John Smallwood | This doesn't inspire hope: Secondary takes a Thrashing
LANDOVER, Md. - Who would have thought the key play in the Eagles' 33-25 victory yesterday over the Redskins might have been an injury to James Thrash on a kickoff return late in the fourth quarter.
Yes, that James Thrash - the guy who infamously teamed with Todd Pinkston in Philadelphia for 3 seasons as the receiving duo disgustedly referred to by Bird fans as "Trash and Stinkston."
DAVID MAIALETTI/Daily News
Brian Dawkins, Brandon Lloyd make diving bids for second-quarter pass.
Applying his skills these days in the nation's capital, Thrash had set himself up as a highly unlikely hero by making five catches for 85 yards with two touchdowns.
But on the kickoff
after Brian Westbrook turned a screen catch into a 57-yard touchdown that put the Eagles up, 26-25, Thrash, whose primary job is on special teams, injured his left ankle blocking.
In a normal world, that wouldn't have seemed that significant. But in the dicey world that is the Eagles' 2007 season, Thrash, subbing for the injured Santana Moss, had played the role of playmaking receiver for the Redskins.
With Thrash on the sideline, Washington ended up turning the ball over on four downs at its 10-yard-line with just under 2 1/2 minutes remaining.
The Redskins let Westbrook score immediately, but trailing by eight, their desperation drive ended on downs and the Eagles ran off the final 1:22 to keep their season alive for at least another week.
"There were some highs and some lows," Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "That's when you check your gut on the low ones. Our guys worked through it.
"They seemed like they were positive all the way through. There was so much energy on that sideline."
It certainly was a dramatic change from a week ago, when the Eagles looked like beaten carcasses as Dallas whipped them at home in front of a national
television audience.
There's no telling what the mind-set of this team would be had it not rallied from a 22-13 deficit in the final 12 1/2 minutes.
A quick reality check says the Eagles are still just 4-5 and still a serious longshot to become a factor in the NFC playoff picture. But with the winless Miami Dolphins coming to the Linc next Sunday, hope lives.
That wouldn't have been the case had they lost yesterday.
"This is one of those games where we played together until the end," said guard Shawn Andrews, who threw the block that sprung Westbrook on the screen pass. "That says a lot about the guys we have here.
"Of course, our record is what it is, but we are a lot better than that."
Last season, when the Eagles were 5-6, they rallied behind backup quarterback Jeff Garcia to win their final five games, finish 10-6 and capture the NFC East. But their journey to playoff salvation appears to be light years longer this season, even though they are similary one game under .500.
The very notion that a player as limited as Thrash almost became the primary mover in extinguishing the Eagles' season doesn't instill a lot of confidence for a miracle run against a schedule that still includes games at New England and Dallas and against Seattle and the New York Giants.
If James Thrash almost put the final nail in their coffin, how are the Eagles going to stop Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Tony Romo, T.O., Shaun Alexander and Plaxico Burress from slamming the lid closed for good?
This team is still closer to teetering off the edge than it is to regaining its balance.
Obviously, the Eagles get credit for taking advantage of the situations presented to them, but this game was as much about the Redskins coughing up a victory as the Birds snatching one.
The Redskins had a firm grip on the game when Keenan McCardell caught a touchdown pass with 12:36 left.
Even after Reggie Brown adjusted to haul in a 45-yard touchdown pass from Donovan McNabb to pull the Eagles within 22-20, Washington had a prime opportunity to put the game away.
With 4:43 remaining, the Redskins had a first-and-goal on the Eagles' 3. Clinton Portis ran for 2 yards, but was then dropped for a yard loss. On third down from the 2, tight end Chris Cooley was called for a false start.
On third down from the 7, Portis gained 4 yards. Washington settled for a 21-yard field goal from Sean Suisham and a potential 9-point lead was only five.
"You don't want to say anything right now, but you want to take one at a time," said Eagles tight end L.J. Smith, who caught his first touchdown of the season. "If we can carry this over into next week, we'll have a shot."
It should be a good shot, unless, of course, the Dolphins sign Pinkston or Freddie "FredEx" Mitchell. *
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