Philadelphia Eagles Are No Match For Packers In Loss
Nov 16, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Bradley Fletcher (24) is called for pass interference as Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson (87) attempts to catch as pass in the second quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
The most embarrassing and confusing loss of the Chip Kelly-era was played in front of a national television audience on Sunday afternoon, with the Philadelphia Eagles outplayed, outclassed and outcoached by the Green Bay Packers in a 53-20 defeat.
Every facet of the Philadelphia Eagles let the team down on Sunday.
There was coaching, with no real commitment to the run despite the Eagles playing against one of the worst run defenses in the league.
There was the offense, which sputtered behind an awful performance by the offensive line and, especially, quarterback Mark Sanchez, who threw two interceptions (one a pick six) and played a part in two other turnovers (one a fumble return for a touchdown).
There was the special teams, which had been a strength all season but let the team down when it most needed the unit, surrendering a 75-yard punt return for a touchdown.
And there was the defense. In a word, wow. A week after tricking us into thinking they’d turned a corner, we found they didn’t. Cornerback Bradley Fletcher was exposed, Cary Williams doesn’t really like to tackle anyone, and the front seven was able to get no pressure on Aaron Rodgers all day (he threw for 341 yards).
The game was never competitive, and Philadelphia Eagles fans who stuck around to the end were treated with plenty of sideline shots of the Green Bay Packers laughing it up on the sidelines.
The optimist will say this was a tough game on a short week played on the road. The pessimist will say this game showed the Eagles have no business playing against the league’s elite.
After an opening drive where the Rodgers hit Jordy Nelson for 64 yards, beating Fletcher (a common theme), the Eagles managed to hold Green Bay to a field goal to make it 3-0.
Mistakes helped the Packers score again quickly, as an offside penalty on Trent Cole gave the Packers another shot at third-and-18. Rodgers hit it, and later hit Davante Adams for a touchdown to make it 10-0.
Things quickly spiraled out of control from there. The punt return TD made it 17-0. Fletcher got burned again – twice – on the next drive on big plays to Randall Cobb and Nelson (for the TD) to make it 24-3. Then Fletcher got flagged for pass interference in the end zone and an Eddie Lacy score made it 30-3 Green Bay.
A Cody Parkey field goal made it 30-6 at halftime, but Mason Crosby answered in the third quarter to make it 33-6. Then Sanchez decided, hey, let’s make it worse, and he threw a pick six to Julius Peppers (yup, he’s still alive, apparently) that made it 39-6.
Sanchez reconnected with his own team later and threw touchdown passes to Jordan Matthews and Jeremy Maclin. In between were two of the worst plays in a day filled with plenty of contenders. First, Rodgers hit Lacy on a dump off pass and no one decided to tackle him. Lacy went 32 yards for the touchdown, carrying Eagles with him on the way.
Then Jason Kelce snapped one over Sanchez’s head. Rather than falling on the ball, Sanchez kicked it around and fell over, allowing Casey Hayward to pick it up and just about walk 49 yards for a score.
The Eagles are now 7-3, with all three defeats coming away from Lincoln Financial Field. They return home next week to play the Tennessee Titans.
QUICK SIX OBSERVATIONS:
1) I’ll throw this out there as the ray of hope. Back in 2004 the Eagles were riding high, went to Pittsburgh and got blown out. That team recovered and made it to the Super Bowl. So, all is not lost.
2) But, I mean, wow, Cary Williams and Bradley Fletcher are the two worst corners on a winning team. I challenge anyone out there to find another team with a winning records with corners you’d say are worse.
3) Aaron Rodgers is playing pretty good football right now.
4) Mark Sanchez looked like the old Mark Sanchez, didn’t he? Uneasy in the pocket, missing on key throws and then throwing critical interceptions. How long until Nick Foles is healthy?
5) I don’t understand why LeSean McCoy and Darren Sproles didn’t combine for 40 rushing attempts in this game. Yes, the Packers were on fire offensively but the Eagles got away from the run before the game got away from them. Just confusing play calling and game design from Chip Kelly this year.
6) Again, all hope is not lost. The Eagles are 7-3 with a winnable game Sunday against the Titans. Then it’s the true tests, with Dallas, Seattle and Dallas in a three-week span. Beat the Titans, take two of three in that span and they Eagles will be in position for a division title and maybe even a first-round bye.