It Really Is this Simple - Why the Eagles CAN'T Win

[cowboys2233]

1) Because of our front seven personnel and the mishmash the Eagles have on their offensive line, we can rush 4-5 guys and get ridiculous pressure, both from the inside and outside, giving McFudge only about 2.5 seconds to successfully navigate through 6-7 pass defenders. And predictably, he started looking at the rush instead of downfield.

2) The Eagles cannot stop the run. Yes, we have talented RBs, but our success had a lot more to do with the fact that we were tearing open gaping holes in their front. It speaks to the physicial mismatch we have against their defensive front and they will HAVE to bring their safeties up, leaving Romo to pick and choose which of his numerous open receivers to throw to. As the announcers correctly pointed out, they cannot cover Witten with a linebacker, they cannot cover Crayton with a 3rd CB and they cannot cover Miles Austin without double-coverage. They are at a physical and mental disadvantage in all of these matchups but unfortunately for them, it's about picking your poison. Because unless they DO bring their safeties up, we will abuse them for 250+ yards on the ground.

That's it, really. Both points speak to the one overriding truth about football -- the game is won and lost up front with the big guys and we just physically dominate them on both sides of the ball. If Romo doesn't throw three or four bad interceptions into what is likely going to be single-coverage, the Eagles CANNOT win this game.

There are two teams that can match up with us pretty well, the Packers and the Vikings. Both can be effective in stopping the run with base personnel and both have running attacks that won't allow our guys to pin their ears back and get after their QBs. The Eagles and Saints really don't have much of a chance because of their one-dimensional offensive attacks (I don't want to hear about the Saints rushing attack, it is ONLY successful because their passing attack, which is certainly formidable, puts defenses on their heels).

 

[Dough Boy]

If Romo doesn't throw three or four bad interceptions into what is likely going to be single-coverage, the Eagles CANNOT win this game.

I agree. I think we can survive two picks. Three or Four would be tragic. Also, based on what our D would do after the pic (limit to FG and not TD). But, I think Romo will go int free this game.

The Eagles do not match up well with us. The great thing about Romo and I think the Eagles for this. Jim Johnson, may he RIP, helped make Romo into the QB he is today. Jerry Jones said, in the off-season, the coaches all gathered around and agreed the book on Romo was to blitz him and allow him to self destruct. So, they all decided to coach him up this off-season. Where do you think the rest of the league got that philosophy from. Romo has seen every blitz known. Much like Peyton, Rothlisberger, Rivers, Farve, Brady and Brees. This year, Romo has learned to beat blitz and as long as Garret continues to run screens and draws away from the blitz, Romo will cont to excel.

Also, based on the ending last year with Philly and the two early Dec losses, this team is mentally tough. This team is focused. You can sense a diff this year. Just watch them. The last three weeks, they have played with a lot of passion. They need to cut down on the penalties, but you can not deny they play with a passion not seen around here in the last several years.

 

[MapleLeaf]

...control the line, control the game.

End of story.

 

[cowboys2233]

I agree. I think we can survive two picks. Three or Four would be tragic. Also, based on what our D would do after the pic (limit to FG and not TD). But, I think Romo will go int free this game.

This year, Romo has learned to beat blitz and as long as Garret continues to run screens and draws away from the blitz, Romo will cont to excel.

Yup, those delayed handoffs that Garrett has drawn up are incredibly innovative and a thing of beauty. Allows our o-line more time to fully establish their blocks and completely nullifies aggressive, blitzing defenses that try to rush straight up the field in order to get to the QB.

Honestly, if I were the Eagles, I would only blitz straight up the middle in an effort to prevent these draws from being so effective. But obviously, piling everyone in the middle opens up the outside passing game BIG TIME.

The Eagles' game plan this past weekend spoke volumes. They were very much aware that heavy blitzing cost them earlier in the season and so backed off of it this Sunday...and lost by more. They can't come up with an answer because there is no answer to be found.

 

[jaybird]

...control the line, control the game.

End of story.

I agree, I still dont 100% trust our OL. Hopefully, they will show up. If they do and play 4 quarters, we win by 10.

 

[Coast2Coast27]

I agree. This is why Romo said there going to throw the kitchen sink at him. Really this is the only choice the eagles have. They will have to send alot of run blitz's this week and hope they call them at the right time. I expect the eagles to blitz 90 percent of the time this week. I expect an all for nothing approach from them. The Cowboys will have some chances for some big plays they have to make sure they hit them when they get the chance.

On offense I expect alot of bombs to jackson , and alot of screens. alot of screens.

I think this will be a tighter game , but the Cowboys being at home and the way there defense is playing right now i like the cowboys... 24 17.

 

[cowboys2233]

I agree. This is why Romo said there going to throw the kitchen sink at him. Really this is the only choice the eagles have. They will have to send alot of run blitz's this week and hope they call them at the right time.

Totally agree, they will try to cause as much chaos as possible (with the occassional late hit on Tony) and see if they can guess right.

Unfortunately, as in poker, when you get into the guessing game and just go for broke, you rarely win.

We've got this team right where we want them -- they have no idea how to match up with us. Their confidence is shot and it really is our game to lose. If we do lose, it will be one of the all-time great game plans ever drawn up by the Eagles, or one of the worst by the Cowboys because personnel-wise, we OWN them.

 

[SilberBlau]

...control the line, control the game.

End of story.

yep. If they can execute like they did on Sunday this game won't be too close. Do that, then don't shoot yourself in the foot with some stupidity and we should be able to book our trip to Minnesota.

 

[yimyammer]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the loss of key veterans and the insertion of much youth on the Eagles.

They have had a great year and appear to be poised to be competitive for many years to come, but the loss of the leadership, passion and toughness that guys like Dawkins, Runyan bring shouldn't be overlooked, especially during the playoffs. They have a lot of youth they're counting on in Maclin (rookie), Jackson, Celek & McCoy (rookie). In my opinion, they would be way ahead of schedule if they go deep in the playoffs this year.

Given the injuries they've sustained and the veteran depth and experience Dallas has, Philly has no business winning this game.

We all know the Cowboys have let us down in the recent past, but if it happens this year to the Eagles it will truly be a collapse that we will rue for years because I think this Eagle team is just going to get better as they gain experience and gel (it kills me to say that, but I'm afraid it's true)

 

[CowboysFaninBaltimore]

Who is to say Dallas won't have an excellent draft this season, and gain some excellent younger players themselves. Now all hatred aside I have for the Eagles. They did have an amazing draft, and went deep into that draft with some lottery winning picks. They do look poised to become a great team in the future. If they get rid of McNabb, and start Kolb they can become a threat in the near future.

 

[cowboys2233]

Who is to say Dallas won't have an excellent draft this season, and gain some excellent younger players themselves. Now all hatred aside I have for the Eagles. They did have an amazing draft, and went deep into that draft with some lottery winning picks. They do look poised to become a great team in the future. If they get rid of McNabb, and start Kolb they can become a threat in the near future.

Huge caveat -- IF Kolb is a good QB, they can become a threat. I think some of you are selling McNabb way too short, the dude is a two-time league MVP I believe. He is really good and the main reason why the Eagles have been so good for so long.

And as us Cowboys fans know, it is really hard to find top-of-the-line QBs but it means everything to the sustained success of a team, particularly in the salary-cap era. Look at the other teams that have been really good for a consistent period of time. The Colts have Manning. The Patriots have Brady. Is Kolb really the next coming? The odds don't favor it. The way the division sets up right now, I really see the Cowboys going on a dominant run, much like the Eagles of the late nineties and early part of this decade.

 

[RoboQB]

Huge caveat -- IF Kolb is a good QB, they can become a threat. I think some of you are selling McNabb way too short, the dude is a two-time league MVP I believe. He is really good and the main reason why the Eagles have been so good for so long.

Are we really talking about Kevin Kolb? Really?

 

[Bowltime26]

Amen, why is it so hard for people to understand that the real game is in the trenches.

 

[cowboys2233]

Amen, why is it so hard for people to understand that the real game is in the trenches.

That's why it is still so hard for me to accept the loss to the Giants three years ago in the divisional playoffs. We destroyed them up front initially, MBIII had 100+ yards rushing in the first half.

It should have opened up the passing game in the second half, but it didn't. But I do think a major difference between that Giants team and this Eagles team is that the Giants had quality defensive linemen who could pressure the QB without having to resort to sustained blitzing.

If the Eagles want to pressure Romo, they're going to have to blitz and they just don't have the backfield personnel to match up with our receivers.

 

[masomenos]

Huge caveat -- IF Kolb is a good QB, they can become a threat. I think some of you are selling McNabb way too short, the dude is a two-time league MVP I believe. He is really good and the main reason why the Eagles have been so good for so long.

I'm pretty sure he has never won MVP.

 

[cowboys2233]

I'm pretty sure he has never won MVP.

Wow, I think you're right, my bad. Runner-up in 2000 and had an even better year in 2004, but still didn't win it.

 

[percyhoward]

1) Because of our front seven personnel and the mishmash the Eagles have on their offensive line,

That's the way I say "mismatch" after 3 Heinies. (It's a physical mishmash on the line of scrimmage.) I agree that the only way they beat us is to guess right 80% of the time on their blitzes, and maybe have a freak return TD (punt or INT). Romo isn't throwing 3 picks. No way.

Great thread.

 

[sonnyboy]

That's the way I say "mismatch" after 3 Heinies. (It's a physical mishmash on the line of scrimmage.) I agree that the only way they beat us is to guess right 80% of the time on their blitzes, and maybe have a freak return TD (punt or INT). Romo isn't throwing 3 picks. No way.

Great thread.

LOVE THE SIG! That's some sweet company.

 

[sonnyboy]

1) Because of our front seven personnel and the mishmash the Eagles have on their offensive line, we can rush 4-5 guys and get ridiculous pressure, both from the inside and outside, giving McFudge only about 2.5 seconds to successfully navigate through 6-7 pass defenders. And predictably, he started looking at the rush instead of downfield.

2) The Eagles cannot stop the run. Yes, we have talented RBs, but our success had a lot more to do with the fact that we were tearing open gaping holes in their front. It speaks to the physicial mismatch we have against their defensive front and they will HAVE to bring their safeties up, leaving Romo to pick and choose which of his numerous open receivers to throw to. As the announcers correctly pointed out, they cannot cover Witten with a linebacker, they cannot cover Crayton with a 3rd CB and they cannot cover Miles Austin without double-coverage. They are at a physical and mental disadvantage in all of these matchups but unfortunately for them, it's about picking your poison. Because unless they DO bring their safeties up, we will abuse them for 250+ yards on the ground.

That's it, really. Both points speak to the one overriding truth about football -- the game is won and lost up front with the big guys and we just physically dominate them on both sides of the ball. If Romo doesn't throw three or four bad interceptions into what is likely going to be single-coverage, the Eagles CANNOT win this game.

There are two teams that can match up with us pretty well, the Packers and the Vikings. Both can be effective in stopping the run with base personnel and both have running attacks that won't allow our guys to pin their ears back and get after their QBs. The Eagles and Saints really don't have much of a chance because of their one-dimensional offensive attacks (I don't want to hear about the Saints rushing attack, it is ONLY successful because their passing attack, which is certainly formidable, puts defenses on their heels).

Gotta change these CAN NOTs to SHOULD NOTS. Or perhaps almost certainly WILL NOT.

 

[cowboys2233]

That's the way I say "mismatch" after 3 Heinies. (It's a physical mishmash on the line of scrimmage.) I agree that the only way they beat us is to guess right 80% of the time on their blitzes, and maybe have a freak return TD (punt or INT). Romo isn't throwing 3 picks. No way.

Great thread.

I really think the key to rattling McNabb is the pressure up the middle. We've got Ware and Spencer bringing big time heat from the outside but when McNabb tries to step up in the pocket, he gets a face full of Ratliff.

McNabby no likey. :laugh2: