Wasted opportunity for the Eagles
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Wasted opportunity for the Eagles
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
When the day began, the Eagles were in position for the No. 2 seed, which would have brought a first-round bye and a home game at the Linc in the divisional round.
As it ends, the Eagles find themselves facing the most difficult road to the Super Bowl of any team in the NFC.
The Birds were outplayed in every aspect today at Cowboys Stadium, falling 24-0.
Offensively, they turned in their worst performance of the year. A team that set a franchise record for points in a season was shut out for the first time since December 5, 2005.
Donovan McNabb was off-target. The receivers dropped balls. And the running game was non-existent.
Ten first downs. 37 yards on the ground. Three for 12 on third down. Ugly numbers all around.
And the defense wasn't much better. Sean McDermott's unit got no pressure on Tony Romo, who picked the Eagles apart right from the first offensive snap, setting the tone with a nine-play, 80-yard drive to open the game.
Romo was 24-for-34 for 311 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Three different Cowboys receivers (Miles Austin, Jason Witten and Patrick Crayton) had more than 75 yards.
On the ground, Dallas gashed the Eagles for 182 yards, averaging a ridiculous 6.3 yards per carry.
And so it's back to the drawing board for McDermott, Marty Mornhinweg and Andy Reid. Because in six or seven days, the Eagles will be back in Dallas to do it again.
The setup goes like this: The Eagles face the Cowboys in the first round. If they win, they'll go to New Orleans to take on the Saints in the divisional round. And if they somehow come out of that one, they'll go on the road against either Minnesota, Green Bay or Arizona in the NFC championship.
The road seemed much more simpler and promising when the day began.
Oh yeah, If you're a Cowboys fan who lives here and does not have a connection to the Cowboys- you a a frontrunning fraud. Period.— road515
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Cows returned the favor from last year very well :-) It was not Romo we lost do, it was 182 yard rushing and Dallas defense....— Seed- Bad loss......but we win next week. We're ALWAYS in the win column after a loss like this. Watch tape and learn......and BRING PRESSURE G' DAMN IT!!! WTF was THAT, Sean McDermbarse!???!!! Ridiculous to let Romo just sit there and play catch!!!! DUMB!!! DUMB!!!!!!!!— philly449
I don't even hate the cowboys because they are from texas...I hate them primarily because of their annoying fans. They are leeches and front running frauds who pop up only when they win-they have as many wins in the postseason this past decade as the Lions and Texans...— kjuggs77- Awwwwww.....did teenpuke get banned? Poor girl......— philly449
- Interesting defensive scheme, don't know why Jimmy Johnson didn't think of it - Don't rush the QB, Don't cover the receivers, Don't tackle ... well they sure didn't give Dallas anything to look at on the film this week. Winning next week will be even sweeter now though !— AsValidAsYours
- NO SHOT! McDermott is over his head, Reid still cannot control the clock with 2 min, the team is young and has no heart & they are missing leadership = Dawkins! Next week = NO SHOT!— Jazz607
- On a positive note, at least Jeff Lurie doesn't get to pocket a home playoff gate next week. Jerry Jones could use the money for his PRIVATELY financed stadium.— kjsherman
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- The bandwagon will load all of you idiots back on next weekend. Get on early There will be a rush— mcat13
- in a word P-A-T-H-E-T-I-C!!!!!!!!!! smfree31 Halladay start 10-1 and read how he sucks after the 1. You forgot to add.. That was before his 3-0 record in 2010 WS leading the Phillies to their 2nd WS in 3rd CONSECUTIVE WS Appearances. McNabb and the Fatman r a joke! Let's extend the coaches contract! What's wrong with this picture? Go Phillies Spring training just around the corner!!— xeaglefan
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- The Hall of Famer didn't look so great today.— psu05
- Did anyone notice Maclin not looking for the ball on the lond pass to the endzone because he knew he was going to get blasted? Shades of Stinkston!— Jazz607
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