Bad outweighs the good again for Eagles

by Eric Schwartz

Monday November 16, 2009 

Bad outweighs the good again for Eagles thumbnail

For the second straight week the Eagles suffered a defeat, this time to the San Diego Chargers, 31-23. There were a few positives from the game, mainly Jason Avant’s breakout eight-catch, 156 yards. However, the bad once again outweighed the good. Here is a brief look at what went wrong on Sunday.

-      Brian Westbrook’s season and career may be over. A second concussion in a month knocked Westbrook out of Sunday’s game. His season is almost certainly over and you have to start to wonder about his career. At some point an athlete has to start thinking about his health going forward and Westbrook may be at that point.

-      The Eagles first three trips into the red zone produced just three field goals. One of the trips included a 1st-and-goal at the one.

-      Donvan McNabb passed the ball 55 times. Yes, the Eagles were trailing and had to throw more late, but that doesn’t excuse running the ball just 13 times.

-     LeSean McCoy was on the field for only two plays in the first half. The guy is a weapon. Even when Westbrook was healthy, the Eagles needed to find a way to get him on the field more.

-      Just two sacks, and no interceptions or forced fumbles for the Eagles defense. The banged up unit put up little fight against Phillip Rivers and LaDainian Tomlinson.

-      In case you haven’t heard, the Eagles can’t cover tight ends. That continued as Antonio Gates racked up seven catches for 78 yards, His biggest catch came on a 3rd-and-6 on the Chargers 42 with 4:54 left. Gates made a 17-yard reception that se the Chargers up for a field goal and worked the clock down to virtually nothing.

 There is a sampling of why the Eagles last their second straight. Feel fee to add to it.

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Comments

3 Responses to “Bad outweighs the good again for Eagles”

  1. Joseph Birmingham on November 16th, 2009 5:01 pm

    Eric, totally agree on Westbrooks iffy future, team defensive shortcomings, and pass/run play differential. This is still a game we should have won, and could have if the officiating had been a little more fair. I saw an Eagles player get hit in the back a step over the out of bounds line and knocked to the ground, but no flag, then next series, the Eagles defender rode a guy from inside the playing field to out of bounds and got the 15 yarder tacked on, in my opinion, assisting the Chargers with a touchdown that should have been a field goal. That is the real difference for this team, no respect from the officials, opposing players, fans, sports writers or anyone. I mean, McNabbs rib injury came on a play where any other QB would have drawn the late hit penalty, it was never a thought to call it in favor of the Eagles when they were in that position. I have been a fan for 37 years and have to say the differential on penalties is about 90%/10% in favor of whoever their opponent is that week. We play and expect to NOT get any calls, and that certainly affects the play calling and decision making that occurs on the field in times of turbulence !

  2. BigGreek24 on November 16th, 2009 5:33 pm

    More importantly the Eagles are inept in short yardage situations. They don’t fire off the ball well at all. In the NFL if you can’t score from the one yard line you don’t belong on the field.

  3. king ed on November 17th, 2009 10:20 pm

    god please run the ball more…i cant take the passing on short yardage 3rd downs! if theres a god…. let him go to andy and make him run more!

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