Eagles stay on the tightrope
Eagles 24, Ravens 23
Eagles stay on the tightrope
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
The Eagles spent the first half against the Baltimore Ravens killing themselves. Michael Vick threw another across-his-body interception in the end zone. LeSean McCoy fumbled for the second time in two weeks. Vick and rookie Bryce Brown never connected on a handoff. One, two, three shots in the foot.
In the second half, the game was killing them. Center Jason Kelce, a crucial piece of their puzzle, left with a sprained knee that looked painful and required a trip on a cart to the locker room. Then, later in the third quarter, the Eagles lost left tackle King Dunlap (hamstring) and wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (hip pointer) on consecutive plays. Maclin eventually came back, but the impediments were still piled pretty high.
Oh, and the Ravens are a championship-caliber team.
It added up to a tall order for the Eagles. But in the end, for the second consecutive week, they found a way. Trailing by 23-17 in the fourth quarter -- the Ravens’ Justin Tucker made field goals of 56, 51 and 48 yards along the way -- the Eagles got the ball back with 4:43 remaining. After that, this is what happened:
Vick hit DeSean Jackson for 14 yards. He his Brent Celek, who had a monster game, for 24 yards. Vick scrambled for 8 yards. On a third-and-2, Vick hit Celek again for 13 yards. Then he hit Clay Harbor for 19 yards. For the second consecutive week, when it mattered most, despite everything, the quarterback was getting it done. This week, he was masterful.
And then, three plays later -- and after a ridiculous scare caused by bad officiating, when a Vick incompletion under duress was mistakenly ruled a fumble -- Vick scored on a shotgun draw. The Eagles, somehow, had a 24-23 lead. And then, one last time, the defense held.
The Eagles continue to ride the tightrope.
The Eagles are 2-0.
It was the Eagles’ second game of the season, and we continue trying to take their temperature. We see a defense that is much tougher and much more competitive than last season’s. We see an offense with scads of talent and only a scintilla of discipline. Taken together, the Eagles have been a careening car so far this season, forever on two wheels.
The truth is that we really won’t know for a while. The truth also is that the Eagles are playing a style -- communing with danger, always -- that is impossible as a long-term survival strategy. You cannot expect to give the ball away at such a ridiculous rate -- five last week, four this week -- and win games in the NFL. Not a lot of games, anyway, and especially not against good teams. The math is just too hard.
For a long time on Sunday, it appeared as if the Eagles would be defined by their mistakes. In the end, though, Vick made sure that would not be true.
Overall, here is the early-season verdict: if they could clean up some of their untidiness, this Eagles team might just be dangerous.
Bottom line - we won. Several of us said we would win......99% said we wouldn't. Think twice before going against Vegas....and your team!!
GO EAGLES!!!! Vick.....that was a gutsy performance! Half the interceptions as last week....good trend.....— philly449- I think the Eagles were giving 3 points. Betting against them this week would have been the best of both worlds.
- How does Reid call that stooooopid pass from the 1-yard line during our 4th quarter comeback?
I've been saying it for years and I'll say it again. The Eagles have won "in spite of Reid," not because of him. - Yes I agree we should focus on one play that you don't like and forget the whole rest of the gutsy performance.
Ey Negadelphian?
Yes of course Reid has nothing to do with being the 3rd winningest franchise in the last decade, nothing at all.
- Did we not focus on 4 plays last week? Wasn't it all that was talked about? Isn't it still being talked about? Aren't those 4 picks mentioned even in the article?
When Vick plays "clutch" football on the final drive, is that not the most important aspect?
Then why would Reid not be held to the same standard? With the game on the line, he blew it!
And, by the way, Reid certainly has something to do with one-fourth of the 52 years without a SB win. - Where are the bench Vick fans?? Oh, pulling your #7 jersey out the attic.— tony11
- I am not too proud to admit how much I want Nick Foles to take Vick's job. I'm also not too proud to admit how totally stoked I am that the Eagles won. Beating the Ravens by 1 on a last minute TD means much much more than beating the Browns the same way. Having the Defense hold at the end was fantastic! But let's face it. It is not pretty and Vick is often excellent and far too frequently really bad. He does deserve to get our appreciation and admiration on a day like today. This was a huge win. The whole team did great. Vick looked horrible at times but he looked fantastic too. Here's my new chant.
We need Vick! And we've got Nick!
We need Vick! And we've got Nick!
We need Vick! And we've got Nick!
We need Vick! And we've got Nick!
We need Vick! And we've got Nick!— BIGEGLFAN - W is a w— ThinkTwice
- Before all the negative fans start nitpicking and over analyzing here's the bottom line...we're 2-0 including a win over a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
- "Overall, here is the early-season verdict: if they could clean up some of their untidiness, this Eagles team might just be dangerous."
^ +1 go EAGLES
— mancreatedgod - The final sentence says it all. Unfortunately, Reid teams have not done a great job of cleaning up their untidiness. Games that didn't go our way last year are going our way (so far) this year, but it's hard to feel confident given the problems.— ErikN
- So many mistakes. So many penalties. So many turnovers. And they still won!! Unbelievable!!
For those of us watching on tv, is Dan Dierdorf the biggest POS or what? I thought Joe Buck was biased! Notice how everything the Ravens did all day long was "magnificent", "stupendous" and "outstanding"? Dan, you make me sick.
— TexColorado - i agree...BUT, you forgot D Ryans...
lol— mancreatedgod - TexColorado,you are 100% right on. dan dierdorf had people believing all afternoon that the ravens were just far too superior for the eagles .i hate it when he gives all the hype to who he roots for week in and week out.hell the fox gang aint near that bad .it would be nice if he would do one more eagles game this year.and choke on a chicken bone while calling a mccoy 99 yd. run with the eagles pinned deep at their own 1.that would be the best thing to happen to that loudmouth.
- It could be worse. You could be watching your favorite team play against the Patriots while Nantz and Simms are calling the game. They LOVE the Patriots. Unbearable! Favoritism at its finest. — Penfold18
