Let the 2005 season begin. GAME THREAD!

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

At least we've still got the Phillies. 

I hate you.

[Sgt PSN]

At least we've still got the Phillies.

I hate you.

I hate you too man.  But you're not getting my last Bud Light. 

[SunMo]

Yes, but the fact of the matter is that even with all the other facets of the game where the Eagles could have done quite a bit better, a better performance by McNabb would have been the difference between losing and winning.

This team revolves around Donovan.  When he's playing poorly, the team will lose more often than not.  He gets paid millions and millions more than the Artis Hicks's and Mike Labinjo's, and he should have to answer that much more when he performs at a sub-average level.

Of course it wasn't only his fault.  Of course.  But if he played like 2004 Donovan and not 2002 Donovan, we wouldn't need to talk about the other things that went wrong nearly as much, because we would have won the game.

i agree with you.  however, i think you can't blame all of McNabb's poor play on just Donovan.  Reid really put him in a tough position with his play calling.  having him drop back to pass 40+ times against a team that was hell-bent on blitzing him was not the way to go.  they were catching them with screens and quick traps, i don't understand why they didn't keep those plays up.

[Tomahawk]

Trotter getting das boot was huge. It took a while for the defense to suck it up.

Dawkins is the best FS in the NFL (or at least NFC). He had a nice play to break up the pass to Crumpler that would have been a TD, and he seemed to do well in coverage against him, especially on the interception.

If this game would have meant something, I'm sure we would have seen Westbrook returning punts toward the end. I wish we would have anyway as Wynn was sucking it up.

McNabb looked horrible. Some of his decisions were suspect at best - both fumbles were avoidable. He knows (or should) he can't hold on to the ball that long (why the farg didn't he run at all last night-ribs?chest?), and the backward pass to Westbrook was a piss poor decision. There had to have been alternate receivers to throw the ball to and the line actually looked like it picked up that blitz.

I wasn't too impressed with the play calling either.

[DH]

If this game would have meant something, I'm sure we would have seen Westbrook returning punts toward the end. I wish we would have anyway as Wynn was sucking it up.

The pre-season ended after the Jets game. Saying this game didnt mean anything is foolish. Had we won, I'm sure your feelings would be a tad different.  And how was Wynn "sucking it up"? Considering the poor blocking, I think he did the best he could do.

Listen, we just didnt come to play last night. Period. Like everyone else, I'm nervous about going 2-3 into the bye week, but I know this team. Were better than Atlanta. Hell, were still the best in the NFC as long as we play to our potential and well be just fine.

Last night sucked, no question about it. But, it's not the end of the world. Look back at this teams track record. We'll bounce back - we always do.

[PhillyandBCEagles]

Good - R. Brown (except for the penalties), G. Lewis, Adams, Patterson, Dawkins, M. Lewis

Bad - McNabb, TO, O-line (except Andrews)


Anyone else worry that losing Ike on STs might be a bigger loss than any of us thought??  He's replaceable at LB, no doubt, but clearly we're still missing something on STs.

[MURP]

The thing that pisses me off the most about the game was that the Eagles had PLENTY of chances to pull out a win in the 4th quarter and blew them all.   The defense gave the offense everything they could and the O just plain CHOKED.   Every single player (maybe other than Westbrook) stunk it up.   TO made some plays, but he also blew a few.  The Oline should be flogged.  McNabb acted like a rookie.  Penalties everywhere.  Reid didnt have this offense ready. Period. 

[Larry]

We miss Pinky. 

Owens was targeted 19 times by McNabb.  That's abnormally high for any receiver, especially for one who plays on a team that supposedly spreads the ball around.

The Falcons essentially ran the same game plan that was somewhat succesful at the end of last season: prevent us from going deep by having McNabb settle for the intermediate stuff.  This does not play into McNabb's strengths.  So to adjust, we either have to a) run more -- and be successful at it -- to force the safeties up or b) find a receiver with Pinky's skills and line him up across from TO; Lewis is more effective in the slot.

[SunMo]

R Diddy also made a point about the tempo of the offense and said that McNabb was constantly montioning for the play to be called quicker.  that's obviously on Reid.

overall, the defense struggled early, but when it's all said and done, you'd take 14 points every game.  the offense needs to be better.  the way i see it though, there are no critical flaws, things that can't be fixed.  all the problems last night can be fixed with adjustments and practice, IMO.

[ice grillin you]

We miss Pinky

no doubt...and it shouldnt come as a surprise...the greg lewis love was/is way premature

pinky was a great saftey valve for mcnabb...it allowed him to throw a ball up for grabs and havre a guy that could go get it...once he gets better acclimated to the offense id like to see mccants (like pinky 6-3) play wide opposite TO

[Wingspan]

the bad special teams play can be attributed to the lack of depth right now.

i think the starters on this team are as good as any team, if not better, but there is also a bigger drop off to the 2nd stringers than their has been in the past 5 years.

[hunt]

very true...especially at lb, te, & o-line.
i wonder if the chad is able to play yet...they could use him on 3rd downs, especially since lj is dumb as they get.

[hunt]

did you people know that mcnabb has a combined 6 td's & 8 int's in the 5 most important games of his career (the 4 nfc champ games + the super bowl)?
i don't know why i just looked that up...bored, i guess.

[MURP]

look up how many rushing attempts/yards they average in those games. 

[shorebird]

We miss Pinky

no doubt...and it shouldn't come as a surprise...the greg lewis love was/is way premature

pinky was a great safety valve for mcnabb...it allowed him to throw a ball up for grabs and havre a guy that could go get it...once he gets better acclimated to the offense id like to see mccants (like pinky 6-3) play wide opposite TO

Don't include me in there as one who misses Pinky, I hope he stays gone. I've said before I think that the stat of him and his 40 plus yard catches are nothing more than the result of him not being able to do anything else, or are you forgetting all the drops, short arming passes, and just plain chickening out? He doesn't help this offense by lining up opposite TO, he hinders it because all the can do is go deep, and even then you can't be shore he'll catch the ball. You say he is a good safety valve for McNabb because he can go up and get the ball?? He has to get off the line without getting jammed and get open first, and thats not a given by any means.

And I'm not giving up on Lewis, not after what I saw from him in the post season last year, imo he played better than Pinky ever did in any playoff game, or are you forgetting what your "safety valve" did against the Panthers?

Trotter getting das boot was huge. It took a while for the defense to suck it up.

[sarcasm] Are you kidding? Labingo played great!! And if he didn't, well, who cares?? We only had 200 yards rushing against us. [/sarcasm]