee was worrying everybody, instead messed up his elbow and was forced out of the game.
And on and on it went, in a 27-20 defeat to the Green Bay Packers. Even if Michael Vick made things interesting/entertaining by running for more than 100 yards and leading the Eagles to 17 second-half points, there is no way to spin this one in a positive way. It was awful.
Questions outnumbered answers by an incaculable number.
How could the offense have been so bad with Kolb in there? His numbers in two quarters: 5-for-10 for 24 yards, and with only a field goal to show for his time -- and, to be fair, that was set up by a big Vick scramble.
How could Kolb and Bradley both talk their way back onto the field after suffering their concussions? Bradley tried to stand up after hitting his helmet against teammate Ernie Simms' knee and then fell again like the Flyers' Sami Kapanen in that Flyers player game several years ago against Toronto. Yet he missed only three plays before returning. As for Kolb, he was driven into the turf by the Packers' Clay Matthews, looked woozy, and was described as having a jaw injury -- but he also returned for a three-and-out series near the end of the second quarter. It was only after halftime that the concussions were announced in the press box.
How could the defense, which really played pretty well in the first half, go so completely soft at times in the second half without Bradley?
What will they do at fullback without Weaver -- assuming the ominous reports are true? There isn't another true fullback on the roster, after all.
And what about Vick? He was anything but efficient or consistent -- but he rambled and rollicked the Eagles back into the ballgame against the Packers, and there is no denying that.
When might Kolb be back?
And Bradley?
And can they keep this mess from carrying over into next week against the Lions?
Questions.
Who let the dogs out?????
Reid blew the game - like he had before in a number of other games - with a bad call when it mattered most. Whenever Vick scrambled to the outside, Green Bay could not stop him. So what does Reid do on fourth and one? He has Vick run up the middle. Reid does not know how to put his teams in a position to come back, whether it's McNabb, Garcia, Kolb or Vick. Reid always throws in a bad call at the end. The end of this game reminded me of that playoff loss to New Orleans a few years back when Reid punted.— jimqk- Just as I predicted. Kold STINKS, Andy and Marty between them can't make a decent play call---how innovative, Vick straight up the middle with the game on the line. Whew what a bunch of losers.— george22
- 4th and 1 and we go up the middle with Vick?!!!! ROLL HIM OUT ON A BOOTLEG for the love of.....I can't believe MM....he went above and beyond stupid on that call. Vick was rolling and had the Pack D tired out....BAD PLAY CALL.....AGAIN. Idiot.— philly449
- D didn't play that great. Good pash rush but without Bradley wide open up the middle on the ground. Secondary was decent considering it was Rodgers but you won't win mnay games giving up 27.— jimmyj
Matthews ruined my night. Kevin's got a headache and now I've left up my own devices (pun intended)!!! I love you, Kevin!!! Tata gotta go get batteries.- Klob sucks!— Eaglesfan804
- Wolfdoosh.....here Wolfiewolfie.....where are you?? Oh yeah...rubbing your boyfriend's chin!!! Kolb takes one good hit and he's done.....AS PREDICTED. It's amazing that the "era" of the "young guns" may have lasted one half.....— philly449
- AWESOME! 5 minutes 11 seconds to go and we've used up all our timeouts. Late in the game, 4th down, 1 yard to go-could the play calling have been any more predictable? Vick right up the middle, picks up half an inch and gets creamed. Hey Andy, no need for some creative play calling here huh? I guess you didn't think the Packers defense would figure out that last play. AWESOME!— bford823
I'm rooting for Don & the Skins until Vick is off the team.— KINGOFZED- The D looked pretty good.— bc3030
- Guys the MV dog rant is boring......he served his time, paid his dues, and hopefully has grown from the experience...however, it doesn't look like some of you have grown.....he is ok in the eyes of the law, and the league.......and I wonder if you would keep harping on this if it was Farve, Brady or Manning, you would we be forgining and willing to give them another chance. Let it go...it is a new decade, 2010, in case you didn't know, and If you watched the game today, it is quite obvious the Eagles have bigger fish to fry than talking about a crime a person has served their time for.....let it go.......I bet you wouldn't be clutcing that bome so tightly if it was women getting beat......let's move on.— philligrl
Expected a loss and got one. Could have been a blowout but the D and Vick played well if inconsistently. I'll stay out of the QB issue. If that is indeed what we can expect from KK there really is no contravercy anyway. That last play call was as weak as they come though. MM should have been sent down the road long ago. Best news of the day though is wiff trying to defend this little gem: wolf 4 BIRDS 30 PACKERS 25..KEVIN KOLB THROWS FOR 300 YARDS FOR NFL RECORD 3RD STRAIGHT GAME..new team!new leadership!new attitude!..KEVIN KOLB ERA STARTS TODAY......wolf. Wiff? You there pal? Thought not. Let the excuses flooooooow!— tpizza- Vick looked good because the Packers game planned for Kolb. Happens all the time in the NFL. Vick will get picked off 4 times a game when defenses know he is the starter.— JonKap
Beyond all the mediocre play (and the usual baffling clock non-management), the Eagles disgraced themselves by running both Bradley and Kolb back out on the field after their concussions. Clearly the NFL is STILL not serious about players' health, even after the well-documented long-term impact of concussions.
