The Pundit says goodbye to Andy and Donovan

Before Sunday’s game against the Ravens, I was going to write a post about how it was time for all of Philadelphia to give up any hope for the Eagles. How, whenever we give up on our teams in the middle of the year, they seem to suddenly rebound and make magic happen. Remember Jeff Garcia? How about the Sixers in the second half of last year? Or the Phillies two seasons ago, when they were down 7 games to the Mets with 17 to go? I don’t know what it is, but if our team is within arm’s length of success, but has routinely been falling short of reaching it, what always seems to propel them the final distance is the complete lack of faith our city places in them.

What a crazy, mixed up town we call home.

I was going to compare it to a section in the book Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, which, if you haven’t read, I highly recommend. Awesome book. Anyway, there was a section about flying, and the general gist was that the only way humans could actually fly was if you forgot you were falling. (Editor’s note: And the only way you will forget you are falling is by taking a few too many tabs of acid). Like I said, it’s an awesome book. The Eagles are the opposite: they fly, or “succeed,” when we assume all is lost.

So maybe Hitchhiker’s Guide was making a more poignant and optimistic evaluation of human behavior…whatever.

I guess there was a reason I never wrote that post – the reason being that, in all reality, all hope is lost. Seriously. It’s over. Everything…is…over. The Donovan McNabb era is over. The Andy Reid era is over. This season is lost. This is not an underhanded attempt to somehow send weird karma the Eagles way to save the season – there is no longer a season to save. Even if the Eagles win out, they will be 10-5-1, which probably would still get them in. But honestly – does anybody think they’ll win out with games against the Cardinals, Giants, Redskins and Cowboys, all in the playoff hunt, still on the schedule? I sure as hell don’t.

I mean, Kevin Kolb came out to start the second half! For those of you who somehow missed the implication of the previous statement, I will repeat myself: Kevin Kolb came out to start the second half! Andy Reid said that nobody’s job was safe, but I never thought I’d see the day that he would bench number 5. I suppose 8-18 with two picks and a fumble will do the trick, but this was as symbolic to me as anything else.

Think about it for a second. You are the Eagles, and you aren’t sure how much longer you will have McNabb as your quarterback. You have a young backup in place, but you really don’t know anything about him. The season seems to be slipping into oblivion, and your head coach benched the incumbent, who has started painfully slow every game, and hasn’t showed the ability to lead a team to victory in the tight games.

Think you might want to know how good the backup is before you start the next season?

After all, you may still be able to get some value for McNabb in a trade this offseason. If Kolb doesn’t have the look of a winner in the next couple of games, you can start to explore other options at QB. And, perhaps most importantly, you can see how Kolb fits into Reid’s system, and determine whether or not Mr. Reid has a future with this team.

And, though it pains me to say it, I don’t think he should. The system just isn’t working anymore.

It’s time to move on.

Not all was bleak from today. The defense, though it will never show it on the scoreboard because of the all of the points derived from turnovers, played well. DeSean Jackson, if he works his butt off, will be a very, very good receiver in this league. Brian Westbrook will get healthy once more. There are many bright spots on this team – for next season. But, barring a miraculous turn-around, the likes of which I have never yet seen, this year is over. Let’s see what Kolb has going on. At the end of the year, let’s ship McNabb out. (Editor’s note: Rant, during the game today, asked me what I thought was going through McNabb’s head after he had been benched. I answered, “Hmmmm…Minnesota, or Chicago?”) At the end of the year, let’s respectfully move on from the Andy Reid era. Maybe we could bring Steve Spagnola back into the fold, who knows?

But it’s all over. Seriously. Normally, I would chalk up my negativity to a bad loss, but this feels worse. Deeper. Like something ended today, something that we can’t get back. So surrender all hope. Throw in the towel. Forget you are falling. This time, I don’t think we are going to recover. (Editor’s note: You’re really bringing me down, Pundit).

It was a great ten years, and I’ll miss you, Andy and Donovan. But I think it’s time to say our farewells.

Farewell.

The Pundit’s game notes from one of the worst Eagles games ever

From the Editor: The Pundit is so enraged right now by the effort displayed by the Eagles offense in their 13-13 tie, he only submitted his unedited notes from the game and said, “Here – you deal with this.” Thanks, Pundit. Here are his slightly edited notes, just in case you felt like reliving the train wreck that was this game.

Another three and out to start the game – McNabb throws high to Westbrook on a short swing route than overthrows an open Curtis in the middle of the field which would have given the Eagles a first down.

I just saw Joselio Hanson in the game – but not Lito Sheppard. Why?

Two straight three and outs. Spectacular start.

Engagement ring commercials are so sad – they always make it seem like the woman is super excited about getting the ring, not about getting married -“sure, he’s a questionable guy to settle down with, but look at this rock – I had to say yes!”

Good job by the Eagles defense of knocking the Bengals out of field goal range after they had the ball around the thirty – a sack by Trent Cole and then Joselio Hanson on a delayed blitz

McNabb gets sacked trying to scramble, fumbles the ball, and Frostee Rucker picks it up, takes it to the 1 yard line. If I was a drug dealer, my alias would be Frostee – ‘cuz I’m the snow man, bitches! I makes it rain ‘cuz I makes it snow, ya dig? (Editor’s note: Oh dear God…)

Good job by the Eagles defense of bailing out McNabb and holding the Bengals to a field goal after they started with the ball on the 1 yard line.

The Eagles had three yards of offense in the first quarter – I repeat, three fucking yards of offense in the first quarter.

Nice screen play to Buckhalter, 44 yarder. I heart Correll Buckhalter. (Editor’s note: Feeling a little fruity there, Pundit?)

Wow. L.J. Smith is actually involved in the offense early on in the game.

David Akers hits a field goal longer than 40 yards! A 42 yarder! Whooo!

Thank God for Trent Cole – already two sacks in this game.

Antonio Chatman gets JACKED UP on a wideout screen and fumbles, which is recovered by Darren Howard. Way to earn that paycheck, buddy.

Eagles complete a pass with 2:25 left on the clock in the first half, and allow it to run into the 2 minute warning. Granted, they have the ball on the 50 yard line, but is this good clock management? Should they have tried to get another play off before the 2 minute warning?

McNabb throws a pick right to Bengals linebacker Brandon Johnson. He was trying to loft one on a seam route to L.J. Smith – an absolutely awful, awful pass that cost the Eagles at least a field goal, and may set the Bengals up for one of their own

Bengals get a touchdown out of McNabb’s interception – specccccctacular. Fitzpatrick does a nice job adjusting to and beating the blitz, hits T.J. Whateverhislastnameis on a post route, who was being covered by Joselio Hanson. Was Lito on the field?

After Shayne Graham puts the kickoff out of bounds, Donovan throws a nice pass to DeSean Jackson to get the Eagles in field goal range – then a McNabb pass bounces off of Kevin Curtis’ shoulder and into the hands of the Bengals. Looked as though Donovan’s throw caught Curtis off guard, which seems to be a timing thing.

Thus concludes perhaps the worst, most pathetic half of football I have ever watched the Eagles play – I am disgusted right now. (Editor’s note: You don’t say).

We begin where we left off – Demps bobbles the kickoff, Eagles to start their first drive on the 11.

And the Eagles go three and out to start the half – I would be having a better time getting a root canal then I am having watching this game.

Talking about Fitzpatrick and his Harvard education, Goose says “Hey, Harvard – they teach a lot of stuff there.” Thanks for that Ivy League insight, Goose.

Shayne Graham field goal, 13-3 lead for the Bengals. I repeat: 13-3 lead for the 1-8 Bengals. Unbelievable.

Good job by McNabb scrambling, nice pass to Hank Baskett, who does a great job running with the ball after the catch. Another big play for Hank, who seems to be good for 1 or 2 of them a game. Big 57 yards, maybe that will wake up this offense.

Touchdown pass to L.J. smith, Eagles do a nice job answering the field goal with a touchdown of their own, and maybe, just maybe we’re back in this game.

Eagles defense has played well, granted against the Bengals. They three and out the Bengals offense once again.

Another terrible interception by McNabb, trying for the seam to L.J. again, who was being blanketed. A really awful throw by McNabb.

Bengals go for it on 4 and 16 at the Eagles 33 – they obviously didn’t want to go for the field goal there, but why not punt it?

McNabb almost throws another interception! What the fuck is wrong with him today? (Editor’s note: Must not have had his Chunky Soup).

Chris Clemons gets a sack – I forgot he was on the Eagles.

Curtis is wide open, drops a perfect pass. Goose says it best: “That was just really bad placement – right in the hands”

Ohmigod, ohmigod, ohmigod – the Eagles converted a fourth and short on a McNabb quarterback sneak! I am so happy right now!

Akers ties it at 13. Oh man, we are set up for a super exciting finish – actually, I just think I’ll be super excited when this game ends. (Editor’s note: Amen to that, brotha).

The Bengals get a delay of game call on a fake punt. Ahahahahahahahahahaha, to be a Bengals fan must be so painful on a daily basis.

Eagles punt the ball with 2 minutes left, then three and out the Bengals, breaking up two passes, only 16 seconds came off of the clock. If it weren’t for a stellar defensive effort today, and the fact that we’re playing the Bengals, the Eagles would have gotten crushed today based upon their offensive effort. (Editor’s note: I don’t know if it was intended, but there is definitely a double entendre on the word “offensive” today).

Eagles proceed to waste only 22 seconds, go three and out, hooray. Though, on the third and ten, Westbrook got basically tackled before the ball got to him by, of all fucking people, Dhani Jones – aggggghhhhhhhh!

Chris Clemons makes another play, decking the running back during a screen pass – when did we pick him up? Oh, we signed him to a huge deal in the offseason? Riiiiiiigggghhhhht. (Editor’s note: In all seriousness, though, Clemons did play a nice game for the Eagles today).

Eagles get their 7^th sack of the game, and the Bengals go 3 and out once again – thank you for your efforts, defense. If the Eagles win, you get all the credit.

Oh man, I am so excited right now – this unbelievably exciting game is going to overtime! I could watch football of this caliber for days and days and days at a time. Now if you’ll excuse me, I am going to go find some rope and a high ceiling.

Why did “Nugget Alert” just pop up on the bottom-left of my television screen? Is Goose getting baked on the sidelines? Mmmmmmm…baked goose.

The Bengals, inexplicably, try to run the ball on a third and six play. Bad audible by Fitzpatrick. Thank God we are playing the Bengals today.

Suddenly, the Eagles can’t stop getting penalties. Unreal. We’ve cost ourselves, during the second offensive drive of the overtime, 20 yards, without counting the 15 yard play that was negated by Kevin Curtis’ offensive pass interference. Ugly, ugly football being played today by this offense.

Sav Rocca’s punts have been absolutely atrocious today. I am just so angry and ornery right now – this game has not been good for my blood pressure. (Editor’s note: If you don’t have anything nice to say…)

Asante Samuel makes another solid play, breaking up a pass to The Human Being Formerly Known as Chad Johnson, setting up a huge 3rd and 11 for the Bengals.

Huuuuuge sack by Darren Howard, the Birds’ 8^th of the game, and they will get the ball back with a chance to FINALLY win this damn game.

And the Eagles fucking blow it and go fucking three and out – again! I am so infuriated right now – I’m hate typing right now. It’s the only positive way I can release all of my rage. If I were to see a bald eagle flying around right now, I’d shoot it out of the sky. That’s how pissed I am at this Eagles team, specifically their offense right now.

I am so sick and tired of the unnecessary roughing the passer penalties that are littering every NFL game. They called one on Sheldon Brown on a perfectly legitimate hit, which put the Bengals in field goal range – unacceptable. This roughing the passer business needs to be seriously discussed in the offseason.

And Shayne Graham misses what would have been a game winning, 47 yard field goal attempt. Does anybody want to win this game?

And thus ends a 13-13 tie. Honestly, this was one of, if not the worst football game I have ever watched. Anything positive I had previously posted about the eagles making the postseason pretty much just went out the window. Playoff teams don’t play 13-13 games against 1-8 football teams. BOOOOOOOO!!!

Rants, Raves and Notes – Talkin’ some football

Ryan Jacobs

α: When Roger Goodell came into the league, many people (like me), were curious as to how this man was going to run, arguably, the best structured professional sporting league in the world. Goodell had many issues to deal with from the moment that he took the reins from Paul Tagliabue. One of the more prominent issues he needed to address was player misconduct. Well, Goodell came riding in on an iron horse and smashed the league back into order under his moral and ethically guided system of rules. (Editor’s note: What is an iron horse?) He sent Michael Vick to trial, suspended Pacman Jones for an entire season, and Chris Henry for half a year. I thought the guy had some balls. Coming into this league and making so many statements impressed me and others across the land. It seemed like the league had found a young king to lead their organization into a new era.

Things have changed a little bit since Goodell’s first year though. Nowadays, players are getting fined the equivalent of an Acura for simply questioning calls made by officials. The latest of these came when Randy Moss was fined 20 grand for claiming that some of the calls made by the officials during their week 9 loss to the Colts were “iffy”. In comparison to some of the things muttered by Moss in the past, this was child’s play (and probably shouldn’t have made headlines). I couldn’t fucking believe it! I mean, get real, man! 20 G’s for that? You’re off your flippin’ rocker! (Editor’s note: Now, let’s not go throwing stones…) Fortunately, the fine was later rescinded by league officials who actually have a fucking brain in their skulls, but the message was clear: The NFL League Office no longer recognizes the First Amendment of the United States Constitution….you know, the one about free speech and all, especially when the comment is made in defense of your team. Unbelievable. (Editor’s note: I plead the fiff!)

I mean, if you cannot make critical statements against blown calls, then you’re saying that referees are perfect. And if you’ve been paying attention to the NFL this year, you know there have been a slew of poor calls that have screwed many teams; and think, we just only passed the halfway mark in the season. I know it must be tough for refs, what with all of the hell they take for bad calls (Editor’s note: And those silly uniforms). But this is how I see it: you’re making good money officiating football games and you know you’re gonna be under heat for some of the calls that you and your crew make. If you aren’t ready to step up to the damn plate, then don’t even bother driving to the stadium, because it’s a war zone out there. (Editor’s note: Wait, who called Kellen Winslow, Jr?)

β: The…Eagles…are…killing…me; soooo painful watching them play. They hang around in games just long enough to make you think they might win, only to let you down. The thing about this team is that they don’t have swagger. They seem like they’re hungry, and I applaud them for that, but they just don’t have the mentality and tenacity to make them a Superbowl-caliber team. Losing to the Giants may have slid the cover over the coffin; now we’re all just waiting for another team to come along and put the nails in. My friend The Pundit would argue that all 4 of the Eagles’ losses came by a combined 19 points, and all were very tight contests. However, I see a team that can’t win the close ones; a team that doesn’t have what it takes to get them over the top when they need it most. (Editor’s note: Like that friend you have that is always talking to a girl by the end of the night, but can never close). And this is the regular season, people – while everyone is considering whether or not it’s feasible to consider a playoff run, we don’t even have the intensity to win in our division yet, let alone the postseason.

The Pundit would argue that we could right this ship and get hot, and he could be onto something there. I’ve seen mediocre Eagles teams of the past collect themselves at the halfway mark and make a playoff run. But for whatever reason, I don’t feel it with this team, though I’d be lying if I said I totally felt it with those other teams. I feel like this Eagles team is writing the final words in a long chapter while getting ready to turn the page and start a new saga. There’s no doubt that this team needs some youth and some fresh faces in key positions. With all else said, I think our window of opportunity closed last season and I think it’s time to move on to the Kolb era. (Editor’s note: Or, the Kolb error. Who knows?)

I never thought I’d find myself saying that, as I love and respect Donovan McNabb more than I feel a lot of people do. A lot of people love to take turns shitting on McNabb (Editor’s note: Now playing for the Cleveland Steamers, number 5…), which I have often disagreed with. McNabb has been the best quarterback this city has ever seen and it will be like breaking up with a serious girlfriend when he goes. And even though he is still playing well, he’s going to get run out of town sooner than later. Sorry buddy, it’s been good having you. But if this season ends in disappointment (and with 2 first round picks), I see the Eagles making significant personnel changes (which might mean you too, Dawkins…sniff, sniff).

γ: So Barack Obama will be the next president of the United States of America. Like the young people around me, I am glad that change is “coming to Washington”. I liked Obama even more when he said that it’s about time to change college football to a playoff system. Bravo, Mr. President Elect! Bravo! And here’s a guy who has the power to do such a thing. I’m not saying he would even challenge such a thing, as the billions of dollars raked in by the greedy fucks in charge of the BCS is enough to keep most people away. But if the president decides to do something, I’d be behind him. (Editor’s note: Oh, I think it’s more likely that he’d be behind you, Jacobs…Oh, SNAP!)

So I ask you, dear readers, would it be just as bad if President Obama set the dogs loose on the BCS? I don’t think he should waste his time worrying about College Football, though I would like to see the BCS revoked. Arash Markazi has a great article about Obama and the whole college football playoff situation posted under his “For the Record” column in the Fannation section of SI.com.

δ: It’s been circulating that Al Davis stripped the Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Knapp of his play calling duties this week. While I can’t say the Raiders are good at doing anything, Davis is just causing more damage to, quite possibly, the NFL’s worst run organization. As one source said, “Knapp just happened to be the next in line scapegoat”. Keep in mind that Davis previously relegated play calling to Knapp even before the Lane Kiffin debacle began. The Raiders need help from everything from player personnel to coaching to the food they serve at the training facility cafeteria. (Editor’s note: Al Davis is a huge fan of baby food). But my vote goes to banishing Al Davis from the Raiders as the most important factor to turning things around in Oakland.

ε: USC has outscored its opponents 339-60 en route to an 8-1 record. Their defense has allowed more than 10 points only once: their loss at Oregon State when they gave up 28. USC is allowing an NCAA low 206.4 yard and 6.7 points per game. They blanked 3 of their opponents, and their average points allowed per game has steadily decreased as the season has wore on. Now, I’m not one to hype up USC, and I usually end up arguing with The Pundit over the validity of their defense, (Editor’s note: If I may attempt to rephrase his argument, I believe The Pundit often claims that USC’s defense is so good this year because the Pac-10 is sooooo bad), but USC looks scary right now. Everybody is giving Florida way more credit in the “one-loss contender” argument, especially because they play in the SEC. But USC is beating up on its weak conference the way it should be if it wants to be allowed back into the national title race. They are a good football team.

ζ: The Wildcat Formation. It’s the new rage in the NFL and it’s caught the eye of every coach and coordinator. The idea of getting one of your fastest and shiftiest playmakers behind center to run a zone-option read play is the new big thing. (Editor’s note: The Wildcat is the new black). After I saw the ‘Iggles do it with DeSean Jackson (and it led to a touchdown) against the Giants, I knew something was up. Could it be that coaches are taking something from the college game? Nahhhhhh, couldn’t be. I mean, to say that you dipped into college football playbooks would simply be barbaric, right? (Editor’s note: Andy Reid like DeSean Jackson. Andy get him ball anyway he can. Andy hungry now. Andy want food. Lots of food.). The coaches would be ashamed if people knew they had dropped to a lower level of football for inspiration. I personally think it’s great; just another way to get the ball in the hands of your playmakers. I think it’s time that NFL coaches start taking chances on plays college football teams are more likely to risk.

I’m Ryan Jacobs, and I approve this posting.

The Pundit finally writes about the Sixers…no, wait, he’s just more interested in the Eagles, like everyone else

So, I was planning on writing a  tongue-in-cheek post about how the Sixers aren’t playing really well because no one cares about them yet, and won’t until the Eagles are done for the year. I was going to joke about how they were like a little kid who gets in trouble when Mom and Dad aren’t around, but behave well once they are. I was going to reference the slow start last year, and it was going to be a fine and dandy post.

But I’d rather just write about the Eagles.

Chad Johnson: An Eagle in 2009?

I mean, it sounds like he’d be down. An excerpt from the Philly Inquirer today:

But you can’t put it past McNabb, or for that matter Johnson, for trying to lay some groundwork for 2009. Johnson is under contract with the Bengals through 2011, and while they weren’t willing to trade Johnson this past off-season, one never knows what will happen after this season.

“I’ve always been a fan of [McNabb], and especially Philly,” Johnson said. “The fans in Philly are the real deal, and that would be a real joy to give them a treat.”

So are you back to saying you want to get traded, Chad?

“Oh, yeah. OK. Next question,” Johnson said.

Could I get into seeing The Human Being Formerly Known as Chad Johnson playing for the Eagles? Um, yeah, I suppose I could get used to the idea. But let’s be honest: the Eagles will go out and pick up a guy like Bobby Engram and be way, way too over hyped about the pick-up. Lorenzo Booker, anyone? Let’s be honest: we’ve all become totally jaded toward any personnel moves the Eagles make. Which is the perfect segue for the next boldfaced topic:

Is Andy Reid nearing his end?

Some people seem to think he should be. Like every radio host in Philadelphia not named Howard Eskin. And apparently, Jason Whitlock, who ranked Andy Reid as the worst coach in football this year. Wow.

Twice this season Reid has taken the game out of the hands of Donovan McNabb and tried to win at crunch time with his running game. Here’s a coach who loves to throw on damn near every down except when the game is on the line. I also blame Reid for the Eagles failing to trade a second-round draft pick for Tony Gonzalez. Other than the one season with Terrell Owens, McNabb has made a living throwing the ball to the James Thrashes of the world. It’s ridiculous. I’m convinced the Eagles don’t want to win it all.

Now, I haven’t exactly been pleased with Andy Reid and many of his decisions this year, and I wouldn’t have given up a number two for Tony Gonzalez (Editor’s note: I guess The Pundit doesn’t think his shit stinks or something). But the worst coach in the NFL? I think that is sheer mularky. I mean, what about the amazing job Rod Marinelli has done in Detroit? Or Wade Phillips in Dallas, who has a whole lot more talent to work with than Reid does. Go ahead, make the Romo argument – they are still playing like a team of uncontested egos that lack a strong, central leader to guide their ship. Listen, I don’t think Andy should be the GM, but I’m not ready to give up on him yet as a coach. Are his two-minute drills atrocious? Yeah, they are. Should they be running the ball more? Hmmm, funny I should ask:

Are the Eagles starting to get tired of their one-dimensional offense?

Well, at least one prominent Eagle, Brian Westbrook, thinks they should be running the ball more consistently.

Westbrook said the Eagles don’t always show enough commitment to running plays when things are going poorly.

“We don’t always have it, no,” he said. “At some points in some games, we have it. At some points in other games, we don’t. I think there are situations at times when we probably should have more commitment to the run.”

– and –

“If you don’t get those carries, then you don’t really establish a rhythm,” Westbrook said. “It’s tough to do it with a couple carries here, a couple carries there.”

Listen: I guarantee you, Westbrook isn’t the only Eagle feeling this way. He’s just one of the guys, like McNabb, that is allowed to say these things. To me, this does not reflect well on the perception the players have of their head coach. They aren’t buying into his scheme, and to be frank, they shouldn’t be – it has been flawed. So, if the perception of the head coach from the fans, the national media, the local media, and the players isn’t positive, um, how secure is Mr. Reid? James Beale over at The Sports Complex makes a valid point:

Jeffrey Lurie is a man concerned about his image and the image of his team.  With fans clamoring for Reid’s head – and prominent national columnists joining the fight – barring an appearance in the NFC championship game, Reid won’t make it to next season.

I think Reid is safe if this team makes the playoffs, but if they fail to do that, he could be in trouble. Do I think Jeffrey Lurie will be loyal to the man that led the Eagles to 4 NFC Championship games? Yeah, probably. Do I think he’ll let the guy who drafted Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook, Trent Cole, Lito Sheppard, Sheldon Brown, Shawn Andrews and DeSean Jackson remain as the team’s GM? Probably, though I really think Andy should just focus on coaching. I was waiting to see how long things would get back to normal after the Phillies won the World Series; I should have known a loss to the Giants would get us back into the swing of things.

Hey, at least if the ‘Iggles blow it, we’ve always got the Sixers and Flyers, right?

Are the Birds cooked? This Pundit isn’t convinced…

The radio hosts and their faithful lackeys will tell you that Andy Reid is washed up as a coach, that his scheme is outdated and his player personnel decisions are shaky, at best. He shouldn’t have been given the duel responsibility, and the harmful effects of that decision are rearing their ugly head this season.

Maybe they’re right.

They think that McNabb is washed up, that he can’t win the big game, his early inconsistency hurts us, and its time to see what Aaron Rodgers…cough, I’m sorry…Kevin Kolb can do.

Maybe they’re on to something.

They think that the defense is overmatched against good offenses, that our defensive line is too small, that we just can’t stop a good running attack.

They could be right about that.

They’re saying that our receivers are pretty terrible, with the exception of DeSean Jackson, and that we should have gotten Tony Gonzalez because our tight ends stink (Editor’s note: Hey, everybody’s shit stinks, you know?), and we just can’t run the ball when we really need to in short yardage situations.

Yeah, there’s probably truth in there, though I would never, ever give up anything higher than a 3rd round pick for Tony Gonzalez, and I’m not even sure if I would have given that up for an aging tight end. Trivia question: what round was Brian Westbrook drafted in? Oh, the third round – ahhh, I see what you did there, Pundit. (Editor’s note: Ohhhhhhh, snap. The Pundit always be playin’, yo).

Fact is, a lot of people are getting pretty fed up with this Eagles team. They’re inconsistent, they can’t seem to make the key plays to lock up a win, and in general, their games this year have often been maddening and frustrating and fickle – they’re like a teenage girl, for Chrissakes. They seem to be struggling with the identity they’ve been given by their parents (Andy Reid), but they don’t really know how to break out of it just yet, so their play becomes tempermental and inconsistent and difficult to watch.

But the Eagles have an advantage that we’re all ignoring – they are still a “pretty” team. They have guys like McNabb, who has shown glimpses of brilliance, and Brian Westbrook, who might be the best player in football, and DeSean Jackson, who is developing into a pretty good player. They have Trent Cole, who when not double-teamed is a force, and Asante Samuel, who has been extremely solid.

When everybody was talking, early in the season, about how the Cowboys were the NFC’s team to beat, the Eagles took them to the limit. They beat the Steelers, a team that, at this stage in the year, would be third in my Power Rankings of Pure Punditry, if I thought that ranking every team every week of the season came even close to being relevant or worth anyone’s time. (Editor’s note: However, a Power Rankings of Pure Punditry over the entire spectrum of the sporting world might be worth doing – stay tuned…)

Let’s take a quick look at the Eagles four losses this year. When they lost to the Cowboys, they were a team that was 100 percent and playing well. I think everyone deemed that an acceptable loss at the time. The Giants are 8-1; they are clicking on all cylinders; they just outplayed us, though we kept ourselves in a game we probably should have lost by a lot more. I judge this an acceptable loss, though certainly one that was frustrating as hell.

We didn’t play well against the Redskins, but they are a pretty good team, and you’ll lose games like that from time to time. Though, at some point, this team needs to beat a conference foe. The Bears loss was painful, they had ample opportunity to beat them, and they are just a better team than the Bears. That, to me, is the only completely unacceptable loss of the season. All four losses came by a combined 19 points, all under a touchdown, all games they had the chance to win.

You see, all is not lost, people.

The rest of the schedule is favorable. For the duration of November, we have the Bengals, the Ravens, and the Cardinals. The Bengals should be a no-brainer, and though I think the Ravens and Cardinals are good teams, the Eagles should beat them. I expect this team to win the next three games, and head into December at 8-4.

December will be when we find out what this team is really made of. They get the Giants again, followed by the Browns, the Redskins and the season finale with the Cowboys, a game that will proabably have playoff implications for both teams. We’ll assume the win against the Browns, which leaves the 3 games against the NFC East. Take 2 of 3, and you are sitting at 11-5 – hello, wildcard. Take 1 of 3, and you might be in, though you’d be 1-5 against the East, and would not have the tiebreaker against the Bears, which could hurt. 10-6 may be good enough on its own to get them in, though I don’t think I’d want to risk it. Lose 3 of 3, and enjoy all of the time you now have to go golfing.

With 7 games to go, this Eagles team could get hot. See, last year, when the Giants began their run to the Superbowl, a couple of things fell into place for them. They bought into Tom Coughlin’s system whole-heartedly, and started playing like a team. Eli Manning developed into a top-tier quarterback. Their defensive scheme and strengths happened to make them they only team in the NFL that actually had a shot to beat Tom Brady’s Patriots (able to generate a rush with only their front four, disguised a multitude of blitzes and coverages to keep Brady, Moss and Welker guessing, had a solid ground game that could chew up clock, had weapons of their own on offense like Plaxico Burress and a suddenly poised Manning that could score some points. Really, they were the perfect storm needed to beat last year’s Patriots).

For the Eagles, the same could happen, though a bit differently. Andy Reid and the offensive line could find a way to better utilize and execute a running game. Donovan could start showing up in the first quarter; I mean, honestly, if he played a consistent 4 quarters, was able to make a few more plays down the stretch, and got this team into the playoffs, he’d have had himself a pretty nice season. He’s already having a pretty good one – 2372 yards, 13 TD’s, 5 INT’s, a 90.7 QB rating. They need to find a way to convert short-yardage plays – it killed them against the Bears, and again against the Giants. Three-and-outs that chew up little or no clock tax the defense, and in turn, the defense needs to be able to consistently stop the other team’s running attack. The Giants absolutely gashed us. It was ugly.

So that’s it – the schedule is challenging, but one that can be conquered. Our issues exist, but they are not  beyond repair. This team still has a very good chance at making the playoffs, and if they get hot in a lukewarm NFC, they have a dreamer’s chance at making the Superbowl. I wouldn’t start making reservations, but I wouldn’t write this team off just yet, either.

Maybe them radio folks aren’t right at all.

Quick hits from the Eagles and Phillies

Eagles

– Juqua Parker, you are the man! Defensive player of the week, if you ask this Pundit. Obviously, the late interception and return for a touchdown sealed the game, but Parker also had a big sack and made an excellent play on a reverse that set the Niners back and forced a third and 18. That long down led to an interception by Mr. Mikell. Good job Mr. Parker – this team needed a spark today, and you provided it.

– Gotta hand the 49ers this – they had a great game plan for attacking the Eagles defense, one that worked for 3 quarters. They ran the ball well, used their hot reads, and did enough shifting to keep the Eagles off-balance. Excellent utilization of the TE’s, which appears to be the one position which the Birds continually have difficulty defending against.

– The defense did a solid job of keeping the Niners out of the endzone. Early in the game, after a long Allen Rossum punt return, the D kept San Fran out of the endzone. Another TD came on the field goal block at the end of the half. So really, the Eagles defense, when the Niners had to use the whole field, gave up 16 points, and they played huge in the 4th quarter. A good, though certainly not great, effort by the defense.

– A couple of really nice catches by Hank Baskett in the first half, including his spectacular touchdown reception. He has the natural ability to make some plays, but he is either inconsistent or the Eagles don’t construct enough of the game plan with him in mind, because his contributions this year have been sparse at best.

– Why, oh why, is any field goal attempt longer than 40 yards such an ordeal anymore? I was truly concerned that the block and touchdown return at the end of the first half was going to be the play that tilted the game in the Niners direction, and it almost was. I mean, Akers and this unit used to be automatic. I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again: bring back the beard, David. We need it!

– I don’t know if it was just me, but in the 2nd and 3rd quarters, the Eagles just looked flat. Emotionless. No heart. In the 1st and 4th quarters, they were sharp, precise, and passionate. This inconsistency in both emotion and execution really frightens me. You can get away with playing two good quarters against the 49ers, but not in the NFC East games.

– Correll Buckhalter, you are quickly becoming my favorite Eagle. You leave it on the field, and you never give an inch.

– Donovan McNabb had a solid game, save for the interception down by the endzone, which really wasn’t his fault. L.J. Smith loafed that route, and should have ran in front of Patrick Willis. As my old football coach used to say when he was enraged at a player, “THAT WAS A PISS POOR EFFORT. PISS POOR!”

– It was nice to see the Eagles utilizing more screen passes. I’ve felt as though they’ve gotten away from the screens a bit in the past weeks, and it has traditionally been a very effective play for Andy Reid. Keeps the defense on their toes, and allows the backs or TE’s to make plays in space. Actually, the Niners used the screen extremely well against the Eagles D. Mike Martz can draw himself up some offense.

– Frank Gore is a really impressive back. He is so hard to get to the ground, and when he gets that momentum going, look out – he’s gonna knock you in the teeth. That being said, he’s pretty nimble too. When healthy, he’s a top 5 back in this league.

– Alright! The Cowboys just lost to the Cardinals on a blocked punt for a touchdown in overtime. And the Skins lost on a last second field goal against the Rams. Niiiiiiiiiice.

– Dude, DeSean Jackson got lit up on a punt return. I mean, the guy clotheslined him. It looked like one of the overly dramatic and completely infeasible hits you’ll see in the movies. DeSean Jackson – you got JACKED UP!

Phillies

– I suppose I have to address the beanball aspect of this game to start. Can’t blame Shane for being pissed about having a ball thrown at his head, though I can’t blame the Dodgers for throwing at him, especially after Manny Being Manny had one thrown behind him in game two, and Russell Martin had one whizzed above his head tonight. That’s baseball, and it certainly took this series to a new height in terms of intensity. Plus, Shane’s gyrations were friggin’ priceless.

– Not sure what’s going on with Jamie Moyer in the postseason, but his first two innings pretty much put this game out of reach. Hard to be down on a guy who was so vital to our success during the season, but he really killed us tonight.

– Good to see Ryan Howard getting his swing back on track. Look for him to absolutely crush one in the next game or so. Got to get Jimmy rolling, though – he sets the table.

– Bullpen did a pretty good job of not letting this game get too far out of hand. Hopefully, this won’t tax our arms for the next game or so. That could be the truly dangerous aspect of this loss.

– Boy, Russell Martin really took his lumps today, huh? Gets hit twice in the game, and has a fastball go above his head. Get out the ice packs.

– Highlight of the broadcast: the cameraman focusing on Ryan Seacrest as he was playing with his Blackberry, followed by Joe Buck deadpanning, “Somebody tell him the score.”

– The Dodgers absolutely had to win this game. They took care of business, simple as that. It will be interesting to see if the Phillies can up their intensity to match the Dodgers tomorrow

A day of contrasts – some thoughts about the Eagles and Phillies on Sunday

Sunday was a strange day, full of angst and bliss. The Eagles and Phillies started and stopped at almost the precise same moment, and the results were completely contrasted. Was Sunday indicative of two franchises headed in opposite directions? Or just a truly strange day? (Editor’s note: He never actually addresses these questions in the following post. Quite frankly, The Pundit truly is wondering himself, especially given the Eagles past two games).

Eagles

Ugggggghhhhhh. This one was painful. Over 200 yards rushing. An offense that slowly went the way of the buffalo as the game progressed. (Editor’s note: Really, American “buffalo” are actually bison. They are only distant relatives of the real buffalo, those being the water buffalo and the African buffalo. The more you know…)

– Chris Cooley killed them over the middle all game long, bringing up painful memories of Jason Witten in week two. I’ll grant that TE’s are reemerging in the NFL as effective weapons, but 8 receptions for 109 yards? No good.

– Call me crazy, but if you give up over 200 rushing yards, you’re probably going to lose. Just a hunch

– The Eagles looked unstoppable on their first drive. Whaaaaa happened? Um, the play calling went stale. Now, I’m not a huge fan of insulting the play calling, because if certain players don’t handle certain responsibilities, the perfect call won’t work. That’s football. Plus, a lot of research and film study goes into game planning in the NFL; these guys tend to know how they want to attack the defense. But I noticed something on Sunday, and I think it’s a trend – the plays that Andy Reid scripts for the beginning of the game are always diverse and effective, but as the defense adjusts, the Eagles offense tends to stay the same. I don’t know if Andy Reid simply isn’t a great adjustment coach, or if he’s so damn stubborn he refuses to stray from the game plan. Either way, the various formations, play designs and players utilized need to remain consistently diverse, because the Eagles really don’t have the personnel to get stale. They have play makers who are effective in space, namely McNabb, Westbrook and DeSean Jackson. However, force them into traditional roles, and they become less potent. Stir it up, big ol’ Andy. Stir it up.

– Seriously, the Eagles have to score touchdowns when they get the ball near the goal line. Field goals are like a beer goggles rendezvous – you take them, but you really wish you had done better.

– Seriously, David Akers, you need to grow back the beard. You are like the Samson of beards – without it, you lose your powers. Do it for us, David.

– The Redskins outplayed the Eagles in every phase of the game. They are a pretty good team. The Eagles certainly could have played much better. These are the facts. Draw your own conclusions.

Phillies

I’m not going to say too much here, except that I’ve got a feeling. I don’t even want to reveal what that feeling is, for fear that no matter what I say, I’ll jinx us somehow. The Dodgers are hot right now, but the Phillies have shown a very mature poise. The starting pitching has been a revelation. The bats have done just enough. It was nice to see Pat the Bat find his groove again with two very picturesque home runs on Sunday. Way to take care of business, fellas. I’ve got a feeling, and I’m going to leave it at that.

Absolutely Infuriating – Quick Hits from the Eagles Game

– This was one of the more frustrating games I have watched in a long time. The Eagles offense, minus Brian Westbrook, could not capitalize on the opportunities they were given. The defense provided four turnovers. We had three chances from the 1 to take the lead, and we blew it. David Akers missed 2 field goals. Aaaaaarrrrrrgggggghhhhhhh!

– Donovan McNabb’s body language was not pretty as the game went along. He looked frustrated and a bit hobbled.

– A lot of Donovan’s throws were less than stellar, but there were too many drops by Eagles receivers and tight ends.

– The ups-and-downs of DeSean Jackson are exhilarating and debilitating to watch. He is really fast around the corner on the reverses, and he darted behind the defense on the first quarter touchdown catch. But he had a few drops, and he did not look good fielding punts. Obviously, there was the fumble, but he also let one roll that cost the Eagles a substantial chunk of real estate. He keeps you on the edge of your seat, for better and for worse (Editor’s note: Nickname idea – DeSean “Wall Street” Jackson. Sure, he’s been money, but his actions have also caused confusion and despair for those trusting in him).

– I’m sure Chicago fans were pretty pissed off watching this game also, as every time it seemed as though the Bears had a golden opportunity to seize control of the game, they somehow blew it. Case in point: after taking an interception to the Eagles 11, already up by a touchdown, Kyle Orton throws a pick in the end zone. It seemed at times as if neither team wanted to win this game.

– Give Chicago’s defense credit. They pressured McNabb and stifled the run game. They stood tall at the goal line and assured the win. In a season where there does not appear to be many teams standing above the pack, this Bears’ defense should keep in the playoff discussion as the season progresses.

– Omar Gaither, you did everything you could to help the Eagles win this game. Every time the defense made a big play, you seemed to be in the middle of it. If you can continue to play with the energy and nose for the ball you exhibited tonight, the Eagles defense will be really tough.

– Nice job Trent Cole and Juqua Parker. Kept the pressure on Orton for most of the night, especially in the second half. This was the second straight week I have been impressed by the play of the front four and the pressure they generated on the QB – when they are capable of getting to the passer on their own, it enables the Eagles to be more selective with their blitz schemes. This keeps the offense on their toes, as it eliminates obvious blitzing situations and allows the defense to disguise both their blitzes and their drops into coverage.

– Correll Buckhalter, I said it last week and I’ll say it again: I love the heart, baby. Love the way you play the game. You aren’t Westbrook, but you give us everything you have, and that’s all we expect.

– I felt as though the Eagles should have gone for the early 4th and 1 instead of trying 50 yarder that Akers ended up missing in the first half. Even if you don’t get the first down, you still give up possession deeper in Bears territory than you do if you miss the field goal.

– How, in God’s name, with three chances from the one to score, do you not get in? And how, in three plays, is one of them not play-action? The Bears are a tough defense, and you knew they would stack the line; I don’t care which play it was, why not try the play-action? Didn’t understand that, and I think it may have cost us the game. That, and we squandered a slew of other golden opportunities.

– This was what I call an Infuriating Game. Your team blows all of its chances, yet continues to get more, and then blows them. Every time you think you’ve got the game in control, the team squanders a key opportunity. You know that your team should be winning, but can’t stop beating itself. You find yourself daydreaming a Brian Westbrook highlight reel, as Aerosmith blasts I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing in your imagination. (Editor’s note: Alright, that’s just frightening). But it was more than just this game – it blew my perfect weekend trifecta. The Phillies clinched while the Mets blew the wildcard (Editor’s note: Trying…so…hard….to…be…classy…BAHAHAHAHAHAHA, they blew it again!), Penn State looked extremely impressive against Illinois and moved to number six in the polls, and then the Eagles went out and beat the Bears. Except they didn’t. Ah, what can you do? Two out of three ain’t bad.

– Bring on the Redskins, they of the outdated, innapropriate, and totally racist moniker. At least they don’t play in our nation’s capital. Oh, shit. They do. Right. Good work, guys.

DeSean Jackson: What have you done?

Oh, DeSean Jackson, such pain have you caused so many. And by so many, I mean fantasy football players. Heck, you stole points from me, as I had Donovan McNabb starting. Of course, being the ever shrewd Pundit that I am, I still won this week. (Editor’s note: By a whopping 5 points). But others weren’t so lucky.

From spectacular to despair – Quick hits from the Eagles game

– These are two very good football teams. (Editor’s note: That’s the kind of analysis that is going to take The Pundit straight to the top).

– Donovan was the man, but Donovan will also be the goat. Two critical mistakes that factored heavily in the Eagles losing: The fumbled exchange with Westbrook in the 4th quarter when the Eagles were already in field goal range, and the third down sack he took to DeMarcus Ware on the final drive that set up the 4th and 17 hook-and-hook-and-ladder bonanza. He was on point for most of the game, but those two plays really cost them.

– The receivers played pretty well, though there were too many drops, especially a Greg Lewis bobble out-of-bounds on the final drive.

– What was with all of the Dallas facemask penalties?

– Dallas’ offense has so many weapons, they look to have the most dangerous offense in the NFL this season.

– Hey Sean Considine! You see that guy, number 81. You know, the guy who just blazed by you? Yeah, he’s pretty good, might want to keep an eye on him next time. Just a thought.

– Brian Westbrook is a God amongst mortals. His touchdown slither at the goaline, where he kept himself up by sitting on one of the Cowboy’s helmets, was spectacular.

– Bad DeSean Jackson! Bad bad bad! You got lucky, but please, for the love of God, if you have to celebrate, make it into the endzone first, okay? Though it did make for some interesting conversation as to what the ruling on the field was going to be; I can’t remember ever seeing that before. Otherwise, nice game – you’re looking like a baller, son.

– Marion Barber is a man possessed late in the game. Felix Jones is pretty frightening every single friggin’ time he touches the ball. That’s a scary duo right there for the Cowboys.

– Both of these defenses are better than this game – these offenses are just really on point right now.

– Who do you put on a guy like Jason Witten? He is a giant mismatch conundrum for opposing defenses.

– Brian Dawkins has lost a step. Not so much in his blitzing or run support, but he got beaten a couple times in coverage. He was never incredible in pass coverage, but he looked a little slower than before out there.

– Quintin Mikell is very quietly becoming a very good football player.

– Hey, front four, you there? Need a bit more of a consistent pass rush, guys. Hard to beat Tony Romo off the blitz, especially when the Cowboys made their adjustments in the second half and started dinking and dunking the Birds behind the blitzers. (Editor’s note: But Coach Pundit, we tried hard, we really did…)

– Mike Tirico and Jaws are really good commentators. Tony Kornheiser? Ehhhhhh, not so much.

– Oh, how could I forget this: DAMN YOU, T.O.!

– The Steelers will be tough; they are a good football team. But the Eagles have shown that, when McNabb is clicking, that they can play with anyone. At least, after two weeks, that’s how it appears. Something definitely to be taken from this game, even though the loss, especially to the Cowboys, stings.