Wild, wild loss
Chargers 31, Eagles 23
Wild, wild loss
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
The sense all along was that the Eagles were going to have to win a shootout Sunday if they were to beat the San Diego Chargers. The sense was right even if the result was wrong for the Eagles. Final score: Chargers 31, Eagles 23.
It was a wild, wild, wild game. The Eagles' defense, decimated now by injuries, would have its hands more than full all day with the Chargers. LaDanian Tomlinson, thought to be dead, awakened. And the Eagles' secondary, already missing its third and fourth cornerbacks, lost starter Sheldon Brown with an apparent hamstring problem. There was every reason to believe it was going to be a shooting gallery, and it was. The Chargers held a 28-9 lead at the end of the third quarter and it all seemed to be over by the body count.
And then the Eagles resuscitated themselves. Their offense would go for almost 500 yards for the day, as Donovan McNabb led them back. They had moved the ball between the 20's all day, only to be stymied in short-yardage situations and red-zone situations; yes, this is a recording. Still, the Eagles kept coming. A touchdown pass to a wide-open Jeremy Maclin was followed, with 7:12 to go, by a six-yard touchdown pass to tight end Brent Celek. The extra point brought the Eagles back to 28-23 and the thousands of Eagles fans who made the trip to Qualcomm Stadium made themselves very much heard.
But then the Chargers had the ball and ate the clock. The Eagles' defense, truly beleaguered now by injuries, just couldn't get off of the field. The Chargers ended up kicking a field goal with 30 seconds left. After the kickoff, McNabb and the offense had 24 seconds to drive 66 yards for the potential tying score (and two-point conversion).
Didn't happen. The game ended with an interception by Antonio Cromartie in the end zone.
And this sad addendum: Brian Westbrook suffered another concussion in the second half and watched the end of the game wearing a baseball cap. We can only guess when he might play again. Tough, tough trip.
This team is in a transition year. New defensive coach, new o-line, new receivers. No surprise that the lost here. McNabb cannot carry this team and once they are out of the play-off picture, Kolb will start. Book it!— Fritz and Alice
Comment removed.- Didn't we sign Mike Vick to help out in the redzone? Here's an idea - when the other team is stacking 7 defenders in the end zone, run the freakin ball. How about a QB draw? Also, Asante Samuel is the biggest waste of $56 million. He can't cover a rookie, and he's useless in the running game.— dankil13
- Comment removed.
- same issue's week after week but we still have the same coach...WHY?— beez1228
- Hmm, 1st and goal from the 1 yard line and can't score. 2 red zone opps in 1st half and 6 points, penalties, and no running game to speak of. McNabb chucking it over 50 times. Hmm, it's The Andy Reid Story. How can I possibly blame the defense for 'not putting the Eagles in a better position to win'?— phillymutt
- Jeff Lurie can put Andy Reid in a better position to win games for the Eagles, by firing him and his pathetic assistants.— rhawnhurster
- All you need to know is that down 14-0 and fourth and a foot at the goal line, Reid kicks a FG. He's a horrible game day coach.— greenflyer
- marty's gotta go. how many yrs do we have to withstand his inability to convert 3rd & 1. one of the main reasons they consistently get stopped is that they run from a tight formation, telegraphing the dive play. and it gets stuffed. why not try it from a spread formation once in awhile? pathetic. on 2nd and goal, he calls a sweep. doesn't go for it on 4th and goal from a foot? obviously the continued disgust forthe running game. do you remember how sacred time outs were to buddy ryan. someone needs to tell andy. this team has too much talent to have andy and marty run it into the ground. andy is fatally flawed. as great as his record has been, it is time to move on. shanahan or cowher.— pojames
- Yeah, I can see how the Birds would want to throw 55 times as the Chargers suck against stopping the run. Time is yours.— DerbyBound
- DId you see Gocong give up that touchdown. Pathetic play from him most of the game. Maclin - is good but makes too many mistakes, Mcoy was missing some important blitz pick ups. But nothing is worse than the play calling (ill timed reverses or bringing in Vick, clock management and lack of ability to score in the redzone. I have consistently said that Andy is the best coach we ever had in Philly but every year it is the same team. I think he should go not because he is not a good coach but because it has gotten old and boring to watch. The last few games whether they win or loose it feels like I am wasting my time watching this team. Cant believe with this economy people are paying the prices to go to the linc for Andy's team.— JL68
- This defense is gutless. The sequence at the start of the second half told the story of the game. When the D needed a stop they couldn't get it done. Can't get off blocks, tackle, or cover. Just like against Arizona in the playoffs. When great teams score 20+ points, they win. This is not a great team with this defense. Much more fun to blame Andy, Marty, and Donovan though.
- Just turn them off....and go with another NFL team till the owner wakes up and makes the changes necessary to make the team at least the "Silver Standard"— phillyfan19335
- Sad...and getting sadder every week. Rich did you watch a different game than I watched?— envirojoe55
- What do they do at practice all week?— dasher
