Reid staring at the end
Falcons 30, Eagles 17
Reid staring at the end
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
The operating theory, mostly because Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie has said as much, is that Andy Reid awoke Sunday morning with 10 games to save his job. It was the clearest of imperatives. After all of the years, all of the great moments, all of the disappointments, it was to be a final sprint to the finish and then a clear decision.
Now, after a particularly timid abomination -- Falcons 30, Eagles 17 -- there are more questions than answers.
Can it really be?
Nine more weeks.
Nine more weeks?
Until Sunday, the Eagles had never lost the game immediately following the bye week under Reid. Given that, and given the decision to fire defensive coordinator Juan Castillo during the break, the widespread belief was that the Eagles would come back from their short vacation refreshed and re-focused, fully realizing what is at stake. Instead, they arrived in body only. Their hearts and minds were elsewhere. They did not turn over the ball and still got their backsides handed to them.
Defensively, they lacked both cohesion and fire under new coordinator Todd Bowles. Offensively, they got it blocked a little better but still couldn’t score points early, when it mattered. The special teams were the same, except for the punt return team. We don’t know about them because the Falcons never punted until there was 5:35 left in the fourth quarter.
The hearts-and-minds thing is what bears the closest watching. Reid has had exactly one team quit on him in his 14 seasons -- the 2005 team, after all of the Terrell Owens stuff and after quarterback Donovan McNabb got hurt. That team just curled up in the fetal position at the end -- but it was almost understandable, given the post-Super Bowl hangover and everything that happened.
This is different.
Nine more weeks.
Nine more weeks?
The Falcons’ opening drive of the game was the maiden voyage for Bowles: 16 plays and 80 yards; 8 minutes, 44 seconds of having the ball shoved down his defense’s throat. The touchdown pass to Drew Davis featured a blown coverage, just the biggest hint of a permeating confusion. Along the way, a holding penalty on Jason Babin extended the drive.
The Falcons were ahead by seven before a crowd that was two-thirds full had had a chance to be chilled by Hurricane Sandy’s first winds. And they booed. It would be the first time that happened but not the only time.
Did I already say that the Falcons never punted until 5:35 in the fourth quarter?
Along the way, Julio Jones scored Nnamdi Asomugha on a 63-yard touchdown pass, one in which safety Nate Allen made sure he was no possible help by taking a terrible angle on the play. Linebacker Mychael Kendricks did not start the game, reportedly as punishment for being late for a team meeting. A continuing lack of pressure on the quarterback -- despite the team’s first two sacks in about a month -- just opened up the defensive for carving by Atlanta’s Matt Ryan, and that is exactly what happened.
As the game ended, the wind whipped and the rain fell sideways onto nearly-emtpy stadium seats. Most everyone was rushing home to beat the storm; Andy Reid was not nearly so lucky.
As I stated last week..Eagles get blown out by Falcons and lose to New Orleans next week and that will be Reids last game...3-5 with no effort and team quit Laurie will have no choice..The DUMBO and JUMBO show will end next week!!! Defense looked so much better without Castillo didnt it!!— flyers1000- Talent-wise this is an 8-8 team at best. You're not going to the playoffs next year either, no matter who replaces Andy — banned
- They'll be lucky to get to 8-8! Maybe Tampa and Cinci, maybe split with NFC East? I still a HUGE struggle to make it to .500! — gdibig
- 8 -8 seems far fetched. This team is about to melt down. And its going to be ugly. — alak0926
- I was insulted this summer when I said this is a 9-7 team.
Vick is not that good.
The bar is so low that we celebrate linebackers making tackles. Making tackles does not mean we have elite linebackers.
We can't score in the red zone because our receivers cannot create space.
Our tight end is overrated.
Our secondary is overrated.
Our defensive line is junk. Both Babin and Cole are trash.
I may be a tool, but the Birds stink.
Vick and Reid are not good enough to win the Super Bowl.— rubicon24 - Lurie won't fire Andy during the season. Who is he going to replace him with? Marty? I don't think so, since the entire coaching staff will probably be gone at the end of the season.
Lurie will wait for the end of the season and then hire a big name like Gruden, Cowher or Dungy. He won't go for an unknown assistant coach this time.— SteveS11 - With a No. 1 receiver, McNabb played 15 games (sat out 1 after clinching division), completed 300 of 469 passes for 3,875, 64% completion, averaging 8.26 yards per pass, 31 TDs/8 Ints. For 104.6 Qb rating.
The question was asked whether the bigger problem was Reid or McNabb. The fact is that neither has done anything. The difference is that Donovan, a worn-out vet fighting father time, was sent to a team in disarray, while Reid was given a "Dream Team (TWICE)," complete with new coaches, players and schemes. I THINK WE HAVE AN ANSWER.
With a No. 1 receiver, McNabb played 15 games (sat out 1 after clinching division), completed 300 of 469 passes for 3,875, 64% completion, averaging 8.26 yards per pass, 31 TDs/8 Ints. For 104.6 QB rating.
- I have come to believe that our exotic schemes on offense and defense are a hindrance. The Mudd and Washburn way of doing things are working against us.
Just one more Reid blunder. He's his own worse enemy. - I actually feel badly for Reid. He's been a good coach and has tried to do things the right way. And, dealing with his son dying in training camp is absolutely brutal. That said, however, his time is up and he'll clearly be gone after this season. I say bring in Gruden or, better yet, Cowher. Let the new coach decide on the QB. — Vituperator
- The Tonner asked before the season how this team was going to be better missing its best cornerback and their best offensive lineman. The Tonner thinks we have the answer. The Dream Team dynasty is done before it even started. All hype team? Check. All talk team? You betcha. Salary cap bowl? Indeed. No wonder the trophy case at that upholstered toilet, the Linc, is empty. Get to work Jeff. Time to find a new leader. Please don't let Howie make the call, get a real football guy. Whether you like it or whether you don't like it, learn to love it because it's the truth according to the Tonner and it's the best thing going today.
- When is Jeff gonna put this guy out of his misery? It's just not working.— PresidentSpock
- REID NEEDS TO GO- AND TAKE THAT DOG KILLER WITH HIM!!!!!— mrjarn
- If Vick is worth a 100 million dollar contract, I guess that makes Matt Ryan a billionaire. Anyway, I agree with you. This entire team is terrible, no heart whatsoever. I actually fell asleep sometime in the 3rd quarter. See Andy that's how you adjust on gameday! — The Pink Floyd
- The Eagles scored their usual 17 points, but their new defense looked even worse than the prior one. So nothing's changed. I guess we shouldn't expect any changes until Reid and Vick are replaced. I hope that's sooner than later.— Ron T
- this is actually a pretty untalented team especially missing three starters on the O-line.
Andy will be gone, but don't expect miracles from this middle of the road group— banned
