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Sunday, January 18, 2009
The end
A crushing loss. An impossible loss.

Another NFC Championship Game, gone.

The Eagles, torched early, came back. Down 24-6 at the half against the Arizona Cardinals, left seemingly for dead, they rallied and took a 25-24 lead with 10 minutes, 45 seconds left to play. Donovan McNabb threw for a million yards in the second half. They had done the unlikely.

And then the Cardinals drove down the field on them, again. They droves for 72 yards and the go-ahead touchdown, made the two-point conversion, and led by 32-25 with 2:53 left to play. The Eagles had one more shot, but couldn't make it happen. And now they are left with an incredible wound. They showed up late, took back the game, and then lost in the end. Crushing.

It is hard to find any perspective here. Maybe later. Right now, it is just stunning -- a great game but a great fall, the team's fourth loss in five conference title games and  their third as a favorite.

Yes, crushing.
Posted by Rich Hofmann @ 6:20 PM  Permalink | 318 comments
318
Comments   
Posted 06:30 PM, 01/18/2009
maximusud
Andy and Donovan's legacy will be unfulfilled potential and failure in clutch situations. Time to clean house and move on.
Posted 06:32 PM, 01/18/2009
pubasnacks
Made even more crushing by the ref's no call on pass inference.
Posted 06:32 PM, 01/18/2009
Brian F.
Can't blame McNabb for this one, but I'm sure all the typical a'hole fans will start immediately below this post. The fault falls to the defense that didn't know the game started at 12:05pm PST. Then, after they incredibly took the lead in the 4th quarter, let that b!tch Cinderella once again drive down the field and wrest the title from them. How many times will that wh@re beat the Birds??? Tampa, Carolina, New Orleans, ...now 'Zona.
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Posted 06:36 PM, 01/18/2009
rfx
Jeez started late but couldn't hold on, defense was definetly slow to start after that smash mouth game last weekend. Nice run Eagles proud to be a fan. Philly guy in Seattle
Posted 06:36 PM, 01/18/2009
MKbluehen
This one's on the D. When you hand a rested D the lead in the 4th you expect to win. Giving up 32 points is a disgrace.
Posted 06:37 PM, 01/18/2009
tony thunder
Brian F, Im no ahole fan, I've never talked poorly on mcnabb, but this one is ALL on him. He missed 5 or 6 receiver in stride for potentially big plays. People will blame akers, people will blame reid, people will blame the "sub par" receiving corp, but this one was all McNabb
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Posted 06:37 PM, 01/18/2009
OneChampionshipPLEASE
Can't totally blame McNabb and Reid... this was a well deserved choke for the whole team. D couldn't make a stop when they needed. Offense couldn't make a play when they needed it. Hell, even Akers looked bad. Terrible loss!!!
Posted 06:37 PM, 01/18/2009
txstingray
Have to blame Akers for this one---way to choke.
Posted 06:39 PM, 01/18/2009
ConservativePatriot22
how many days until pitchers and catchers report to clearwater?
About Rich Hofmann
Rich Hofmann arrived at the Daily News in 1980 for a job whose status was officially designated as "full-time, temporary." A senior at Penn at the time, he was hired to fill in on the copy desk during a staff illness. The notion of him covering the Eagles or being a columnist did not exist in anyone's imagination. It was supposed to be six weeks and out, but he never left. It is only one of the reasons why so many people have concerns about him as a potential house guest. Rich has blogged the postseasons of the Flyers and Eagles.

You can now follow The Idle Rich on Twitter.
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