Eagles Go Down With A Whimper

After finishing off the season going 9-7, the Eagles went into the playoffs without many expectations from the football world.   Now realistically I knew that was way over their heads. If you look at their end-of-the-season schedule and record, you had to know it wasn't very impressive. The closest you could say was a good victory was the win against the Saints. But even that victory wasn't that impressive considering who the Saints had as their quarterback (Trevor Siemian).  Following that win, losing to the Giants was a strong indication of how lacking they were on the offensive side of the ball. Even with their last four wins, the offense got off to a slow start. So you know heading into the playoffs, we'd have to see a much different team.

This brings us to yesterday's game against the Bucs. As game time drew nearer, my touch of reality began to get more distorted. I knew all that I stated above was true, but with all doses of reality, there is a part of me that is looking for that "miracle on the ice" moment. That somehow, the Birds would come out firing on all cylinders and the running game would dominate and in turn open up the passing game. And that the defense would put enough pressure on Brady and his offensive line, that the Birds would make it a game!

Now in the words of the great John Lennon, "you may say I'm a dreamer....but I'm not the only one..."  There is a part of me that gets somewhat delusional and thinks that they'll play the best game they've played all year. They'll run the ball at will. This will open up the passing game and Hurts will be hitting his receivers all over the field. Then there is the grim reaper side of me that thinks...they are going to stink up the joint!

Well, guess which side of me won yesterday? A Little less than five minutes into the game, the Bucs take the lead on a Bernard 2 yard run. The Birds get the ball for three plays and Siposs picks up where he left off last week against Dallas and shanks a punt for 27 yards. (The dark clouds were already beginning to form overhead.)

Fortunately, the Bucs go nowhere and punt the ball back to the Birds. Five plays later and another Siposs punt. This time it goes for a booming 36 yards! Brady takes the Bucs down the field with Vaughn going in from the one and we're down 14-0 at the end of the first quarter. Again moving into the second quarter the Birds go three and out. Bucs move down the field resulting in a 34-yard field goal and it's 17-0.

The Eagles move the ball down the field and get to the Tampa 37, only to have an incomplete pass by Hurts to Reagor on fourth down. On the previous play, Hurts had Smith open for a first down but focuses on Sanders for a 1-yard completion, short of the first down marker.

The Bucs go three and out with 2:31 left in the half. Was it possible for the Birds to get 7 by half time? First play from their own 39 is a pass to Goedert who takes it down to the Tampa 30, only to be called back on a hold by Kelce. Hurts finally hits Smith for the first time in the game for 9 yards only to be called back again for another flag on the play on Watkins for pass interference. By this stage of the game, I'm really beginning to have those dark clouds overhead. Can't they get anything right!!! The next play, Hurts throws into double coverage trying to reach Goedert. What makes matters worst is you've got Reagor in the same area bringing more defenders into the coverage. 

After a 9 yard run by Hurts to make it 3rd and 11, Hurts hits Watkins for a 35-yard completion. On the next play, Smith finally gets a pass that counts for 6 yards. Alright, 0:50 left, Hurts rolls to his left, looking for the end zone with the ball at the 21. Hurts attempts to hit Smith in the end zone and doesn't see Mike Edwards coming across. So ends any hope of scoring in the first half. Especially since Reagar looks lost on the punt with 0:27 left. (Little did I know at the time, this would pale in comparison to what was to come later). 

Ok, they come out of the first half down 17-0. It's not that bad. They get the ball to start the second half. Sure, they've been more of a second-half team anyway. The Birds can come out, march down the field, score, and it's 17-7. Three and out by the Bucs, get the ball back,  Go down and score again, 17-14. Yeah, it's possible!

And so I snap out of this daydream and we begin the second half. The Eagles start at their own 25 and make it down to the Tampa 45 only to stall out. A punt by Siposs to the Tampa 9 yard line gives the ball back to the Bucs. Three and out...ok we get the ball back in a good field position. A punt from the 14-yard line should be great! Oh, wait...we've got Raegar back for the punt...and it's Reagor at his finest!

Brady takes the Bucs down the field, hits Evans for a 17-yard completion followed by a Gronk 2 yard completion and the Bucs go up 24-0. The Birds follow this with a fourth-down pick by Barrett who returns it 17 yards to the Eagles 36.  Next play, Brady to Evans for a 36 yard TD. (31-0) Immediately, I have flashbacks to the old MNF games when Don Meredith would sing, "Turn out the lights...the party's over..." 

And so even though a bulk of the time was left in the fourth quarter, at this stage it was just going through the motions. It didn't matter how many points the Eagles would score, it would have no impact. So, another year ends and many more questions come to the surface.  We'll get to those questions as time goes on. The bottom line is the Eagles came out not ready to handle the big stage.