Eagles beat Cowboys, but are out
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Eagles beat Cowboys, but are out
Jonathan Tamari
ARLINGTON, Texas - The Eagles had the lead, but they were out of the playoffs.
Michael Vick found Brent Celek for a touchdown on the game's opening drive Saturday, giving the Eagles a 7-0 advantage, but in New Jersey their faint playoff hopes flickered and were ultimately extinguished. As the Eagles and Cowboys played their first quarter, the Giants beat the Jets, eliminating Andy Reid's team from playoff contention.
The Cowboys and Giants will now play next Sunday night with the NFC East title on the line. The Eagles, who won the division a year ago and hoped for even better results this season after a summer influx of talent, can now do no better than an 8-8 record after winning, 20-7, on Saturday. They had opened the year with championship aspirations.
"You can sit up there and try to make all the excuses in the world, but they don't mean anything. At the end of the season, when you look at our final record, when it goes down in the books, it's not going to be asterisked," said defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins. "We've got to own up to it. Own up to that we let a lot of opportunities slip and get away from us early. The only thing we can do now is control what we do in the future."
The defense has turned in three strong games - all against suspect quarterbacks - but defensive coordinator Juan Castillo admitted that it provides little solace.
"Warriors get the job done no matter what, and the job was to get to the playoffs," he said.
Many Eagles, though, were surprisingly upbeat for having just been eliminated from postseason contention. They pointed to their win and opportunity to go .500, and to the team's strong division record. They talked about things coming together late in the year and perhaps building for next season. They said they would have been dangerous in the playoffs.
But they were far too inconsistent and slow out of the gate to reach that goal.
Saturday's win gave the Eagles their first three-game winning streak of the season. The victory came with Dallas resting key players. The Cowboys pulled quarterback Tony Romo after he suffered an early hand injury and sat down running back Felix Jones, who is nursing a hamstring problem, after the Giants finished their win, erasing most of the game's playoff implications for Dallas. Win or lose Saturday, the Cowboys would need to beat the Giants on New Year's Day to clinch the division.
So the game took on a preseason feel. The Eagles defense stymied backup quarterback Stephen McGee. The offense scored early but managed just 102 yards and two field goals in the second half.
At kickoff, the Eagles still had hope. The Giants led by 20-7, but the Jets got a touchdown and pulled within one score. But then the Giants took over, and the Eagles were finished. Some players saw the final score on the massive screens at Cowboys Stadium. Others assumed the Giants had won when Romo came out of the game.
"I will admit it was a bit of a letdown," Vick said.
While the Eagles were officially eliminated by the Giants win, the reality is that a season full of missed opportunities and bad judgments led to the disappointing result. The Eagles blew five fourth-quarter leads. They started with linebackers and a defensive coordinator who were learning on the job. They have a league-high 36 turnovers that canceled out their offensive potency.
"We're coming together as a team right now. We're healthy, and obviously guys are playing good, aggressive football," said coach Andy Reid. "As a head coach, I've got to make sure we get that part sooner than later. Things needed to happen sooner than the last [few] games from my standpoint."
"We had a lot of new guys, new system, new coach on defense, new players," Vick said. ". . . I know what it takes to win football games, and I know what type of team and what type of personality and character that you have to have. And we just lacked that early. That's the truth."
Team president Joe Banner likely won't speak to reporters until after the Eagles' season wraps up next Sunday in Philadelphia against the Redskins. Following that game, the Eagles' front office and coaching staff will have significant decisions to make, beginning with the fates of Reid - whose odds of returning seem to be strong with three straight wins - and Castillo. The team will have to decide how to handle wide receiver DeSean Jackson, whose contract is set to expire, and will probably work to clear their logjam at cornerback.
Several Eagles said they wanted to get another NFC East win to finish at 8-8.
"We want to go out there and win, finish 5-1 in the division, let everyone know that we were the dominant team in this division," said wide receiver Jeremy Maclin. "That's something that's still out there to play for."
A 5-1 mark in the NFC East would normally assure the Eagles of a playoff berth. But nothing this season has gone to plan, most significantly the way it will end.
Comments (75)
As a fellow EAGLES fan, I agree that it is about time Reid is fired. He's terrible at making adjustments, time management, and finally making a lifetime offensive coach, the DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR. Come on Jeff, take a bold step, FIRE ANDY. We fans still believe we can win a superbowl, MAKE THE CHANGE!!!
as
— donnagirl33- It's sad, after the Iggles salvage a 8-8 record, Reid will be here again next year giving us the same drivel into oblivion; No Superbowls will happen while Reid is here, face it... BTW 100 days till opening day!!! Go Phillies!!!— StJames888
- STEPHEN1988 - The saddest part is that these are the same people who had everyone at Penn State, fired, convicted and thrown in jail the day after the charges came out. Can you say HY-PO-CRITES?— golson@florida
- Stepen1988 - you are whistling past the graveyard if you expect ANY sportswriter to mention ANYTHING about about what happened with a certain sportswriter who wrote for a certain Philly paper. It ain't a going to happen. It is like a cop turning on another cop or a doctor turning in another doctor. It is the good old boys club. They are going to pretend it didn't happen until they are FORCED to write something about.— golson@florida
- How could anyone truly believe the Eagles had a shot at the playoffs this year? Too many things had to fall in place for them to win. Waiting for other teams to win or lose to control your destiny is futile and usually winds up against you. I had a slight hope that they would get in, but too many back-breaking losses this year to overcome. I want to be Captain Ahab and harpoon that great white whale Moby Reid, but this time, Ahab wins. Time's not yours any more.— carnivor52
- Eagles 2012 coach/D-coordinator - Les Miles/John Chavis (It'll never happen - Damn). Woot Woot!— hhkal
- "we would have been dangerous in the playoffs" is like saying you would have won the lotter if you only bought a ticket.— croozn
- RealTruth - You seem to one of those folks that Honest Abe was talking bout when he said you can fool some of the people most of the time. The Birds will bounce back next year. Let's see I don't know how old you are, but I've been waiting for that next year for 51 years, how about you? Ever hear the saying, "I maybe a homer, but I am not an idiot?" This team will bounce back IF it can get some linebackers, safeties, a QB that knows how to play the West Coast Offense and if the team can play like a team. Oh yeah and a team that can actually beat a good team when it actually matters. I'll be standing right next to you next year cheering them on, it is just my days of being one of the blind followers ended a long time ago.— golson@florida
- the Eagles were eliminated from playoff contention when Juan Castillo was named defensive coordinator. it really is that simple.— coloradoeagle
- I've gotta do a better job of ...
Time's yours...
Does Lurie want to win a Super Bowl or just enough to make the playoffs, but never win the Big One? If it's the former, Andy has to go. If the latter, well... we all will continue to suffer for years.— kecward78 - Reid should go. (Probably won't happen!) Get a better DC (we need one!) Need McNabb back!!!! (just kidding!) Merry Christmas, Philly!!!!!!!!— madaboutit
- As an out-of-towner I don't see the Eagles that often on TV, but every time I do all I see is their players strutting around, pounding their chests as though they're champions. Come on -- they're simply doing what they're paid to do. That is the most annoying thing about the Eagles -- they've ALWAYS thought of themselves as better than they are. I did get to see DeSean Jackson acting like a jerk in the first Giants game this season and daring them to punt the ball to him. When the Giants did, Jackson fumbled it! You don't see the good teams, the championship teams, acting foolish and pretending their champions. I can honestly say, I root against this team every chance I get. They are a unlikeable group of underachievers who have the audacity to call themselves the Dream Team. Give us all a break and just shut up!— Ron T
- Another wasted season. Reid must go. Reid must go. Reid must go. Sounds redundant, just like his poor coaching over the last sever years... By the way, Reid must go— Big_Omar
- Merry Christmas to my Eagles team and the REAl Eagles fans. Touch year, but a learning year Will be some angry birds in 2012 and I will ride or die with them. Dallas Sucks and so do the Midgets.— Blessed8251
- Merry Christmas to my Eagles team and the REAl Eagles fans. Touch year, but a learning year Will be some angry birds in 2012 and I will ride or die with them. Dallas Sucks and so do the Midgets.— Blessed8251
- When the Eagles started 1-4 I thought the beast they could do was 6-10. Well they have beaten my expectations already. If they win next week they will finish 8-8.— garcia7
- Sorry to bring bad news, but NY and Dallas are 8-7.— escapedcamden4monterey
- This sup-apr season was officially toast when they blew the Cardinals game.
Everything since was hype
Plenty of tickets available for next Sunday at or some are even below face value on Stubhub today- I am wondering if the actual crowd that shows up will be less then the 50,000 at CBP the next day for hockey.
— njbencounter - It's not over: if the Giants and the Cowboys tie and the Eagles beat the Redskins, the Giants and the Cowboys will end up 7-7-1, while the Eagles win the division outright with an 8-8 record.— gmanpc8
- Been Eagles fan since days of
Steve VanBuren and Tommy Thompson..never complained about coach until now.Time is Now.
— Eugene Bell - Yeah right, it's not the prize, it's the journey that's important. Wait 'til next year! All is well! All is blissful and filled with the hope that the New Year brings! La,la,la,la,la. ( Repeat this refrain for another half century.)— escapedcamden4monterey
- Just enough to maintain and keep all of the incompetents around for yet another year.— Carlos2
Comment removed.- as i sit here ,on central florida,after watching the eagles-dallas game,i got lost in the hopes that they would backdoor their way into the playoffs.the off season moves the team made were ok,but i believe the 'hype' was too much for this group.key losses,and injuries hurt their chances.getting rid of the coach? not really the answer.now that this season is over,the team MUST look back,and fix what needs fixing.draft some guys,and build this teamwith younger guys.the fns will want changes,and theres gonna be some.but eagle fans,do u wanna trade the birds,for the buccaneers,or the jaguars?? thats a trade,these teams would love here in florida.be glad what u have there,hope changes happen and support the team,like u always have.MERRY CHRISTMAS ,see ya next season— t_darb_56
- I still can't believe Cliff Lee coughed up that lead in Game 2. Left a real bad taste in my mouth.— Sam Crow
- The fact that the Eagles are not in the playoffs can be directly attributed to the hiring of Castillo as Defensive Coordinator. He absolutely has to go. And, since Andy hired him, he should be right behind Juan going out the door.— Jokerman
- It made absolutely no sense to win today! Hurts our draft position.— 4thand10
- the poll question wasn't fare enough.. maybe having an option of *Change the coaching staff AND tweak some players but there is good talent here already* would have been a great option.. thats why it's 50 50 on questions 2 and 4.. daaaa— twistedmetalone
- This question should not even have to be asked— fanup
- What was the question again? Ha, people here are so ridiculously outrageous. The team will bounce back next season, bet on it. I say let the Cowgirls and Ggirls enjoy this season because it back to the basement for them after this year. — realtruth
- Andy Reid sucks, Eagles SUCK!! don't be fooled— Old German
- Too Little, Too Late. Won't be suckered by this team again. Go Pats— eaglesman1
- We have an official bandwagon jumper here. — realtruth
- Bring back Tom Modrek or some one who will bring in a decent LINE BRACKER. Carlos Edmmons where are you.— younger21
- This is going to be hilarious. Coach Reid and the team are going to sell this four game win streak as something unbelievably great and too many of the Birds fans will fall in line and buy another load of the brown stuff. This streak means absolutely, positively nothing. We are about to hear the, if we only started playing like this earlier we would be playing in the Super Bowl this year and lots of Birds fans will fall for that load of brown stuff also. I always said Abe Lincoln was wrong, you can fool most of the people most of the time, especially when it comes to Bird fans. This four game streak will keep everyone their jobs and talks of the Dream Team for 2012 can start right after the end of their awesome 8-8 season. How easy we are.— golson@florida
- Wait... we haven't won the fourth game yet! They're probably loose to the Redskins!. Since there's nothing to play for, Reid will probably rest his starters to get ready for the playoffs...oh..wait..there are no playoffs..Reid " cough..cough..clear his throat 5 times..we wanted to rest them for next year and get some of the other kids some playing time"
fing pitiful year! and the bad news is Reid will be back because Lurie has no balls! His wife carries them in her purse!— kchaz - The Eagles motto..."Wait til nexr year!"— greenguy
- I enjoyed the game, actually. It is what it is. After all these years it comes down to the game, not the consequence. Merry Christmas and Happy Chanukah.— retzlaff
- Marty should be the head coach.
— Showtime226 - How do those 5 4th quarter losses look like now? Defense still cant close out a game. Juan more thing to do...........— NC Eagle Fan
- No, really. I join with the other thousands of Eagles fans in truly believing that this season was a stunning success!! Disappointed?? Us?? Why, with the genius selections in the draft and the choice of Castillo as defensive coordinator, we expected - and are ecstatic about - a .500 season. We can't wait until 2012 - maybe we can go .400 and, rather than be disappointed, we can rejoice!!!!!— billtfla
- BEMiller, give me a break, Cowboys had nothing to play for; this is an empty win for the Eagles for a few reasons. Playing like pansies when the pressure is on, then playing inspired when the game is meaningless, well, that's not a good sign. It shows me this team is a bunch of losers. I am watching the post-game interviews, and it makes me SICK, the Eagles players are laughing and joking. Are you serious? The team should be ashamed.— chocolatethunder
- Na,you and the rest of these negadelphians should be ashamed. Whats funny is all of you will be singing this teams praises next season. Like JRoll called you out to be, a bunch of frontrunners. Go Eagles. — realtruth
- For all the whiners on this page do me a favor, next season go support the Cowgirls, Deadskins and the Ggirls. As much as I hated to see this team not making the playoffs I do know they will be among the elite teams next year if they keep this team (players and coaches) together. So to all the frontrunner fans and bandwagon jumpers, when the Eagles are back on top stay away from this board stay off the bandwagon. Next season will truly be something special and fun to watch, can't wait. GO EAGLES 2012-2013— realtruth
- Yeah ok, maybe some people are realistic, unlike you who are the reason this moron head coach is still here, cuz no matter what you will always open your wallet. You bought into their competitive garbage talk even though there is no rings to show for it!! I always thought the fans wanted to celebrate championships with other fans,players,etc but apparently goofs like you think its ok to just maybe have a shot even though deep down you know it will never happen with reid in control!! Never!! And yes im a fan big deal, reid stinks as a coach, 13 years, same garbage and stupid nonsense you seen 10 years ago, duh!!! "We'll learn from this" bull#$it, you never learn nothin reid, your an idiot!! — richg88
- Wow,I didn't know I had that much power to keep AR in his position as HC. Just because I don't spit venom after every loss by this team doesn't mean I'm not disappointed about how the season went. Looking at it in a realistic manner you should have known they would struggle. Regardless of what your expectations were this is a fairly new team with new pieces that had to jell together and you can't do that with the kind of shortened season we had with no practice time. What I see on the horizon it promising. EAGLES Baby!!! — realtruth
- Wait, so they aren't mathematically still in it? Say, if the Cowboys and Giants end in a tie next week, they still wouldn't be able to get in? Or maybe the Cowboys or Giants will decide that they don't feel like playing in the playoffs this year and just give there slot to the Eagles. It just can't be. How can such an amazing team that might finish 8-8 not be in the playoffs? They were just too darn good all year to miss out now.— Hemingway
- You fake Philly fans don't deserve to win anything, all you do is whine and complain, you complain and whine when you win and you complain when you don't. You're not the only team not going to the playoff, you folks act like someone really owes you something, this goes to your media outlet as well.— BEST YET
- merry Christmas, MRD — coloradoeagle
- They are what JRoll aptly named frontrunners. — realtruth
- Watching a Defensive Coordinator going through a year of on the job training was annoying, to say the least.— escapedcamden4monterey
- Give credit where it's due: Having all ready been eliminated, the Birds did in the Cowpeople and set them up for elimination as well!— BEMiller
- Thirteen years ago we were told that Lurie/Reid & Co. were not going to win *a* Super Bowl, they were going to win multiple Super Bowls. Thirteen years later, they have ONLY been to ONE Super Bowl... and lost. The reign of Reid should be at it's end. While I see improvement from the o-line (w/Howard Mudd) and defense in general (for his first year, Castillo has done pretty well), the overall record is a major disappointment. Vick, McCoy, Celic, Maclin are fine. The selfishness of DeSean badly hurt this team until the last 2 weeks - and that falls on the management for not coming to some agreement. So I drop the debacle of a season on Reid, Lurie & Howie Rosenblum. They cost this team a chance at something special.— kecward78
- Thank you Eagles for playing inspired ball when it doesn't matter. With several exceptions, this team is a bunch of losers, put together by a management team that lacks the necessary knowledge about football and a coaching staff that is inept. Andy Reid is the core of the problem, and he must go! He will be back though, and we are in for another year of this lunacy.— chocolatethunder
- Doesn't matter.. much too little too late. Beating a Dallas team that sat its impact players means nothing. The crazy thing is I think we're gonna hear that "just a couple plays here and there" justification to retain coaching personnel not up to the task.. This team would get demolished by the Packers or New Orleans, and thats your true yard marker, not the Giants or Cowboys. Right now this team is MILES AWAY from the true elite in this league, just go back to the Patriots game if you doubt this.— iskabobpatel
- With Losts to Falcons... 49ers, Bears, Cardinals, Seahawks pretty much wrapped up the eagles season!— VickaDelphia24
- Another year. Another bunch of excuses for Andy Reid who will never take the Eagles to the Championship and a quarterback so brittle that when the cowbopys tackled him behind the line, they hugged him so he would not be hurt. We have a Sandra freaking Bullock for a qurterback who plays great when there is no pressure, just like McNabb. "You are what your record says you are." Bill Parcells.— mario1239
- The only way I think I could tolerate another year of Reid is Spags as the D coordinator and Howie out as GM.— albertpa
- I agree, but with one additional change. Lurie must demand that Reid run the ball at least 25 times a game (every game).
- offense still looks like its underachieving. They should be able to march up and down the field at will— franknbeans
- Their inability to close this game with a shut out is sickening. They may as well had lost. Their coaching stinks! Bring back the players and let another coaching staff work with them.— nceagle
- Team played much better on D thru the last quarter of season. Changes need to be made (linebacker / safety) at season's end but expect the Birds to be more competitive next year. PITCHERS & CATCHERS in just a little. Can't wait!!— edseagles
- tremendous win today and Andy Reid was brilliant. I think they should extend him for another 10 years. The thought of him back again for next season is exciting. I'm proud that Andy the Eagles did a better job today. Proud as hell.— power808
- Hittin' that holiday nog already?
— Atomic Fury - No team with a losing record belongs in the playoffs.— orange rhino
- thanks andy, yet another step backwards in the ever sliding decay of your years of putrid drafts— tooltime
- Clearly, the learning curve was too steep through the first half of the season. Still, the losses to Cards, 49ers, and Seahawks stick in the throat. But a team is what its record says it is. Honestly, the defense looks stronger without Samuels.— calm weather
- These regular-season Superbowls amount to little. The fact of the matter is: Reid's his own worst enemy.
After taking years to finally grab receivers, he still refuses to run the ball, and his personnel decisions have gotten worse.
To make matter worse, some of the same game-day deficiencies still haunt him (after 13 years).
What player could have the same issues as a rookie but continue to play for more than a decade?
Fire Reid, and watch this team improve. - Fire Reid for who? I'm game. Who are your candidates? Will you chip in to pick up the $10 Million left on the contract. Get real and grow up. Merry Christmas. — Golfer6986
- Any high school coach would be an improvement. Reid made a name for himself thanks to some guy named Brett Favre. He was hired thanks in no small part to the reference of some guy named Mike Holmgren. He was given an opportunity to make a name for himself here in Philly and essentially blew it. Like Lonewolf suggested, these regular season Super Bowls are meaningless to any fan who wants results. The rooters always see the Kool-Aid cup as being half full and that's all Lazy Lurie needs to believe that doing nothing is better. It's the rooters who are directing the pressure away from the Eagles brain(t)rust. BTW, many of us have chipped in by purchasing PSL's, tickets, parking spots, concessions and merchandise. — Atomic Fury
- Will I chip in? Hasn't everyone chipped in already?What did Steve Smith contribute to this team, and the countless others along the way who were awarded huge contracts? Players get cut all the time, and so do coaches.Besides, have you ever heard of a buy-out? Also, when Reid is hired by another team, the Eagles are off the hook.It's not rocket science.
- Will I chip in? Hasn't everyone chipped in already?What did Steve Smith contribute to this team, and the countless others along the way who were awarded huge contracts? Players get cut all the time, and so do coaches.Besides, have you ever heard of a buy-out? Also, when Reid is hired by another team, the Eagles are off the hook.It's not rocket science.
- For who? What a silly question.
The Eagles have the resources to find a good candidate.
Look at the 49ers, from worst to first. Where'd they find their coach? How about Tomlin, McCarthy or Sean Payton? Where'd they come from? For that matter, who was Reid before he coached the Eagles?
We can't allow fear of the unknown to paralyze us. We may know what we're getting, but we know what we already have, and it isn't good. - You are exactly rite lonewolf, this nonsense needs to stop now!!! I sure hope Jeff Lurie can realize that this head coach will never ever guide these birds to superbowl championship!!! If it isnt obvious by now, then they pulled the ostrich and stuck their heads in the sand!! — richg88
- The Beagles are best suited for arena football not real pro football in the NFL. — bushmciworlcomenron
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