Donovan McNabb
It didn't matter that the New York Jets changed their uniforms. The Philadelphia Eagles still figured out a way to beat them.
Donovan McNabb threw for 278 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Curtis, and the Eagles' defence stopped the Jets on fourth down with just over 3½ minutes remaining for a 16-9 victory Sunday. Brian Westbrook ran for 99 yards, and David Akers kicked three field goals as the Eagles (2-3) improved to 8-0 all-time against the Jets (1-5).
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Team Report
as of Tuesday, October 02, 2007 4:13 PM.
(Sports Network) - There's no question that the Philadelphia Eagles went into Sunday night's battle with the rival New York Giants without all of their artillery. But that short-handed state still doesn't quite explain the team's mistake-laden showing in a discouraging 16-3 loss that has left the defending NFC East champions in a serious early hole.
Being without such established stars as running back Brian Westbrook, safety Brian Dawkins, cornerback Lito Sheppard and offensive tackle William Thomas -- a foursome that has been named to a combined 12 Pro Bowls -- the Eagles certainly had a lot to overcome as they entered a hostile Giants Stadium for an important divisional encounter. However, Sunday's loss was really more a product of Philadelphia's lack of focus and execution than the absence of a few key players.
The Eagles were whistled for 15 penalties totaling a combined 132 yards. That high flag total helped bog down an offense that reverted back to the out-of- sync form that plagued Philadelphia in consecutive losses to start the season, but the penalties weren't even the club's biggest problem on the night.
What hurt the Eagles most on Sunday was the offensive line's complete inability to protect Donovan McNabb. The Giants tied an NFL single-game record by sacking the franchise quarterback an incredible 12 times, while forcing McNabb to either rush his throws or run for his life on countless other plays.
Heading into the game, it was generally believed that Westbrook, who entered last weekend's play having amassed a league-best 514 yards from scrimmage, would be the toughest of Philadelphia's missing players to replace. Turns out the biggest void was left by Thomas. His substitute at the critical left tackle spot, second-year pro Winston Justice, was beaten for six sacks by New York end Osi Umenyiora.
McNabb didn't get a whole lot of help from an average-at-best group of receivers that failed to consistently get open during the course of the forgettable night, either. That also contributed to the Eagles' pathetic sum of 76 passing yards and 190 total yards for the game, which was nearly one- third of the output the offense generated in last week's 56-21 thrashing of Detroit.
"For an offense that's had so much success the previous years, for us to come out and play the way we played today, it's embarrassing," said McNabb. "It's truly embarrassing."
The Eagles did a more effective job of compensating for the losses of secondary stalwarts Dawkins and Sheppard, as the defense limited the Giants to a meager 212 total yards and kept Philadelphia in the game for most of the night. However, the offense's continual breakdowns and miscues would eventually lead to the team's undoing.
A perfect example came with the Eagles down 7-0 late in the first half. Middle linebacker Omar Gaither stopped a potential New York scoring drive with a red- zone interception that he returned 49 yards into Giants territory. The offense then promptly committed two false start penalties to create a long-distance situation, and the possession ended with McNabb being sacked by Umenyiora on third down.
"We were just outplayed tonight, said wide receiver Kevin Curtis. "With most games you beat yourself with execution, and we just weren't good enough tonight."
A RUDE WELCOME
Justice's first career NFL start likely won't be one that he or Eagles fans will quickly forget. The 2006 second-round draft pick also had a pair of false start penalties in addition to his struggles in protection. Philadelphia head coach Andy Reid didn't single out the young tackle during his postgame press conference, however.
"It wasn't one guy," said Reid when asked about the protection issues. "It starts with me and putting the guys in the right protection to give us some help, and I didn't do a very good job with that."
Reid also refuted the notion that the Eagles' extensive rash of injuries was the biggest contributing factor to Sunday's discouraging loss.
"The injuries, all that, are just an excuse," he said. "We have capable backups and it wasn't just them, it was everybody."
BUCK WILD
Westbrook's invaluable role was filled in capably by backup Correll Buckhalter, who recorded 103 rushing yards on just 17 carries and added team- best totals of four receptions and 35 yards. It was the oft-injured 28-year- old's fourth career 100-yard outing, but his first since he ran for 115 yards in a victory over Dallas on December 7, 2003. Buckhalter missed the entire 2004 and 2005 seasons after twice tearing the patellar tendon in his right knee.
The Eagles are confident that Westbrook, who was sidelined due to an abdominal strain suffered during the third quarter of last week's win over Detroit, will be able to go when the team next takes the field against the New York Jets on October 14.
A GOOD TIME FOR A BREAK
The Eagles will play a second straight game at the Meadowlands when they visit the Jets in Week 6 for a matchup between a pair of 2006 playoff participants off to disappointing 1-3 starts. In between the meetings with both New York teams, Philadelphia will have a bye week that could not have come at a better time.
Philadelphia figures to be close to full strength for the Jets game, with Westbrook, Thomas, Dawkins and Sheppard all having a good chance to return to action barring any setbacks. Sheppard has been out since spraining his left knee in the season opener at Green Bay, while Dawkins has missed two straight games with a neck stinger suffered during the Eagles' Week 2 loss to Washington. Thomas was held out of Sunday's contest due to a mild knee strain.
There's also a possibility that tight end L.J. Smith could return to action when the Eagles come back to the Meadowlands. The New Jersey native has sat out the last two weeks after undergoing surgery to remove scar tissue from his groin on September 21.
Philadelphia is a perfect 8-0 in games played following the bye since Reid took over as head coach in 1999, and is 7-0 all-time against the Jets.