I know its unpopular here and we can attribute it to the bad defense and inexplicable coaching decisions, however Foles played a fantastic game. His throws were on point, and often were made while on the run. A few balls were perfectly placed along the sidelines or, simply where only his receivers could catch them. Its frustrating because he has generally looked mediocre for large stretches of his career but these last two games, he was exceptional.I would like to give the Eagles their credit, too. They played a hell of a game. Pllllenty of blame to go around on the Pats side, but in the end, you are what you do. Pats got beat.
That is a really good question. It looked like they were able to clamp down on the run in the 2nd half (or at least in the 4th quarter). But in the first half it didn’t look like they were able to stop anything.What would you guys say the defensive gameplan was tonight? I mean, against Jacksonville they struggled against Bortles but at least they shut down Fournette; it was probably a calculated move to ramp up the run at the expense of the pass. But they did nothing well tonight. Who or what were they trying to stop?
Game plan was to make Jordan Richards beat us.What would you guys say the defensive gameplan was tonight? I mean, against Jacksonville they struggled against Bortles but at least they shut down Fournette; it was probably a calculated move to ramp up the run at the expense of the pass. But they did nothing well tonight. Who or what were they trying to stop?
If we give him credit for the whole game, then we have to say that he did half his job -- the offense looked fantastic against what was supposed to be an incredibly stout defense.This is the first of BB’s 8 SBs I’d say he was outcoached. Guess it had to happen sometime even for the GOAT
Great question. Honestly it looked like the Pats had not prepared for what the Eagles were going to do at all, and then could not adjust or if they did, then Philly changed to something else, so credit Pederson I guess.What would you guys say the defensive gameplan was tonight? I mean, against Jacksonville they struggled against Bortles but at least they shut down Fournette; it was probably a calculated move to ramp up the run at the expense of the pass. But they did nothing well tonight. Who or what were they trying to stop?
I didn't hate it. WYeah, in a game with a number of baffling calls, the weird hook-and-ladder thing they tried that cost them 10 yards of field position and burned an extra 10-20 seconds off the game clock was one of the most baffling.
Shut down the tight ends. 67 yards to Ertz and 0 yards to Burton ain't terrible.What would you guys say the defensive gameplan was tonight? I mean, against Jacksonville they struggled against Bortles but at least they shut down Fournette; it was probably a calculated move to ramp up the run at the expense of the pass. But they did nothing well tonight. Who or what were they trying to stop?
67 yards is a 1000-yard pace over a 16-game season. He also converted three third downs, a fourth down, and had a touchdown. If that's what they were trying to shut down, they did a lousy job.Shut down the tight ends. 67 yards to Ertz and 0 yards to Burton ain't terrible.
They got owned, except for McDaniels, who ultimately figured it out. The offense had a fine game, with few exceptions. Brady was extraordinary; I was really happy for the o-line, obvious huge credit to Scar.Fuck the coaching staff tonight
Turns out Girardi nailed it: The Eagles don’t really have a main focus or two on offense, they are diverse and good in every single area, so it doesn’t really make sense to focus on any one thing. It looked to me like they mostly just tried to match up and consistently got beat. The front 7 in particular just played like shit. The lack of pass rush was the biggest issue I think, they barely got any pressures at all.What would you guys say the defensive gameplan was tonight? I mean, against Jacksonville they struggled against Bortles but at least they shut down Fournette; it was probably a calculated move to ramp up the run at the expense of the pass. But they did nothing well tonight. Who or what were they trying to stop?
Also missing one of /if not their best pass rusher in Hightower.They’ve been to three SB’s in 4 years, winning two. Get the fuck out of here with that bullshit Felger take.
Would this be the huge issue then? BB couldn’t key in on a strength to stop, so we got roasted?Turns out Girardi nailed it: The Eagles don’t really have a main focus or two on offense, they are diverse and good in every single area, so it doesn’t really make sense to focus on any one thing. It looked to me like they mostly just tried to match up and consistently got beat. The front 7 in particular just played like shit. The lack of pass rush was the biggest issue I think. They barely got any pressures at all.
We saw Brady run in this game.. he's not outrunning anyone for 10 yards.Not since Guerrero worked with him.
They got owned, except for McDaniels, who ultimately figured it out. The offense had a fine game, with few exceptions. Brady was extraordinary; I was really happy for the o-line, obvious huge credit to Scar.
Otherwise, a complete mismatch at the coaching level. That would have been the case even if we had won -- but in that case it would have been masked.
Yeah I don’t disagree. But Ertz has had much better games this year. He’s had over 800 yards in 14 games last 2 years. So it was an average game for him.67 yards is a 1000-yard pace over a 16-game season. He also converted three third downs, a fourth down, and had a touchdown. If that's what they were trying to shut down, they did a lousy job.
I mean, on a key third down, he caught the game-winning touchdown.
The attempt was definitely to keep Foles in the pocket and Ajayi and Blount from getting too many yards... IMO.What would you guys say the defensive gameplan was tonight? I mean, against Jacksonville they struggled against Bortles but at least they shut down Fournette; it was probably a calculated move to ramp up the run at the expense of the pass. But they did nothing well tonight. Who or what were they trying to stop?
I don’t know what sort of technological device you are posting from, but it probably has calculator functionality.Yeah I don’t disagree. But Ertz has had much better games this year. He’s had over 800 yards in 14 games last 2 years. So it was an average game for him.
And tonight average was the best thing the defense did.
We just needed the D to be merely bad instead of historically inept (with one of our key guys watching the game)I would argue this was the best offensive game we've played in the SB. so it's a real shame everything else was shit. that's what I keep coming back to, but I think I'll be over this loss in a couple days.
some of the "in Bill we trust" shine is definitely off though after this one.
Why lump McDaniels in there?
The lack of pass rush was the biggest issue I think, they barely got any pressures at all.
These are all related. Not a single holding call all game. Philly had one of the top defenses in the league, with a great line, and they could barely got to Brady. Harrison, just for example, was being held on every snap. McDaniels should have recognized this earlier. In a game with 1 punt, and 1 sack, there were two whoever-the-fuck passes to quarterbacks running routes. WTF?The D line. No sacks, no pressure.
Tom as receiver. Catch that.
Josh in the first half. Too cutesy. Straight up football would have worked better.
Maybe Logan Ryan might have helped...? Edit: obviously forgetting the $10m cap hit...One silver lining is no one is going to talk about franchising Jimmy and keeping him on the 2018 roster. No way could they have tied up $50m in QB and bring back that defense.
How does this defense improve? I see no one on the current roster who we can realistically expect to take a significant leap. Getting Hightower back helps, but he is injured often.
Is the outcome different tonight with Chandler Jones? Hope BB can find a pass rusher in the draft.
Or Malcolm butler. That guy was pretty goodMaybe Logan Ryan might have helped...?
Yep, he would have helped for sure. But they clearly had lost confidence in him.Or Malcolm butler. That guy was pretty good
What was absolutely hideous about those drives is that both times they had the chance to get a first down even if they didn't score.I think the only thing you can pin on the offense are the two failed red zone trips early on (and lump in the special teams fiasco and that’s two trips inside the 10 yardline that yielded 3 points).
That sucked, but overall it is hard for me to blame McD or the offense. They pretty much had to be perfect to win, and they came up just short.
Shit happens and sometimes a guy gets a hand on the ball at the exact worse time, and sometimes a fumble bounces right to the other team. When you put your offense in a position where they literally have to score every time they touch the ball you aren’t going to win many games. Frankly they were lucky it came down to the final possession.
I don't know why they would want to keep Foles in the pocket. Ajayi and Blount combined for 23 carries for 147 yards and a TD, so IDK.The attempt was definitely to keep Foles in the pocket and Ajayi and Blount from getting too many yards... IMO.
Would love to see the all-22 on that play. If the coverage guy doesn’t get a hand on the carrier, is the left side of the field wide open, or does he get tackled 10 yards upfield?I understand why they had that play on, it was worth a shot. But when the Eagles had it covered Lewis should have just eaten it to save the few yards of field position plus the 4 or 5 seconds that ticked off.
Better than Bolden in the backfield on the jet sweep / hurdle play. Sure, he’d run for that one TD, but doubt the defense was too worried about a run between the tackles. (I sure wasn’t.)What was absolutely hideous about those drives is that both times they had the chance to get a first down even if they didn't score.
I also hate hate hate that they use White as the goal line back. Lewis isn't the quite receiver out of the backfield that White is, but he more than makes up for that by being more of a dual threat.
Which had nothing to do with the outcome of the play.Better than Bolden in the backfield on the jet sweep / hurdle play. Sure, he’d run for that one TD, but doubt the defense was too worried about a run between the tackles. (I sure wasn’t.)
Except that wasn't a borderline call. That should have been called and it would have been a 4 point play in favor of the Pats as the Eagles almost surely kick a FG there.The Eagles made a few more plays and that is why they won.
With that said, since when is Illegal Formation a judgment Call? Alshon was 2 yards behind the line of scrimmage...no way that is acceptable the ref should not have allowed him to "check in". The refs were definitely told not to be the story of the game and it resulted in a lot of borderline calls going the Eagles way.
Well said. It almost cost them against Pittsburgh, but Philly is more talented.we've seen coaching overcome talent issues on the defensive side of the ball. that just didn't translate tonight at all.
Yeah, the Eagles aren't more talented on offense than the Steelers.Well said. It almost cost them against Pittsburgh, but Philly is more talented.
That strip sack....I think the only thing you can pin on the offense are the two failed red zone trips early on (and lump in the special teams fiasco and that’s two trips inside the 10 yardline that yielded 3 points).
That sucked, but overall it is hard for me to blame McD or the offense. They pretty much had to be perfect to win, and they came up just short.
Shit happens and sometimes a guy gets a hand on the ball at the exact worse time, and sometimes a fumble bounces right to the other team. When you put your offense in a position where they literally have to score every time they touch the ball you aren’t going to win many games. Frankly they were lucky it came down to the final possession.
I'd say that's debatable. The Eagles outscored the Steelers by 51 points during the regular season. The Steelers have more "name" players, but the Eagles were more balanced.Yeah, the Eagles aren't more talented on offense than the Steelers.
Certainly was the perfect play at the perfect time for Philly, but eventually shit like that will happen in these situations. See: Rivera blowing a save in the '01 WS v Arizona.That strip sack....
So Philly hadn't sacked Brady once all game. They didn't have a single tackle-for-loss all game long. They got ONE. And they got it at a HUGE time. But if it was just a regular sack, I still think we're all confident that the Patriots score on that drive. So not only was it a sack, it was a strip sack. But ok, 50/50 that the offense recovers the fumble. No. So not only was it their only sack, and TFL, of the game, it just happened to be a strip sack, AND they happened to recover. Just the worst of all possible outcomes on ONE play.
Strange game, stats-wise. Philly had a turnover, so did the Pats. Philly punted once, the Pats zero. Philly's turnover came deep in Pats territory early in the game, Pats turnover came in their own end at the end of the game.Certainly was the perfect play at the perfect time for Philly, but eventually shit like that will happen in these situations. See: Rivera blowing a save in the '01 WS v Arizona.
Yep. I had a friend (Jets fan of all things) send me a meme that had Brady see a Lombardi slip off his fingertips on that trick play. I'm like, well, it's hard to catch a Lombardi when you're holding five in your arms.Certainly was the perfect play at the perfect time for Philly, but eventually shit like that will happen in these situations. See: Rivera blowing a save in the '01 WS v Arizona.
Very good way to look at it and good summary overall.Yep. I had a friend (Jets fan of all things) send me a meme that had Brady see a Lombardi slip off his fingertips on that trick play. I'm like, well, it's hard to catch a Lombardi when you're holding five in your arms.
Your point is well taken. You get here enough times, and sometimes things will go poorly for you, or a bounce will go the other way. The great Yankees lost to the Marlins (!) and the Diamondbacks. They blew a 3-0 lead against the Red Sox.
Even the 49ers...well, they may not have lost a Super Bowl, but they got knocked out of what was the de facto Super Bowl (the NFCCG - at a time when the NFC absolutely DOMINATED the AFC) a bunch of times.
Sucks to lose, but the team once again showed incredible grit. Even in the end, after they turned it over, they completely stoned Philly and forced the field goal and still made a gallant effort to get down the field for one last try. In some ways, this game showed even more why Brady is the GOAT. His defense couldn't get a stop all game, and he had to play a perfect game, and very nearly did.
There is no way that with 2:30 left and the Pats having the ball down 5, that there was any Eagle fan that wasn't crapping their pants. Hoping, PRAYING, for a turnover (which, of course, they got). Because without that turnover, there was no way Brady wasn't taking them down for the winning TD.