Eagles not dead yet
LANDOVER, MD -- They're not dead yet.
Eagles not dead yet
Jonathan Tamari and Jeff McLane
LANDOVER, MD -- They're not dead yet.
Not this week. Not after a much needed 20 to 13 victory over the Redskins.
This week the Eagles created the turnovers, rather than giving them up. This week the Eagles tackled surely and with some force. This week the Eagles defensive backs made plays -- from Nnamdi Asomugha delivering a big early hit to Nate Allen and Kurt Coleman combining for four interceptions (including three by Coleman) to Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie breaking up a deep pass that could have been a Redskins score.
This week the Eagles weren't flashy, but they were efficient and played well against the run. With the defensive line seemingly tightened up in run situations, the Eagles held Washington to 42 yards on the ground, forcing Rex Grossman to throw, and throw badly. Backup John Beck put a scare into the Eagles with a late score, but the Eagles managed to grind out the clock with a final drive.
The Eagles are now 2-4 and have a chance. They still lag in the playoff race, but 13 2-4 teams have reached the postseason since the NFL went to its current playoff format in 1990.
LeSean McCoy had 126 rushing yards on a career-high 28 carries and four Eagles had three receptions or more. The Eagles even got a solid fill-in effort from Winston Justice at right tackle.
Andy Reid's team still has a long way to go to dig out from their ugly start, but they remain within striking distance in the NFC East. They now have a bye to rest and then three straight home games, presenting an opportunity to further recover.
The rest of the schedule will include far bigger tests than this Redskins team led by a starting quarterback who put on one of the worst displays you might ever see. But the rest of the schedule remains relevant today, and probably will for some time, thanks to a much-needed win.
FROM EARLIER:
The Eagles have life. They have looked sharp Sunday and are off to a great start in a game they have to have, leading 20-3 at halftime.
All of the factors that went against for the Eagles in the previous four weeks have worked for them Sunday. Nnamdi Asomugha delivered a big hit early, snuffing out a Washington drive. Juan Castillo’s two safeties made plays, each coming up with a first half interception off of Rex Grossman. Nate Allen, along with the pick, was a steady presence who kept Washington gains to a minimum. Batted balls landed in the Eagles’ hands, not those of their opponents. They kept penalties to a minimum and took advantage when the Redskins kept giving up free yardage.
At the end of the first half the Eagles had outgained the Redskins 250 yards to 75.
Most importantly for the Eagles offense, they eliminated turnovers. Their 250 first half yards turned into 20 points. The Eagles had roughly double the yardage in each of the past two games and only 23 and 24 total points, because they kept giving the ball up instead of finishing with touchdowns or field goals.
The only question now is if they can eliminate one more problem: their penchant for surrendering leads.
Observations from earlier in the game:
-- It took only six games, but the Eagles defense had its first big hit of the season when Nnamdi Asomugha clobbered Redskins tight end Chris Cooley after he caught a screen pass. All season long the defense has lacked intimidation. But Asomugha brought it on that play and knocked Cooley, who injured his hand, from the game. Later on Kurt Coleman took a personal foul when he hit a defensless receiver over the middle. It seemed like a clear-cut call, but it's one of those aggressive plays you'll take when looking at the big picture. And the big picture coming in was the Eagles D was soft.
-- You got to give Eagles defensive coordinator Juan Castillo and his unit the nod for their first half performance. The intensity was there, and more important so was the execution. Aided by the narrowing of the wide nine on obvious run downs, the Eagles kept the Redskins' runnners in check at the start. And when the offense put the Eagles ahead, Washington had to call on quarterback Rex Grossman. And, quite frankly, Grossman wasn't up to the challenge. His first half numbers were, well, gross: 6 of 14 passing for 64 yards, no touchdowns, two interceptions and a 17.3 passer rating.
-- Sometimes, you make your own luck. The Eagles seemed sharper and more focused in all areas Sunday, and the bad bounces that hurt them in previous weeks suddenly started going their way. A tipped Mike Vick pass fell to Jeremy Maclin. Brent Celek batted a ball into the air and instead of seeing a Redskin intercept it, managed to stick with the play and make a catch himself. Runners held onto the ball as they were tackled. It might be a bit of luck or just a cyclic, as many Eagles said, but there's something to be said for focus, too, which seemed far more abundant Sunday than in previous weeks.
-- Nate Allen was one of the few glimmers of hope after last week's loss, and his strong play continued Sunday. Allen had a second quarter interception off of Rex Grossman and nearly made another pick late in the first half. Less spectacularly, but perhaps as important, was the way Allen continued stepping up to make plays in the open field, or at least slow down runners and hold Washington gains to a minimum. Those kind of plays helped the Eagles limit the kind of big gains that have hurt them during their four game skid. It also shows that last year's number two pick is ready to contribute. With 2010 first round choice Brandon Graham saying he expects to return from injury after the bye, the much-maligned draft class of last year still has plenty to say about how they will be judged in Philadelphia.
Wow. They're beating the 'Skins. Wow. We've been mistaken all week: this team is the gold standard.— rubicon24- Mix up a batch of Kool-Aid ... the Stepfords will be crowing about the Super Bowl for 2 weeks now.— Scope33
- Why is Andy Reid still employed? If he could prepare a team well enough to win this week, that means he could have done the same any and all of the last 4 weeks! If I came to work as woefully unprepared as Andy has week after week, I'd be fired! Wouldn't you?— Bucks County Mike
- Did they just get shut out in the second half? See, they really are the "gold standard."— rubicon24
- Even when they win you complain. You people suck— lvscottb
- reid still must go, im not being fooled— rayne215
- I have no life, not where I want to be, live through the Eagles, and get off posting negative garbage on a public comment board. Thank god for this board or I'd be beating my kids or my wife or committing acts of juvenile delinquency.— retzlaff
- they tried hard to lose the game as their offense was completely inept in red zone after 2 early tds, but unfortunately Redskins had their own issues and couldn't take full advantage --nevertheless considering how poorly the Eagles played second half, shoudn't be difficult for them to finish season at 3-13 and to get a new coach for next year --opposition just needs to play a little better and complete the passes over the middle instead of underthrowing them .. Eagles made clear yet again today that they can blow a 20 point lead to anyone anytime but other team has to cooperate— warbiscuit
- Let's be real, the Eagles beat the WORST quarterback in the NFL....Vick and the DREAM TEAM are an awful 2-4...and in LAST PLACE..LOL.— frank105
- I always pose this question to all the hate mongers, the ones who reside in Hatie, and drink Hateorade, if Reid were to be fired who is the replacement. The "chin" Cowher? Only took him 14 years and the most generous officiating crew in super bowl history to win a super bowl. Gruden? Please, most over rated coach in history. Yes he won a super bowl, with someone else's players and defensive coordinator, then ran the team into the ground. Jeff Fischer? What does he bring to the table? Reid should have to give up some power, but over all he's one of the best coaches in the league.— Jtmcgk
- I'm sure I will get jumped on for this but it's true. Half the morons that are always complaining weren't even alive when year after year we couldn't even sniff the playoffs. This team has a chance every year to win, and the players believe in Andy Reid. Watch the players, they play hard for him, he's never lost this team. The only year he did was 05 with TO. That doesn't count. So all you football geniuses who are you putting in there instead of Andy?— Jtmcgk
- How can you call Reid one of the best coaches in the league? Year after year it's the same thing. One or more glaring needs on the team not addressed. Wasted high draft picks. Refusing to change. Clock management. Arrogant disrespect for the fans and on and on and on.
Plenty of good coaches around.— Ssteve115 - I was alive when Norm Van Brocklin and Chuck Bednarik won the 1960 championship, and one thing has been certain all that time....Philly fans love to complain. If you don't know that, you must be new to Philly sports. We even boo Santa Claus. Anyway, back to complaining....zero score in the second half, and letting the lead slip away to one score, to a team that sucked today....probably is NOT an improvement worthy of having us NOT calling for Reid's head on a silver platter. Nor do I need to be grateful that he may be a better coach than some previous teams in Eagle's history, which I happen to agree that he is. The point being is that he reached the top of his game awhile back....and he is going downhill at OUR expense. We buy the tickets, we buy the souvenirs, we buy the products that they sell on advertising which pay his salary. His job is to win the Super Bowl, and he belongs in the toilet bowl. Any questions?— Larry Byrd
- Larry I've forgotten more about Philly sports than you know. Philly fans didn't boo Santa clause, they booed some drunk in a Santa suit that the eagles asked to fill in for the real Santa who failed to show up. It's brainless fans like you that think it some sort of badge of honor to complain. His job is to win, you are absolutely right, as is every coach in the league, so with your logic if they don't win the super bowl they should be fired, right? Bellichek hasn't done well in the playoffs the last few years so he should get the axe, right Larry? So tell me super fan, who is the man to replace him, and how long does he get before he gets fired??— Jtmcgk
- Larry I've forgotten more about Philly sports than you know. Philly fans didn't boo Santa clause, they booed some drunk in a Santa suit that the eagles asked to fill in for the real Santa who failed to show up. It's brainless fans like you that think it some sort of badge of honor to complain. His job is to win, you are absolutely right, as is every coach in the league, so with your logic if they don't win the super bowl they should be fired, right? Bellichek hasn't done well in the playoffs the last few years so he should get the axe, right Larry? So tell me super fan, who is the man to replace him, and how long does he get before he gets fired??— Jtmcgk
- Steve and Larry you still haven't answered my question. Plenty of good coaches out there? Who? Who is going to replace him and have the same Rate of succes? Who? They were a Michael Vick int away last year from beating the team that won the super bowl, David Akers misses two field goals and we lose 21-16. So what did Andy do wrong? Put two pro bowl players in a position to win the game and they didn't, you're so right, it was all his fault. Are there things I would like to see changed absolutely, should they finally put some more importance on the position of linebacker, yes, but take a look at the league and how many bad teams and bad coaches there are. Ray Rhodes, buddy Ryan, rich kitite, the swamp fox? Be careful what you wish for
Gruden ruined the raiders franchise, then the Tampa bay franchise, but he has to be a better coach than andy because he has a super bowl. Right guys? That means Brian billick, Barry Switzer, mike ditka, all better right? They're all available right now. Would you jump up and down if we signed them?.— Jtmcgk - I'm 63...I'll be wetting my diaper and wiping oatmeal off my chin before the E-A-G=L=E=S are for REAL...opps I feel something warm....— gogoruch
- It's only a game. Why act like a 2 year old?— road515
- The Eagles need to stink. They need to have losing seasons. That is how franchises draft good players. Painful, but true.— road515
