Posted on 02/07/2005 8:48:24 AM PST by gopwinsin04
It looked like Donovan McNabb saved his jitters for the Super Bowl. McNabb spent the week telling jokes, being loose and insisting that he felt no pressure leading the Philidelphia Eagles versus the New England Patriots.
But the five time pro bowl QB had a shaky performance in the most important game of his career Sunday, a 24-21 loss to the Patriots. McNabb turned the ball over three times, including crucial interceptions in the first and fourth quarters.
McNabb misfired on several passes early, held the ball too long in other instance and made several poor decisions. One of the best scramblers in the National Football League, McNabb had zero yards rushing on just one carry.
McNabb rebounded from his rough start with a strong second quarter, finally leading the Eagles into the end zone after sqandering several scoring opportunities. But he made a critical error midway through the 4th quarter right after the Pats took at 24-14 lead.
After he connected with Terell Owens on a 36 yard pass, McNabb badly underthrew his reciever Smith on the next play and was intercepted by linebacker Tedy Bruschi.
McNabb had the best season of his six year career, leading the Eagles to the Super Bowl for the first time in 24 years after three consecutive losses in the NFC title game. But McNabb couldn't deliver the Eagles first championship since 1960.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
"Can you explain then how the Eagles have won more games than any other team in the period since 2000, and are tied with the Patriots for the most wins since 2001? Blind luck?"
A weak NFC and dysfunctional NFC East(ie, Redskins). The Pats were only the 5th winning team the Eagles faced all season.
This is the first year starting for both Eagles cornerbacks, and the second year for our Strong Safety. So why are they so good such that all three are considered All-Pro's? Apparently Brady respected them enough that he never lofted a pass over 10-15 yards after Patten was pancaked early in the game trying to haul in a bomb (notice Patten was unable to make a single reception all game from that first hit knocking him up).
It took the Raiders 10 years to make the Super Bowl and win it.
Yes, Paul Hornung is still living. He is an alumnus of my high school, Flaget Memorial High School, Louisville, KY. He was one tough ball player too!
Like the Eagles went out on INT's and fumbles. Penalties kill drives on teams like NE that usually take 3 plays to get the 10 yards needed for a first. When it is 2nd and 25 or so NE is at a disadvantage and they typically punt out. They are not flashy, but they are consistent and methodical.
Eagles didn't have a strong showing on defense last night. In the 2nd half the Patriot basically took the game and slowly scored at will until they didn't need to anymore and put it in the hands of their defense.
Good comments. But still, I don't remember too many designed QB draws, shovel passes, screens etc. And just imagine if Owens was hobbling and ineffective. Amazing they even kept it close.
I think McNabb should have been ordered to scramble more. He's so obsessed with not looking like a "traditional" black scrambling QB that he hurts the team.
Respect or game plan. Brady didn't have to go deep. The occasional deep pass keeps the corners and safety back away from the box so Dillion and Faulk can run and the screens work. Bonus is, they sometimes work.
Eagles have built their offense on the deep threat and they died by it last night.
No, the 49ers in the playoffs every year from 1981 to 1998, with 5 Super Bowl wins along the way, and another 5 NFC Championship game losses is even more impressive, especially the 1988-1994 period where they were in the Super Bowl or losing the Championship game every year.
Alive and well in Louisville Ky (where he attended high school) doing commercials for a car dealership.
This is really sad, what you have to cling to.
You do realize that Tom Brady and Deion Branch were torching your precious secondary 5-25 yards at a time with 70% accuracy? That's the result of playing zone 'cause they couldn't cover 1-on-1 and giving too big a cushion 'cause they weren't fast enough to keep up if Branch et al went deep. You gave up over 4 yards per rush and allowed Brady to complete over 70% of his passes with no INTs. And you're PROUD OF THAT???!?!?
Should've had at least 10 more points considering they were at the Pats doorstep and came up empty a couple of time early on; And the Patriots secondary lost their free safety in the 2nd half, thus were very suseptible.
Never heard of the Boston Celtics, eh?
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Eleven championships in thirteen years, including eight straight. Nobody in any sport can top that. |
With a further crippled Patriot secondary in the second half, the plan should have worked.
McNabb had the time; His poise and recognition of routes and defenses just isn't up to the level of Tom Brady. Then again, NO ONE in the NFL has that kind of consistent poise.
Harvard Stadium
I'll tell you what. I am a Pats fan and that was a real close game. Mcnabb put up what, 350 passing yards? The team scored 3 TD's. Give the credit to the Pats Defense, they shut out multiple teams running offenses. Also, what was up with Philly staying with the huddle in the last 3 minutes? They were crawling up to the line.
Arguably, a medoirce QB could have been plugged in on that Cowboy team, and they'd have still won. You're comparing a supporting cast that was dominant in EVERY phase of the game: Irvin, Emmitt Smith, and offensive line with three all-pros, a defense that crushed people.
The Patriots have been overachievers with respect to their talent-level -- they DO have tremendous heart and work-ethic. So yep, give the Pat's coaching staff a lot of credit.
Good point, except the Pats are so sneaky and work so well as a team in pass coverage that I wouldn't even be confident against their 3rd stringers.
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