I was on hand this afternoon in Philly for the Eagles-Giants game, uh, yikes. The Eagles got off to a great start, getting ahead 24-7, before spending the entire second half pissing the game away, until the Giants tied it in the final minute, and won with a touchdown in overtime, by a score of 30-24.
Now, we all know everybody loves to overreact to individual games, which is how everyone can call the Iggles a Super Bowl team after they beat the Texans in Week 1. No, they're not dead in the water after a loss like this. But no, it didn't look good at all.
All the usual anti-Andy Reid talking points will be recycled this week: Too much running and not enough passing; bad playcalling and even worse clock management; and (worst of all) use of the "prevent" defense (has that ever worked?) Points all taken.
But keep in mind: it's only Week 2. And the offense and defense both looked just as good as in Week 1, with Stallworth, Brown, and Westbrook scoring a TD each (just like in the Texans game) and the defense notching 8 sacks. But the team made some costly miscues, and the defense clearly got tired after being on the field the entire second half.
This week will be full-fledged panic mode in Philly, of course. But luckily, the Iggles have a gimme next week against San Fran, and should also be able to beat New Orleans the week after- all heading into TO's visit back to town on October 8. The season is still young, Philly. Still young.
As for the game-going experience, it was my first time ever tailgating at an NFL game- lots of fun, and another thing I was always deprived up growing up in a city with a downtown dome. And the Fox crew was there live, and I saw the backs of Joe Buck and Terry Bradshaw's heads. Which reminds me of Sports Guy's take on the situation:
"First, Fox decided to replace James Brown as its studio guy with Joe Buck, who's also its lead play-by-play guy, so it has to go on location for every studio show now -- meaning that it's a lot of added expense every week, plus extra money for Buck, plus they quintupled the odds of technical difficulties during the show, plus the studio guys can't watch games on 10 plasmas in a cozy Green Room anymore (instead, they're in a customized trailer watching everything on tiny little screens). All so Joe Buck could host the pregame show over Curt Menefee. Which raises the question: Was there one person who was on the fence about which Sunday studio show to watch, heard that Fox hired Buck, then said to himself, "Well, my choice has been made, I'm now a Fox guy?" This seems like a colossal waste of money to me. Maybe I'm crazy."No, you're not crazy.
Oh, and one more thing: The Vikings are 2-0. The Raiders (with Randy Moss) are 0-2. The Dolphins (with Daunte Culpepper) are also 0-2. Maybe they know what they're doing, after all.
Even I saw part of the game. Rough day to be an Eagles fan...
Posted by: Ev at September 18, 2006 04:39 PM