For anyone whom has been regularly watching the Philadelphia Eagles this year, yesterday's game with the Miami Dolphins had to have been a strange sight to behold.
What has hampered the Eagles all season long has been the turnover and being able to maintain the lead in the 4th quarter by stopping their opponent. In yesterday's game against the Dolphins, it was the Eagles' defense which came up big, in forcing 3 huge turnovers, getting a safety and upholding the 26-10 lead at game's end.
Watching the game, it was quite unbelievable to think the Eagles could have scored 26 points. They racked up just 239 yards of total offense, including just 51 yards on the ground (1.6 ypc). Vick was hit 6 times (felt like more), sacked 4 and seemed to be lying on his backside at the end of most plays. This was his first game back after missing the previous three with broken ribs. When he did get the ball off in time, he was streaky. He started off a tad rusty, but got into a rhythm in the 2nd quarter, before cooling off again in the 3rd. Stud tailback LeSean McCoy had nowhere to run most of the game, carrying the ball 27 times for 38 yards (1.4 ypc), but did score 2 touchdowns.
It was somewhat forgivable perhaps, that the offense was so inconsistent yesterday. Starting quarterback Michael Vick and wide receiver Jeremy Maclin had been sidelined with injuries, so it probably felt like the first game of the season again in terms of attempting to get in sync. The 7 penalties for 69 yards also illustrated this. Either way, the Dolphins' defense has to be given a great amount of credit, for being able to all but shut down McCoy and batter Vick as they did.
There have been games this season when the Eagles have gained over 500 yards of offense, seemed to move the ball at will whenever they've wanted, yet have found ways to lose at game's end. The offense wasn't crisp yesterday, but some how or another, they did what they haven't done all year in such games and that's come through with the victory. It's crazy to say, but the Eagles aren't completely out of playoff contention yet, especially with the Giants coming back to beat the Cowboys last night. With 3 games left, the Eagles are 2 back of both New York and Dallas, with them playing at Dallas on Christmas Eve. If they win that game, they would have swept the season series against the Cowboys and be only 1 behind them. Of course, Philly will likely need to win their final three games: at home against the Jets next Sunday, on the road versus the Cowboys before wrapping up the regular season in Philly against the Washington Redskins. Dallas plays at Tampa, at home against Philly and on the road against the Giants. The Giants play Washington at home, the Jets on the road and close with Dallas at home. So, the Jets could be a huge help to the Eagles in these last three weeks. Philly will need to defeat the Jets and will likely need to rely on New York to defeat both Dallas and the Giants and for Dallas to beat the Giants. It's very unlikely, but if all that happens, Philly would hold the tie-breaker, in being 5-1 in division play. I wouldn't count on it, but crazier things have happened. Just ask Tim Tebow.
What has hampered the Eagles all season long has been the turnover and being able to maintain the lead in the 4th quarter by stopping their opponent. In yesterday's game against the Dolphins, it was the Eagles' defense which came up big, in forcing 3 huge turnovers, getting a safety and upholding the 26-10 lead at game's end.
Watching the game, it was quite unbelievable to think the Eagles could have scored 26 points. They racked up just 239 yards of total offense, including just 51 yards on the ground (1.6 ypc). Vick was hit 6 times (felt like more), sacked 4 and seemed to be lying on his backside at the end of most plays. This was his first game back after missing the previous three with broken ribs. When he did get the ball off in time, he was streaky. He started off a tad rusty, but got into a rhythm in the 2nd quarter, before cooling off again in the 3rd. Stud tailback LeSean McCoy had nowhere to run most of the game, carrying the ball 27 times for 38 yards (1.4 ypc), but did score 2 touchdowns.
It was somewhat forgivable perhaps, that the offense was so inconsistent yesterday. Starting quarterback Michael Vick and wide receiver Jeremy Maclin had been sidelined with injuries, so it probably felt like the first game of the season again in terms of attempting to get in sync. The 7 penalties for 69 yards also illustrated this. Either way, the Dolphins' defense has to be given a great amount of credit, for being able to all but shut down McCoy and batter Vick as they did.
There have been games this season when the Eagles have gained over 500 yards of offense, seemed to move the ball at will whenever they've wanted, yet have found ways to lose at game's end. The offense wasn't crisp yesterday, but some how or another, they did what they haven't done all year in such games and that's come through with the victory. It's crazy to say, but the Eagles aren't completely out of playoff contention yet, especially with the Giants coming back to beat the Cowboys last night. With 3 games left, the Eagles are 2 back of both New York and Dallas, with them playing at Dallas on Christmas Eve. If they win that game, they would have swept the season series against the Cowboys and be only 1 behind them. Of course, Philly will likely need to win their final three games: at home against the Jets next Sunday, on the road versus the Cowboys before wrapping up the regular season in Philly against the Washington Redskins. Dallas plays at Tampa, at home against Philly and on the road against the Giants. The Giants play Washington at home, the Jets on the road and close with Dallas at home. So, the Jets could be a huge help to the Eagles in these last three weeks. Philly will need to defeat the Jets and will likely need to rely on New York to defeat both Dallas and the Giants and for Dallas to beat the Giants. It's very unlikely, but if all that happens, Philly would hold the tie-breaker, in being 5-1 in division play. I wouldn't count on it, but crazier things have happened. Just ask Tim Tebow.
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