Maybe already calling a loss at Dallas next week in the first round of the playoffs is a bit premature, but the birds showed very little in today's shutout to make me believe otherwise. The reasons for the loss?
The complete lack of a running game - Ten total attempts. Thirty-seven total yards. Really. Ten attempts for 37 yards. For everyone. The Cowboys, on the other hand, ran it 32 times for 179 and a TD. This was personally the most frustrating part of this loss for me. Dallas was successful in doing what the Eagles generally force other opponents to do: become one-dimensional. Today the Cowboys gave a year-long sober Andy a few sips of pass-happiness and forced the fat man right off the wagon. Weak analogy? Yes. True? Yes. Stay strong, Andy!
The complete lack of a pass rush - Besides a couple of late bullshit sacks, the Cowboys O-line was far too successful in keeping the green jerseys away from Romo. Contrary to popular (dumb) thought, I liked that Sean McDermott didn't go heavy on blitzing in this game -- he did the same thing the past couple of weeks to significant success. The problem was with interior linemen Mike Patterson and Broderick Bunkley. Up until now, they've been able to get great pressure on opposing QB's right in the middle of the pocket without the help of a blitz. That wasn't the case today and, obviously, the effect was a great game by Romo. Whether it was a lack of strategy in their rushes, great play by the Cowboys O-line, or just poor play by our DTs, something wasn't working. Will McDermott use more exotic blitz packages next week? Possibly...but I think a lot of the emphasis will be on getting the necessary pressure with the front four.
Mike Jenkins owns us - This motherfucker talked shit on DeSean earlier in the week ("The main thing is they try to catch you off-guard. It's yet to happen to us, and we're not planning on it to happen. I guess he runs past a lot of guys, and it's not going to happen this week. It's not going to happen to us, period.") and -- I hate to say it -- backed it all up. DeSean threw up another poor performance against the Cowboys as he and Jeremy Maclin were both held to only three catches. I'm not sure what the Eagles are going to do to remedy this situation, but the team needs a big day from one of these guys to move the offense.
McNabb played like balls - Like...these balls. I don't wanna see that little kid sad dissapointment face from you next week, Donovan. You've played well all season, but not well enough to make the
Sheldon Brown is slow - The should-be Pro Bowler reeks of desperation. Grabbing onto jerseys and chipping hard at the line of scrimmage are just some of the tell-tale signs that Sheldon is hobbled and can't keep up with any of of Dallas WRs. The coaches have to make it their responsibility to keep number 24 out of illogical matchups.
They hid the winning gameplan in Westbrook's helmet -Sure, this was initially just a joke from PhillyGameday.com, but I'll be damned if the real-thing doesn't look the same.
The Eagles cannot stop the mid-range pass game - The middle of the field was open for business for Tony Romo, Jason Witten, and any of the Cowboy slot receivers. As I mentioned last week:
What we lack is the ability to defense the mid-range pass (especially to TEs). If we don't tackle properly, those underneath passes can go for some major YAC and cause this team to lose time of possession, and potentially, a playoff game.Lots of underneath passes? Check. Loss of time of possession? Nineteen minutes to Dallas' 41...check. Giving up lots of YAC? I don't have the stats available but, yes, check. This shit needs to change before next Sunday.
Well, that's about it. My confidence heading into the playoffs has been cut in half like Dewey Cox's brother, but all we can do now is hope that this loss inspires the team to play better and gives the coaches enough tape to properly defend Jason Witten, Miles Austin, and that goddamn fucking fake-slant draw play. I hate/respect that play! Fuck you, Marion Barber!
Go Birds!
The things I'm holding onto right now:
ReplyDelete1) It's very hard to beat a team three times in one season, let alone back-to-back weeks. Can it be done, of course. But it certainly is difficult.
2) Andy Reid has never lost his first playoff game in a given year. There is likely a reason for that, although I don't know what that is.
3) Wade Phillips, yes WADE PHILLIPS, is the Cowboys coach. That can't be a good thing, ever.
All told I think next week's game goes a little differently, although the more I think about the game the less I like our chances. Fuck.
looked it up. since 1970, 19 teams have played a team they had beaten twice already in the playoffs again. they have won that game 12 of 19 times. so, anyway you look at it, the numbers are stacked against the birds this coming week.
ReplyDeleteAt least we won't have to listen to Joe Buck for 4 hours, the game will be on NBC.
next week is going to be tough, but if anyone can take complete momentum and turn it into a devastating loss it's tony romo and the cowboys. we just gotta find a way to get pressure on him -- preferably without blitzing.
ReplyDeleteps - as someone whos been to Joe Buck Live...uh...live, i have to say that i don't mind the guy. nbc is certaily better than fox, tho.
i don't hate joe buck the man, i hate job buck the football play-by-play guy who sucks on troy aikman's dong for 4 hours.
ReplyDeleteIt is quite possible that Andy used the rope-a-dope technique in week 17. He probably wanted the Dallas matchup in the first week, and didn't want to show them anything. He does shit like that. I hope that's what he's doing this week.
ReplyDeleteThat game was a disgrace to Philadelphia sports.
ReplyDelete