How would they come out? The Eagles had coasted into the postseason over their last four regular-season games, playing two at half-speed (Redskins, Cowboys) and two at preseason speed (Rams, Bengels), and losing their prime offensive weapon, Terrell Owens, in the process. They had another week off after that, so by the time yesterday’s game rolled around, the starters hadn’t played for real in five weeks. How could they be sharp after that much time off?
Well, the Eagles answered all questions yesterday. They came out like a revved-up hot rod, all shiny and polished, wheels gleaming, engine purring deeply and sweetly, ready to ride.
Jevon Kearse was everywhere, coming at the quarterback from all directions with arms flailing.
Jeremiah Trotter looked like a cartoon character who had gotten so mad that tea-kettle steam screamed out of his ears. The Ax-Man was a force of nature out there.
Brian Westbrook was like a tuned-up Porsche hitting a stretch of fresh black pavement for the first time. This guy packs three dekes into a split second.
Donnie Mac just sat back and chilled with that big smile of his, relaxed and confident, having a good time.
FredEx finally put up the deeds to match the words. By the time he busted out the belt in the end zone, Philly was 100% behind him. We now know that 4th and 26th was not an anomaly: the guy can make big plays, and no one in this town forgets a playoff touchdown, especially not one as wild and wooly as that fumble recovery he had yesterday in the end zone. He delivered.
Brian Dawkins looks like he was chiseled out of stone. You know he has some kind of digital readout on the inside of that visor. And check it out: these guys had so much time off that they started blogging.
And how about this tackle, huh? Seconds after this photo was taken, Dawkins ripped off Marcus Robinson’s head and fed it to the hungry Philly crowd. Wiz wit!!
Ike Reese intercepted one of Culpepper’s passes by knocking it straight up into the air like a volleyball player digging out a spike, then catching it and running. Lito Sheppard, Sheldon Brown, Rod Hood, and Michael Lewis all shackled the Vikes receivers without drawing significant penalties.
Dorsey Levens was a hammer, coming out play after play to bang up the middle.
And Andy Reid. What more can you say about this guy? What a coach. Given a 12-1 team, how do you get it to the playoffs in primed shape? It’s a tough proposition–you don’t want your players to get hurt, but if you take your foot off the gas, the team could lose its intensity. Reid succeeded in getting this team into the game from the first second of play; he also composed an offensive strategy that just decimated the Vikings. They started Westbrook out as a wide receiver to begin the game, dazzling the Vikings and forcing them into double coverage, just like they would have had to put on T.O. Then, in the fourth quarter, he was a back again, carving out eleven yard gains on first down. The Eagles spread the ball, with all of the receivers–Greg Lewis, Pinkie, and FredEx, getting in on the action.
That was an AWESOME game. If this is rusty, the Falcons had better watch they ass.
5 Comments on "In Pursuit: The Eagles Get Out on the Road"
Jeff Allred:
Well said, Matt, though your writing on the Eagles is more natty than tattered. I would like to add that FredEx gave my favorite soundbite of the season after the game. Wearing a bowtie (designed by OLB Dhani Jones, no doubt), he said “I’d like to thank my hands for helping out.” With lines like that, he’ll have his own talkshow before long. I’d also like to note that, but for several big breaks the Vikings got– Freddie’s goalline fumble, McNabb’s highly unusual brain fart at the end of the half, etc.– the score would have been much worse. And I think you could have rubbed in Moss’s quiet game a little more. He’s an unbelieveable player, and of course he wasn’t at full speed, but the ankle doesn’t explain his mental gaffes: the hilarious walkoff during the fake field goal, the bipolar shifts from trashtalking to pouting alone on the bench, the two embarrasing drops. With apologies to Deion Sanders, Randy is not ready for Prime Time.
As for Vick, the Falcons did look like the real deal this weekend, but the Rams team they blew out is even more embarrassing on defense than the Vikings. I recommend that any Eagles fans who are quaking at the prospect of playing Vick watch footage of the 2002 game, in which the Eagles defense pounded him flatter than a nice Wienerschnitzel. And the guy really hasn’t gotten any better at reading defenses. We’re gonna blanket their shitty receivers, contain Vick with our speedy ends/backers, and find a way to score some points against a pretty good defense. Next stop: Jacksonville.
Matt:
thanks for visiting the site, Jeff. I agree with you that I should have rubbed Moss’ nose in it a little more. Maybe I was feeling a little sorry for him, though: listening to the WIP before the game, I heard Anthony Cataldi report about all the great signs Eagles fans had in the parking lot, like the one that referred to Moss as Buckwheat. Cataldi thought that was hilarious, missing the obvious racism that is the unfortunate underbelly of Philly sports fandom.
I also forgot to mention that Mike Tice is the definition of a lunkhead. The guy doesn’t know how to coach, and the botched fake FG is a perfect example of that. Another example is that they went for it on 4th and 22 in the third quarter (or early fourth), but punted at 4th and 3 towards the end of the game. Granted, in the second instance they were at their own 25, but still, I think another coach would have gone for it at that point. I think that Tice is one of the stupidest coaches out there–I’ve seen him throw challenges just because the crowd is yelling at him.
My hope is that the conditions of next Sunday’s game will be much like they were at Foxboro yesterday–and just as the Patriots shut down the warm-weather Colts offense in the snow, that tenacious Philly D (excuse both the cliche and the Jack Black reference) will hammer Vick into the ground.
Damn, I love looking at those pictures I put up. That Dawkins one is insane.
Jim Groom:
Three years running - CHOKE CITY! It should be Donovan McChokeartist, because that is what he and his Eagles do best. The nerves run high in Philadelphia because, as history has proven, the NFC Championship is as far as this team can go.
So, put your money on Vick and N.E. - don’t fight what has already been predetermined.
The Redbaiters
Matt:
Just because your Jets couldn’t bring themselves to win the second playoff game in a row that had been handed to them on a silver platter, you don’t have to take it out on us. Talk about a choke! It’s bad luck when your kicker chokes once in a game…but twice?
That last Pittsburgh drive down the field in overtime was pretty humiliating–the Steelers went at the Jets defense like Hugh Grant on a tranvestite, and the vaunted NY D didn’t even put up a fight.
You and I both know that Donovan McNabb is not the reason the Eagles lost the last three years. Just wait until Sunday–the man is going to show you what playoff football is all about!
Communist!
Matt:
hey jimmy,
here’s a link for ya (courtesy of Paul Katcher: EBAY: Doug Brien’s Head on a Silver Platter
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