I'm currently in my anger phase and although I've forsworn ESPN for a week, I do happen to have this blog to get some feelings out there.
I really felt like I did my part as a fan. I tailgated for three hours. Lost my voice around the 3rd quarter. Lost feeling in my toes around the 4th. From an outside perspective, I never gave up hope that they could pull it out. And that's somewhat true. I did think that last drive was going to end in a touchdown. But it never should have come down to that last drive. The Eagles played so terribly that the Seahawks (gulp?) are more deserving of being in the playoffs than them.
Some observations:
Third Downs
The Eagles were 5-13 and the Packers were 8-13, but numbers don't tell the entire story. The offense was unable to convert at 3rd and 3 or shorter four different times, stalling some key drives. The defense did a little better, especially in the 4th quarter, but had a costly penalty in the first half that would have forced a punt, and instead, extended a TD drive.
Penalties
Inexperience plays a large part in this, but in no way excuses it. Our team is young. Of the 11 defensive starters in that playoff game, 6 of them were not starting week 1 against the Packers and 3 of them are former 7th round picks. Maybe this issue wouldn't be as glaring had the Packers made more mistakes, but they remained disciplined and finished with 2-15. The Eagles? 7-50.
Winston Justice is horrible
Justice played unbelievably poorly. He wasn't finishing run blocks. He was collapsing nearly every down in pass protection. At one point in the game, he had 3 penalties on 2 consecutive plays, forcing Vick to convert from 1st and 25 inside our own 15. In the 4th quarter he was replaced by King Dunlap V. Most of the game, he was assigned to block sure-fire Defensive POY Clay Matthews, but to be as effective as a hologram? Winston, I have no doubt you'll play in the NFL, I just don't want you on my team anymore.
Jamar Chaney is a force
Can anyone tell that the quarterback of our defense is a 7th round rookie who made his first start in week 15? Chaney has led the team in tackles each week he has started. He was a noticeable difference maker in his first playoff game, shedding blockers and penetrating the trenches. Prediction: A healthy Stewart Bradley will be moved to WILL (his position from college), Chaney will stay at MLB and Fokou will be our SAM. I'm confident in all three of them.
Michael Vick has major weaknesses
But they are fixable. Andy and Marty need to teach Vick to read the blitz whenever the off-season happens to start. Granted, our offensive line is terrible, but almost every play where protection broke down, Vick reverted to his Atlanta days and simply tried to buy time for himself without looking down the field. If the blitz was loaded to a particular side, Vick would try to scramble the other way instead of throwing into the blitz. He seems to be looking for the big play too often when we just need him to run the offense efficiently.
The Eagles are going to be very good next year
They are the 4th youngest team in the NFL and the youngest offense in the NFC. Assuming they keep Desean, Vick and Mikell, they are still far enough under the cap to make some moves. They could and should be in the running to get soon-to-be free agent CB Nnamdi Asomugha to put opposite Asante Samuel, debatably better than Cromartie and Revis. They also have assets. Kevin Kolb will demand at least a first round draft pick in a year when many teams are looking for help at the position and the draft class doesn't have a stud QB thanks to Andrew Luck's return to Stanford. We could be in a prime position to strengthen our offensive line and secondary while retaining the highest scoring offense in Eagles history.
The only immediate gratification from a first round loss is a January and February of stress-free football watching. Maybe next year.
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