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  • 5 critical plays did Birds in

    Punting, 5 critical plays did Birds in

    Andy Reid's decision to punt was not the sole reason the Eagles were sent packing Saturday.
    By Bob Brookover
    Inquirer Staff Writer

    You can continue the fourth-and-15 debate if you'd like.

    Coach Andy Reid's decision to punt when faced with that situation on the Eagles' final offensive series Saturday night certainly had an impact on the outcome of his team's difficult-to-digest 27-24 playoff loss to the New Orleans Saints.

    Reid went on the record twice as saying he'd do things differently, given the benefit of hindsight.

    To focus just on that decision, however, would be an injustice to all the things that happened to influence the outcome of what was a wildly entertaining game.

    A video replay of the game revealed that five plays had a greater impact than the coach's decision to punt on fourth and 15.

    1. The fatal drop. Running back Brian Westbrook dropped three passes during the game, and he noted his disappointment afterward.

    "There are some plays that I definitely wish I could have back," Westbrook said. "There were some dropped balls, which were uncharacteristic of myself. And that's a thing when you're trying to win a football game, you can't have that. I wish I had those plays back."

    The most critical of Westbrook's drops came with 7 minutes, 42 seconds left in the third quarter on a second-and-12 play from the New Orleans 38-yard line. Westbrook, lined up wide on the left side of the field, went across the middle and got wide open. Quarterback Jeff Garcia threw him a strike, but Westbrook dropped the ball.

    Had the running back caught it, he would have had at least had a first down and quite possibly a touchdown. What you couldn't see on television was how open the right side of the field was for Westbrook.

    When Garcia's next pass fell incomplete, the Eagles were forced to punt and a drive that looked promising proved fruitless.

    2. The fumble recovery. On the Saints' ensuing offensive series after Westbrook's dropped pass, middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter and safety Sean Considine combined to force a fumble during a 10-yard run by Reggie Bush. The ball squirted ahead of the rookie running back with three Eagles defenders in pursuit. The Saints were fortunate that Terrance Copper was able to dive just in front of safety Brian Dawkins to come up with the football.

    Instead of a turnover, the Saints had a first down at the Eagles' 49-yard line, and four plays later they had a lead after Deuce McAllister's touchdown catch.

    3. Illegal contact. For the second time in as many games against the Saints, a Trent Cole sack was nullified by a penalty that could have been the difference in the game.

    With 2:15 left in the third quarter, Cole made an inside move on tackle Jammal Brown and dropped quarterback Drew Brees for a 7-yard loss that would have put the Saints in a second-and-27 situation from the Eagles' 46-yard line. Instead, the Saints had a first-and-10 situation from the 34. Two plays later, McAllister scored.

    Cole's sack was nullified by an illegal-contact penalty on linebacker Dhani Jones, who clearly shoved Copper 7 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. Defensive players cannot hit receivers 5 yards beyond the line of scrimmage when the quarterback is in the pocket.

    4. Second and 1. Line judge Mark Perlman botched the spot of Westbrook's 9-yard run to the New Orleans' 4-yard line early in the fourth quarter. Westbrook complained at the end of the run that the ball should have been spotted at the 3-yard line, which would have put the Eagles in a first-and-goal situation. Instead, it was second and 1 from the 4-yard line, and the Eagles failed to pick up that yard on the next two plays, settling for a David Akers field goal that still left them trailing by three points.

    No replay was shown, and the announcing team of Dick Stockton and Daryl Johnston did not comment on the errant spot.

    On the first play after the spot, the Eagles tried to go off right tackle with Westbrook and he was stopped for no gain by Saints defensive end Will Smith.

    The play the Eagles ran on third and 1 is one that could be debated for the rest of the off-season. It was the same third-and-1 play the Eagles used to get a huge first down when they held the ball for the final 4:52 to run out the clock against Washington in Week 14. The play resulted in a 4-yard reception by Thomas Tapeh and a first down against the Redskins. Saints linebacker Scott Fujita sniffed out the play immediately this time, and he tackled Tapeh for a 2-yard loss.

    Tapeh was one of only two receivers in a pattern on the play. The other was Reggie Brown, and with safety Jay Bellamy immediately in Garcia's face on a blitz, the quarterback had no other choice but to dump the ball to Tapeh.

    5. The missed call. At crucial times in the final quarter, it appeared as if Saints center Jeff Faine got away with holding calls against Trotter. The most obvious example came on the Saints' final offensive series when McAllister ran for 5 yards on a second-and-6 play from New Orleans' 26.

    As Trotter stepped up and started to fill the hole where McAllister chose to run, Faine grabbed the middle linebacker around the neck. That maneuver gave McAllister enough room to squeeze past defensive end Juqua Thomas and turn what would have been a short gain into a run that set up a third-and-1 play.

    McAllister ran for a first down on the next play and the Eagles' season was over.

    If officials had seen the hold, the Saints would have faced a second-and-16 play from their own 16. Maybe then, Reid never would have faced his hotly debated decision.


    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Contact staff writer Bob Brookover at 215-854-2577 or [email protected].
    Reading this pisses me off all over again. Also, not sure how you can leave the "almost blocked punt" out of the mix.
    www.disciplerocks.com

  • #2
    the refs missed the same cloths line holds on cole all game

    Comment


    • #3
      Am I the only one that saw Considine get shoved to the ground from behind by Karney on Bush's touchdown?

      Comment


      • #4
        No recollection of that. I'm still trying to get myself to watch the game again.
        www.disciplerocks.com

        Comment


        • #5
          Yup, there was a hold on Bush's TD. It wasn't a bad hold, but it was bad enough that Karney immediately put his hands up in the, "I didn't do it!" pose.

          These plays all add up to what coaches refer to as GAPs. Game Altering Plays. There are usually 4-5 of them a game, and more often than not the team that wins the GAPs will win the game.

          Comment


          • #6
            The article says a lot in the fact that the Eagles had chances but didn't take advantage but also that the officials were again terrible. That spot for Westbrook was awful!!! I was yelling immediately after he made the mark considering how Duece was gaining 5 yrds on 3 yrd carries. But again the bottom line is the Eagles had their chances and didnt take advantage enough.
            I miss Philly!

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            • #7
              This kind of article and debate only gives us all ulcers.

              If ND Kalu had blocked that punt.
              If Westbrook was never hurt vs. Washington.
              If Michael Lewis had started vs. Tampa and Joe J. doesn't go 83 yards.
              If we sign Trotter and not go with Barry Gardner.
              If we had TO a year earlier.
              If Shawn Andrews hadn't gotten hurt.
              If if if...
              Carson Wentz ERA


              NFC East Titles:
              Playoff Appearances:
              NFC Title Games:
              Super Bowl Titles:

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by kcas31
                The article says a lot in the fact that the Eagles had chances but didn't take advantage but also that the officials were again terrible. That spot for Westbrook was awful!!! I was yelling immediately after he made the mark considering how Duece was gaining 5 yrds on 3 yrd carries. But again the bottom line is the Eagles had their chances and didnt take advantage enough.
                that bastard would get tackled, hit the ground, slide 3 yards, and they would give him the spot where he came to rest. it was like playing the board game sorry when you hit the slides.

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                • #9
                  Oh and BTW - What the freak was wrong with Westbrook catching the damn ball on Saturday? UGH.
                  Carson Wentz ERA


                  NFC East Titles:
                  Playoff Appearances:
                  NFC Title Games:
                  Super Bowl Titles:

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by BIGPHILLY
                    This kind of article and debate only gives us all ulcers.

                    If ND Kalu had blocked that punt.
                    If Westbrook was never hurt vs. Washington.
                    If Michael Lewis had started vs. Tampa and Joe J. doesn't go 83 yards.
                    If we sign Trotter and not go with Barry Gardner.
                    If we had TO a year earlier.
                    If Shawn Andrews hadn't gotten hurt.
                    If if if...
                    Dude, it makes me want to throw up on my shoes..

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by BIGPHILLY
                      This kind of article and debate only gives us all ulcers.

                      If ND Kalu had blocked that punt.
                      If Westbrook was never hurt vs. Washington.
                      If Michael Lewis had started vs. Tampa and Joe J. doesn't go 83 yards.
                      If we sign Trotter and not go with Barry Gardner.
                      If we had TO a year earlier.
                      If Shawn Andrews hadn't gotten hurt.
                      If if if...
                      Add if bucky doesn't get hurt vs the rams in 2001

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        What's Barry Gardner up to these days?

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          The Westbrook drop was so huge. He was gone.
                          "Hey Giants, who's your Daddy?"

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