What a beating
Eagles 34, Falcons 7
What a beating
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
I mean, what a beating. No other way to characterize it. The Atlanta Falcons, missing their starting quarterback, best running back, a starting receiver and two starting offensive linemen, played like a team missing all of that and more. Unlike the previous two weeks, when the Eagles had to come from behind to beat struggling Chicago and Washington teams against whom they were favored, this one was precise and quite thorough. The final score -- Eagles 34, Falcons 7, with Atlanta scoring on the game's final play, with no time remaining -- was a pretty fair representation of the carnage.
Which brings us to the side issues:
Michael Vick scored his first touchdown as an Eagle on a 5-yard run in the third quarter, and then threw for a toucdown on a 5-yard pass to tight end Brent Celek. The fans here for Vick's homecoming game were entirely psychotic, booing him when he went out to participate in the coin toss before the game, cheering him when he scored the touchdown, and chanting "We Want Vick" before the Eagles gave Donovan McNabb his baseball cap early in the fourth quarter. But there was a complication: Vick left the game and was seen on the sidelines with his right (non-throwing) hand bandaged up. So, we'll see.
Andy Reid's contract extension draws near. ESPN reported before the game that it could come this week. The Eagles released a statement in the fourth quarter: "We're aware of the reports regarding Andy Reid's contract. The organization has acknowledged earlier that it expects to extend his contract at some point in the near future. Beyond that, the organization has no further comment."
Leonard Weaver continues to be a great off-season acquisition. The fullback combined for 100 passing and receiving yards, scoring on a 4-yard pass but also having another, 59-yard catch and run.
Falcons coach Mike Smith decided to go for it on fourth-and-2 near the end of the first half rather than kick a field goal that would have brought his team to within 13-3. It was a pretty bizarre decision, not that it ended up mattering. Oh, and the Eagles stopped them.
Sheldon Brown had the fifth interception of his season, a career high for him, and returned it 83 yards for a touchdown.
McNabb got banged around a little but was very good: 14-for-25 for 238 yards and a touchdown. Atlanta backup Chris Redmon got banged around a lot and was not very good. That is all.
I just wish some of these posters would say what they really feel and just admit what they really want is a WHITE quarterback. I feel truly sorry for McNabb, many african americans see him as being "not one of them" and want Vick, and he gets it from the racist moron whits that want Kolb. He is stuck in a bad place.— psuhoffman
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- celek should've caught the ball, he's been a bit lackluster the past two weeks and there were other big drops, this game could've been 30-0 at half.. Either way, fans should be happy and shut the f up, a lot of weapons on this team, the most I have seen since the late 80's on offense..We need to keep winning don't won't to count on wildcard and having others lose for us.. go birds!— ratbirds44
- celek should've caught the ball, he's been a bit lackluster the past two weeks and there were other big drops, this game could've been 30-0 at half.. Either way, fans should be happy and shut the f up, a lot of weapons on this team, the most I have seen since the late 80's on offense..We need to keep winning don't won't to count on wildcard and having others lose for us.. go birds!— ratbirds44
- espn continues to be the least informed sports outlet making up breaking stories every week. adam blowhart of espn states the obivious and calls it a breaking story.— JACK V
- Are there really idiots on here who think a slightly above average team is going 12-4 and winning the superbowl? LOL. Geez, it's a good win for the Eagles...and some people over react. This is the same team that lost to the Raiders, struggled against the Bears and Redskins, and has been inconsistant all year. Give them props for a good win. I'm not rooting for them in 2009 because of Dawkins and the signing of conVick, and I morally detest Andy Reid, but I can give them props for a good win over an injured team. I bump them up to 10-6 now. However, to say they are winning the superbowl is complete insanity...can't believe certain people just let themselves be the stereotyped moronic fan who thinks his team is the best ever and unstoppable after 1 nice win.— Phillyrussian7
- McNabb is younger, smarter, more successful, bigger, stronger, faster, taller, richer, and a better person than most of his haters. Yes, he throws low too often and can be inconsistent. Big deal . . . you haters need to get a life. Ever read a book? Do you have your own life? Can you do 10 push-ups?— Han Solo
- Some of you are just straight up Ding Bats. We win by 27 and your still bashing the QB...personally I know some of you are just desirous to have a Black QB fail!!!!!GO EAGLES!!!!— tmoon51
- Maddie You sound like an idiot. Ther are times to go after McNabb This isn;t one of those times. He's playing with kids at wr, te and rb and he's winnign. They are 8-4 I hope Kolb is good some day too. But ripping McNabb after the last 3 weeks just makes you sound like a clown— mcat13
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- How could anyone want John Gruden to coach this team? He won the SB with Dungeys players from the year before. He never did squat after that. His teams could never score on offense and we had him here once before and our team couldn't score then. If Gruden was so good some other team would have grabbed him to be there head coach.— Fast Eddie
- WHAT THE BLEEP DOES #7 NEED CONFIDENCE BOOST FOR? HE WON'T GIVE OUR OFFENSE A BOOST; HE MAKES MCMISS LOOK TERRIFIC AND HE ISN'T!!!— DONDEN31
- MCAT13--- MCMISS IS WINNING BECAUSE OF THOSE KIDS, NOT IN SPITE OF THEM. OPEN YOUR EYES!— DONDEN31
