Reid staring at the end
Falcons 30, Eagles 17
Reid staring at the end
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
The operating theory, mostly because Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie has said as much, is that Andy Reid awoke Sunday morning with 10 games to save his job. It was the clearest of imperatives. After all of the years, all of the great moments, all of the disappointments, it was to be a final sprint to the finish and then a clear decision.
Now, after a particularly timid abomination -- Falcons 30, Eagles 17 -- there are more questions than answers.
Can it really be?
Nine more weeks.
Nine more weeks?
Until Sunday, the Eagles had never lost the game immediately following the bye week under Reid. Given that, and given the decision to fire defensive coordinator Juan Castillo during the break, the widespread belief was that the Eagles would come back from their short vacation refreshed and re-focused, fully realizing what is at stake. Instead, they arrived in body only. Their hearts and minds were elsewhere. They did not turn over the ball and still got their backsides handed to them.
Defensively, they lacked both cohesion and fire under new coordinator Todd Bowles. Offensively, they got it blocked a little better but still couldn’t score points early, when it mattered. The special teams were the same, except for the punt return team. We don’t know about them because the Falcons never punted until there was 5:35 left in the fourth quarter.
The hearts-and-minds thing is what bears the closest watching. Reid has had exactly one team quit on him in his 14 seasons -- the 2005 team, after all of the Terrell Owens stuff and after quarterback Donovan McNabb got hurt. That team just curled up in the fetal position at the end -- but it was almost understandable, given the post-Super Bowl hangover and everything that happened.
This is different.
Nine more weeks.
Nine more weeks?
The Falcons’ opening drive of the game was the maiden voyage for Bowles: 16 plays and 80 yards; 8 minutes, 44 seconds of having the ball shoved down his defense’s throat. The touchdown pass to Drew Davis featured a blown coverage, just the biggest hint of a permeating confusion. Along the way, a holding penalty on Jason Babin extended the drive.
The Falcons were ahead by seven before a crowd that was two-thirds full had had a chance to be chilled by Hurricane Sandy’s first winds. And they booed. It would be the first time that happened but not the only time.
Did I already say that the Falcons never punted until 5:35 in the fourth quarter?
Along the way, Julio Jones scored Nnamdi Asomugha on a 63-yard touchdown pass, one in which safety Nate Allen made sure he was no possible help by taking a terrible angle on the play. Linebacker Mychael Kendricks did not start the game, reportedly as punishment for being late for a team meeting. A continuing lack of pressure on the quarterback -- despite the team’s first two sacks in about a month -- just opened up the defensive for carving by Atlanta’s Matt Ryan, and that is exactly what happened.
As the game ended, the wind whipped and the rain fell sideways onto nearly-emtpy stadium seats. Most everyone was rushing home to beat the storm; Andy Reid was not nearly so lucky.
Well folks like I said during the week the Eagles will get blown out by Falcons and lose next week to New orleans....That will then be Reids final game...This team has quit...they look to blame everyone else...they have no leaders at all not one.....whats this weeks excuse cant kick Castillo around but at least D didnt lose this game in the 4th quarter they lost it in 1st quarter ...The DUMBO (VICK) and JUMBO( REID) show ends next week...count on it!!!!..Reid inherited an excellent football team and Jim Johnson made him look real good for years...ITS OVER ANDY AND VICK.....!!!!— flyers1000- I'll let my screen name speak for itself— no mcnabb=no more playoffs suckers
- Yeah, becasue McFlabb tore it up after leaving Philly! Couldn't even beat out a rookie! Go back to Madden please! — gdibig
- the eagles went 20-11-1 in mcnabbs last 2 seasons and made it to the nfc championship game, you insecure,thin skinned do*che bag! — smiggs13
- Safe to say Reid and his staff are gone after the season. However, NOTHING will change until we get a real GM.— 4x4Guy
- Well said my friend — angrywhtguy
- Bill Polian. Wouldn't have minded that Ryan Gribson guy either, he seems to be another smart guy we let get away. Either way this era of Eagle football has lasted long enough. I'd like to see Lurie sell the team so we can hit the reset button. New ownership, new coaches, new quarterback, new attitude... better future. hmm, got me thinking. I wish someone would run political style tv ads all over philly/nj condemning Reid/Lurie as failures, undeserving of another year. That would be hilarious! — The Pink Floyd
- Unless Lurie pulls the trigger on Reid before the season ends, just ride it out and know Reid's 14-year reign is coming to a close. This team has checked out physically and mentally playing for a lame duck coach that has lost the respect in the locker room. Nice job by Asomugha getting torched all game after questioning the play calling against the Lions. What a bust.— mpflorida
- It was the worst defensive efforts I have ever seen from the Eagles, and I go back to 1960! Ray Rhodes' teams looked better! Andy needs to either hang it up or get canned. Vick needs to be put on the oak in favor of Foles. At least he will get rid of the ball faster.— vietnamvet
- Reid has lost this team and he needs to go. You would think that a guy who claims that character matters so much would resign, but he's not THAT classy. Fire up the company catapault!— NM Eagle fan
- One word: PATHETIC!— peacefrog33756
- There is something especially satisfying about watching the eagles lay one egg after another. You all can still come to the dark side--salvation is just an hour down the road--Go Big Blue!— Laurence Bachmann
- And to think, when I said this was a 9-7 team I was jeered. I heard from the "fans" that I was being negative.
— rubicon24 - The Eagles players quit on their coach. Time to move on and begin the process of rebuilding. It'll probably be 6 years before the Eagles play a meaningful game and contend for a playoff position.
the Question now is whether Lurie will have the desire to keep the team in Philly through the loosing that a major shake up will being. LA is building a new Stadium, Lurie is a Football guy, seems a match made in heaven given some of the lucrative benefits cities are offering teams to relocate.
I seriously doubt the Linc see sell outs through a rebuilding process in Philly. After all the NFL is a business. Ask the Baltimore Colts and original Cleveland Browns.— Dexter - The NFL would never approve the team leaving Philly. 3rd largest market - not going to happen! — gdibig
