Reviewing the Eagles' thrilling 28-23 win over Carolina..
* Right off the bat, ;let it be known I picked the Eagles to win last night. It didn't make any sense, as everything was siding with the Panthers Short week, traveling, without your offensive tackle. Yet Carolina was only favored by 3 points- at home . Out of six Thursday night football games this season, the visiting teams has been victorious five times. The Birds continued that streak last night.
*It was pretty obvious that referee Pete Morelli and his crew are bias against Philly. It's ridiculous to call ten penalties on the Eagles and only one on the home team. Last year, Morelli and co. did the Eagles-Lions game. Philadelphia was called for 14 penalties while Detroit- the home team- wss only called for two flags.
It's not that most of the penalties called against the Eagles weren't truly infractions. Carolina got away with murder all night, including a blatant unsportsman like penalty when running back LaGarrett Blount was manhandled and thrown to the ground on a play that was whistled stopped long before the action.
Despite the stupid calls, the Eagles overcame the Panthers and the horrible refs. The Birds won't have to worry about Morelli in the playoffs. Philly will get there but Morelli won't. On a prime-time national game like last night, He has got to be suspended, fined or disciplined by the NFL.
* Tony Romo sucks. I first heard him on the Green Bay- Cincinnati game a few weeks ago and actually thought he was pretty good. He brought expert analysis and enthusiasm to the booth. But last night he failed to point out the penalty difference between the two teams. He failed to make a note of all the Eagle fans in the Carolina stands. And it was pretty obvious that he is too fresh from the field to forget how bad past Philly teams outplayed and even hurt him.
It will be interesting to hear how critical he is when doing a Cowboy game down the road. I just don't look forward to hearing him doing another Philadelphia Eagles game.
Jim Nance was his usual comatose self. Needless to say, this broadcasting duo isn't one of my favorites.
* Vitai, the tackle who filled in for the injured Lane Johnson, gave up an early sack but then seemed to settle in OK> For the most past, Wentz got good protection. Still, hopefully Johnson will be back in 11 days for the Monday night showdown with the Redskins.
* What a physical, brutal game last night in Carolina. Even more so than usual, or so it seemed. Injuries were a big part of the outcome of the game, and may be a lingering factor for the future.
Flethcher Cox returned and caused havoc on the defensive line. LB Nigel Bradham was all over the field, even after leaving the game for a short time with a shoulder injury. DB Chris Marogols, maybe the Birds' best special teams player, hurt his knee and may be out for the season. LB Jordan Hicks left with an ankle problem.
But perhaps the biggest injury was to Panthers superstar linebacker Luc Kuechly,who departed with concussion-like symptoms. The Birds' offense seemed energized after that,knowing Kuechly wasn't roaming the entire field. This was his thrid concussion in three years, and Carolina has to be concerned with their stars' future health.
* When the right side of the offensive line was caving in early, Wentz rolled more,which was effective. So was playing the run-option, as the run game once again kept the Carolina defense off-balance Since Coach Pederson committed to rushing the ball more, the offense looks so much better.Running the ball controls the clock , lets the defense rest and opens up the passing game.
* The pass rush once again came up big. Panther QB Cam Newton is big and tough and hard to bring down. But the Eagles defense pressured and hassled Carolina and Newton all evening. The Panthers can't run the ball, so the Birds could tee-off on Newton. They intercepted three passes and dropped several more chances. The defense- and Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz- came up big.
* I like Jalan Mills at corner back and look forward to seeing him paired with Ronald Darby and eventually Sidney Jones down the road. Mills makes some stupid mistakes at times ( as he did last night on a pass interference call when he didn't need to commit a penalty as safety Rodney McCloud intercepted a Newton bomb).
Overall, the secondary has played well. The defense tackles well, not giving up many YAC ( yards after the catch). The defense is swarming, drops too many interceptions, but takes chances to force turnovers, which I like LB Mychal Kendricks made 17 tackles against Carolina. The defense is quick, relentless and physical.
* The two-point conversion try in the third quarter was a gutsy call by the coach. At first I thought it was dumb to take points off the board, after the Eagles took a 16-10 lead. The extra point turned out to be big later in the game, as it forced Carolina to go for touchdowns rather than field goals.
I like Pederson's aggressiveness, when it makes sense. Going for two, with a yard to go, with Kuechly out, and with Blount running hard, was a good call.
Don't be surprised to see a surprise on sides kick down the road.
* It was all-color uniforms again on Thursday Night Football. Carolina wore all- Carolina blue unis, while the Eagles wore all-white, the good guys that they are. They should wear that look more often. All-white looks sleek and fast and clean.
Will the Birds wear their all-black uniforms on Monday night vs. Washington?
* Credit the Birds ( especially Wentz and the defense) for closing out the win. They couldn't quite run out the clock, as they did several weeks ago. Not picking up a first down with approximately three minutes to go gave the Panthers another shot. But they only had one timeout and needed a touchdown, so Philly was in good shape at the end.
* So, the Eagles are 5-1 and don't play now until Monday night, October 23. They rest and heal and prepare for a big divisional match with the 'Skins.. Beat Washington and you go 3-0 in NFC East (including sweeping the Redskins).
Three consecutive home games await. Beating Washington will be key. San Francisco should be a win. And it's now pretty obvious that the Denver game ( which I'll be attending) will be flexed to a prime-time Sunday night affair.
The NFL and the country is on notice how how good the Eagles are now. They are for real, not just beating bad teams like the Giants and Chargers, but knocking off a good team like Carolina on the road is big.
The win gives the Eagles a stranglehold on the division. The Cowboys are on their bye and licking their wounds after two home losses. Plus it was ruled yesterday that Zeke Elliot's suspension is upheld and should be enforced soon. Unless Elliot appeals again, the six games will extend through Thanksgiving, including the big Eagles game in Dallas in early November.
The Giants are 0-5 and suck. Washington is average at best. Who in the NFC can beat the Birds? Atlanta just lost at home to Buffalo. Green Bay has only one loss but has scrambled to pull out several victories. Seattle still doesn't give me confidence ( the December game at Seattle will be big and perhaps a playoff preview).
Beating the Panthers was like playing with house money. A loss would not have been devastating. But now the Birds own the tie-breaker against Carolina. Their house money just went up bog tome.
The win in Carolina sets up the rest of the season.10 wins is generally considered the benchmark to make the playoffs. The Eagles are halfway there, and still have six home games remaining on the schedule.
Getting a playoff home game or two, and especially securing one of those precious byes at the end of the year, is key to a deep playoff run.
Still 10 games to go in the regular season.Anything can happen. Injuries could change a season Luck will also be a big factor down the road. For now, the Eagles control their destiny, and that's all you can ask for.
Finally, people are saying it's too soon to talk playoffs or even Super Bowl. Maybe. But why not dream? Why not the Eagles? Why strive for mediocrity instead of greatness? Fans should bask in the warmth of winning and not listen to the media and so-called pundits who warn caution. Time for Eagle fans to enjoy being on top of the heap, watching the rest of the division and conference slug it out this weekend.
We are so used to losing in Philadelphia. Right away we think the worst. We always feel negative, like something terrible will happen next. Maybe the Eagles will help us think more positive and give us something to cheer about. God knows the sports fans need it.
So why not talk playoffs? Why not imagine how many wins the Birds can get- 13 or 14? Instead of waiting for the next shoe to drop, why not think about the best? Imagine a parade down Broad Street. Imagine how nuts the City and Delaware Valley would be to finally see our pro football team win a world championship. Imagine how happy that would make people around here, especially the old-timers who have suffered so long, through so many losing, frustrating years, the people who live and die with the Eagles?
Maybe we are afraid to dream. Maybe we don't want to be letdown yet again. Maybe we feel safe, thinking it's always next year?
Imagine it can be true. Hard to believe but it may happen this year. The Cubs finally did it- why not the Eagles?
Why can't the Eagles be the team of destiny? Why is it always other cities' teams that we wish were ours? Why can't we have a magical season just once? A season never to be forgotten? A season that will go down in history?
Why not the Eagles?
Fly Eagles Fly!
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