Rock bottom? The Eagles can only hope
LANDOVER, Md. -- And so, as they say at the moment the ripcord is being pulled, "Look out beloooooooow."
Rock bottom? The Eagles can only hope
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
LANDOVER, Md. -- And so, as they say at the moment the ripcord is being pulled, “Look out beloooooooow.”
You would like to think that the Eagles have hit bottom, but there is no reason to believe that is true. That is how bad things have gotten. They just got walloped by a bad Washington Redskins team, 31-6, and there still are six games left to play. There is no telling what depths they might still reach.
The Eagles are 3-7. They have lost six in a row. You have to go back to the mid-1990s, to the days of Rich Kotite before the fall, to recall such a stretch of uninterrupted ineptitude. Think about that for a second. On second thought, don’t.
You forget what it feels like, the pointlessness of it all when two bad teams enter the arena and two bad teams leave the arena, the only difference being that one leaves with a meaningless victory and the other with a loss that validates every terrible thing you have thought about them. Because that is where the Eagles are. Sunday was epic validation.
They could not overcome a myriad of mistakes on offense, some the responsibility of rookie quarterback Nick Foles but many more that could be assigned to others. Foles threw two interceptions, one a bad throw and the other that clanged off of the hands of tight end Brent Celek, who is officially having an awful season. But the bigger problems came along the again-reconstituted offensive line, where every manner of drive-killing penalty was committed along the way.
I mean, who would have guessed that right guard Jake Scott, signed off the street only 6 days before starting the game, would have trouble with the snap count?
On defense, they made a couple of laughingly bad plays in pass coverage that led to two embarrassing touchdowns thrown by Redskins rookie Robert Griffin III. The first, a 49-yard touchdown to a wide open Adrick Robinson -- wide like the width of Tennessee -- came on a play where Eagles cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha was expecting safety help that never materialized. The second, a 61-yarder to the venerable Santana Moss, came on a play where safety Kurt Coleman was in position to intercept the pass but monumentally bollixed up the attempt. Then, for good measure, Brandon Boykin failed to make the tackle short of the end zone.
But the piece of the play that might speak most to how bad things have become is this: a flag was down on the play in the backfield, and Eagles defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins was mocking Griffin’s touchdown celebration because he assumed the penalty was on the Redskins. Alas, it was illegal hands to the face on the Eagles instead.
Alas.
With 1:45 remaining in the game, running back LeSean McCoy was tackled helmet-to-helmet on a running play and did not get up. He took off his helmet and sat up, but they brought a cart out onto the field to bring him to the locker room. It was an awful bit of punctuation.
Finally, people will ask if Andy Reid should be fired immediately. After a game such as this one, there is only one way to look at it. If Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie fires Reid now, it will only be because he likes him so much that he wants to put him out of his misery.
Foles dad said his son is ready to take the reigns of this team. Uuuuh, no.— realtruth- "Reins," maybe? — filzfan
- Foles dad said his son is ready to take the reigns of this team. Uuuuh, no.— realtruth
- folds proved that vick haters are idiots.. the kid couldnt win in arizona and he damn sure cant win behind this line. vick is still one of the best in the game but joe montana couldnt play behind this line. well atleast the philly fans know its over and its not vicks fault. get real and think of a new excuse because this season is over!!— blitzkrieg
- Sometimes I really don't understand if I'm watching the same game as some fans. Foles continued to put the ball in Celeks and other eagles receivers hands and no one showed. These receivers are not elite. Foles gets the ball quicker. We marched down the field several times. Oline penalty calls. Foles with a better Oline and better slot receivers will get the job done. Fans deserve another coach now to see who has heart for the rest of the season— Yes_General
- Vick should beg to get cut, since all GMs now see what Young, Jaws, & others have said for weeks. He's the scapegoat for a terrible team with a jr college OL.— tony11
- You can't polish a turd.— OnlySaneGuyLeftInTheRoom
- Actually the Mythbusters proved that you could. — RickVS
- Monday Night will be rock bottom.— Jeffritoe
- This has to be the worst offensive line in the history of the Eagles and that is saying a lot.— fanup
- At this point, losing is exactly what we want, so i don't really get all the anger. Why all the he said she said stuff. Vick wasn't good this year, the offense/defense/and special teams in general were all terrible. It's pointless to point fingers and puff out your chest defending certain players, especially since their aren't any players worth defending. We all are tired of the Andy Reid Era, so why win meaningless games. A top 3 draft pick could create some positive vibes along with a new regime. Assuming we don't draft a quarterback, we need some young leaders on defense. Alot of high profile defensive players should be gone next year, allowing young kids to prove their worth and officially start the rebuild. I'd expect 2 more really rough seasons before we start seeing improvement, but as long as we draft well, i'll put up with it.— Stephen45
- Andy's expertise is needed to beat K.C., Jacksonville, Cleveland, and Carolina to the bottom. Hello #1 draft pick. Come on ladies, don't let us down!— Barry Attrick
- Woooo Hooooo, only six more weeks of Cap'n Andy and his dreck of a wreck that he so pathetically assembled.— nasjo
- Vick stunk behind the O-line before all of the injuries. I would rather see a 10 week rookie stink than a 10 year vet. At least the Birds will get a decent draft pick.— 2ndNlong
From espn:
Foles got the start because Michael Vick is recovering from a concussion suffered in last week's loss to Dallas. But the Eagles with Foles resembled the Eagles with Vick -- capable of moving the ball downfield, only to have all the hard work negated by turnovers, penalties and a patchwork offensive line.
Key words: patchwork offensive line
I told you people that it wasn't all Vick. Did he make some mistakes? Sure he did, but THE ENTIRE TEAM SUCKS...not just the QB.
All we heard for almost the whole season is "Nick Foles this and that...pocket precence...quicker delivery" LMAO he SUCKS.
The Preseason doesn't mean sh%! for you "fans" that don't know. Nick "INT,Savior" Foles had NONE of what all you said he had except being tall. The line sucks people..no QB would survive...but the Philly fans are always so quick to bury their QBs..McNabb..Vick..everyone except for Jeff Garcia because he fit the city's "blue collar" persona.
If management was smart they would keep Vick..he's as close as a Franchise QB that you can get..and there's not one in the draft. Get rid of Mudd and Washburn and spend this high draft pick on the best O-lineman and get rid of that girl Maclin and get a WR who will make TOUGH catches. Start Cooper at the slot.
Vick ain't the problem. For those that thought he was, the Eye in the Sky doesn't lie.— elijah29
