The Real Reasons for the Eagles loss to the Cardinals

Living near Philadelphia, every time the Eagles do badly, I always hear some sort of excuse. For the past 8 years, that reason has always seemed to be Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb. I am sick and tired about hearing how Andy Reid needs to be fired, and that Donovan McNabb needs to be traded. For 5 of the last 8 years, the Eagles were one win away from going to the super bowl, and 1 time, getting to go. The reason for the loss to the Cardinals though, had very little to do with either Andy Reid or Donovan McNabb. In fact, if I were to make a list of reasons why the Eagles loss, there would be a lot of reasons I would put in front of Reid/McNabb.

The first reason I can give you, is penalties. The Eagles defense is the NFL's third ranked defense, you are in the middle of the NFC Championship game, you should not have stupid penalties. Yes, I am talking to you  Quintin Demps, who had a roughing the passer penalty to set up Arizona with a Field Goal. I am talking about Asante Samuel having a pass interferance call in the end zone to set up the Cardinals for a Touchdown. Those are 10 points right there, that should have only been 3, the Cardinals were in field goal range when Samuel had the pass interference penalty. Then you have Brodrick Bunkley getting a Roughing the Passer penalty after a Cardinals score...which pretty much automatically makes the Eagles start with the ball on the 20 on their next drive. It wasn't only the defense though, talking about McNabb having that intentional grounding penalty, or Dan Klecko getting an offensive holding penalty that cancelled a 20-yard gain, and made it 2nd and 20. At this point in the season, those dumb penalties will not help you win games. I don't care how talented your team is, you give up dumb penalties...you will lose.

Dropped passes...are you serious! I thought the Eagles recievers had some grease on their hands or something. I know that McNabb did seem off on some passes, but McNabb is a momentum type passer. You can't drop balls that he puts right in your hands. There was a deep bomb early, that was placed right in Reggie Brown's hands, which would have made it atleast 1st and goal, that he dropped. There were more dropped passes, little dump passes, and those passes will not help McNabb get into the rhythm he needs to be in.

Offensive line played terribly, last week they did not let McNabb get hit much at all. Not a single sack, and McNabb had a great day. Arizona seemed to be in the backfield most of the day, and sacked McNabb twice. Two sacks may not seem like a lot, but like I said before, with a rhythm quarterback, every hit hurts. Not just the passing game, but even in the running game, the offensive line did not show up. Brian Westbrook ran for only 45 yards, he is the one who always gets the credit when the Eagles win, where is he when they lose? The offensive line was no where to be seen, and without time, and without a running game...even the Cardinals defense can look good.

David "Dream" Akers, was more like a nightmare on this day. He missed a field goal, previously making 20 postseason field goals in a row. After having a good drive, ending with an Akers field goal, he kicks the kickoff out of bounds, which gave the Cardinals the ball on the 35 yard line. The Cardinals did not score on this drive, but this could have played a big factor in field possesion, time on the game clock, and just moral in general for both teams. Then, he misses, what is suppose to be, an easy PAT, point after touchdown, which forces the Eagles to go for a two-point conversion later in the game. So, David Akers alone, can take blame for 5 points in this game. I am not saying that Eagles fans should hate Akers, he has been consistent for too long to take the blame for one bad game. Those 5 points makes the game a 2 point game, the play calling at the end of the game is different. It is much easier knowing a field goal wins it, than knowing that you need a TD to tie.

Last, but not least, how bout that defense. I previously stated that this defense was the third ranked defense in the NFL. This team allowed 32 points, including 3 touchdowns to Larry Fitzgerald in the first half. What happened in the second half, where they held the Cardinals to 8 points, that they couldn't do in the first half. Jimmie Johnson is suppose to be one of the best defensive coordinators of all time, and he is, but he got out coached by the Cardinals offensive coordinator, and it showed on the field, and on the scoreboard. The defense was a step behind most of the game, you are suppose to step up in big games...not take a step back.

The facts are, McNabb threw for 375 yards, and 3 touchdowns...his only pick, was one that was tipped high into the air, and came down right into the Cardinals defense. McNabb, although seemed a little off at times, played a great game. Eagles fans can not put this loss on him. Eagles fans have never given McNabb much love though...he was booed out of the building when drafted in 1999.  Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid, are 2 of only a handful of Eagles, who have been there for all of their championship games, and they did it with recievers named James Thrash and Todd Pinkston as his leading recievers. They did it with Duece Staley as the team leader in rushing, and they did it with the distraction of Terrell Owens. McNabb is one of the best QB's in the league, and Eagles fans want him gone...I say keep him, get rid of the fans.