Philadelphia Eagles Close Season With Win Over Giants

Dec 28, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Philadelphia Eagles strong safety

Nate Allen

(29) intercepts a pass intended for New York Giants wide receiver

Rueben Randle

in the fourth quarter during the game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

So, Philadelphia Eagles fans, that’s it.

In a meaningless, empty game, the Philadelphia Eagles snapped a three-game losing streak and defeated the New York Giants, 34-26. The Eagles finished 2014 with a 10-6 record but will not be going to the playoffs thanks to some critical losses and the fact that the NFC South has to send someone to the playoffs despite none of those teams evening finishing .500.

It isn’t how we thought it would go a few weeks ago, when the Birds were 9-3 and riding high, but that’s that. We live in a world where a team can go 10-6 overall and 4-2 in its own division and not even make the postseason. For all their flaws, all their faults, the Eagles did enough to qualify for the playoffs if the NFL had a system in place that made sense. They don’t, and as such we’ll see you in September, Eagles.

Both teams got off to incredibly fast starts Sunday, combining for two touchdowns on just 10 total plays in the game’s first 3:50. New York got on the board first with an Andre Williams touchdown run, taking a 7-0 lead on the opening drive. Philadelphia answered by moving 80 yards in just four plays, reaching the end zone on a 44-yard completion from Mark Sanchez to rookie Jordan Matthews.

The Philadelphia Eagles took the lead on their next possession. A key third-down play from Sanchez to Zach Ertz kept the drive alive, and later Sanchez went to his other tight end, Brent Celek, on a 0ne-yard pass, making it 14-7 with 6:21 to go in the first quarter.

The offense went to sleep from there, punting three times and, of course, turning it over via a Mark Sanchez interception, on their next four drives. The Giants took the lead with a series of field goals from Josh Brown, who hit from 38, 20 and 36 yards, making it 16-14. The Eagles managed a scoring drive late in the first half, getting a 32-yard field goal from Cody Parkey as time ran out, making it 17-16 at halftime.

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Early in the third quarter the special teams unit that made so many big plays this season added another, as James Casey came firing through the line on a Giants’ punt and got his hands on the ball as it left Steve Weatherford‘s foot. Trey Burton recovered the ball along the sideline and returned it 27 yards for touchdown. Parkey’s extra point made it 24-16.

Brown hit a 53-yard field goal later in the third quarter to pull the Giants within 24-19.

The Eagles put a strong drive together early in the fourth quarter, getting a nice completion to Matthews, another to McCoy and a big run from McCoy to have a chance inside the New York 10. On second-and-goal, Sanchez fired one in to Matthews, who was brought down at the one-yard line, and Chris Polk took it in from there as the Philadelphia Eagles went up 31-19 with 13:08 left in the game.

But the Giants answered, with Odell Beckham Jr. scoring on a 63-yard play. Beckham Jr. was matched up one-on-one with Jaylen Watkins, who stumbled and fell before the ball from Eli Manning was caught, and Malcolm Jenkins couldn’t come up with the tackle down the field as New York pulled within 31-26 with 11:47 to go.

The Eagles answered with a 39-yard field goal from Parkey that made it 34-26 with 7:56 remaining and Nate Allen came up with a late interception on one of Eli’s patented “please don’t hit me” heaves.

QUICK SIX OBSERVATIONS:

1) One of the great lost opportunities of the season for the golf-course-bound Philadelphia Eagles is that they wasted a truly outstanding special teams unit. Who knows if the unit’s coach, Dave Fipp, even comes back next year, but in addition to that this is a team made up of role players who bought in and clicked in a memorable way. It’s unlikely they’ll be keeping those units together. That’s just the nature of the NFL. I don’t know that this team would have been able to win a Super Bowl this year, but the specials teams would have been an ultimate wild card in the playoffs.

2) Great finish to a great rookie season for Jordan Matthews. The Vanderbilt product topped 100 yards receiving for the third time on Sunday and ended his rookie campaign with 872 yards. For all the criticism of the Eagles’ 2014 draft class, this is one they clearly got right.

3) Marcus Smith was active for the game. I didn’t see him. That’s pretty much the ultimate indictment of the guy as an NFL player, that the Philadelphia coaching staff didn’t even feel it was worth it to throw him out there in a meaningless game and see how he responded.

4) Odell Beckham Jr. is an incredible talent, but wow, this kid reminds of DeSean Jackson, Terrell Owens, Michael Irvin – in their bad qualities. I wish the Eagles had a guy with his ability, but I am glad they don’t have a player with that attitude. One wonders how his act will hold up over the next few seasons.

5) With his 99 yards Sunday, LeSean McCoy finished the 2014 season with 1,319 rushing yards. Not too shabby for a guy who some people say “lost a step.” LeSean McCoy is still the key to the Philadelphia offense and his rushing was never the problem. If you want to look for an alarming stat involving Shady, it’s that he finished with 28 catches for 155 yards. The screen game as well as McCoy’s involvement in the passing game was basically nonexistent. If the Eagles are going to regain their explosive ways, they need to develop ways to get McCoy the ball in space (and hope whatever injury he sustained late in game is not a serious one).

6) I believe this game was a great example of what the Eagles do well and what they do poorly. Eli Manning too often had too much time (the Eagles need another pass rusher) and his receivers were pretty much wide open all day (two new corners and a new safety). Offensively, Mark Sanchez missed some open receivers down the field. There were big plays out there to Josh Huff and Jeremy Maclin, to name two, that he just didn’t make happen. Quarterback. Difference-making pass rusher. Overhaul of the secondary. That’s my offseason wish list. What’s yours? Comment below.

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