Archive for November, 2010

The Philadelphia Eagles added a third quarter field goal to take a 16-3 lead over the New York Giants, but Eli Manning engineered a 9–play, 68-yard drive that was capped by a 2-yard pass to Travis Beckum to cut the deficit to 16-10.  The lone touchdown of the game for the Eagles came on a 4-yard run by Michael Vick in the first quarter. Ellis Hobbs was injured on a kick return in the third quarter after taking a helmet to helmet hit. Hobbs was motionless for several minutes, but gave two thumbs up as he was wheeled off the [...]

Instead of the high flying game many were expecting, the Eagles and Giants engaged in a ball control contest for much of the first half.  Both teams had drives of more than seven minutes that culminated in points, with the Eagles leading 13-3 thanks to a 4-yard touchdown run by Michael Vick and two David Akers field goals. It looked like a defensive struggle early on in the first quarter, with both teams going three and out on their first drives.  The Giants went three and out once more, before Michael Vick and the Eagles got their second opportunity on [...]

It looked like a defensive struggle early on in the first quarter, with both teams going three and out on their first drives.  The Giants went three and out once more, before Michael Vick and the Eagles got their second opportunity on offense and put together a long scoring drive to take a 7-0 lead, which stands at the end of the first quarter. Philadelphia took over at its own 32 yardline with 9:25 left in the second quarter and put together a 13 play, 68 yard drive that culminated in a 4-yard scramble by Michael Vick for a touchdown [...]

Here are five keys to tonight’s game: 5. Nate Allen and Dimitri Patterson: While both have played well, they are the “weak” spots in the Eagles secondary that Eli Manning is likely to go after.  Allen is a rookie coming off of an injury and Patterson is making just his third NFL start, but he had two interceptions last week against the Redskins.  If Allen and Patterson hold up, the Eagles defense has a good chance of slowing down the Giants. 4. Coaching Matchup and Adjustments: Marty Mornhinweg vs. Perry Fewell – The Eagles offensive coordinator and Giants defensive coordinator [...]

With the rest of the Sunday slate wrapping up, the NFC playoff picture through 11 weeks is set, as the Eagles and Giants are interchangeable.  Both of their tiebreakers are the same with a win and no other team in the conference is 6-4, so the loser will be locked into their position as well.  The winner will be second place in the conference, in line for a first round bye at the moment.  The loser, however, will fall all the way out of the playoff picture, a game back of the sixth and seventh spot, which is decided by [...]

When the Eagles and Giants get together there always seems to be a lot on the line.  That’s the case tonight as Philadelphia hosts New York with first place in the NFC East hanging in the balance.  The winner will improve to 7-3 and could be tied with the Bears, Packers and Falcons for the best record in the conference if Atlanta loses, but will at the very least still be right in the thick of things for a first round bye in the playoffs.  The loser will fall to 6-4 and most likely be on the outside of the [...]

Manning to Harrison, Montana or Young to Rice, Unitas to Berry and Kelly to Reed.  Those are the top five quarterback to wide receiver combinations of all time, according to NFL Network.  Could Vick to Jackson find it’s way into the same conversation someday? While they probably won’t go down as one of the greatest combinations ever due to their time limitations (Vick is 30 and most great combinations had around a decade together), Michael Vick and DeSean Jackson could be the most dynamic duo over the next five years. “We’re both two people on a mission to go out [...]

1:00 Games Oakland Raiders (5-4) at Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3): This game has no impact on the Eagles or their playoff chances Cleveland Browns (3-6) at Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4): Root for the Jaguars, who the Eagles already defeated this season.  Strength of victory is a tiebreaker both within the division and for the wild card, and the more games the Jaguars win the better the Eagles’ number in that department. Washington Redskins (4-5) at Tennessee Titans (5-4): While the Eagles beat the Redskins once and the strength of victory argument applies here, the Redskins are still within reasonable striking distance of [...]

18 months ago Michael Vick was still in prison.  Last week on Monday Night Football, the quarterback had the Eagles on the board 18 seconds into the game thanks to an 88-yard bomb to DeSean Jackson that traveled more than 60 yards in the air.  Vick’s dramatic comeback after two years away from the game in prison and a season as a backup/Wildcat quarterback has him being talked about as an MVP candidate.  This week, he also earned comparisons to another late-blooming, left-handed quarterback in Steve Young. “They’re very similar,” said offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, who coached Young in San [...]

First place in the NFC East is on the line as the Philadelphia Eagles host the New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field at 8:20 tonight, with both teams coming in at 6-3 on the year.  At least one Eagle thinks this will be the marquee matchup of the entire regular season between what he called two of the top five teams in the league. ”It’s going to be the biggest game in the NFL this year, this is the biggest game right here,” said defensive end Trent Cole. “Who’s going to be the king of the hill?” While the [...]

Around the NFL, when the Eagles offense and Michael Vick are discussed, the phrase that often pops up is “pick your poison.” Stop his scrambling; he’ll pass. Stop his passing; he’ll scramble. Now “pick your poison” may also apply to the Eagles cornerback tandem of Asante Samuel and Dimitri Patterson.

Samuel, a three-time Pro Bowler, has five interceptions this season – one off the league leader DeAngelo Hall. While Dimitri Patterson has only started twice in his career, the last two games, he’s got two interceptions this season. The fifth year veteran has been thrown at a lot the last two weeks since he’s unproven and Samuel is a known ball-hawk.

“I would say that’s been true this year more than I’ve seen in the couple years since Asante’s been here,” said Sean McDermott, the Eagles’ defensive coordinator. “Teams are throwing more to our defensive right than to our left, and I can see why.”

Brandon Graham wants his starting job back. The rookie defensive end, a Michigan product, has just two sacks through nine games and is hoping to increase his effectiveness down the stretch. Graham has battled numerous minor injuries that decreased his productivity and contributed to losing his starting spot to Juqua Parker.

“I just can’t wait til I get back out there, [and get] that number one,” Graham said.