First things first, this is not a “Fire Andy Reid” post. I do have to say that his blind spots are becoming more and more obvious — and tiresome. Why is Greg Lewis EVER on the field on offense? Where’s Reggie Brown? What took so long to give the fade route at the goalline a shot (2 for 2 with two touchdowns, by the way)? Why doesn’t he value linebackers (seriously, at this point are we really to believe Chris Gocong is a legit NFL starter)? What about the mess at fullback this year? Why not work Buck into the screen game more?

The talk of the town since what’s-his-face left town has been how the Eagles need a playmaker at wideout. Since then they’ve made plays for every big name possible (Moss, Boldin, Roy Williams) and in the process landed a legit talent in DJax. Perhaps we’ve been focused on the wrong things.

This loss was a hybrid of the problems from the Chicago and Washington losses — both of those came because the Eagles couldn’t control the line of scrimmage. This team needs to get more physical on both sides of the ball, not score more points.

i think this is another we showed up ill – equipped for the season issue. The giants showed last night what a good full back can do for the run game. We have no true full back(well apparently we do but he is doomed to ride special teams the rest of the season). Klecko is not a full back he does not clear room for westy and he is often pushed back into him. hedgecock for the giants may have been the real difference maker for them last night. last year we go in with no returner this year no full back. wonder what position we will decide we can do without next year

Arghhh. What a frustrating game. I know he had that great hit to force the Jacobs fumble, but I think it’s time to see if Joe Mays or Akeem Jordan can give us some production instead of Gocong. He got crushed by Hedgecock repeatedly giving the Giants 6-8 yards off his edge almost every time they ran that way. Even worse, if Hedgecock didn’t have hands of stone, Gocong would have been beaten on that pass play down near the goal line in the first quarter. I don’t know if he had any coverage responsibility on their tight ends or Ward, but those guys teamed up for 10 catches and over 100 yards. Clearly we’d be better off with a backer who plays adequately on 80% of the plays, rather than making the occasional big play. I blame Gocong for Portis running wild in the Skins game too.

More rushes?

Brian Westbrook was something like 13 rushes for 26 yards. The obvious excuse for not giving him the ball more was that he was doing nothing with it. I believe he was playing injured and thus not particularly effective. Other rushers seemed to have no problem running against the Giants – Buckhalter, McNabb, and DJax all did fine with rushing opportunities.

Game-turning play?

The bogus facemask penalty in the 3rd quarter with 3:19 left on 3rd down on Stewart Bradley for clotheslining Brandon Jacobs and then grasping his shoulder pad. The only thing that touched Jacobs facemask was Stewart’s forearm. If that drive failed, instead of converted for 3, we’d be behind 2 points at the end of the game instead of 5, so we’d only need a field goal and could call different plays.

Biggest mistake of the game?

Making the focus of the gameplan stopping Burress by doubling him all game long. In my view, the only hope for winning the game was stopping the rush and forcing Eli to win the game, which would have led to more turnovers and more sacks. That mean’s 8 men in the box and playing Cover 1 or Cover 0 against Burress. I’m willing to trade a 100 yard 2 touchdown game from Burress for the 100 yard 2 touchdown game Jacobs got, because as we saw, while Jacobs will fumble often, its easier to get interceptions than fumble recoveries. We forced 3 fumbles and only recovered 1, plus we forced another fumble on the goal line that was questionably called a touchdown.

Reaction?

Ironically, over at Footballoutsiders this game will again show the Eagles as a very strong team. The Giants wideouts were shutdown, we gave up no sacks, we didn’t fumble, we scored TD’s in the redzone other than the completion of the 2 minute drill where we only had one redzone play to try, we had great kickoff returns other than the Demps fumble. The Eagles out punted and out kicked the Giants. The Giants fumbled, got sacked, took 4 tackles for a loss, were forced into 3 short field goals, couldn’t return kicks well. The Eagles outgained the Giants rushing per rush, and outgained the Giants per play. The Giants, however, got 20 more plays because the Eagles were abysmal on 3rd down on both sides of the ball.

Ultimate direct cause of the loss? Special teams.

1) The Demps fumble on a kickoff return.
2) The 43 yard Hixon punt return.

1. lead to a gift of 3 points.
2. lead to a gift of 3, 4, or even 7 points.

That was the margin of the victory.

BLOWS IN THE CLUTCH, REMEMBER THE SUPER BOWL CHOKE JOB WHEN HE WAS GASPING FOR AIR AND LOST HIS TEAM IN THE HUDDLE? I MENTIONED IT EARLIER LAST WEEK, AND AL MICHAELS MENTIONED IT LAST NIGHT. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. SORRY. IT FEELS GOOD.

wow you definitely have a blow out hair cut and at least three pairs of huge sunglasses…what an educated opinion you have given. McNabb is a good man..and you are…aproudyankee?
your done

Its not about wins and loses we have dominated the NFC east for a lonnnng time.. and everything and evreysport goes in cycles…everyone take it easy…were just fans…no matter what anybody says on here….banner and reid will not read it and say “wow they are so right!”

take it easy guys….we have a talented team we obviously could be better but just enjoy the game for what its worth

Everyone is ready to fire Reid, and why not, he is the head coach. However, this loss wasn’t created on that failed 4th and 1 running play. However, our defense that is crafted by master blitzer Jim Johnson always gives up a 3rd and long situation (7+ yds to go). I mean, every time we have a team in that situation after two great defensive plays, it always seems that a team knows it will get a first down. Our defense is just as predictable if not more than our offense. Everytime we have a team in 3rd and long I am cringing rather than celebrating a coming stop. Teams in the NFC, particularly in our division seem to know what play is coming every time.

It is beyond ridiculous what is going on especially on defense. The philosophy of having small but quick defensive ends isn’t working, especially when teams run on the edge. And when we blitz teams now know what type/kind and where it is coming from, it doesn’t fool anyone anymore. And why in the hell is Dawkins one-on-one with a WR? Manning was licking his chops when he saw the same exact formation that we tried on the Cowboys/TO and what happened? Dawkins, who is a safety and not a cover guy, got burned AGAIN. WTF?

I have turned. I sold my soul to Reid/McNabb but it is over. Our window closed and we need to start over. I think there is a good core of young players and we need to finish the season no matter what and begin rebuilding. We beat the teams we are supposed to beat and lose to the ones who are even or superior in talent. The team doesn’t seem to play with emotion anymore. It is time!

TRENT DILFER WON A SUPERBOWL

STOP it people WOW

Mcnabb is clearly won of our best players….

Fire Reid
kick him punch him
whatever

but if you think this is Mcnabbs fault you are very dumb

Rex grossman took the bears to a NFC championship…i think Mcnabb is just fine

wow…whats wrong with you people

we have no run game and we cant stop the run …there done end of the blog

im disappointed as an Eagle fan.
I blame the coaches for all these close games the Birds seem to be loosing. I dont even wanan talk about the playcalling because we all know…im a little more concerned at his knowldege. Who the heck makes those kind of challenges? Who are these people in the press box telling him to make these ridiculous challenges Man, Ill do it for dirt cheap!!! cause whoever they got now…they dumb.
The management takes waaay to much blame. To my knowledge, Eagles tried to get Randy Moss in the offseason and with this kind of weapon bringing so much attention to the WR spot, it only makes every player better (ask Wes Welker whom seems to have carrer years ONLY DUE to the attention Randy brings). Eagles have allowed too many times to pass on players during the drafts thinking they have the players to succeeed now, and they cleral do not.
I read lots of people saying the Birds hung in there, but from start to finish…Giants dominated. The score is very misleading. Giants can run the ball on 3rd and 4th and 1, wheras the Eagles cannot. point blank. But andy for some reason is the only one that doesnt know Eagles have no power running game.
If Dmac had a decent WR to go along wit DJack, this team would be serious contenders, all they appear now are prenteders whom cant win any big games.