A win is a win is a win, but its even sweeter when its a playoff win. Some say it was an ugly win, I don' t think there is any such thing.
1. Foles was really good yesterday. He made two mistakes that I saw, he missed Burton on a deep throw and the almost INT that Smith caught. On the almost INT he got blasted as the threw it, he had Ertz, right read held the ball a split second too long. Collingworthless blasted him for the wounded duck he threw on the first play, obviously he doesn't understand the swirling winds and how they effect the play in the Linc. Later in the game Matt Ryan had the same type throw. Anytime a QB goes 23-30 even though he didn't have any TD's its a very good game. .
2. This team continues to overcome mistakes. 4 fumbles, two lost, the Ajayi one was text book helmet on the ball, the special teams one hit three guys. The wind was a big time factor in that. I have to say for the luck the Eagles had the Falcons had just as many. Agholor running into Clement caused the fumble at the goal line, not really Clements fault as he gets credited with it. The Blount one was interesting ball was right in his belly, it was almost like he didn't expect it. We can't make these type of mistakes going forward and expect to win.
3. Schwartz really aggravates me at times with his bend but don't break play calls. I was always taught if you blitz you need to jam the receivers to give that extra split second to get there. There were so many times in that game where we brought the extra man and we played 10 yards off the the receivers, easy pitch an catch. The fact that he kept McCloud 20 yards deep even when with the wind you knew there weren't going to get the ball down there was like playing 10 or 11 football. I will say they only gave up 10 points 7 of which were due to the special teams but they almost lost. Schwartz needs to tightened it up as we are not going to be in blow out situations where we are winning big going forward. This defense can be special.
4. Alshon Jeffrey was every bit as effective as Julio Jones in this game. He made some really big plays, none bigger than the 15 yard catch and get out of bounds right before the half. I am thrilled we will have this guy for years to come. Now we just need to get somebody on the other side of him.
5. Nigel Bradham was all over the field yesterday. He missed a tackle early after that he was blowing up plays and was great. I fear he is going to cost too much to keep in the offseason. He is great player that nobody outside of Philly talks about.
6. I saw where people were saying Matt Ryan played bad. I thought the kid was great, that play to score the TD they had was amazing, very Carson Wentz like. He fired high on the last play but Julio Jones has caught many of those in his career. The Falcons didn't lose because of Matt Ryan they lost because the Eagles were the better team.
7.I hope that Doug and Schwartz are learning the Wind situations at the Linc more as he goes on. The winds in South Philly are complex to say the least. You do have to make adjustments and you do have coach differently. I thought when they sent Elliot out for the extra point it was a mistake. A guy who was at the game said that was some of the strongest winds of the game and you could see the flags at the top of the goal post that proved it. It may have been a situation where we should have went for two. Knowing those winds are a huge home field advantage.
8. Elliot continues to prove he could be something special. After over compensating for the wind on the extra point, he comes in and absolutely nails a 53 yarder. sometimes we forget he is a rookie. He has a chance to be in this town a very long time.
9. Punt returner should be something high on the list of to do's in the off season. Barner was as much of a problem with that punt as anyone. He has to come up and field that. Its not the first time he has done that this year. He is a fill in for Sproles but a young returner should be on the list.
10. The offensive line was GREAT yesterday. Vaiti was a stud at left tackle. He got called for the off sides but that wasn't on him, everybody but Kelce moved, that was either on Kelce or Foles. Otherwise against a pretty good Falcon front these guys controlled the line of scrimage.
11. The defensive line was very disruptive yesterday. They shut down Freeman to the tune of 10 carries for 7 yards. Coleman had more success but still they both combined for less than 100 yards on 20 carries. Aside from one big run for 23 yards which was sprung by a hold that wasn't called (can't expect those in the playoffs BTW) they really bottled up a very good run game.
Overall this season has been more than a success. There is just something about this team. I doubted them at the end and I was totally wrong. I figured another year another defensive collapse at the end. Not this time, not in this game and this train continues to roll. I wouldn't sleep on this team winning next week two. Doesn't matter which team they play, at home, cut down on the mistakes some and we will win and go to the Super Bowl.
1. Foles was really good yesterday. He made two mistakes that I saw, he missed Burton on a deep throw and the almost INT that Smith caught. On the almost INT he got blasted as the threw it, he had Ertz, right read held the ball a split second too long. Collingworthless blasted him for the wounded duck he threw on the first play, obviously he doesn't understand the swirling winds and how they effect the play in the Linc. Later in the game Matt Ryan had the same type throw. Anytime a QB goes 23-30 even though he didn't have any TD's its a very good game. .
2. This team continues to overcome mistakes. 4 fumbles, two lost, the Ajayi one was text book helmet on the ball, the special teams one hit three guys. The wind was a big time factor in that. I have to say for the luck the Eagles had the Falcons had just as many. Agholor running into Clement caused the fumble at the goal line, not really Clements fault as he gets credited with it. The Blount one was interesting ball was right in his belly, it was almost like he didn't expect it. We can't make these type of mistakes going forward and expect to win.
3. Schwartz really aggravates me at times with his bend but don't break play calls. I was always taught if you blitz you need to jam the receivers to give that extra split second to get there. There were so many times in that game where we brought the extra man and we played 10 yards off the the receivers, easy pitch an catch. The fact that he kept McCloud 20 yards deep even when with the wind you knew there weren't going to get the ball down there was like playing 10 or 11 football. I will say they only gave up 10 points 7 of which were due to the special teams but they almost lost. Schwartz needs to tightened it up as we are not going to be in blow out situations where we are winning big going forward. This defense can be special.
4. Alshon Jeffrey was every bit as effective as Julio Jones in this game. He made some really big plays, none bigger than the 15 yard catch and get out of bounds right before the half. I am thrilled we will have this guy for years to come. Now we just need to get somebody on the other side of him.
5. Nigel Bradham was all over the field yesterday. He missed a tackle early after that he was blowing up plays and was great. I fear he is going to cost too much to keep in the offseason. He is great player that nobody outside of Philly talks about.
6. I saw where people were saying Matt Ryan played bad. I thought the kid was great, that play to score the TD they had was amazing, very Carson Wentz like. He fired high on the last play but Julio Jones has caught many of those in his career. The Falcons didn't lose because of Matt Ryan they lost because the Eagles were the better team.
7.I hope that Doug and Schwartz are learning the Wind situations at the Linc more as he goes on. The winds in South Philly are complex to say the least. You do have to make adjustments and you do have coach differently. I thought when they sent Elliot out for the extra point it was a mistake. A guy who was at the game said that was some of the strongest winds of the game and you could see the flags at the top of the goal post that proved it. It may have been a situation where we should have went for two. Knowing those winds are a huge home field advantage.
8. Elliot continues to prove he could be something special. After over compensating for the wind on the extra point, he comes in and absolutely nails a 53 yarder. sometimes we forget he is a rookie. He has a chance to be in this town a very long time.
9. Punt returner should be something high on the list of to do's in the off season. Barner was as much of a problem with that punt as anyone. He has to come up and field that. Its not the first time he has done that this year. He is a fill in for Sproles but a young returner should be on the list.
10. The offensive line was GREAT yesterday. Vaiti was a stud at left tackle. He got called for the off sides but that wasn't on him, everybody but Kelce moved, that was either on Kelce or Foles. Otherwise against a pretty good Falcon front these guys controlled the line of scrimage.
11. The defensive line was very disruptive yesterday. They shut down Freeman to the tune of 10 carries for 7 yards. Coleman had more success but still they both combined for less than 100 yards on 20 carries. Aside from one big run for 23 yards which was sprung by a hold that wasn't called (can't expect those in the playoffs BTW) they really bottled up a very good run game.
Overall this season has been more than a success. There is just something about this team. I doubted them at the end and I was totally wrong. I figured another year another defensive collapse at the end. Not this time, not in this game and this train continues to roll. I wouldn't sleep on this team winning next week two. Doesn't matter which team they play, at home, cut down on the mistakes some and we will win and go to the Super Bowl.
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