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.
I don't think the 2005 team necessarily quit on Reid because of the whole T.O. fiasco. They just lacked the talent to get it done due to injuries. As mentioned, McNabb went on IR...but so did Lito Sheppard at the same time as McNabb, then Westbrook in December, while Pinkston went on IR in training camp. The backup quarterbacking was poor. Despite that and blowout losses like against Seattle, the Eagles still won a December game on the road against the Rams - a game that would not be won by a team who quit and also beat the Packers minus T.O. and McNabb. Also played hard in both games against the Giants despite losing. I think 2005 was just an unfortunate abberation of injuries and that's why they finished 6-10.— Steve74- Last time I checked, the Falcons were undefeated and had the best record in the NFL. They're a very talented offensive team that executed brilliantly today. It's not like we lost to a bunch of bums. That said, we have yet to perform to out abilities on offense, and the defense can't pressure the QB to save their lives.— JBirks
- Where to start after that game....yes we have had a few blowouts but this game showed a dispirited team and coaches that did nothing to prepare them. During the game we did nothing to adjust...and over time showed the whole team had quit...and also their coaches. It was such a discombobulated mess...that I am not sure how anyone, new coach, new players can put this team back into a semblance of a football team. Watching this game was so painful...I thought it was a big league team playing a single A team.....maybe worse. Can anyone make this team one that cares and wants to play football?— 5thstrretpast
The GOLD STANARD is in full effect!— citysims- the gruden cowher dungy chants SUCCCCCCCCCCCK all 3 suck combined 100 years of coaching experience a 3 total freaking rings!!! that suskskskskskskskskkskSUCKS!!!!— daveH
- The way the stands looked at the end of the fourth quarter is the way the stands should look at the beginning of the first quarter from now on!— fanup
- Bob is absolutely correct...they didn't trust Vick to even do a single 5 or 7 step drop today. It was either 3 step or shotgun. I'm upset at what a spectacle this team has become.— kjuggs77
- Why isn't anyone calling for Mudd's head? Obviously this line of "his" guys sucks out loud.
I hope they lose every remaining game. At this point, it's only about maximizing the draft pick. As my name implies, I live in Atlanta and now, thanks to this team of quitters, I get to listen to the idiots around here all week.— jfdatl - Andy has to do a better job.....its all on him. Everyone knows that.
No need to write this column Rich.— NewMick314 - One thing that has concerned me...I am worried that the Eagles and some of their players are being called names that show misplaced anger. What a player or coach has had happen In their lives is different from what happens on the field. It is insensitive at best that I see posts about drugs and Andy, dog killing and Vick. The pain that AR has probably had with his sons and one dying is unimaginable to me. That some people take advantage of this to cast anger at his work as a coach is even more unimaginable. Vick's transgressions are not related to his playing football. The only one to judge him is some person higher than we mortals. Vicks play has not been good...but we cannot pass judgement on his past.
Watching this team has been awful, dreadful, impossible....but it does not give us license to be mean spirited.— 5thstrretpast - Two things
1. I don't remember who wrote the article, but one of the Philly.com writers said that Jim Johnson was good because he understood that the main thing was limiting the other team to 17 points or less. That's what other teams seem to be able to do to us.
2. I don't think Reid is doing a good job. But - and this isn't an excuse - I don't know how good a job I'd be able to do after losing my son to a heroin overdose.
If things continue as they have, Lurie won't need to fire him. I think he'll resign. Not soon, but before he gets the axe.
In my opinion.— bigmo - The problem really isn't Andy the coach. It's Andy the talent evaluator / personnel guy. Taking guys like Fred-ex over Reggie Wayne, LJ Smiff instead of Witten, putting Vick in this system, etc. He's actually going to go down as a great coach when we look back at the era,just a frustration level that he couldn't get over the hump. Vick was his biggest mistake, the guy just cannot see the field. He scrambles backwards and sideways, all over he place except stepping up in the pocket. The injuries to 3 starters on the O-line will not allow the offense to be consistent, and the "special" teams are inept. I hope they go in a solid direction with an experienced NFL coach, but I doubt Gruden will leave that Cush gig on TV. Maybe Jay Gruden though.....he's putting up numbers with sub par talent in Cincy... His system would allow Shady to flourish....— cdedrick05
- Some words that best describe the 2012 Eagles: Talentless, Predictable, Undisciplined, Heartless, Indecisive, Stupid, Unprepared, Over-whelmed, Passive, Mis-managed, Listless, Bumbling, Leaderless, Over-rated, Over-paid, Dysfunctional, Hopeless, Helpless, and Dillusional. Given the fact that Andy Reid is still the Coach of this mess of a team, I purposely reserved the word "CLUELESS" exclusively for the Owner, who's acceptance of repeated failure is a slap in the face to Philly Fans!— cooperhawk
- I don't think they quit on Reid yet, I think they quit on Mike Vick leading the team. Andy's got one move left this season, the sooner the better. D stunk it up, but the offense again scored <20. Every player would rally around a rookie QB too, make the move.— MidGreen
- Little known fact:
"Nnamdi Asomugha" means "burnt toast" in Nigerian.— dasher
