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Posted on Sun, Oct. 09, 2005
Bob Ford | Eagles in trouble if McNabb can't carry them
By Bob Ford
INQUIRER COLUMNIST
IRVING, Texas - Deep in the cavernous visiting locker room, deep in the heart of Texas, Terrell Owens pulled a white Dallas Cowboys jersey from his traveling bag, shook it out, and put it on for the bus ride to the airport and the long, quiet charter flight home to Philadelphia.
Leave it to Owens to find the perfect coda for a dissonant afternoon in Texas Stadium. That was exactly what all his teammates needed to see after a long day of watching those jerseys nearly run them off the field.
If Owens were communicating, he probably would observe that it hardly matters what he wears when the game is over - and, in that, he would be right. But it's worth pointing out that donning a Michael Irvin throwback jersey was probably not the best choice for someone who spent most of the day looking for the quickest route to run out of bounds.
At about the same time that Owens adjusted his headphones and headed for the bus, Donovan McNabb stepped lightly onto a riser in an interview area and tried to explain something even less understandable than his receiver's wardrobe. That would be the collapse of what had been the No. 1-ranked offense in the National Football League.
"We weren't clicking," McNabb said. "It's no different than when we played Pittsburgh last year. Not everything is always going to be perfect. It's a learning experience for us."
Last year, the Steelers toasted the Eagles, 27-3, a humbling game, but one that would prove to be the team's only loss in the first 14 games of the regular season. The Eagles took their whipping, made their adjustments, and resumed a march to the Super Bowl. They resumed, in fact, with a 49-21 laugher at Dallas that included the wacky sideline pantomime of McNabb and Owens pretending to fight.
Just doesn't seem as funny now, does it?
This 33-10 loss might end up being no more relevant than the Pittsburgh loss last year. Every team has the right to toss out a stinker at least once a season.
"Games like this happen," coach Andy Reid said. "We should be able to learn from it."
If that is the case, then the Eagles will be fine. But if the flaws that were exposed by Dallas - which had been every bit as inconsistent as its 2-2 record - are uncorrectable, then the Eagles are in some trouble.
For the second straight week, the opponent found a scheme for limiting the effectiveness of running back Brian Westbrook. For the second straight week, the idea was to get pressure on McNabb and dare him to beat you deep.
In Kansas City, the Chiefs lost that gamble and McNabb brought the Eagles back with another 300-yard passing game. The Cowboys didn't worry about McNabb taking off and running with the ball. They made sure Westbrook was contained. And they won easily.
"We had a slow start this week and a slow start last week," McNabb said. "Last week, we were fortunate enough to come back. This time, we couldn't pull the game out. It's not how you start, it's how you finish."
Starting a little better wouldn't be a bad idea, however. The Eagles have had a halftime lead in only one game this season, and that was the blowout win over San Francisco. Otherwise, they have had to climb out of a hole in order to win. With Dallas, it was a canyon.
The key question is whether McNabb, who has been battling a sports hernia while he recovers from a badly bruised chest and shin, will regain his mobility this season. Once he gets healthy - if he gets fully healthy - will he really take off and risk his body again?
Against the Cowboys, McNabb was credited with two rushes. There was only one that even resembled a real scramble, and that one went for 3 yards. Where once he looked like a train rumbling downfield, now he looks like a shopping cart bouncing across a parking lot.
Getting pressured regularly, and finding his best outlet option covered tightly, McNabb didn't have a good day. He was 13 of 26, with many of the incomplete passes being errant throws, the kind that landed at the feet of receivers or sailed beyond their reach.
"There were throws that I'm able to make in my sleep that I wasn't able to make today," McNabb said.
The Eagles all were dozing in this one. They all were waiting for another miracle, waiting for McNabb to carry them out of the hole once again. Yesterday, he wasn't capable of shouldering that load.
Should he remain unable to carry them, this could be a long season and a short postseason. And then, it really won't matter what jerseys they wear once the game is over. It will just be over.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
parcellswaterboy
Bob Ford | Eagles in trouble if McNabb can't carry them
By Bob Ford
INQUIRER COLUMNIST
IRVING, Texas - Deep in the cavernous visiting locker room, deep in the heart of Texas, Terrell Owens pulled a white Dallas Cowboys jersey from his traveling bag, shook it out, and put it on for the bus ride to the airport and the long, quiet charter flight home to Philadelphia.
Leave it to Owens to find the perfect coda for a dissonant afternoon in Texas Stadium. That was exactly what all his teammates needed to see after a long day of watching those jerseys nearly run them off the field.
If Owens were communicating, he probably would observe that it hardly matters what he wears when the game is over - and, in that, he would be right. But it's worth pointing out that donning a Michael Irvin throwback jersey was probably not the best choice for someone who spent most of the day looking for the quickest route to run out of bounds.
At about the same time that Owens adjusted his headphones and headed for the bus, Donovan McNabb stepped lightly onto a riser in an interview area and tried to explain something even less understandable than his receiver's wardrobe. That would be the collapse of what had been the No. 1-ranked offense in the National Football League.
"We weren't clicking," McNabb said. "It's no different than when we played Pittsburgh last year. Not everything is always going to be perfect. It's a learning experience for us."
Last year, the Steelers toasted the Eagles, 27-3, a humbling game, but one that would prove to be the team's only loss in the first 14 games of the regular season. The Eagles took their whipping, made their adjustments, and resumed a march to the Super Bowl. They resumed, in fact, with a 49-21 laugher at Dallas that included the wacky sideline pantomime of McNabb and Owens pretending to fight.
Just doesn't seem as funny now, does it?
This 33-10 loss might end up being no more relevant than the Pittsburgh loss last year. Every team has the right to toss out a stinker at least once a season.
"Games like this happen," coach Andy Reid said. "We should be able to learn from it."
If that is the case, then the Eagles will be fine. But if the flaws that were exposed by Dallas - which had been every bit as inconsistent as its 2-2 record - are uncorrectable, then the Eagles are in some trouble.
For the second straight week, the opponent found a scheme for limiting the effectiveness of running back Brian Westbrook. For the second straight week, the idea was to get pressure on McNabb and dare him to beat you deep.
In Kansas City, the Chiefs lost that gamble and McNabb brought the Eagles back with another 300-yard passing game. The Cowboys didn't worry about McNabb taking off and running with the ball. They made sure Westbrook was contained. And they won easily.
"We had a slow start this week and a slow start last week," McNabb said. "Last week, we were fortunate enough to come back. This time, we couldn't pull the game out. It's not how you start, it's how you finish."
Starting a little better wouldn't be a bad idea, however. The Eagles have had a halftime lead in only one game this season, and that was the blowout win over San Francisco. Otherwise, they have had to climb out of a hole in order to win. With Dallas, it was a canyon.
The key question is whether McNabb, who has been battling a sports hernia while he recovers from a badly bruised chest and shin, will regain his mobility this season. Once he gets healthy - if he gets fully healthy - will he really take off and risk his body again?
Against the Cowboys, McNabb was credited with two rushes. There was only one that even resembled a real scramble, and that one went for 3 yards. Where once he looked like a train rumbling downfield, now he looks like a shopping cart bouncing across a parking lot.
Getting pressured regularly, and finding his best outlet option covered tightly, McNabb didn't have a good day. He was 13 of 26, with many of the incomplete passes being errant throws, the kind that landed at the feet of receivers or sailed beyond their reach.
"There were throws that I'm able to make in my sleep that I wasn't able to make today," McNabb said.
The Eagles all were dozing in this one. They all were waiting for another miracle, waiting for McNabb to carry them out of the hole once again. Yesterday, he wasn't capable of shouldering that load.
Should he remain unable to carry them, this could be a long season and a short postseason. And then, it really won't matter what jerseys they wear once the game is over. It will just be over.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
parcellswaterboy