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Let's get to the links...
Eagles vs. Saints Final Score: Philadelphia Falls to New Orleans, 26-24 - BLG, BGN
Season over.
10 awards from the Eagles-Saints playoff game - JimmyK, Philly.com
The No Mo James Monroe Award: Alex Henery: The 1820 re-election of James Monroe was the last election in which a presidential candidate effectively ran unopposed. In training camp this past offseason, Alex Henery ran unopposed, as he had no competition from another kicker. I'll stop short of putting this loss on Henery, but there's no way he won't have competition in camp next offseason.
Despite loss, Chip's debut a big success - Jeff McLane, Inquirer
It will take a while to get over this one, as it should, and maybe now isn't a time for reflection, but what a first year for Chip Kelly. Despite a pedestrian start that was atypical for Kelly's hair-on-fire offense, the unit rebounded for a spirited finish against the Saints that reflected a season that was mostly about the new coach's scheme. As Kelly and his players left the field after a devastating 26-24 loss to New Orleans, fans at Lincoln Financial Field cheered them into the tunnel. When was the last time that happened after an Eagles playoff defeat?
Team Loss - Tommy Lawlor, Iggles Blitz
We’re all feeling very mixed emotions right now. We’re mad at the Eagles for losing the game. We’re happy they responded to being down 20-7 and making the comeback. We’re happy that they had such a good and fun seasopn. But we’re utterly frustrated that the season is over. Losing a playoff game really hurts. I hope Eagles players learned a lesson tonight. The Saints were more physical. They were more aggressive. They were the better team. The NFL playoffs are a bit different. I’m sure Chip Kelly learned a lesson or two, although he might not admit it.
Anderson: ‘It’s All On Me’ - Sheil Kapadia, Bird 24/7
"I tried to do a little something different at the end, and I got caught inside," said Eagles special-teams ace Colt Anderson. "I should have been outside. I got greedy. I was trying to make the play and ended up getting myself out of position. "The whole game they just kept hitting us in the middle, hitting us in the middle. They got us. Gotta give credit to them. Sproles is a good returner. At the end of the day, I didn’t do my job. It’s all on me."
10 observations from Eagles-Saints - Reuben Frank, CSN Philly
The biggest shock to me in the Eagles’ 26-24 playoff loss to the Saints Saturday night at the Linc (see Instant Replay) -- the Eagles’ fourth consecutive playoff loss -- was the Saints’ ability to gash the Eagles on the ground with a lightly regarded running attack that was missing its leading rusher in Pierre Thomas. The Saints had only five games with more than 100 rushing yards during the regular season and averaged just 92 yards per game. And the Eagles finished the season holding 10 of their last 12 opponents below 100 yards. But the Eagles just couldn’t stop the Saints’ ground attack, which churned out 185 yards on 35 carries. It wasn’t missed tackles as much as the Saints’ offensive line out-manning the Eagles’ defensive front on the line of scrimmage.
After dazzling Eagles season, a familiar, forlorn feeling - Mike Sielski, Inquirer
So ended the Eagles' unlikely bid for a Super Bowl in Chip Kelly's first season as head coach, and only with the grace of time and distance will the team's players and fans come to appreciate how far the Eagles had progressed. None of that progress matters in the immediate aftermath of such a loss. No one thinks about it. But it was there nonetheless. The Eagles have, in Kelly, a worthy head coach. They have, in Nick Foles, a young and promising starting quarterback. And though the franchise's 53 years without an NFL championship makes it difficult to reconcile at the moment, the Eagles have time, and they will learn from what happened here Saturday.
Andy Reid, Chiefs blow second largest lead in NFL playoff history - NJ.com
The former Eagles head coach didn’t just lose either. His Kansas City Chiefs let a 31-10 halftime lead slip away in a 45-44 defeat to the Indianapolis Colts in Indianapolis.
