After the Eagles 2-3 start, I speculated that they would be able to win their next 3 games and be 5-3 heading into a big primetime showdown with the Giants. The Eagles completed that task today, beating the Seahawks 26-7 in Seattle.
The game looked well on its way to being a disaster in the 1st quarter when Seneca Wallace hit Koren Robinson on a 90 yard TD strike and Donovan McNabb was displaying all of his bad qualities, including an inexcusable interception in the end zone.
However, after that interception, the defense held, and the Eagles (and Brent Celek!) were completely dominant the rest of the way. Here’s how the game looked from a statistical perspective after the McNabb interception:
Eagles outscore Seahawks 26-0
McNabb: 25 for 32 (78.1%), 292 Yards, 2 TD, completing passes to 10 different receivers, including Todd Herremans
Seattle Rushing Yards: 84
Seattle Passing Yards: 46
The Eagles outclassed the over-matched Seahawks, but the main concern coming out of the game was once again the Eagles’ inability to finish off drives and put the ball in the end zone. Their last 4 scores were all field goals, and while it was good to see Akers look like his old self, the team will need to capitalize on every opportunity they have against the Giants next week.
The Eagles are at 5-3 and have beaten some good teams in the Falcons and Steelers, and really, if they figured out how to gain a yard against the Bears, would be 6-2. They haven’t been dominated in any game, but have looked dominant in several, and I am confident they can beat anyone on any given day. This upcoming week against the Giants will be a good barometer of what we should expect from the team moving forward. A win could give us some serious momentum, and a loss would put a lot of pressure on us in the following games.
With Dallas’ loss, the Eagles are no longer in last place, but even though they are on pace for a 10-6 season, they are currently on the outside looking in in the playoff race. The Giants (7-1), Bears (5-3), Panthers (6-2) and Cardinals (5-3) are division leaders, the Redskins (6-2) and Bucs (6-3) are the wild card leaders and the Birds (5-3) and Falcons (5-3) and Cowboys (5-4) looking in.
For better or worse, the Eagles control their own destiny in their division with 2 games against the Giants, and 1 against the Cowboys and Redskins. They need to at least split those 4 games and then go 3-1 against the Bengals, Browns, Ravens and Cardinals to finish at 10-6. Whether they play like the first quarter or the last three today will decide how they end up. Their first big test comes Sunday night at the Linc.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Eagles O-line provided good protection. Seahawk D-line was undermanned, looked small in comparison. Once 1st quarter expired, McNabb threw well from a comfort zone.
Tight ends: 8 for 141 yds (what in the name of Raymond Chester was going on?); that might get Giants’ attention.
Westbrook’s energy will probably rise next week vs. turnpike rival; I expect him to have a stellar game. Today seemed like a scrimmage, a foregone conclusion. Credit Eagles for taking care of business.
The #’s looked good for the birds in this game but I didn’t get to watch it. I got the Giants Cowboys game up here in New England and it looks like next week’s game will be TOUGH. The Giants D looks better and better even without all their injured star lineman. Spag’s really has them playing well in NY. Hopefully we beat them to stay in the wild card race.
Looks like the end of LJ in philly. Celek proved he can be a starting TE in the NFL
Seems Andy needs some new red zone plays, the Giants are REALLY stingy.
Even though we won we have to play better then that to beat on a good team. Seattle QB is junk and so was their D. We can not just get field goals next week or we will loose. Eli, I hate to say it, is playing at a high level and or D cant have the 90 yard mistake at the start of the game again. I hope that LJ is reduced to the sidelines so we can see Celek to continue to start. But heck Ill take a win anyday. go Birds.
It seems as though we have seen this team play at both a high and low level this season. There are obvious weaknesses that need to be addressed (short yardage/goal line), but it seems as though they are working on that as evidenced by the QB sneak by McNabb on 4th down and the Herremans TD. This week will be a sort of fork in the road to either compete for the division, or scrap it out for a wildcard spot to get into the playoffs. It will be a good game regardless and I am still waiting for Eli to show that he is the lesser talented Manning brother.
On another note, anyone else attend the parade on friday? Thoughts? Comments? Opinions?
I got stuck waiting for the Septa regional rail for 2 hours watching full trains whiz by, when we were only the 2nd stop on the route. Ended up calling a cab and getting down without issue. Septa should be ashamed of themselves and someone should be demoted for their lack of planning. When the mayor tells everyone to take public transportation, and then Septa says to find alternate routes at their time to shine, that is just embarassing. I feel sorry for the countless fans who didn’t make it down because they didn’t expect to need a plan B.