DANGEROUS DECLARATIONS
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
DANGEROUS DECLARATIONS
Bob Brookover
It's over.
The Eagles' chances of making the playoffs.
Donovan McNabb's career in Philadelphia.
Andy Reid's ability to call plays, win games, etc.
It's all over.
That's what you're going to hear this week in quadrophonic stereo.
All the people who know everything are going to tell you it's over. Time for a new coach, time for a new quarterback, time to move on.
And they might all be right. Any and all reason for hope seemingly vanished Sunday in Cincinnati.
The Bengals played exactly the way you'd expect a 1-8 team to play and the Eagles played exactly like the Bengals.
Why should anyone believe in a football team, a coach or a quarterback that couldn't beat a team that did everything it could to lose?
Before you pull the plug, however, there is one thing to remember: Sometimes weird stuff happens in professional sports.
In their 11th game a year ago, the New York Giants lost 41-17 at home to the 4-6 Minnesota Vikings, falling to 7-4. Quarterback Eli Manning threw three interceptions that day and they were all returned for touchdowns. It's hard to imagine the Giants sitting up at the Meadowlands the following Monday plotting the design of their Super Bowl rings.
There are more stories like that one from this decade, too.
Pittsburgh lost its last two games in November and its first in December to fall to 7-5 in 2005. Had they lost again, they wouldn't have made the playoffs. They didn't lose again.
The 2000 Baltimore Ravens went five straight October games without scoring a touchdown and were 5-4 after nine games and they, too, won a Super Bowl.
When the Phillies lost two out of three in Florida in mid-September and slipped two games behind the Mets and four behind Milwaukee in the wildcard race, were more people plotting a parade down Broad Street or manager Charlie Manuel's firing?
After watching the Eagles in Cincinnati, there's no reason to believe they can duplicate those unlikely runs above. No reason at all.
But it is a dangerous business to declare something is over before it's actually over.
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? NO!— Skena- Let's hope they lose the rest of their games and Andy will finally be fired or the town will revolt.— Misfit1
- When did Dave Spadaro start writing this blog?— markf
- People say the season is over because nothing ever changes with this team. Every week there are miscues and excuses. Something must change for the oucome to be different. How about this? Run the freakin' ball...Get Buck in the game for more than 2 touches. The list goes on, but if someone can implement a change, the team can still win and move ahead. If the leadership continues to be stubborn, arrogance and resistent to doing things different, then yes, the season is over.— carpinj
- It's not over but they have to play some west coast offense, get out in front and stay there, you can't play the other guys game no matter how bad they are. They don't have smashmouth personnel, but that's ok, if you do what you do best - they're designed to play ball control passing.— robinlupe
- Its over. Need to find a "smash mouth" running back. Good-bye to Andy. The team needs an "in your face coach". Maybe Lurie can lure Bill Cowher out of his tv job.— JS3
- How many days until Pitchers and Catchers report to Clearwater?— Rob
- funny how he mentions the phillies and you people STILL type the same exact comments that were posted in september: "what's the point of the playoffs, they'll just lose." and it wasnt just september, it was also in august after being swept by LA, in june during the 6 game losing streak. people wanted to proclaim the phillies season dead because utley was 0 for 24. people wanted to pronounce the '06 eagles dead after falling to 5-6. what's the point of making the playoffs? steelers were a #6 seed and won the super bowl. the giants were a #5. **** happens... fyi, with the tie, there are no tie breakers for the eagles with any nfc teams now. they are only 1/2 game behind the 2nd wild card position. 1 more win in the final 6 games than the skins, cowboys, and falcons and they're in the playoffs. man, that is so far out of the question. that's too much thinking though, it's just easier to say "season over."— mikeb
- It was over 4 years ago when everyone figured out Reid and McNabb. Time for a reboot - Reid out first (or find a REAL offensive coordinator and take all play calling away from him), give McNabb a year of new strategy and play calling and see if he can pull it together, otherwise, bye bye.— Bender
- It been over since the start of the season.— Tom5576
- One week it Reid, the next week McNabb. If we keep them next year, might as well root for another team.— Tom5576
- It's over and Much Like Obama, it's time for CHANGE!— K_Ball
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