Was the defense really that bad tonight?

[SibannacRex]

Fact: They gave up 37 points

Caveat: 14 points should be attributed to the offense, so they really gave up 23 points

Fact: They gave up 350+ yards

Caveat: Our offense scored on a 72 yard pass, then on a kickoff return for a TD. In other words, the Eagles offense was on the field a lot. The offense didn't pick it up until the second half.

Caveat 2: The defense gave up 7 points in the second half, when it mattered

Caveat 3: And when it mattered most, they got 3 big stops in the fourth quarter, including a 3 and out, fumble recovery and 2 huge sacks on the last drive.

Sure, the Eagles hit pay dirt a couple of times way too easily, but I wouldn't say the defense was as bad as some of you are making it out to be. McNabb and Westbrook came to play and they have a solid offense. We should be proud of how this team played tonight.

 

[Future]

We weren't nearly as bad as the score would say. But we made the stops when it really mattered in the 4th quarter to get us the lead and then hold on. I feel like we have collapsed in those situations in recent years. I'm in the minority I'm sure, but I was pretty impressed with the defense tonight generally speaking.

 

[SibannacRex]

Yup, the fourth quarter they played like champs.

 

[windward]

It was a decent performance, considering that Philly may have the second best offense in the NFC.

 

[Future]

I know Westbrook had 3 TDs, but we held him to under 100 yards. Thats an accomplishment for this defense since he is the #1 option for the Eagles on every frickin play.

 

[theebs]

simply put no.

25 touches for westbrook and 91 yards. We roughed up mcnabb at the most important time of the game.

The secondary needs to be better though. They just look lost as they have for years. That touchdown over roy williams head is simply inexcusable.

 

[NextGenBoys]

Good thread. It's hard to look at both sides when you want your favorite team to dominate on both sides of the ball, and we did give up quite a few plays to the Eagles.

But overall I'd have to agree. We didnt play lights out, but it's not as bad as it seems. Definitely have room for improvement.

 

[Clove]

We were okay. We just have to be able to get off the field on third downs, and we finally did that in the 4th, but we can't make a living playing like this.

 

[AdamJT13]

Fact: They gave up 37 points

Caveat: 14 points should be attributed to the offense, so they really gave up 23 points

The defense actually allowed 30 points. Philadelphia's defense scored seven, so our defense was never even on the field for those points.

The defense was accountable for 23, with the other seven attributable to the offense and a bad call by the refs that gave the Eagles the ball at our 1.

Fact: They gave up 350+ yards

Not quite. They gave up 337.

It wasn't a great defensive game. We let the Eagles get out of A LOT of long-yardage situations (second-and-21, third-and-11, etc.). But the defense made plays when it needed to at the end, recovering the fumble, then sacking McNabb twice on the Eagles' final possession.

 

[Da Hammer]

my real only gripe with the D was the huge cushions that our CB's were giving their receivers. Henry and Pacman are great physical corners and with their injuries at WR we should have pressed and made it difficult for them to get a release. we made it a lot easier on their WR's then it should have been...

 

[Hoofbite]

The defense actually allowed 30 points. Philadelphia's defense scored seven, so our defense was never even on the field for those points.

The defense was accountable for 23, with the other seven attributable to the offense and a bad call by the refs that gave the Eagles the ball at our 1.


Not quite. They gave up 337.

It wasn't a great defensive game. We let the Eagles get out of A LOT of long-yardage situations (second-and-21, third-and-11, etc.). But the defense made plays when it needed to at the end, recovering the fumble, then sacking McNabb twice on the Eagles' final possession.

That was a bad call but it is pretty much a wash if you consider the two blatant facemask calls that were missed just before it.

 

[AdamJT13]

That was a bad call but it is pretty much a wash if you consider the two blatant facemask calls that were missed just before it.

Huh? That was the first play of that possession.

 

[Hoofbite]

Huh? That was the first play of that possession.

There were two blatant facemasks a few minutes before that play. Neither was called so I consider that bad PI call a wash.

 

[Boysboy]

There were two blatant facemasks a few minutes before that play. Neither was called so I consider that bad PI call a wash.

I believe there was a facemask not called on one of MB3's runs(on their last O possession, I think).

I think we pretty much can say that the officiating has been HORRIFIC in recent years. We saw it over the weekend, and it wasn't the first, or won't be the last time.

 

[Da Hammer]

I believe there was a facemask not called on one of MB3's runs(on their last O possession, I think).

I think we pretty much can say that the officiating has been HORRIFIC in recent years. We saw it over the weekend, and it wasn't the first, or won't be the last time.

it was only a continuation of yesterday. BTW looks like Hocholi the ref from the chargers game is takin it pretty hard not that it changes anything. but here's a message that a fan says he received from Hocholi in respond to his message. i got it from the ESPN message boards:

I'm getting hundreds of emails - hate mail - but I'm responding to it all. People deserve a response.

You can rest assured that nothing anyone can say can make me feel worse than I already feel about my mistake on the fumble play. You have no idea ...
Affecting the outcome of a game is a devastating feeling. Officials strive for perfection - I failed miserably. Although it does no good to say it, I am very, very sorry.
Ed Hochuli

 

[SibannacRex]

it was only a continuation of yesterday. BTW looks like Hocholi the ref from the chargers game is takin it pretty hard not that it changes anything. but here's a message that a fan says he received from Hocholi in respond to his message. i got it from the ESPN message boards:

I'm getting hundreds of emails - hate mail - but I'm responding to it all. People deserve a response.

You can rest assured that nothing anyone can say can make me feel worse than I already feel about my mistake on the fumble play. You have no idea ...
Affecting the outcome of a game is a devastating feeling. Officials strive for perfection - I failed miserably. Although it does no good to say it, I am very, very sorry.
Ed Hochuli

I always thought Hochuli was one of the better officials in the NFL. He made a mistake and he's owning up to it. However, that was a third down play and Denver still needed a fourth down to score the TD and then get the two pointer. Not sure if that play alone directly affected the outcome of the game. If it was the last play of the game, then I could understand.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

There were two blatant facemasks a few minutes before that play. Neither was called so I consider that bad PI call a wash.

I believe that the new rule in the NFL on face masks are that there are no longer any 5 yard/15 yard calls. There are only 15 yard face masks. Yeah, the call you refere to was probably a 15 yard face mask but, you can't compare that to a 30 yard PI call, that should have been an Offensive PI call, giving Philly 1st and goal from the one. That's crazy. Philly should have been 1st and 25 from the Dallas 43 after that play. Not 1st and goal from the 1. That was not a balanced equation IMO.

 

[jobberone]

The whistle last nite was understandable. No one ever throws the ball backwards before entering the endzone. It was so unexpected I can understand. It still shouldn't have happened.

People aren't owning up to the problem of giving up a long pass for a TD to Jackson. We gave up a TD pass and only a monstrously bone headed mistake made it controversial. There is no way for most safeties to stay with him. He'll have to be game planned for the next game.

 

[Archaen]

did no one else notice how much freaking time mcnabb had in the pocket to throw all game? I had 0 confidence we could stop mcnabb on a 3rd and 9 all game.

 

[streetcredit]

And just before Jackson's near touchdown, on 3rd down, the ball was knocked loose and fell right back into the Eagle's receiver's hand for a 1st down.....at that point I thought we would never stop them.