Positives amidst all the negativity

[Magical_Retard]

With everything said above. The Eagles still had a chance to win the game against the Saints. If it wasn't for 12 men on the field who knows what would have happened. Maybe the Eagles still would have lost but you never know. With all the mistakes that were made in the game and still have a chance at the end says a lot about the Eagles ability.

This team will turn it around. They will make the playoffs.

Anyone expecting the Super Bowl maybe be asking a bit much, but still you never know.

exactly...i might be considered a homer but the 2 defeats we have had this season arent the type where u look at them and go wow we were outmatched and dominated. these are 2 games we should have had and we didnt, and a championship team doesnt give up leads like that but coming from where we were last yr im still pleased with a 4-2 record. looking at our schedule we need to win the next 4 games and be at 8-2 before we hit the really brutal stretch of our season.

[Wingspan]

passing too much or reid really didnt cost us the game this time. it was the defense. we finally have a damn good offense and now our defense is average to mediocre.

it's a team game...sometimes you need to have your offense chew up more time on the clock to cover up for your weak defense by keeping the opponent's offense off the field.

Lack of TOP being the fault of the offense is a myth...

Houston Game
Eagles - 32:51
Texans - 27:09
4 Longest Sustained Drives
8:56   PHI - 16 Plays (end game after 11 play houston drive)
6:16   HOU 10 Plays (opening drive)
5:54   PHI 13 Plays (after houston 3-and-out)
5:10   HOU 7 Plays (after 7 play eagle TD drive)

Giants Game
Giants 46:13
Eagles 28:45
4 Longes Sustained Drives
9:55   NYG 13 Plays (after eagle 3-and-out in OT /end game)
5:19   NYG 9 Plays (after 5 play eagle drive)
4:26   PHI 11 Plays (1st drive of game)
4:11   PHI 7 Plays (1st drive of 2nd half)

San Fran Game
Eagles 24:39
49ers 35:21
4 Longest
6:16   SF 11 Plays (after an 8 play eagle drive)
5:50   SF 10 plays (after eagle 3-and-out)
5:08   SF 16 plays (after eagle 3-and-out 2 minutes)
4:40   PHI 8 plays (after SF 3-and-out)

Packer Game
Packers 32:43
Eagles 27:17
4 Longest
6:39   PHI 15 Plays (opening 2nd half)
4:53   GB 10 Plays (after eagle 6 play drive w/ fumble inside the 10)
4:09   GB 10 plays (after eagle 3-and-out)
4:04   GB 8 plays (after eagle TD, which was immediately after the buckhalter fumble, then green bay fumble)

Dallas Game
Cowboys 36:59
Eagles 23:01
4 longest
5:43   DAL 12 plays (after eagle fumble/5 play drive)
5:40   DAL 10 plays (after eagle TD, immediately following a 1 play dallas drive in which they fumbled)
4:10   DAL 12 plays (after eagle 5 play drive)
3:53   DAL 11 plays (after eagle 3 and out)

Saints Game
Eagles - 25:57
Saints -34:03
4 longest
8:26   NO 16 plays (after 8 play/4 minute eagle drive)
5:56   NO 11 plays (opening drive)
4:49   NO 9 plays (after eagle 6 play drive/4 minutes)
4:49   PHI 11 plays (after saints 3-and-out)

The Defense has forced, 19 3-and-outs this season, and they have produced a turnover on the opening sequence of plays in a drive 5 times. (total 24 "quick opponent drives) to which the eagles offense came on the field and got at least 1 first down or scored immediately 18 times. thats a pretty high % - 75%

the offense is giving the defense time to rest, the defense has just been horrible. Even on the quick scores, you have the extra point, 2 commercial breaks, and the kickoff in between.

the eagles offense has only gone 3-and-out 16 times. they've turned it over in less than 3 plays once.

[hunt]

do you have stats for total plays on offense/defense???  i'd like to see where the eagles rank.

[Wingspan]

do you have stats for total plays on offense/defense???  i'd like to see where the eagles rank.

the defense has been on the field for 433 plays, most in the nfl...dead last.

the offense has been on the field for 367 plays, 8th most.

[hunt]

thanks.  i had a feeling their D has been on the field for more plays than any other team.

[Wingspan]

do you have stats for total plays on offense/defense???  i'd like to see where the eagles rank.

the defense has been on the field for 433 plays, most in the nfl...dead last.

the offense has been on the field for 367 plays, 8th most.

to add to that, they are #6 in the NFL in first downs/game
#1 in yards/play

[hunt]

and 29th in time of possession, right?

[PhillyPhreak54]

I wonder about the TOP thing;

If they are scoring fast and putting points on the board do you rather see that type of explosive offense or do you rather see a time consuming offense that may or may not score? If the routes are open and you see a guy for points how can you pass that up?

[General_Failure]

TOP is not helped when the defense starts the game by letting up a long drive. I don't buy into the whole "they're getting worn out" thing. They stink on ice.

[Rome]

the offense is giving the defense time to rest, the defense has just been horrible.

Yep.

I find the notion that the Eagles are scoring "too quickly" absurd.  The defense should be ready to go after a touchdown.  The fact is, seemingly every time the Eagles score a touchdown, the defense gives up a big play, or even worse, a long ass drive down the field.

That's gotta stop.  If it doesn't, you can tie this season off at the knot.

[PhillyPhreak54]

I seem to recall 2004 being similar to this year in the sense that back then the offense was potent and scored a lot early and often. But the difference is, as many have pointed out, is the defense. Back then they would stop teams. Or they'd allow yards and then when teams got into the RZ they'd give up FGs and not TDs.

You don't run and run and run or throw dink and dunks if it isn't working in order to ignore scoring. Score as much as you can.

The simple thing here is that the defense MUST play better. That's all there is to it.

[The BIGSTUD]

I like everyone else simply can't figure out why this defense is letting teams pass all over them. Michael Lewis has been part of the problem, but it obviously is more than that. I think Trotter is a problem as well, as much as I love him. He can't play the pass well at all. He was responsible for quite a few completions to Horn that game. On the first TD he was right there and couldn't make a play on the ball. I also think Dhani Jones is being exploited too in the passing game.

Also you combine the issue of players breaking initial tackles and getting an extra 5 yards on short pass plays, that magnifies the problem. Those are the best reasons I can come up with.

[Eaglez]

The onus is definitely on the D this year. It is especially frustrating that two horrendous 4th quarters really cost the Eagles an undefeated season up to this point. Granted, that is a problem in and of itself that needs to be addressed immediately.

What is also frustrating is that it seems like the defense isn't adjusting to the new emphasis of the 'hurry-up' offense. There was a time when the Eagles scored in the 4th quarter, took the lead, like they did on Sunday, and the defense would step in a shut the opponent down. Now, the very next drive the Saints go deep and the Eagles D gives up an incredibly easy score. When your offense gives you a touchdown lead in the 4th, you better come out and shut down the opposing team's offense and get your team the ball back. There is no determination. Complete letdown.

The D doesn't have that urgency in the 4th quarter. They seem lax, unmotivated, and disinterested. They don't have that tenacity to put teams away. They seem too worried about losing the lead than actually shutting a team down. The D needs a confidence booster, I highly doubt it is simply because they are 'tired'. It's not just late in the game, but teams have been moving the ball pretty easily all season.

[Geowhizzer]

I don't know about lax, uninterested or disinterested.  I hate to say it, but maybe - just maybe - the defense just isn' good.

This could well be what the Eagles get this year.  Great DL, mediocre LBs and DBs.

[The BIGSTUD]

Dawkins is great, Sheldon and Lito are somewhere between good and very good, Lewis sucks.

The DBs aren't mediocre.