- I was at the brutal Eagles game last night at the Linc. A frustrating and disappointing loss to the hated Dallas Cowboys, 27-20. The Birds had everything in their favor- rest, Dallas on a short week, at home, Sunday Night football, Big division game in prime-time..yet the Eagles came out flat.Why?
Wentz' early interception hurt. Yet the defense held Dallas to two field goals through most of the first half. But when the defense needed to make a stop in the second half, after the offense scored consecutive touchdowns to tie the game twice, the defense couldn't hold Dallas.
- I have never like Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz. He doesn't blitz enough and he plays too soft.Schwartz' defense gave up over 600 yards to New England in the Super Bowl, so,even in better times, Schwartz has been shaky. He doesn't adjust very well. and his so-called "prevent" defensive gives up chinks of yardage and usually yields a score anyway.
I would love to see former linebacker, ex-Eagle great Seth Joyner become a coach on the club, either as Defensive coordinator or linebacker coach. Joyner is a good, smart football guy and tells it like it is.
- The Birds only have six takeaways in nine games so far this season. As expected, turnovers were pivotal to the Cowboy game as well. Linebacker Kruiger-Hill had an easy walk into the end zone on a pick six in the second quarter but ended up having the ball skim off his fingertips. A potential game-changer, so close. Last season that interception would've happened. This year these crucial plays are not being made.
- I have also wrote here how I think the team is not as hungry as last year. It's only natural to have a let-down after such a magical season. Fat and sassy, they wrote books, appeared on TV talk shows, and rightfully so, basked in the glow of a first-ever championship. But when it was time to turn the page on a new season, it hasn't happened. The hunger and motivation just isn't there.
- No running game, The Eagles miss Ajayi and Blount. Running back needs to be addressed in the draft. I saw Corey Clemente's dad before the game. He told me that Corey "is OK", and "They need to give him the ball." Clemente ran the ball a few times with minimal success, plus he returned kickoffs.
- It was a cold, crisp night in South Philly. It was dry and the wind died down. Perfect fall night for football. The crowd was pumped for the game but I didn't feel the same intensity and hatred for the Cowboys as in the past. Are the fans fat and sassy too? They showed up to the game, tail-gating all day. We cheered, booed and were loud. But I've heard the Linc louder.
- - George W. Bush tossed the coin since he was in town to accept the Freedom Medal. Jerry Jones prowled the field prior to kickoff, taking pictures with clueless Dallas fans on the sidelines, and having a long, 20-minute conversation with Jeffrey Lurie.
- The fans rightfully booed the Eagles at the end of the first half, yet the media across the nation criticized the fans. Guys like Al Michaels, who thinks the Philly fans should be clueless and passive like his Los Angeles fans, haven't paid for a ticket in years and have lost touch. Reality is that the Super Bowl is over. We appreciated the championship last season, but that was last season. If the players dog-it the fans have a right to let them have it. Eagle fans pay a lot for tickets, travel with the team, buy the merchandise and support the team. We have a right to boo.
What hurts is now fans have to hear it from Dallas fans. We work with annoying Cowboy fans Our family, friends and neighbors could be Dallas supporters. The players may not care but the fans do.
Funny, I didn't see as many Cowboy fans as in the past. Maybe they were laying low because of the way Dallas was playing, and didn't want to get caught up in all the Philadelphia fans taunting? I'm sure all the cockroaches who call WIP Sports Radio- namely Lamont and Captain Cowboy, bot loser Cowboy fans, will be heard on the airwaves this week, at least until the Eagles play them again in Dallas soon.
- The Eagles had no penalties last night. Zero called. yet they lost at home to a mediocre Dallas team. Unacceptable loss after a bye week. Pederson misses departed assistants Reich and DeFillipo. No injury excuses as team had major injuries last season.
What does it all mean? Dallas goes to 4-5 but they're not going anywhere. They aren't that good. Coach Jason Garrett's job is safe for now. Dallas goes to Atlanta next week. Then they play their traditional Thanksgiving home game, this year against the Redskins, which should be a key game. The Cowboys already beat the Skins in Washington, so a Dallas win on Turkey Day would give them any tiebreaker.
The Eagles fall below .500 again and lose a key division game. They won't be a wild card team. The only way to make the playoffs and have a shot to defend their championship is to win the NFC East. technically, they may still be alive in that quest, but let's be real. How can the Eagles be taken seriously when they can't put away Dallas at the Linc in prime-time?
Give Dallas credit. Their backs were against the wall and they came out fighting. They Eagles may have been a bit overconfident. They couldn't start fast again and put a dagger in Dallas' heart. Even tying the game twice after falling behind, they couldn't put the Cowboys away. With the win, the Boys may have picked up a few bandwagon supporters while shaking up the Eagle fan base.
Having an off year wouldn't be total disaster for this franchise. Easier schedule next season, getting a better draft pick, the Super Bowl champs target no longer on their backs. Less distractions, more football. Maybe the motivation would return. No wonder teams rarely win back-to-back Super Bowls, or even NFC East titles.
- Leaving the game last night, it was like "Night of the Living Dead" outside in the cold South Philly night. People on green walking around like zombies, mouths hanging open, stunned, milling around, not sure where they were going. Many watched the final seconds on TV. Some fans yelled and cursed. Didn't see any Cowboy fans celebrating. It was kinda eerie how quiet the stadium became.
- I saw two Eagles games this year, both losses, first to Minnesota and now to Dallas. How often has that happened lately? So, if the Eagles don't post a miracle comeback and run the table and make the playoffs, my football games are done until next September. Tickets go on sale in May for 2019. I'll be back, win or lose.
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