Ashley Fox: Upon Jaws' review, Eagles face hard road

For weeks, Ron Jaworski has been unsure whether the Eagles are good enough to pull out one of those Andy Reid specials and make a playoff run.

Maybe they will. But now more than ever, Jaworski thinks they won't.

"These next eight games are going to be tough games for them," Jaworski told me on Wednesday after we watched the coach's tape of the Eagles' offense against the Cowboys. "I don't see enough continuity, where you say, 'OK they need one play here, one play there, one guy picking it up.'

"They're very inconsistent right now, very sporadic. I think they're still a good football team, but I don't know if you get to that last quarter of the season, and you can start ripping them off. I could be wrong, but right now I don't see it."

The coach's tape doesn't lie, and Jaworski has watched every offensive play the Eagles have run since Donovan McNabb became the starting quarterback in 1999. He's seen the offense's problems this season, all of which were evident against the Cowboys. If the Eagles don't correct them, they'll have no shot to beat the San Diego Chargers today.

Stacy Andrews needs to play to the level of his contract.

The retooled offensive line no longer has time to jell, as center Jamaal Jackson acknowledged last week. But Andrews, more than anyone, needs to elevate his play.

Andrews couldn't handle Cowboys nose tackle Jay Ratliff, who blew past him for a second-quarter sack of McNabb. Another time, Andrews was part of a double team of Ratliff, but after Ratliff was contained, Andrews didn't step into the second level of the defense to block linebacker Keith Brooking, who stopped Leonard Weaver for a 5-yard gain. Jackson had made the adjustment, and had Andrews done the same, Weaver would have had room to run.

"When you start interchanging the parts," Jaworski said, "the nonverbal communication is lost."

McNabb needs to lead his receivers across the field.

Young receivers aren't always comfortable breaking routes, but the Eagles missed several big-play opportunities against Dallas either because the receiver wouldn't adjust or McNabb wouldn't lead them across the field.

Midway through the second quarter, DeSean Jackson caught Terence Newman flat-footed and blew past him. The middle of the field was wide open. McNabb had great protection, but he was frenetic in the pocket and never set his feet. He threw a check-down to LeSean McCoy for 2 yards.

"That's what they've been so good at, making that big play," Jaworski said. "That one was on Don."

Weaver needs his hands on the ball.

McCoy is quick and showed several times that he's able to bounce off defenders and scurry for a few more yards. But he doesn't have that extra gear to blow past people. And Brian Westbrook might not have that gear anymore, either.

Weaver has been consistent running the football. He averaged 4.1 yards per carry against Dallas. Five times the Eagles had third and short, and the only time they converted was the one time they handed off to Weaver, who gained 3 yards when he needed only 1.

Stat of note I: In 97 possessions this season, the Eagles have had drives of 10 plays or more just nine times, 26th in the NFL.

"They just don't sustain offense," Jaworski said. "They've become such a big-play offense. They're good. They're explosive. But they just don't sustain offense."

Stat of note II: The Eagles have 28 passes of 20 yards or more, which ranks 10th in the NFL.

Quote sheet: "There are some games now that they could play better than they played in this game and lose because of the caliber of opponent they're playing. They're seeing good football teams. They're going to have to play better than this offensively to beat San Diego, because I think San Diego will move the ball on them." - Jaworski on the Eagles' remaining opponents, who have a combined 36-29 record. Only two teams are below .500, and two, Denver and Dallas, are 6-2.