Remember when the Eagles used to be dominant on Sunday and Monday nights?
Remember when the Eagles used to be unbeatable once the calender turned to November?
Remember when Donovan McNabb would come up with a big play in the 4th quarter?
Remember when Donovan McNabb was in shape?
Remember when the defense would come up with a huge turnover in a big spot?
Remember when Andy Reid would seem to at least have his team prepared to play?
Ok, you get the point.
I went back in forth on this game so many times and on this very blog I predicted an Eagles win on Friday. I didn't expect it to be easy and in order to win they had to accomplish a few things: not making early mistakes and passing too much.
Well, it turns out they did a fantastic job in protecting McNabb, who had to pass the ball a lot. But, their defense couldn't stop a drop of water last night if they held up a bucket the size of the Hoover Dam.
Many will point to McNabb's choke job in the 4th quarter and rightfully so. But, they should have never allowed 37 points. I don't care who you're playing, but if a defense is any good they'll hold a team in the 20's at most.
When your defense gets abused over and over again, failing to stop the run, or rush the passer then you're not going to win many ballgames.
Andy Reid and McNabb have proven once again that they aren't able to get it done during the clutch.
Remember the last time McNabb had a 4th quarter comeback?
Keep thinking, because I have it right here. It was in 2005 against the Oakland Raiders.
Sure, many will say the Eagles had a 4th quarter come from behind win against the Redskins last year, but it was on 57 yard TD to Westbrook. Sorry, but that's not a 4th quarter drive, that's all Westbrook.
McNabb's last 4th quarter comeback occurred over three years ago on September 25, 2005 one Sunday against the Raiders.
This is a stat that can't be measured in a quarterback rating, clutch play. I feel the most important barometer of a quarterback's success is his ability to come up big in big spots. John Elway, Joe Montana, and Tom Brady come to mind. Hell, Ben Roethlisberger has 13 career 4th quarter comebacks and he's only been in the league half as long as McNabb!
The Eagles' braintrust will continue to tell us they're a hair off, or right there with everybody else, but the fact is they're 5-4 and there are several teams in the NFC with better records than them. 10 wins won't get them into the playoffs.
Looks like another year of mediocre football in Philly with our team watching the playoffs from home come January.
When will Lurie and Banner get a clue? Hell it only took the Phillies 8 years of the Ed Wade regime to make a change.
We are talking about Lurie and Banner though. Their prodigal son Andy Reid can never do any wrong.
And, we still suffer with mediocre football.
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