During my 11 years in the National Football League, the teams I played on would always give out a game ball or game balls for the offense, defense, and sometimes the special teams. It was a way of the players and coaches getting the chance to give recognition to a teammate who had played a great game.
If I were handing out game balls in the Eagles locker room this afternoon, one would go to Brent Celek on the offense and the other would go to DeMeco Ryans on the defense.
Celek caught eight passes for 157 yards. He had two spectacular plays. One occurred by the sideline when he jumped over future Hall of Famer, Ed Reed. That’s going to be on highlight films for a long time.
I loved the other play where Celek showed his toughness. He was nailed by Baltimore Ravens safety Bernard Pollard after catching a corner route. It was crushing blow, but Celek held onto the football, then laid on the ground trying to get his breath. After about five or ten seconds, Celek got up and made his customary first down signal to show Pollard that he could take his best hit.
Ryans was all over the field making tackles in the backfield and in the open field for the Eagles defense. He had an interception, a sack and six solo tackles.
In one series he made a key tackle on Ray Rice, who looked like he was headed for a big run. On the next play he jumped tight end Dennis Pitta, who running an underneath crossing route, and took him down before he could get a first down.
His interception set up a score and his sack moved the Ravens back before a field goal attempt.
Tell me what you think of those picks and what other players should be considered for those awards.
I liked what I saw from Nate Allen (9 tackles). Mychal Kendricks continues to impress me. I saw Brandon Boykin make some nice clutch plays as well.
Nnamdi Asomugha worries me, he does not appear to be a very good cover corner at this point in his career, and I’m not sure why.
I have to give Michael Vick a lot of credit for his performance today. The interception in the end zone was ugly, but the 2nd one bounced off of Celek’s hands. He was under duress all day long (our offensive line is pretty offensive), and he made some great plays and again won the game on the last drive.
A very good, entertaining, hard-fought game.
Game ball goes to both wihtout a doubt.
Ryans is diagnosing runplays early.Gotta like how Kendricks will learn from him.
Whens the last time you saw our Mike make a pick in a 3rd and long in a biggame, Dudes playing allpro ball. And he’s just cathing his stride in this scheme. So much for his achilles?
I said I thought the eagles would win this game and then likely lose to the Cards next week for some reason. I had nothing to really go on based upon last week but I just though the Eagles would win this one.I hope Im dead wrong about the Cards game. The best thing that could probably happen was them beating the Pats tho to keep our guys focused. Must say, outside of the turnovers and stupid play calling by Reid on the goal line, this was an awesome game by the Birds.
I’m loving Kendricks man. Im going to go buy his jersey tomorrow if i can find one. I said he was my favorite pick after the draft. This dude is exactly what we need here. Will be a beat for years..
Boykin stepped it up as well. Nice game and clutch ability I saw in him late when it truly mattered. I was mad they let Hansen go and kept all those Rbs but for now its been all good.
Did Kelce tear his ACL?
Gcobb, I’ve stated many times on here that Celek is my favorite player on the offense outside of Shady. That play off the big hit sums up why. Yes, he is not Jimmy Graham or Gronk but the dude can play football. He is tough and will play hard as hell week in and week out. He will also stay in and block when needed for the better of the team and won’t say a damn thing about his catching stats.
Ryans is looking good too. It doesn’t get much more physical then the Ravens and Ryans has shown he still has ability to be an above average linebacker in this league. Can’t wait to see this Dline and linebackers up against Kolb
Celek gets it on offense bue DeSean Jackson’s effort should not go unrecognized. He is a different player and the deep catch he made down the right side knowing he was going to be leveled by Reed wouldn’t have been made last year. It changed the momentum of the game. The crowd roar when he came down with that catch was incredible!
LB D Ryan’s on Defense And TE Celek are deserving of the game balls
Safety Nate Allen and CB DRC also impressed on Defense
CB Asmo should consider himself fortunate for he was close to being the goat on that Ricky-tacky call on Receiver Jones on the 2nd TD pass that he would have given up which would have I Ed the game for the RVens. It’s still early but the trend I am seeing is to go at CB Asmo on Deep routes where he has a terrible time picking up the flight of the ball. Teams are electing to stay away from DRC and attack Asmo and for good reason
I told you p-man , MLB ryans can play and didn’t have to prove anything to any one. u weren’t so sure.
Good picks Gcobb. I think another game ball should go to Mike Vick for getting the job done with a makeshift offensive line. He took alot of hits but really hung in there and delivered some big big throws against an elite AFC team. I would give Vick a game ball for that and for his second consecutive game winning drive. He was almost flawless on both game winners and its a true testament to the make up of this man who is as tough as nails and the team who has his personality. They never say quit never say die attitude starts with Vick and DR who are the leaders of this team and it obvious that all the guys have that and feed off each other. This team isnt even close to being as good as they will be come midseason and on yet they are finding a way to win some really tough games. Oh another game ball gotta go to Juan Castilo and this defense. What a air tight game plan he drew up. In year 2 Juan looks like hes been doing this for years. Guys on here were very hard on him a year ago and going into year 2, even some making racial slurs about the man’s herritage and such which is uncalled for, its football has nothing to do with a persons background. But he has really impressed and has even drawn up some exotic blitzes bringing LBs in on the QB.
Fraudman– What are you talking about? Torrey Smith caught a few big catches on DRC as well as Nnamdi. Even after making a fool out of yourself saying DRyans isnt in the top 15 as a LB and saying that the Eagles would get blown out by the Ravens, so you now go back talking about Nnamdi. You sound so pathetic. Go crawl back under the rock you came out of and stop trying to save face after you clearly made a butt out of yourself with the early predictions and so called analysis of DRyans and the rest of this team. Go get a football brain before saying anything else about this team because you sound mindless..
I am glad the D Ryans is playing as advertised for he didn’t show me anything all Summer Long and the last player who came in all hyped up was CB Asmo the year before, and has been a bust if you ask me and many other people.. Anyone who thinks Asmo is a Pro-Bowl CB dosn’t know football.. His last good season was 2009 and he’s been in decline ever since ..
Right Paul, you really f’d up another prediction. So there you go making another. Keep assessing players, I’ll take the opposite. How are teams doing against us in the passing game so far this season? Ranked fourth. Yep, we must have a bust at CB. You can say that Nnamdi hasn’t been worth what we paid him for so far. But it’s only 2 games into his second season here, with the lockout, new weird DC, and crappy LB play last year. Now we have one of the best passing Ds in the league and you’re calling Nnamdi a bust. I can think of 53 men on every NFL roster who would laugh at you.
See Paul, you must have a poop factory in your throat because its just not possible enough for you to have that much crap inside your mouth all the time. Even with your big head.
Nnamdi blew 1. COUNT EM 1. Play this past game. A WIN. A BIG WIN.
Stop nitpicking for your be a negative nancy flavor of the day. And brush your goddam teeth, that shit on your breath STINKS
EWWWW! BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Paul eat your crow buddy. I told you, you gave up way too soon on Ryans. He may have lost a step, due to the recovery, but he is still a pretty damn good MLB. The best we had since Trotter 1.0. I agree with you with Asomugha, though. He is slow, & not as advertised. Worst signing of Reid’s tenure. But DRC, is the real deal. He’s young, fast, a ball hawk, & can actually cover, very well.
I agree Brent Celek played a huge part in this offense yesterday but also not to be forgotten would be the performance of Desean Jackson and Vick and even Maclin. As for looking ahead, I agree with Pheags its going to be a long day in Arizona on Sunday. But of course after the performance yesterday I am more inclined to think that this team will find a way to pull out a win.
Players who were integral in the win
Celek
Desean
McCoy
Ryans
Kendricks
Boykin
Players who hindered
Chaz Henry…or Heinery…or whichever one is the punter
Vick (4 more turnovers – 3 directly on him)
Definite game balls to Ryans, Kendrick (beast), & Celek. Honorable mention to Boykin, DRC, & Harbour. I also have to give props to Vick. Although he is still playing stupid, reckless football, he still drove us to 2 game winning drives, 2 games in a row. BTW, am I the only 1, disgusted with Asomugha, Maclin, & the O-line? Asomugha, may be the worst signing, of the Reid era. Maclin gets hurt, anytime he gets breathed on. The O-line is like a leaky Dam. Now Kelce is done for the year & the LT is a huge hole.
Boykins, Kendricks, Reynolds, Allen, Ryans, Jackson for that catch he made right before taking a big hit, Celek was a monster and when he got up from that big hit, that got EVERYONE jacked up. I love the fact that the Ravens of all teams called us dirty! I love the attitude and swagger we have
Also, that last incomplete pass from Flacco would have been picked off because Kendricks was right there!
Ravens CB Cary Williams is a dirty player and a sore loser — he pulled that same routine against AJ Green last Monday night— the play is over and he starts fight with DJax and with Maclin out of bounds —–
Dan” Dierdorf has it out for the eagles, I don’t want to hear him announce another Philadelphia game – he is so anti-Eagle it is disgusting
It’s wild to say this, but the O-Line protection was better after the injury substitutions in the game so there should be some credit given there.
DeMeco Ryans is a BEAST!!!
Brent Celek definitely deserves to be in the conversation of the top TEs in the league.
Mike Vick played well enough to win. The interceptions are bad, but beating the Ravens while having multiple turnovers, with the way they are playing just usually doesn’t go together. The Eagles have improved dramatically from last year.
G – Love the game balls. I might give one to DJax, for that catch down the sideline at a pivitol point in the game in tight coverage w/ Ed Reed coming at him full speed; knowing he was about to get world class popped, he made the catch & took it like a man, similar to Celek earlier in the game. But moreso than that, this was a BIG game, big as they get, and it was chippy… very chippy. DJax held his composure & didn’t take any stupid penalties (hello Josh Morgan), so he is clearly maturing, is clearly a team player, and made one hell of a catch. Game ball. Time’s yours G.