Eagle Eye Observations: Week 16

What an ugly game. I wanted to see passion. I wanted to see maximum effort. I wanted to see a win. I saw none of that. The Eagles controlled their own destiny to make the post-season and played perhaps their worst game of 2008. Playoff caliber teams, championship caliber teams, win games like this in December. The Eagles are clearly neither. Here’s a very painful look from the Eagle Eye:

• The Birds failed to score a touchdown for the first time all season. Great timing.

• 46 pass plays. 16 run plays. So much for balance.

• DeSean Jackson performed like a rookie. Four critical drops including a 50 yard bomb and a certain touchdown with fifty-seven ticks left in the game. Big-time players show up for big-time games. Jackson is a keeper, but he must learn how to handle NFL pressure.

• Trent Cole had eight total tackles and a sack. I expected more going up against a back-up left tackle. Trent has a non-stop motor, but he needs to add more pass rushing moves to his arsenal.

• The Birds were 33-50 on third downs during their three game win streak. On Sunday, they were 3-14. Terrible.

• What the hell happened to Sav Rocca???? I realize it was windy, but a 34.3 net average is not going to get it done.

• Pro Bowl corner Asante Samuel dropped another interception that would have given the offense their best field position in the second half. Samuel – known for his hands – has bungled at least a half-dozen picks this season.

• Who calls a timeout 55 seconds into the second half? The Eagles do.

• How many McNabb throws ended up in the dirt? Five… six… ten? I lost track.

• After Brian Westbrook’s 47 yard reception in the third quarter, the Eagles had a first and ten at the Redskins’ twelve yard line. They then ran three plays from the shotgun. All passes. No first down. Another inexcusable redzone collapse.

• L.J. Smith caught 7 for 49, but also dropped two. This guy drives me nuts.

• The Eagles were screwed by a first-down reversal near the end of the first half. I have no idea what angle the ref was looking at, but the four I saw showed the nose of the ball on the first down line.

• The only “smart” play I saw the entire game was Quintin Demps returning a missed field goal attempt 55 yards. Of course, the Eagles then went three and out.

• The Redskins shrewdly deployed three cornerbacks to blanket the Eagles depleted receiving corps. It worked. It’s these kinds of coaching adjustments that often elude Andy Reid and his staff.

• Why is it that the offense showed zero urgency until there was less than three minutes remaining in the game?

I could go on and on, but you get the point. The Birds showed little fight in a game they needed to have. The Redskins called twice as many run plays as the Eagles. Andy Reid will never learn. Up next is the season finale against the Cowboys. I should be excited, but after watching the planet-sized egg laid yesterday, I think I’ve seen enough of the 2008 Eagles.