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Inept offense plowed under
The Eagles throw away their season in a turnover-plagued 42-0 loss to the Seahawks.
By Bob Brookover
Inquirer Staff Writer
The Eagles spent last night showing highlights of the late Reggie White's soon-to-be Hall of Fame career on the two giant scoreboards at Lincoln Financial Field.
It was a nice distraction from the repulsive lowlights on the playing field as the Eagles' slim playoff hopes faded to none during a 42-0, nationally televised loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
Had it not been for the scheduled halftime ceremony, the Linc probably would have been empty by halftime. The Eagles were down by 35 points before former coach Buddy Ryan and White's former teammates took the field for the only cheers that would be heard.
After the well-constructed White tribute, plenty of good seats became available.
Those who left early missed the riveting third-quarter completion from Koy Detmer to Reno Mahe, which pretty much explains how far this franchise has fallen from its trip to the Super Bowl a year ago.
Seattle's best offense was its defense - or the Eagles' offense, depending on how you want to analyze it. The Seahawks' defense accounted for six turnovers and four touchdowns. Seattle cornerback Andre Dyson had as many touchdowns as stud running back Shaun Alexander, who scored twice on short runs.
The Seahawks matched a franchise record with their eighth consecutive win and improved to 10-2, remaining a game ahead of the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears for the best record in the NFC.
The Eagles, who have lost five of their last six games, suffered their worst defeat in the seven-year tenure of coach Andy Reid and slipped to 5-7. It was the worst shutout loss in Monday Night Football history.
The Eagles also lost running back Brian Westbrook to a sprained foot in the third quarter, which means the team's three most dangerous weapons now are sidelined either by injury or misbehavior.
Reid said during the practice week that he needed to do something to help quarterback Mike McMahon get off to faster starts than he had in his first two after replacing injured starter Donovan McNabb. Asked what he could do, the coach was predictably elusive.
"I can't tell you that, but we are trying some different things," Reid said.
Whatever they tried didn't work, unless the game plan was to have McMahon throw touchdown passes to the Seahawks' defense. Apparently it wasn't, because after McMahon found an open Seattle defender for a second touchdown in the first half and failed to lead the team to a first down on the series after that, the coach turned to Detmer.
Detmer's first pass of the evening was tipped by rookie linebacker Lofa Tatupu into the hands of safety Michael Boulware, who returned the interception 32 yards to the Eagles' 2-yard line. Detmer at least made a touchdown-saving tackle, which was about the only good thing an Eagles quarterback did all night.
Of course, that just delayed the inevitable. Alexander scored on the Seahawks' next play to make it 28-0. With 29 seconds remaining in the half, Alexander scored his second touchdown of the night and 22d of the season, which is just four fewer than the Eagles have as a team.
Though it didn't need to do much, the Seahawks' top-ranked offense did have its impressive moments.
Coach Mike Holmgren's game-opening script included a balanced blend of pass and run as the Seahawks covered 65 yards on 16 plays for a touchdown. The drive took more than eight minutes and included five third-down conversions.
On a third-and-7 play from the Eagles' 32, safety Brian Dawkins blitzed but couldn't get to Matt Hasselbeck. The Seahawks quarterback found Bobby Engram for a 13-yard gain and a first down.
After linebacker Mark Simoneau drove Alexander out of bounds for a 5-yard loss and Hasselbeck threw an incomplete pass, the Seahawks were faced with third and goal from the 6.
The Eagles got the big play they needed when Quintin Mikell picked off a pass in the end zone. It would have been an even bigger play if it had counted, but linebacker Jeremiah Trotter was flagged for illegal contact on tight end Jerramy Stevens.
Instead of a fourth-down field-goal attempt, the Seahawks had first and goal from the 3.
Again, the Eagles' defense came through with a couple of big plays. Dawkins tackled Alexander for a 2-yard loss on first down, then Alexander lost his footing on the slippery surface on the next play and was thrown for a 6-yard loss by Mikell.
That left Hasselbeck facing third and goal from the 11. Undaunted, the veteran quarterback rolled to his right, bought himself eight seconds, and threw across his body to a wide-open Engram for the touchdown.
McMahon had done a decent job on the Eagles' opening drive, taking the offense from its 30 to the Seattle 38. But on a first-down play, the quarterback tried to force a pass to wide receiver Greg Lewis. Dyson stepped in front of Lewis for the interception and ran untouched down the left sideline for a 72-yard return.
The Eagles punted on their next two possessions - punts qualified as a step forward for the offense on this evening - before McMahon threw his second touchdown to a guy in the other uniform. This time, he tried to find former Rutgers teammate L.J. Smith on a second-and-10 play, but instead hit Tatupu, who returned the interception 38 yards for a touchdown.
While Tatupu shined, Eagles rookie running back Ryan Moats had a disastrous night that included two special-teams penalties and a third-quarter fumble that Dyson returned 25 yards for a touchdown to complete the scoring.
It was a good night to remember Reggie White - and to forget what this Eagles season has become.
Worst of the Worst
Here are the most lopsided losses in Eagles history:
56-0: New York Giants, Oct. 15, 1933
62-10: Giants, Nov. 26, 1972
49-0: Green Bay Packers, Nov. 11, 1962
56-7: Dallas Cowboys, Oct. 9, 1966
42-0: Seattle Seahawks,
last night
49-7: Cleveland Browns, Oct. 19, 1952
39-0: Chicago Bears, Oct. 13, 1935
42-3: Los Angeles Rams, Nov. 3, 1975
38-0: Seahawks, Sept. 6, 1998
Contact staff writer Bob Brookover at 215-854-2577 or bbrookover@phillynews.com.
The Eagles throw away their season in a turnover-plagued 42-0 loss to the Seahawks.
By Bob Brookover
Inquirer Staff Writer
The Eagles spent last night showing highlights of the late Reggie White's soon-to-be Hall of Fame career on the two giant scoreboards at Lincoln Financial Field.
It was a nice distraction from the repulsive lowlights on the playing field as the Eagles' slim playoff hopes faded to none during a 42-0, nationally televised loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
Had it not been for the scheduled halftime ceremony, the Linc probably would have been empty by halftime. The Eagles were down by 35 points before former coach Buddy Ryan and White's former teammates took the field for the only cheers that would be heard.
After the well-constructed White tribute, plenty of good seats became available.
Those who left early missed the riveting third-quarter completion from Koy Detmer to Reno Mahe, which pretty much explains how far this franchise has fallen from its trip to the Super Bowl a year ago.
Seattle's best offense was its defense - or the Eagles' offense, depending on how you want to analyze it. The Seahawks' defense accounted for six turnovers and four touchdowns. Seattle cornerback Andre Dyson had as many touchdowns as stud running back Shaun Alexander, who scored twice on short runs.
The Seahawks matched a franchise record with their eighth consecutive win and improved to 10-2, remaining a game ahead of the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears for the best record in the NFC.
The Eagles, who have lost five of their last six games, suffered their worst defeat in the seven-year tenure of coach Andy Reid and slipped to 5-7. It was the worst shutout loss in Monday Night Football history.
The Eagles also lost running back Brian Westbrook to a sprained foot in the third quarter, which means the team's three most dangerous weapons now are sidelined either by injury or misbehavior.
Reid said during the practice week that he needed to do something to help quarterback Mike McMahon get off to faster starts than he had in his first two after replacing injured starter Donovan McNabb. Asked what he could do, the coach was predictably elusive.
"I can't tell you that, but we are trying some different things," Reid said.
Whatever they tried didn't work, unless the game plan was to have McMahon throw touchdown passes to the Seahawks' defense. Apparently it wasn't, because after McMahon found an open Seattle defender for a second touchdown in the first half and failed to lead the team to a first down on the series after that, the coach turned to Detmer.
Detmer's first pass of the evening was tipped by rookie linebacker Lofa Tatupu into the hands of safety Michael Boulware, who returned the interception 32 yards to the Eagles' 2-yard line. Detmer at least made a touchdown-saving tackle, which was about the only good thing an Eagles quarterback did all night.
Of course, that just delayed the inevitable. Alexander scored on the Seahawks' next play to make it 28-0. With 29 seconds remaining in the half, Alexander scored his second touchdown of the night and 22d of the season, which is just four fewer than the Eagles have as a team.
Though it didn't need to do much, the Seahawks' top-ranked offense did have its impressive moments.
Coach Mike Holmgren's game-opening script included a balanced blend of pass and run as the Seahawks covered 65 yards on 16 plays for a touchdown. The drive took more than eight minutes and included five third-down conversions.
On a third-and-7 play from the Eagles' 32, safety Brian Dawkins blitzed but couldn't get to Matt Hasselbeck. The Seahawks quarterback found Bobby Engram for a 13-yard gain and a first down.
After linebacker Mark Simoneau drove Alexander out of bounds for a 5-yard loss and Hasselbeck threw an incomplete pass, the Seahawks were faced with third and goal from the 6.
The Eagles got the big play they needed when Quintin Mikell picked off a pass in the end zone. It would have been an even bigger play if it had counted, but linebacker Jeremiah Trotter was flagged for illegal contact on tight end Jerramy Stevens.
Instead of a fourth-down field-goal attempt, the Seahawks had first and goal from the 3.
Again, the Eagles' defense came through with a couple of big plays. Dawkins tackled Alexander for a 2-yard loss on first down, then Alexander lost his footing on the slippery surface on the next play and was thrown for a 6-yard loss by Mikell.
That left Hasselbeck facing third and goal from the 11. Undaunted, the veteran quarterback rolled to his right, bought himself eight seconds, and threw across his body to a wide-open Engram for the touchdown.
McMahon had done a decent job on the Eagles' opening drive, taking the offense from its 30 to the Seattle 38. But on a first-down play, the quarterback tried to force a pass to wide receiver Greg Lewis. Dyson stepped in front of Lewis for the interception and ran untouched down the left sideline for a 72-yard return.
The Eagles punted on their next two possessions - punts qualified as a step forward for the offense on this evening - before McMahon threw his second touchdown to a guy in the other uniform. This time, he tried to find former Rutgers teammate L.J. Smith on a second-and-10 play, but instead hit Tatupu, who returned the interception 38 yards for a touchdown.
While Tatupu shined, Eagles rookie running back Ryan Moats had a disastrous night that included two special-teams penalties and a third-quarter fumble that Dyson returned 25 yards for a touchdown to complete the scoring.
It was a good night to remember Reggie White - and to forget what this Eagles season has become.
Worst of the Worst
Here are the most lopsided losses in Eagles history:
56-0: New York Giants, Oct. 15, 1933
62-10: Giants, Nov. 26, 1972
49-0: Green Bay Packers, Nov. 11, 1962
56-7: Dallas Cowboys, Oct. 9, 1966
42-0: Seattle Seahawks,
last night
49-7: Cleveland Browns, Oct. 19, 1952
39-0: Chicago Bears, Oct. 13, 1935
42-3: Los Angeles Rams, Nov. 3, 1975
38-0: Seahawks, Sept. 6, 1998
Contact staff writer Bob Brookover at 215-854-2577 or bbrookover@phillynews.com.