The Eagles down 26-17, put on a fierce fourth quarter come back with 23 unanswered points to defeat the 49ers in San Francisco.
The Eagles looked like they could be a part of the NFL’s elite before struggling on offense and for some reason feeling the need to rely on the running game as opposed to passing game.
The Eagles also have failed to convert on third down which is always a killer. The injury to and loss of Brian Westbrook, who is a huge part of the Eagle offense has also slowed down the offense.
The above mentioned items cost them two losses this season when the team failed to score touchdowns in the red zone inside the ten yard line against the Redskins and the Bears.
The Eagles relied on QB Donovan McNabb and passed when in close and came away with touchdowns and the defense stood tall for the week six win that puts the team at .500 on the season.
RB Correll Buckhalter was a huge part of the game plan and he played Westbrook-like. His combination of rushing and receiving was huge and very necessary for this team.
Several Philly faithful made the trip to the west coast; but one has to wonder if any of the Eagle fans that traveled to the west coast have signed the online petition to remove Andy Reid as Head Coach? Check yourself Eagles fans.
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/fire-andy-reid.html
The die-hard Philly fan was bent over the losses, pushed the panic button, overreacted, prematurely jumped to conclusions as if the Eagles season was on the verge of a potential nosedive. Someone came up with the idea of putting together an online petition to drum up support for the ouster of Andy Reid as the Head Coach.
As opposed to just calming down.
This ticking time bomb of overreaction was way off base. This group of fans has clearly forgotten that Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb have led this team to 76 victories, more victories together than Bill Walsh and Joe Montana, several playoff appearances and the NFC Championship game 2000 - 2003, a Super Bowl appearance in 2004 after team’s best record ever with 13 wins, a Divisional Playoff appearance in 2006.
He was named the coach of the year in 2002; the last Eagles coach to achieve that honor was Ray Rhodes in 1995. Prior to Reid’s arrival in 1999 the team missed the playoffs for four years.
Prior to 2000 season, the Eagles hadn’t seen a Division Championship since 1988 and Philly fan wants to get rid of this guy? I think what needs to go is this ridiculous petition to get rid of one of best coaches in the league and the Eagles best ever.
He is currently in his tenth season with the team and is coming off of a turbulent 2007 season both on and off the field. The Eagles have missed the playoff’s only three times under his watch. Despite last year’s troubles, Andy Reid remains one of the top coaches in the league.
The Eagles play in the tough NFC East division with three competitive teams and the defending Super Bowl champions; this team was a few plays away from beating the Cowboys and Redskins and has both on the schedule again.
Playing six games this season and winning three has them in good position to remain competitive and in position for a chance at a division title and playoff berth.
Consider this a memo to you pissed off Philly fan, relax, there is a lot of season left and the Eagles are far from out of it. You need to shake yourself Philly fan this act is way off base.
The Cowboys, like other teams, have shown deficiencies and have also lost QB Tony Romo for the next four or five weeks meaning he will miss games against the Rams, Buccaneers and road games against the division rivals Giants and Redskins and that anything is possible.
The Eagles, like every other team in the league need the support of you the fans and not for you the fans to jump to conclusions, act as if the sky is falling and see a downward spiral way before one happens. This is disappointing, the madness needs to stop, check yourself Philly fan.
The team logo is a mean looking eagle head, ready for attack. When this new logo was devised the designer and team didn’t have a few pissed off Eagle fans in mind going after the Coaches head.
Here is a case of a solid coach, one of the leagues best, having some pissed off diehard fans wrongly attempt to drum up support to oust a coach. It's not going to happen and if it did it would be a huge mistake.
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about 1 month ago
I hear Lane Kiffin is available.
about 1 month ago
If the Eagles do not make the playoffs, it might be time to get rid of Andy
from about 1 month ago
Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment, Bryn. I disagree with your take Bryn in its entirety. The Eagles are 3-3 with 10 games to go and the best record in the Division is 4-1 and you're already talking about if the Eagles don't make the playoffs?
Relax Bryn you sound like a punch drunk fighter swinging at the opponent who isn't there. Being a Eagles fan I shouldn't have to remind you of this, but I will, The team is still in the running for a playoff spot, the team has a hall of fame QB, an explosive offense, a top ten defense, one of the best defensive coordinators in the league and as stated in the article one of the best Head Coaches in the league.
This statement doesn't sound like a lot of loyalty to me. Let's say the Eagles don't make the playoffs and he is run by the Eagles, would you feel better if he gets hired by the Cowboys and does your team twice a year? It is time to stop speaking of the super bowl loss, trading TO, speaking of getting rid of Donovan McNabb and trying to run a solid coach. Take your hand off of the panic button and watch your team play a solid season and make you eat your words, again.
about 1 month ago
You're not understanding me. I am completely loyal. But I am saying that we as Eagles phans all know that this is a do-or-die season. Possibly for Donovan and for Andy. I would love to see both back next season. But if we don't make the playoffs, they might not be.
And we as Eagles phans have spent the past four seasons thinking that we were the top of the NFC. One year we went 6-10. We went 10-6 the other year (after a 5-6 start, thank you Jeff Garcia). The other year we were 8-8 (after 5-8). We think we're going to be amazing every year but maybe we overrate our team.
Head coaches in the NFL usually don't last as long as Andy when they don't producew effectively. He did at first but we have 30 wins in our last 60 games. That's average and we don't want that in Philadelphia.
Nowhere in my previous comment did I mention anything either about TO, the Super Bowl, or Donovan.
And I don't think there's a chance Donovan will make the Hall of Fame unless he wins a Super Bowl or maybe even two. I would love it, but he's not good enough.
We're in last place and you act like that's not a big deal. It is a big deal. We lost a home divisional game to Washington. Our wild-card spot is gone if we finish in a tie with Chicago. The Pittsburgh win was awesome, but it wasn't an NFC team, so that doesn't help our conference record.
How could I not be on the panic button? I panicked in 2005 and 2006 and 2007 and I only ate my words once. Happily, in 2006. We should all be panicking.
from about 1 month ago
I understand exactly Bryn your hand has a death grip on the panic button and it is too early it is week and last week some Eagle phans wanted Andy Reid gone.
1) Andy Reid has produced effectively, take a look at the HISTORY of the franchise that has been in existence since 1933 and show me what Eagle coach was better
2) I disagree with the we don't want average in Philadelphia take as well I hate to say it but you've been average until Andy Reid arrived and the knife in the back treatment isn't necessary
3) The Donovan McNabb take is off as well let me see McNabb leads the franchise in team record in games he started, Completions, attempts, completion %, Yards, TD's, yards per game and QB rating and is on the list of having the lowest percentage, passes had Intercepted, in his Career with at least 1,500 attempts and he's not good enough until he wins two super bowls?
You're in last place with three wins and the conference leader has four wins, the Eagles will at the very least split with all division opponents or better. You've got seven winable conference games left and you can't let the chicago game go, turn the page Bryn that game is gone but your season isn't.
I mentioned 2, the Super Bowl and Donovan because I've spent time in philly and throughout my two and a half weeks there these subjects came up on more than one occasion. Since all Eagle fans should be panicking why don't we start to complain that the team hasn't made the playoffs, won the division, locked up the home field advantage throughout the playoffs yet.
While we're at it lets complain about who the team will draft in the 2009 - we can't because its too early to complain about in week 7. You're on the panic button this early I'd hate to see how eagle phan will be in week 14. Every team will win and lose games week end and week out, the NFL season is a long 17 week journey and that road doesn't end in week 7. When your team is 9-3 at the end of November the Eagles deserve an apology from every the sky is falling Eagle fan who has lost faith in the Head Coach in week 6.
about 1 month ago
I understand what you're saying. Here's my basic point. 2003, we started 2-3. I knew we'd end ok. We did. 12-4. 12-3 actually until we lost (thank you David Akers).
Now we're 3-3. I can't guarantee that we'll be 12-4 or even 11-5. This is because we have been mediocre over the past few years.
from about 1 month ago
Bryn, the article wasn't to diss Eagle fans it was an article stating that the fans need to chill and stop stressing especially in week 6. You know as well as I do that the race is not to the swift it is to he that can endure. Most importantly the offense puts butts in the seats and points on the board and defense wins championships. No one can guarantee anything as you know anything can happen on any given sunday you have to focus on and play one game at a time, break a season down into four quarters to assess how a team has fared but I will say this the defense will carry this team. The play of the defense and the deficiencies of some of the division opponents and how said defense will play againt conference opponents tells me this season won't disappoint. Relax Hang in there walk with your head held high the defense gives the Eagles a big stick to work with.
about 1 month ago
I don't feel like typing so listen up & do your research Eagles fans. I'm local so I can talk Eagles. Philly is 45 minutes away from me. I'm surrounded by Eagles fans. Look what Andy Reid has done for you. A Super Bowl appearance/ numerous play off births/ NFC Championship/ & has one the NFC East Division multiple times since his debut in Philly. You play in the hardest division in the NFL. Your players don't stay healthy. That's not Andy Reids fault. Your front office lets good players leave. Your 2 starting WR's (Kurtis & Brown) are injured. Rookie Desean Jackson is carrying the load right now. McNabb can't stay healthy (but when he's healthy he's one of the best QB's in the NFL). Brian Westbrook is injured (basically your offense is injured when you don't have Westbrook). Relax! The Eagles aren't out of it yet. if what I said pisses you off then I'll save you the trouble of retaliation. Yes I'm a Raiders fan. And we suck. Your team could be worse Eagles fans. apprieciate what you have.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment, Raidersteve. Your takes are spot on. The only thing I would add is to suggest that Eagle fan release the death grip he has on the panic button.
about 1 month ago
agree with you jeff 100%. AR is the best coach avalible to us, and should be appriciated for the team he has assembled and eith whom we won. too bad whimsy seems to be us Philly fans greatest bond.
about 1 month ago
Jeff, obviously you are not an Eagles fan.
1. Andy Reid has given the same insufficient reason for losing for 10 years..."I need to put guys in better positions to make plays and execute." What does that mean if you havent figured it out in 10 years? When will you finally make that happen? Sometimes coaches cant do the things to put their guys over the top.
2. NO TRUE EAGLES FAN disrespects Andy Reid. We understand how he turned this franchise around. Much the same way Tony Dungy did in Tampa Bay. However, he clearly wasnt the guy to get that group of guys to win a Super Bowl, and he moved on and was successful elsewhere. Maybe, just maybe after 10 years of coming up short and not even making the playoffs 2 of the last 3 years.
3. NOBODY has counted out the Eagles here in Philly yet. We know this is a December team. We know we will be there in the end. The question is, Will Andy Reid finally "put his guys in the right positions?" Andy has a way of really pushing the wrong buttons, and when you arent an Eagles fan, you dont see these things. Two straight weeks refusing to run a QB sneak from the one yard line, and mysteriously, nobody in the organization wants to talk about this or adress the situation.
WE HAVE NEVER WON A SUPER BOWL! Getting close is not enough. Being in the running is not enough. Your assessment: "I disagree with the we don't want average in Philadelphia take as well I hate to say it but you've been average until Andy Reid arrived and the knife in the back treatment isn't necessary" is very wrong. In fact, we had no patience with other coaches who failed to put us over the top. Buddy Ryan was replaced for all the exact same things that Andy Reid is doing, but Buddy had far worse teams offensively.
Look, not everyone thinks andy is garbage. I love him. However, he is not the guy for this team. Just like Dungy couldnt do it for Tampa, Andy cant pull it off here. Since 2004, we are among the bottom half of the league in wins and overall performance. Other coaches have figured Andy out and he needs to reinvent himself....possibly somewhere else.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment, Andrew. I'm not just an Eagles fan, I am a football fan Andrew and I watch every team and that obviously means I watch your team as well. Your take is the same the fans who came up with the petition you want Andy Reid gone. The I love the guy statement, the he has given the same insufficient reason for losing for 10 years, the he's not the guy for this team, we have never won a super bowl and the he refused to call a QB sneak for two weeks takes all scream disrespect to me.
A QB sneak wasn't the reason the team lost to Chicago and Washington. The reason for the losses was a combination of things mostly attempting to play smash-mouth football when the Eagles aren't a smash-mouth team. The Eagles top offensive players have missed a lot of time with injuries and have for several years but I guess that's Reids fault as well.
I can understand eagle fan being upset that the team hasn't won a super bowl and the statement that getting close is not enough. Let me share a new one with you with Andy Reid the Eagles are relevant without him the team isn't. I'll go one step further with Andy Reid at the helm at least your team has been in the running or close without him the Eagles haven't been even in he running.
He has used coach-speak to the media and obviously you want to hear something else. I'll pose a question for Andrew you blow Andy Reid out as Head Coach who is the next head coach of the Eagles? Jim Fassel, Dennis Green, Marty Shottenheimer, Mike Tice, Dan Henning, Turk Schonert, Al Saunders, Gil Haskell, Marty Mornhinweg, Pat Shurmur, Juan Castillo or bring back Brad Childress or promote Jim Johnson?
The fact remains that Eagle fan needs to remove the death grip from the panic button. There is a lot of football left and the claims sound extremely false and disrespectful when I hear Eagle fan complain about a solid coach. If you disagree with me Andrew you're a true Eagles fan answer this question for me WHAT EAGLES COACH in the history of the franchise has done a better job? The grass isn't always greener on the other side. I wonder what the Eagle take would be if Reid is fired from the Eagles and lands with the Cowboys.
about 1 month ago
No eagles coach has done better. What coach was better in Tampa before they let Dungy go for all the same reasons? None.
Our next head coach would be Steve Spagnuolo.
And you are missing the the point. Football is not about the past. You can respect the past, but you play for the present. Andy Reid is currently insufficient for what this town needs....A Super Bowl....
The Eagles were VERY relevant with Buddy Ryan, Ray Rhodes (who Andy Reid owes a good percent of his early success to for his phenomenal drafts...which is whole other issue with Andy Reid), and certainly Dick Vermeil...I can go deeper if you want. Almost all teams go through periods of stale and stagnant football.
Because I am a fan and watch almost every game does not mean I know the full story of whats going on somewhere else. To the average fans eye...things arent that bad here....but to people who live here, who LIVE AND DIE with this team, we know change needs to be made. It goes beyond Andy Reid to the front office. They have accepted the fact that no matter what we come out in legions every sunday, and until the cash stops flowing in, they dont believe change is neccessary. The current owner, general manager, coach have become complacent and accept being "competitive" as being okay. Jerry Jones, Dan Snider, and other owners arent sitting back with a tight wallet and accepting filling their 90,000 seat stadiums. THEY WANT TO WIN!
I really do respect your opinion, but just listen to sports talk radio here for one day. People who call in, sports writers, analysts, and former Eagles players who played for Reid know that time is running out. How long can an organization be happy with being average?
from about 1 month ago
Andrew,
I like how you just assume that your division opponent is going to allow Steve Spagnuolo to jump ship to the Eagles. He is a good Defensive Coordinator, but I'm sure you're noticed when there was a possibility of him heading to the Redskins the Giants threw a lot more money his way to remain in New York and not improve their division opponent. That is an interesting thought but not set in stone. I keep reading that time is running out, Andy Reid is insufficient, the coach, front office to include the owner are being complacent and possess a tight wallet etc. etc. etc. and what you left out is that the sky is falling.
I've listened to sports talk radio and philly fan is known for jumping to conclusions and pressing the panic button way to early. The fact of the matter is your team plays in a tough division, one that has four contenders and the division title is still up for grabs. Dallas is a mess, the Giants have played well at times but showed weaknesses aren't the same team and were beaten by the Browns, The Redskins are playing well but I doubt they'll sweep te Eagles but yet in still Eagle fan has a death grip on the panic button. I think the team will deserve an apology from all so called true Eagle fans when this team earns a playoff berth and makes noise in the playoffs.
I would love to hear the players do the unprecedented and say and I quote "We made it this far without the support of several of our so called fans, fans who wanted to make sweeping changes during the season and despite their fact that they have hated on us again we're still in it fighting for a championship."
from about 1 month ago
Right, because no other team has doubters right? Because no other team wants change amongst their fans? Because eli Manning's head on a silver platter wasnt what almost EVERY Giant fan wanted after 4 weeks last year.
Obviously you only pull out the negative things to bark about so listen to this AGAIN....We will be there EVERY sunday forking out our hard earned cash to watch our team. I will be sitting there Sunday in what is supposed to be horrible rain with tickets I paid an astronomical price for. Why? Because we love this team and NO MATTER WHAT we always will. We can call for change, it's natural.
You seem to also convienently fail to see the truth in the Tony Dungy scenario. That never gets responded to. My suggestion is this...don't write about a "story" that you only see one side of. There are multiple views and opinions and because someone disagrees doesnt mean you have to jump back to that whole "typical bad Philly fans" thing that all of you other fans try to point out.
Coordinators dont want to be coordinators forever, and I think Spagnuolo took the pay increase because he felt Washington was a mess. The chance to run the franchise he came from would surely entice him. There is only so much the Giants are going to pay a coordinator....
Im done with this discussion though, because its not fun to debate with someone who is set in stone from one wrong perspective.
about 1 month ago
Sorry..wanted to hit this real quick too....
"A QB sneak wasn't the reason the team lost to Chicago and Washington. The reason for the losses was a combination of things mostly attempting to play smash-mouth football when the Eagles aren't a smash-mouth team. The Eagles top offensive players have missed a lot of time with injuries and have for several years but I guess that's Reids fault as well."
If you lost a game just the week before because of a failed goal line stand, how do you turn around and do essentially the same thing the next week? You have a 240 pound QB who should be able to lean up against one of the biggest OL in the league and score. Regardless of what happened prior to that, both of those goal line stands probably win us the game.
As far as players missing time, there needs to be depth on a football team. When LT goes down, do you think fans cringe because Turner was gonna come in...or even Sproles now? No. They know they can play and be effective in their own way. The Eagles lack depth. This is a direct result of poor drafting. No coach can be blamed for injuries, but its up to him (especially when he is your player personnel guy as well) to build depth on his team.
from about 1 month ago
Andrew,
That's fine with me if you're done with the so called debate. Let me hit a few things one I haven't addressed the Tampa situation because it is an entirely different situation than the Eagles situation. There is no correlation John Gruden won a super bowl with a team that Tony Dungy put together. When Gruden got there all he had to do was put together an offense. No one went to the bad philly fan card but yourself. Every team has doubters and fans that fall into that category but that all changes when a petition is put online for fans to sign to oust the coach. Philly fans aren't te only fans that shell out hard earned cash to see their team play and support their team but again all that changes when a petition is put out. YOu can save your suggestion seeing as you're highly upset that everyone doesn't feel as you do that he should be gone. I see and can appreciate both sides but the fact of the matter is there are no guarantees that if Andy Reid is gone the team will be better just as there are no guarantees the other way. The team hasn't won it all but is it so wrong to play the hand you're dealt! When a change is made the system changes as well and the team has to in a sense start over are you prepared to start over? Are your veteran players prepared to? I have no idea if he will or not but I'll tellyou what when he is gone you will miss him. I'm not a homer and I believe that the true Eagles team is somewhere in between the performances against the Steelers and the Cowboys. That is a team I like watching and one that can compete in december and january. Be upset with me if you want to but we'll find out at the end of the year who was right and who was way off base. From one football fan to another, try to enjoy your season Andrew.
about 1 month ago
Come on Andrew, This is exactly what I'm talking about. Woah is me, it appears that you're driving the complaint wagon again when it is a known fact that even if the Eagles won it all Eagle fan STILL wouldn't be happy and would still have something to complain about. Now the drafting has been bad and in your eyes has no depth.
I guess my eyes were playing tricks on me seeing Correll Buckhalter running and catching the football when Brian Westbrook went down. Or I could be mistaken but it appeared the Desean Jackson was out there making plays when Reggie brown and Kevin Curtis went down.
Seeing as I don't live in philly and according to you don't live and die Eagles and don't know exactly what is going on; do me a favor and take a look at the Eagles roster and tell me how many prominent players that the team counts on were acquired via the draft versus trades or acquired free agents and tell me if their aren't more drafted players that the team is counting on.
I said it and meant exactly what I said about the Eagles not being a smash-mouth team. To be a smash -mouth team you need a factor back a guy big enough (230lbs or bigger) convert a 3rd and 2 situtation or less otherwise you need to utilize play action, screens or short passes SOUND FAMILIAR?
McNabb is healthy and has his mobility back which is huge, the offense can and will make more plays the defense is off the chain and is a factor in every game the question remains will Eagle fan calm down watch the game support the team and stop complaining ...the jury is still out on that one.
Signed a guy who doesn't live in Philly.
about 1 month ago
The andy reid era will continue in Philly for the next few years because it is nowhere near time to get rid of him. The man came into a team that won 3 games the year before he started and just 2 seasons later he took them to the playoffs and 3 season to the NFC championship game. The one and only thing andy reid should not be responsible for with the team is calling the plays. In both the redskins and bears losses he was calling the plays. The only loss he was not calling the plays in was the dallas game which was a game this team should have one but gave it away with a botched handoff in the fourth quarter. Mornhinweg is a good play caller and can actually run this west coast offense the eagles claim to run. When andy reid steps into the playcalling shoes all of a sudden you see mcnabb passing for at least 65% of the plays. This cant happen when you have guys in the backfield who are more than capable of getting 5 or 6 yards on first down instead of getting nothing on an incomplete pass. Running the ball will get rid of those 3rd and longs the eagles are always finding themselves in.
I believe that if Mornhinweg keeps calling the plays the eagles will be fine and will make a run for the NFC east title with the giants as the cowboys are in shambles and its only a matter of time before the Redskins implode. Its not time to get rid of reid nor will it be time anywhere in the next 3 or 4 years at least. That also goes for Donovan Mcnabb who will be the starter for the eagles no matter what as long as andy reid is there.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment, Chris. I agree with your takes, they're very similiar to what I was expressing to fellow football fan Andrew before he proceeded to say tell me that the Andy Reid era should be over. I personally think that if the goal is to blow the head coach out it should be done for him and his team not producing and if it has to be done do it during the off season and not during the season.
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