Posted: Monday, November 9, 2009, 1:53 AM | 12 comments |
 

McNabb: We thought we had it
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Listening to Donovan McNabb's post-game press conference, it was clear that he didn't want to use the officiating as an excuse but felt like it was a major factor in the Eagles' loss to the Cowboys.

Speaking specifically about the fourth-down sneak with about 11 minutes left, here's what McNabb said about the officials ruling him short of the marker:

"I felt like half of my body was past the marker which I've seen. I landed on top of our guys and just slid and kept on moving. When you, I guess the question, you probably replay it, I guess you may have felt that I did get it. We thought we had the first down, but unfortunately I guess twice we didn't."

Later in the press conference, he said he didn't "want to make any excuses" but when asked why the team seems to come up short in the fourth quarter, he pointed to the calls.

"Well it's tough to win when you have a couple of calls where it's tough on you," he said. "We have won games in the fourth quarter. I know that's something that everyone is going to talk about. Have fun with it I guess."

Ok, about to head home. I'm going to try and re-watch the plays in question, and of course we'll have Man Up Monday night and Tuesday.
Posted by Sheil Kapadia @ 1:53 AM  Permalink | 12 comments
12
Comments   
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:28 AM, 11/09/2009
    Grandpa the truth is there were team mistakes all over that cost the Eagles the game not just McNabb or his comment. Jason Peters jumping offsides, Jeremy Maclin letting the pass right through his hands for an int,rookie linebacker #53 pulling down a dallas player on the runback, Sheldon Brown misjudging the play, McNabb throwing the second int and the o-line giving up all of those sacks and hurries not to mention the bad calls by the refs that Donovan was talking about. The team as a whole made too many mistakes playing what turned out to be a very good cowboys team. The whole team has to play better. I am not apologizing for Donovan just keeping it real.
    — VegasEagleFan
  • Comment removed.
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:13 AM, 11/09/2009
    Lots of mistakes and miscues BUT they still should have won. I don't like to blame it on the refs, but they BLEW that call. He had the first down by a mile and that call changed EVERYTHING. Mcnabb played good enough to win so stop it with you clown Mcnabb bashers. If you hate the dude so much and he's such a crappy player, then stop watching the games and especially reading these columns. You all sound like a bunch of morons, putting it all on Don. CLEARLY you know very little about the game. VegasEagleFan hit it on the head - the blame should be spread across the team, including Don.
    — sore richard
  • Comment removed.
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:37 AM, 11/09/2009
    Grandpa....you aint no fan. Go root for the Cowgirls. I'll bet that all of you that constantly spew negative comments couldn't hold McNabb's jock and would cry like babies if you took a hit. Get jobs....get a life....just STOP "rooting" for the Eagles. GO BIRDS!
    — Tozmanian
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:09 AM, 11/09/2009
    Its the same thing every season. McNabb's accuracy. Reid's play-calling and time management. I'm not a basher or hater, but I do think this team (Lurie) needs to ask itself how much longer do they want this to continue. Reid and McNabb have been together for 11 years, and I think their best years are behind them both. Everyone says McNabb gives them the best chance to win, but best chance to win what? One playoff game? Two maybe? McNabb is inaccurate because of extremely poor throwing mechanics, and they're so deeply ingrained that he can't overcome them. Its time for a change.
    — mfecani
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:32 AM, 11/09/2009
    Hey Sheil and everyone else- I would like to know how many games Donovan's Eagles have won coming back in the 4th quarter. Off the top of my head 4th and 26 (obviously) and the Chiefs game in 2005 at Arrow Head, but that wasn't necessarialy a 4th quarter comeback. I think we would be hard pressed to find 5 games in Donovan's tenure where he lead a comeback in the 4th quarter. AR's inability to adjust his "game plan" (after his scripted plays) and Donovan repeatedly not coming through in the clutch leads me to feel if we are down in the 4th, the game is over. If it hasn't happened yet, it never will.
    — terb
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:33 PM, 11/09/2009
    We played enough defense to bail us out a win;but teammates running into each other on assignments and bad calls would cause the best team to lose. Come on EAGLES get over it, we got bigger teams in the NFC to punish [NEW ORLEANS, and MINNESOTA. The cowgirls will not make it to the playoffs, we will make sure of that week 17. {GO EAGLES!!!!
    — CHILL WILL


12 comments
About Sheil Kapadia
Sheil Kapadia is in his fourth season writing about the Eagles and the NFL for philly.com. His earliest memories as a sports fan include several trips to Veterans Stadium with his Dad. He's not a beat writer or an Insider, but is here to discuss the NFL 365 days a year. E-mail him at skapadia@philly.com or by clicking here

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