My thoughts on Yesterdays Game

[taz]

Who would have thought after the Ravens game we would be sitting here not only in the playoffs but with a big playoff win? I honestly thought this season was over a few times for my beloved Birds. This team never ceases to amaze me though.

Offense

McNabb - Good game, the INT late in the first half that was just a bad throw. He didn't give his reciever a chance to make a play on the ball. Other than that he played good. He side stepped pressure and for the most part got rid of the ball. Made some really clutch throws to Avant and Celek. He is playing pretty well right now, certainly well enough with the way the defense is playing to take us all the way

Tra Thomas - Not a very good game at all. Jared Allen pretty much ate his lunch every time he was singled up on him. Thomas was responsible for the fumble by McNabb (can't blame a QB who is starting his throw for a sack like that, Allen just ran right around Thomas on that one). Runyan didn't fair that much better either.

Recievers - As a group a very good game. I can't remember any drops.

Celek - Really good game by Celek. He just kept sitting in the zone and catching the ball. They couldn't cover him.

Westbrook - Ok game, yes he scored on the screen pass, which was great, but most of the game he was bottled up, he seemed a step slow, several times it looked like he had openings and he just couldn't get through there. However he was playing against the best run defense in football, so that has something to do with it.

Buchalter - Why in the hell is this guy not getting the ball more. All he does is make big gains

Defense

Held the Vikings to 300 yards of total offense. Held the Vikings to 4.4 yards per play which is pretty low (The Eagles by comparison had 6.4 yards per play). Gave up two TD's to Peterson but held him under 100 yards. This defense is playing dominate football right now. Led by Brian Dawkins and a swarming defensive line.

Samuel - Big play man. It was a tight game up until that INT and TD. Did it on one hip. Glad he is on my side of the ball

D LIne - Really good game, they controlled the VIkings running game for the most part. Except for the TD run by Peterson which was GoCong out of position they really played well. Got after Jackson when they had to.

Dawkins - What can you say about this guy, he is a man possessed. Was all over the field again. Big hit after big hit.

Trent Cole - 14 tackles are you kidding me, 14 tackles of a DE that is something to write home about.

Special Teams

Jackson - Great game, just missed breaking two of them for TD's

Akers - Man has this guy turned it around. He has really had a good second half of the season. His best kick was one that might go unnoticed the kickoff from the 15 that went all the way to the 11 of the Vikings.

Officals
Are you kidding me with that crew, the NFL needs to come out with some type of statement on those guys, that is one of the worst officating performances I have seen in some time. If didn't know any better I would believe those guys had money riding on the game.
Simply a horrible effort. How is Samuel's celebration a penalty but Peterson throwing the ball into the stands is not. Hey Ref who was right next to him, its in the rule book its a penalty. Bogus pass interfernce call on Sheldon Brown resulted in a TD for the Vikings if not the Eagles would have been off the field, bogus holding call on Considine costs the Eagles 12 yards of field position and backs them up to their goal line. How is a QB's forward progress stopped when he is in the act of throwing the ball? The spotting of the ball was suspect every time the right line judge was on it. He spotted a punt that dropped out right at the 15 at the 19 yard line, he missed Celek's first down on the first drive, he was right at the 30 not six inches before it. (I love Tivo because I can rewind and pause it)

[musicman]

I was screaming about that spot on Celek's catch. That guy was so out of position.He was in horrible position on Reggie's catch but IMO gave us a better spot.
Jackson was the key to this win, I don't know if we can finish those drives if you change the field position by 62 and 30 yards.

[andrewaters]

I wouldn't say the worst officiating ever but it definitely was suspect. The holding call on considine, the two punt spots, the incomplete pass on the McNabb "sack"... there is no in the grasp rule anymore.

And, I will tell you they held Parker and Cole all game long and it was not called a single time. There is no way an NFL team can play an entire game and have just one penalty called on them. Just doesn't happen.

[stevemc]

just a bump and additional kudos to Trent Cole. A D-Lineman with 14 tackles is insane. For the longest time - we (me) were concerned with Cole's size and ability to stop the run. Now - not so much.

[musicman]

The ability for an 8 man rotation without much falloff helps them all. That dline is playing about as well as we could have hoped for.If Dawk comes back next year,we should only expect better from the D. 4 young LBs gaining big game experience,all 3 starters kinda playing beyond my expectations.I'm very excited about where this defense could end up. Click off the names of guys with key contributions the past month,I don't think there is anyone on this unit that doesn't make that list,starter or backup.Heaven forbid they add anymore quality this offseason.

[dawkins20]

pretty much spot on with the thoughts TAZ

I will add this. I don't often take time to do this. I don't often give kudos to the opposition. But damn the Vikings crowd was freakin 4 hours of LOUD! and damn if their defense did not come to play. There was very little room for error. And while some may say our offense struggled. I disagree. I think our offense persevered through a very tough defense all game long. They did just enough to get the job done and Akers took care of the rest.

Ditto that Minnesota O-Line. They tired late, but they played well IMHO

that is the second best defense we faced this year. Better than Pittsburgh and better than the Giants or Skins. Ravens were the best

[Vet Turf]

I will try to stay on topic.....

McNabb had a good game yesterday against a very good defense. Look at the two teams: very good defenses, great Rbs. While the spec teams aren't exactly equal, the difference maker was McNabb v Jackson.

For all of those looking to kick this guy out of town, consider the alternative in an unproven talent. How much is a qb of McNabb's talent worth? Just look to the pats who according to rumors are going to franchise Cassell. The Pats are willing to lock up BIG dollars on two qbs that are proven commodities. Meanwhile some people here in Philly are willing to kick McNabb to the curb and roll the dice with Kolb. I just don't get it. Does McNabb frustrate me? Hell yes but consider the alternative and if you are thinking rationally about it, Lurie needs to resign him this off-season for 4-5 more years and Kolb be damned if he is unhappy about it.

[Rossovich]

For the ones who think our O struggled. Which teams O looked good this weekend? Who played mistake free? The best defenses are usually in the playoffs. That makes it tough to sustain drives. The Vikes came to play. I thought our O did one hell of a job. Esp. when backed up twice deep in their own end. With the noise & the Vikes D, the O moved the ball well out of trouble & proceeded to flip the position on the Vikes by pinning them deep. These were 2 major series, points or no points. Vikes O may not be all that, but giving them a 40 yard field would be a difference maker.

[Flying Dutchman]

I read a quote somewhere this morning, that Bradley took the blame for Peterson's run on himself. He said he hit his A gap too fast and somehow that had an effect on the B gap which Peterson ran through. Can't say that I understand it clearly. He also said it was their staying in their gaps in the second half that contributed to the shutdown of the Visqueens.

[Eagle60]

McNabb made some incredible throws on 3rd down, especially when the Birds were pinned deep in their own territory. When all was said and done, he was the difference yesterday.

[BIGPHILLY]

The two big throws to Avant backed up in his own endzone were otherworldly. Only 4-5 QB's make those passes with that pressure in the league.

Period.

[FRESH]

Agreed, McNabb made some clutch throws yesterday. And the biggest diference between teh Vikes and the Eagles is at the QB position. Jackson may be a decent QB one day, but he is not on McNabb's level.....and probably never will be.

The Vikes have nothing to hang their heads about, they came to play. They were simply outmatched by a better QB, and better STs.

[MDFAN]

I will try to stay on topic.....

McNabb had a good game yesterday against a very good defense. Look at the two teams: very good defenses, great Rbs. While the spec teams aren't exactly equal, the difference maker was McNabb v Jackson.

For all of those looking to kick this guy out of town, consider the alternative in an unproven talent. How much is a qb of McNabb's talent worth? Just look to the pats who according to rumors are going to franchise Cassell. The Pats are willing to lock up BIG dollars on two qbs that are proven commodities. Meanwhile some people here in Philly are willing to kick McNabb to the curb and roll the dice with Kolb. I just don't get it. Does McNabb frustrate me? Hell yes but consider the alternative and if you are thinking rationally about it, Lurie needs to resign him this off-season for 4-5 more years and Kolb be damned if he is unhappy about it.

The two big throws to Avant backed up in his own endzone were otherworldly. Only 4-5 QB's make those passes with that pressure in the league.

Period.

Good posts!

[MDFAN]

For the ones who think our O struggled. Which teams O looked good this weekend? Who played mistake free? The best defenses are usually in the playoffs. That makes it tough to sustain drives. The Vikes came to play. I thought our O did one hell of a job. Esp. when backed up twice deep in their own end. With the noise & the Vikes D, the O moved the ball well out of trouble & proceeded to flip the position on the Vikes by pinning them deep. These were 2 major series, points or no points. Vikes O may not be all that, but giving them a 40 yard field would be a difference maker.

I read a quote somewhere this morning, that Bradley took the blame for Peterson's run on himself. He said he hit his A gap too fast and somehow that had an effect on the B gap which Peterson ran through. Can't say that I understand it clearly. He also said it was their staying in their gaps in the second half that contributed to the shutdown of the Visqueens.

2 more real good posts!

[sfphillyfan]

Tavaris Jackson is a horrible QB. Truly horrible. They have a good defense and AP is the best RB in the league. Chester Taylor is a great 1-2 punch.

If they had a QB even at like Matt Hasselbeck levels, they'd be scary. Thankfully they dont!