Defense Steps Up Once Again
Throughout the second half of the season, I’ve stated that Billy Davis and the improvement of the Eagles defense have been the true keys to the team’s success.
Chip Kelly, Nick Foles, and LeSean McCoy have all been great, but this defense’s ability to step up and make big plays and big moments has been the difference in the majority of the team’s wins and last night’s game was no exception.
The defense came up with three turnovers, and also got some important stops at key points in the game.
After the Nick Foles fumble in the third quarter, the Cowboys were given a short field to work with, but the defense clamped down and forced them to settle for three, keeping the Eagles’ lead at 1.
One of the biggest moments came in the second half. With the ball in Eagles’ territory, Dallas decided to go for it on a fourth and 1. They tried to run a short pass to DeMarco Murray, but Connor Barwin was able to bat down Orton’s pass and create a turnover on downs.
The best moment came at the end of the fourth quarter. After the offense failed to pick up a first down to run out the clock, the defense was charged with protecting a two-point with under two minutes to go. They had very little room for error, but Brandon Boykin put our doubts to rest with his sixth interception of the year to seal the win.
A defense that we thought was going to be a weakness has actually turned out to be one of our greatest strengths. They are the reason the Eagles won this game.
Quick Thoughts
Offense
- The offensive line really struggled to block the Dallas pass rush. Nick Foles was running for his life most of the night.
- LeSean McCoy finished with another big night, rushing for 131 yards and also catching a touchdown pass in the first quarter.
- Bryce Brown made his strongest contributions of the season tonight. Brown had two nice runs, including a touchdown run in the fourth quarter to put the Eagles up by eight.
- We saw a couple of sensational catches by Jason Avant and Brent Celek. On a couple of poorly thrown balls by Foles, the two veterans were able to keep their concentration and pull down some key receptions.
- DeSean Jackson was quiet in this one, held to just three catches for 28 yards.
Defense
- If there was one aspect of the defense that was disappointing tonight, it was the pass rush. They put very little heat on Kyle Orton throughout the night, and gave the veteran time to deliver on all of his throws. The Eagles were held without a sack.
- Mychal Kendricks led the team with 12 tackles, and also pulled down an interception in the first half.
- Jason Witten had 12 catches for 135 yards.
Special Teams
- Alex Henery made a 47-yard attempt to put the Eagles up 3-0 in the first.
Final Thoughts
It wasn’t pretty, but the Eagles found a way to win.
The Eagles have had a lot of close calls this year, but more often than not they’ve found ways to come out on top and win these ugly games. That’s the mark of a good football team.
They’re now back in the playoffs, and have a date with Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints.
EAGLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NFC EAST CHAMPS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I THOUGHT WE WERE A 6 WIN TEAM AT BEST GOING INTO THE SEASON. UNREAL JOB BY THIS ENTIRE TEAM TOP TO BOTTOM.
FUCK WHO DAT NATION, LETS GO EAGLES.
Hey Denny, do I get a shout out for calling this from day one? Did I not tell u in the beginning of the season to watch out come mid season when this team gets this system down? 7-1, did I not say we’re making the playoffs? I know we were banging heads in the beginning of the season cause you were looking at it from a game by game perspective but think about it, here was a team that didn’t have a clue on how to run Chips system and they were 7th in NFL history for putting up over 400 yards a game through the first 6 games, I knew just from that that once they get it down were going to be trouble for teams, I will say I was very dissappointed with the O line last night, Foled seemed under pressure all night, and you couldn’t get a push from the goal line? Are you serious? It’s ok though, we won and they will be ready next week. EAGLES!!!!!
o line didnt pass protect well at all and when they did foles did not play very well either. he made some great throws in tight windows but also some piss poor throws. cowboys did a great job covering, mostly by holding our wrs well past 5 yards down field… awful game by the refs…
Game ball….Denny you omitted the punter …his punt at the end of the game was a huge weapon ,allowing for his defense to seize the game ,with yet another great play by Boykin..the Dallas bias was in full blown view ,as they were clearly tackling and holding on bubble screens ,we overcame it all and left Jerry’s house with the soil still fresh,on his refurbished face …I get it ,this ain’t our Super Bowl ,but ,to True Eagle fans ,it is …I was anxious as he’ll watching as inexplicably we had the game come down to coverage of Chung on dez …this play exemplified how ,with the game on the line this piece of shit ,went for a ride ,and his piss poor abilities are glaring …we’d best hope Woolf can go …or get anybody with a beating heart in there …the scheme offensively ,was a bit distressing ,as nick was as you correctly stated was running for his life ..quick releases ,and utilization more so of the tight ends ,was apparent ..I’m sure Graham at Tight end will be the focus ,as we must get him on the ground .This has been as satisfying a season since 04 ….I understand we have some needs especially at the back end ,but ,collectively this team ,personifies it’s coach and as he stated so adroitly ,we are philly ,were fighters …very happy and so excited as in the NFC we are one of 6 teams standing,with a home game ahead of us ,and a Carolina team hopefully awaiting ,and with Frisco or Green Bay awaiting Seattle upset ,we can dream of nick ,shady ,ertz ,desean ,celeck and the guys hosting an NFC championship game ,with a trip down the turnpike ..
Let’s see…. We have a coach, a qb who had a rating that is historic, the top rusher, an improving opportunistic D, #10 has proven to be versatile and durable, a good #3 receiver, good young impact players both sides of the ball. I know it’s not good enough for some but damn what a pleasure this is…
NFC CHAMPS
Oops east
What is it about the Cowboys defense that they only seem to play well against the Eagles? Did anybody else get sick of seeing Jason Garret? I can’t remember another broadcast where they showed a coach on the sideline as much as they showed Garret last night.
Yeah, Jason Garrett was the star of the show, at least for the TV cameras…And Chris Collingsworth has always made me sick to the stomach: He repeated, at least three times during the game, something like: ‘You can see Nick Foles is losing it because, when he gets pressure, he starts to drop his eyes and blah, blah, blah’…Collingsworth could see Foles EYES during the game?….Unfortunately, it will probably be Collingsworth and Michaels next Saturday…Tony Romeos wife, up in the press box, was featured a number times also…Collingsworth has never liked the Eagles: Why, I don’t know…The only ex-player I like to hear doing a game is Troy Aikman.
Tough road win in a must win game…. Hmmm even the most negative will admit that
You can’t even stop being a jerkoff, even on a good day like this, when I’m very happy, & I gave all the props, & kudos in the world yesterday. Try going one day, without being a little girl, troll bitch, with your snide remarks, & smart-alec little digs! I swear to God, I’d love to meet you, so I could pimp smack your little Nancy @$$!
Name caller I didn’t address that to you! What makes you think it was addressed to you? So you want to meet me and do me harm? Really that’s a new one.
Do you think fletcher and Williams played well?
Because you are always addressing me as the negative! Don’t give me that $#!T! You always pull your childish, sissy crap. Where did I say I wanted to do you harm? LOL! Don’t flatter yourself. A little bitch slap will wise you up. Yes Williams & Fletcher played well, jerkoff! All I did was ring the praises, all day yesterday.
“Pimp smack you nancy ass” would qualify as harm.
So weaselman did ok right?
Let’s look at what Weaselman has done this last off-season-
FA
Sopoaga- old stiff.
Casey- invisible.
Both Phillips- injury risks, gone.
Chung- sucks.
Williams- Up & down, but has stepped up.
Fletcher- mediocre.
Barwin- Good, I’ve always liked.
Benn & Momah- injury risks, gone.
Draft
Johnson- Reach, revolving door. Should have drafted Lotuleilei like I said.
Ertz- Reach, luxury pick.
Logan- Reach, nothing more than a rotational player.
Barkley- Total waste.
Wolffe- Too small, & fragile.
2012draft was his best.
2011-2010 were atrocities, & don’t give me they were Andy’s! They only reason we are where we are, is because of Chip & the coaching staff. I’m at least man enough to admit I was wrong about Chip & Davis, because they are getting great play, out of mediocre talent! PERIOD! Our safeties are horrific, & both CB’s are mediocre, & overpaid, & should be BU’s & ST’s. Boykin, & rookie Wolffe are the only keepers. Don’t oversell your front office idols! Give it a rest.
I also can’t overstate, how great of shape he has this team in, at this time of year. Cole is usually dead & MIA, & the O-lines are usually beat to death. They seem to be fresh, & good to late in games. It’s amazing.
NFC east champs!
Did you come up with that all by yourself? Man you ARE brilliant! I envy your superior intellect! Idjot!
In spite of a horrific draft and atrocious FA class! If they followed your plan they’d have a bye and be undefeated. Always start with the negative premise, if they don’t win you crow if they win you talk about winning despite the inadequacy of the gm… You always win
I didn’t have a plan. I wanted different players, all of which, were better. If I’m wrong, I say I’m wrong, jerkoff! I’m not an irrational, butt sucking lemming like you! I have the balls to criticize, when it is warranted! By the way moron, I win, when my teams win, no less, no more! It’s a shame at how butthurt you get, because of your irrational reasoning, & arguments never win! I feel for you my man, I feel for you, because you don’t have a clue!
BTW, it really boggles my mind, why you get so overly defensive when it comes to front office people! It’s strange, & frightening, that you think because of the positions they have, nobody else can know more than them. It’s pretty amusing reading your daily idiocracy.
One interesting thing I noticed was that, after the game, they talked to Foles, McCoy & Boykins for a few minutes: All three looked perfectly composed, and spoke well.
Now, when Kelly had his press conference, he looked a little overwhelmed…I think that KELLY was more nervous than most of the players during the game, and some of the play calling (or was it Pat Shurmur?) reflected this.
BUT, these are just some little observations…It was a great win in a very tough game, and a team win…They’re still learning and the future looks bright.
shady is loving every second of this. last few weeks all his interviews just scream im a kid and i am having the time of my life playing this game
Yes I thought for sure when this was a rebuild in my mind that dumping shady and DJAX for even younger talent (picks) was the right thing to do… Stupid!!!! He is still like 25 with three more premium years …DJAX is versatile ! Who knew!
All the credit to them, the organization… Put together supplemental parts to go with their young talent
DCAR I don’t blindly support coaches or front offices… I openly laugh at armchair coaches, GM’s and QB’s who think they are so much more brilliant than those who make real world decisions. Some of those decisions work and some don’t. On the armchair they all work. Roseman had a plan to get the eagles back to relevance it worked. You and others called him names from your living room before even watching g a snap. I just don’t like people who sit on the sidelines and bitch and whine…. Never have never will.
Too bad what you like! Nobody gives a rats ass what you like! Who the f^#@ are you? You ain’t nothing but a blogging wannabe Principal, & condescending snob, that doesn’t have the balls to criticize anyone, & doesn’t know WTF he, or she’s talking about. YES, you do blindly support front office people! Prime example, your fetish, infatuation, & your irrational supporting, & excusing Ruin 2morrow for the last 3 years, when he’s blatantly inept, & has shown to be one of the worst executives in all of sports! Don’t give me your verbal diarrhea! Proof is in the pudding, & you have some sort of vendetta against me because of my brutal honesty, & truthfulness! You have been proven wrong an infinite amounts of times, so put some ointment on your butt-hurt, & go the f^#@ away. You still didn’t answer my question. Why the blind support for Amaro, Roseman, & Lurie? What is your ethnicity? I could be wrong, but are you Jewish?
And DeSean Jackson was content to be a decoy most of the night, drawing defenders away from the real action. A very important role with no glory and no sulking.