It was many of the Eagles usual demons rolled all into one on Sunday night as the Eagles fell to the Dallas Cowboys 20-16 at the Linc.¬† Wasted timeouts, stupid penalties, poor clock management, couldn’t get short yardage….it was all there.
So let’s look at the game:
What I liked…
-David Akers was sharp, if that counts for anything.
-They didn’t let the TE score?¬† Yay?
-Sav Rocca got a good bounce on a punt?
…and not so much…
-Someone needs to take away the red flag from Andy Reid.¬† Two brutal uses of the challenge flag in the second half all but drained the Eagles of their timeouts that I think we all agree they needed.¬† Do they not have anyone upstairs looking at these plays?¬† Was it not shown on that huge video board in the stadium?¬† No one noticed that LeSean McCoy wasn’t forced backwards and that he brought himself short of the 1st-down marker?¬† You can’t be serious.¬† And yes, the refs blew the spot on the McNabb sneak.¬† I can’t remember the last time Donovan, with his huge frame, didn’t get the necessary yardage on 4th and inches.¬† But those pile ups rarely show conclusive evidence other than sweat stains.¬† Two wasted challenges.¬† Two blown timeouts.
-A risky 52-yard FG attempt when regardless of what happens, you still need a TD.¬† Oh, and don’t forget…you don’t have any timeouts left.¬†
-Great idea, Asante Samuel.  You finally make a tackle and you are so excited that you run your mouth and get 15 yards tacked on.  Well done.
-Jeremy Maclin might need surgery to remove his head from his rear end.¬† Rookie or not, get your head in the game.¬† Both INT’s go on him.¬†
-Huge penalty on Fokou on Sheldon’s INT return.¬† Those are killers.
-Where was the Donovan from the Giants game?
-4th and inches?¬† The Cowboys jump offsides, just snap the ball and it’s a free first down….or…..you could wait until Jason Peters moves and send it five yards in the other direction.¬† Think we’ll punt now?¬† Why doesn’t Jackson just smack the ball into Donovan’s hands when he sees them clearly cross the line?¬† Who cares if he fumbles it?¬† Just start the play!¬†
-But that doesn’t exonerate Peters for jumping.¬† Considering all that was spent to get him (draft picks, money), I’m liking him less and less by the week.
-Please, please, please!!¬† Please someone pull the plug on the Michael Vick experiment.¬† He doesn’t have it anymore and I don’t feel like waiting for him to find it.¬† Especially not when they need to call a timeout just to discuss the play they will run with Vick.¬†
-I’m thinking we are seeing the end of Brian Westbrook.¬† Swelling in his ankle to compound the concussion issue.¬† It’s a shame, but we are watching him disintegrate.
-So what you are telling me is that if someone takes away the big play, the Eagles don’t have much of an offense?¬† I find that hard to believe with all these weapons.
-Wasn’t this offensive line supposed to be a strength for this team?¬† Too much has to go right for this offense to consistently move the ball, that’s why they rely on the big play.¬† You only have to get everything right once.¬† To move the ball down the field, you need your line to block (not remotely a certainty with this team), McNabb to hit is receiver (not a certainty), the receiver to be paying attention (a chance it might not happen), the receiver to catch it (probably will happen, but not always) and someone not to have committed an egregiously stupid penalty throughout the whole process (good luck).¬† All those things have to happen time after time before you can have a consistent offense that methodically moves the ball.¬† They need to tighten it up.
No relief in sight as four of the next five are on the road and it all starts in San Diego, who taught the Giants a lesson yesterday in the Meadowlands. 
