I don't have a whole lot to say about this game. With the loss, the Eagles dropped to 1-4 and will likely need to go 9-2 the rest of the way through to have hopes of making the playoffs. They could get lucky and only need to win 8 of their next 11 games, but with the way they've played thus far, it's difficult to see them win 5 of their last 11, let alone 8 or 9.
The game today was reminiscent of their other three losses. They made too many mistakes on offense, turning the ball over 5 times and they missed too many tackles on defense. Once again, their offense generated close to 500 yards, yet were able to come away with only 24 points. Their defense showed signs at times of coming to life, but it was too little too late, as when they showed these positive signs, they had already allowed 31 points. The offense looked great at times. Quarterback Michael Vick and tailback LeSean McCoy each rushed for close to 100 yards. Vick threw for 300 yard. The team moved the ball at will on the Bills' defense when they didn't make the critical mistake and they made far too many of them.
Michael Vick had a career high four interceptions and receiver Jason Avant lost a fumble. In his defense, 3 of the 4 Vick interceptions weren't really his fault and it could be debated that the 4th wasn't his fault either. The first was batted by a defensive lineman and then caught by the defense. The second occurred when Vick got hit JUST as he threw the football. The third, I couldn't tell if Vick was about to get hit as he threw the ball or if he did get hit as he threw the ball. I'm going to say it was right before, so that pick was on Vick. The 4th was the strangest of all. Down 31-24 late in the game, the Eagles were driving when Vick completed a short pass to Jason Avant, which would have set up a 4th-and-1. It appeared as if Avant caught the ball, but then had it stripped from him and without the ball touching the ground, it fell into the hands of another defender. It looked to me like a fumble, but was called an interception and was the fitting end to the day for Vick and the Eagles. The other turnover came by way of another Avant fumble. The Eagles were backed up at their own 2-yard line when Vick completed a 35-yard pass to Avant. Avant tried fighting for a few extra yards at the end of the play and had the ball stripped from him. Actually, I shouldn't say the 4th interception/fumble was the perfect end to the game for the Eagles. With a little over a minute to go in the game, Buffalo had the ball close to midfield and were facing a 4th-and-1. Philly was out of timeouts, so this was the game. The Bills lined up as if they were about to go for it. It seemed obvious after the first few barks by the quarterback, Ryan Fitzpatrick, that the Bills were simply trying to draw the Eagles offside. Defensive lineman, Juqua Parker obliged, made contact with the offensive line and that was the ball game. That right there was the perfect end for the Eagles.
Up next is the Washington Redskins, a MUST win game for the Eagles. If they lose that game, they'll be 1-5 and even further back in the NFC East race. They'll likely need to win their next 4 or 5 to vault themselves to 5-4 or 6-4, so they can get themselves back in the playoff race and likely only need to go 5-2 or 4-2 to have a decent chance at making the playoffs. If they lose next week, though, they can about kiss their playoff hopes goodbye, as they'd likely need to win all but one of their games the rest of the way. They have all the talent in the world, are arguably the fastest offense in the league, but until they learn how to not make those critical mistakes both on offense and defense, it's going to be tough winning games.
The game today was reminiscent of their other three losses. They made too many mistakes on offense, turning the ball over 5 times and they missed too many tackles on defense. Once again, their offense generated close to 500 yards, yet were able to come away with only 24 points. Their defense showed signs at times of coming to life, but it was too little too late, as when they showed these positive signs, they had already allowed 31 points. The offense looked great at times. Quarterback Michael Vick and tailback LeSean McCoy each rushed for close to 100 yards. Vick threw for 300 yard. The team moved the ball at will on the Bills' defense when they didn't make the critical mistake and they made far too many of them.
Michael Vick had a career high four interceptions and receiver Jason Avant lost a fumble. In his defense, 3 of the 4 Vick interceptions weren't really his fault and it could be debated that the 4th wasn't his fault either. The first was batted by a defensive lineman and then caught by the defense. The second occurred when Vick got hit JUST as he threw the football. The third, I couldn't tell if Vick was about to get hit as he threw the ball or if he did get hit as he threw the ball. I'm going to say it was right before, so that pick was on Vick. The 4th was the strangest of all. Down 31-24 late in the game, the Eagles were driving when Vick completed a short pass to Jason Avant, which would have set up a 4th-and-1. It appeared as if Avant caught the ball, but then had it stripped from him and without the ball touching the ground, it fell into the hands of another defender. It looked to me like a fumble, but was called an interception and was the fitting end to the day for Vick and the Eagles. The other turnover came by way of another Avant fumble. The Eagles were backed up at their own 2-yard line when Vick completed a 35-yard pass to Avant. Avant tried fighting for a few extra yards at the end of the play and had the ball stripped from him. Actually, I shouldn't say the 4th interception/fumble was the perfect end to the game for the Eagles. With a little over a minute to go in the game, Buffalo had the ball close to midfield and were facing a 4th-and-1. Philly was out of timeouts, so this was the game. The Bills lined up as if they were about to go for it. It seemed obvious after the first few barks by the quarterback, Ryan Fitzpatrick, that the Bills were simply trying to draw the Eagles offside. Defensive lineman, Juqua Parker obliged, made contact with the offensive line and that was the ball game. That right there was the perfect end for the Eagles.
Up next is the Washington Redskins, a MUST win game for the Eagles. If they lose that game, they'll be 1-5 and even further back in the NFC East race. They'll likely need to win their next 4 or 5 to vault themselves to 5-4 or 6-4, so they can get themselves back in the playoff race and likely only need to go 5-2 or 4-2 to have a decent chance at making the playoffs. If they lose next week, though, they can about kiss their playoff hopes goodbye, as they'd likely need to win all but one of their games the rest of the way. They have all the talent in the world, are arguably the fastest offense in the league, but until they learn how to not make those critical mistakes both on offense and defense, it's going to be tough winning games.
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