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        the Gridiron >> the Red Zone >>  EAGLES - NFC CHAMPIONSHIP ANALYSIS - THE EXORCISM
        
(Message started by: Philly on Jan 16^th, 2004, 11:46am)

Title: EAGLES - NFC CHAMPIONSHIP ANALYSIS - THE EXORCISM
Post by Philly on Jan 16^th, 2004, 11:46am

Two years ago the Eagles won their division, dispatched the Tampa Bay Bucs with relative ease in the Wild Card game, handled an overrated Chicago Bears team in the Divisional Play-off game, and moved onto the NFC Championship game with the St. Louis Rams. The Rams were a heavy favorite, but the Eagles hung tight and had a chance to win the game late in the fourth quarter. On a critical play, McNabb fired a pass to a rookie wideout named Freddie Mitchell. Mitchell ran the wrong pattern and allowed Aeneas Williams to intercept the ball, ending the Eagles chances that season.

Last year, the Eagles again won their division, this time securing a first-round bye. In the Divisional Play-off game, the Eagles soundly beat an upstart Atlanta Falcons club who, the week prior, had ended the Green Bay play-off mystique at Lambeau Field. The Eagles were favored to win the NFC Championship game (in the last-ever NFL game at Veterans Stadium) against the Tampa Bay Bucs, a team they had owned in recent history. On the opening kickoff, Brian Mitchell scampered 70 yards to set up an early TD by Duce Staley. The Eagles and their fans were exuberant, knowing that the Super Bowl was a reality. However, before long, Joe Jurevicius was galloping 71 yards after grabbing a short pass across the middle and Mike Alstott finished the drive with a short TD plunge. The Eagles were able to gather themselves a bit in the second half before Ronde Barber picked off a Donovan McNabb pass near the goal line and sprinted the 92 yards to paydirt to seal the deal.

The Eagles now return to the NFC Championship for their third year in a row. The Eagles have some demons to exorcise this year: demons of Championships past who continue to haunt the Eagles and their fans. However, this Eagles squad is different. They are not the wide-eyed bunch who lost two years ago. They are not the cocky overconfident bunch who lost last year. They are the experienced, focused bunch who continue to find ways to win with a team that has faced adversity at nearly every turn in 2003-2004. They are a team who may not be as talented as the previous two, but they have an insatiable hunger for a Super Bowl victory. Nothing less is acceptable for the team, or the fans.

Their opponents? The Carolina Panthers. A team who traveled below the radar of many during the 2003 season and surprised a talented (yet poorly coached) St. Louis Rams team a week ago. The Panthers boast the most talented and dominating defensive front four in the NFL. Of the four, however, only Brentson Buckner has play-off experience. They feature a bruising RB in Stephen Davis (who is still questionable for the game with a strained quad) and a speedy second-year back i DeShaun Foster. They have one of the rising stars of the NFL at WR in Steve Smith, a cocky player who walks his talk. Finally, they have the mystery man at QB in Jake Delhomme. He started the season on the bench, but has taken the reins and inspired the confidence of the rest of the team.

The Eagles met the Panthers during the regular season and came away with a 25-16 win on the road. However, Carolina kicker John Kasay self-destructed in the game, missing an extra point and three field goals. That game was played by two different Eagles and Panthers teams, so it bears little relevance now.

The Panthers are the better team at the line of attack. They should be able to control the time of possession and gain a good deal of yards on the ground, regardless of which back plays. The Eagles should be able to force Carolina to make some mistakes. Look for a back and forth game that will be decided in the fourth quarter.

PROJECTIONS:

QB: McNabb stepped up when it mattered last week and carried the team on his back with more than 100 rushing yards, a key TD to Pinkston on a broken play, and the legendary 4th and 26 completion to force overtime. He will be harrassed again this week and his ability to keep from turning the ball over will be key.

McNabb: 24-41 275 yards, 2 TDs, 8 carries-64 yards

RB: Admittedly, the Eagles ran less than they should have last weekend. Carolina may not give them the opportunity to run any more this week. Regardless, Duce Staley will be an important player for the Eagles offense. He will be called upon to block and serve as a safety-valve receiver for McNabb.

Staley: 7 carries-31 yards, 4 catches-37 yards, 1 TD
Buckhalter: 5 carries-11 yards, 1 catch-4 yards

WR: The unit has been a question mark the entire season, yet has come on of late with Todd Pinkston stringing together a nice series of games and Freddie Mitchell picking the team up with key receptions. The Carolina secondary has been very suspect this season and can be taken advantage of if McNabb gets the time to throw. (Watch for a possible Freddie Mitchell pass attempt off a reverse during the game.)

Pinkston: 4 catches-61 yards, 1 TD
Thrash: 5 catches-49 yards, 1 carry-11 yards
Mitchell: 3 catches-55 yards

TE: Lewis and Smith each had key grabs during the game last week and should serve a similar role this week.

Smith: 3 catches-47 yards
Lewis: 2 catches-18 yards

K: David Akers missed an early FG at the treacherous end of the stadium last week, but redeemed himself with two other FGs (at the same end of the stadium) to send the game into OT and to win it. Akers is clutch and won't be intimidated by the stage.

Akers: 3-3 XP, 2-3 FG (misses a long attempt at the end of the half)

Defense: Bend, but don't break has been the order of business for the Eagles. They continue to allow big games to opposing RBs, but keep them out of the endzone when it counts. Look for Davis/Foster to run well, only to be denied the endzone. The pass defense should be bolstered by the return of Troy Vincent.

Defense: 13 points allowed, 160 rush yards allowed, 200 pass yards allowed, 2 INTs, 1 FR, 1 sack

Final Score:

Panthers 13
Eagles 27

Title: Re: EAGLES - NFC CHAMPIONSHIP ANALYSIS - THE EXORC
Post by Philly on Jan 16^th, 2004, 4:36pm

Furthermore...

Another interesting (to me at least) tidbit I came across. When the Eagles played the Panthers on Thanksgiving weekend, they started Artis Hicks and Bobbie Williams at OG against the mighty Carolina defensive line. Artis Hicks was an undrafted rookie free agent. Bobbie Williams has been a backup his entire career (because he's not that good).

Now John Welbourn is healthy and will be able to handle Kris Jenkins a lot better than his replacement could (although he was frequently double-teamed in week 13). Welbourn is one of the more under-rated OGs in the league.

Also, reports out of Carolina indicate that Stephen Davis did practice today (Friday) and looked good to go on Sunday.

Title: Re: EAGLES - NFC CHAMPIONSHIP ANALYSIS - THE EXORC
Post by BarnabyWilde on Jan 18^th, 2004, 10:06pm

Sorry Jeff. Can't say I am too upset about it. But I feel bad for ya! 3 in a row! :-/

Title: Re: EAGLES - NFC CHAMPIONSHIP ANALYSIS - THE EXORC
Post by steelkings on Jan 19^th, 2004, 8:19am

As Jim Mora once said; "THAT SUCKED" [smiley=downthetubes.gif]. As an Steeler/Pittsburgh/Penn transplant that now lives in Indy I can certainly relate to the feeling. My beloved Steelers lost 3 Championship games in fair proximity of each other. The Colts were wacked yesterday as well. [smiley=dejected.gif]
Keep in mind Jeff that there are upsides.
1. In three years you were able to see your team play almost an extra half season of football more than most every one else. [smiley=thinking.gif]
2. You may never see Todd pinkston again. [smiley=dick.jpg]
3. The eagles are still the best team in the NFC East. They will be back. [smiley=storm.gif]
4. I could be worse. The Eagles could have lost to the Rams or Packers, Or "Gasp" the friggen Cowboys.

Title: Re: EAGLES - NFC CHAMPIONSHIP ANALYSIS - THE EXORC
Post by Philly on Jan 19^th, 2004, 3:16pm

The scary part is that the NFC East isn't going to be the cakewalk it has been in the past. Bill Parcells, Tom Coughlin, and Joe Gibbs? Not an easy lineup.

Todd Pinkston is in Philly for the duration. He signed a long-term contract extension before the season and Andy Reid STILL insists that he is very happy with his receiving corps. At least Freddie Mitchell catches the ball - that's the ONLY good thing I can say about the WR corps.

Sure, the Eagles will have a chance to go again next year. Sure, they can't possibly be hit with as many injuries next year. Every year now seems to be next year and it is getting old.

This one doesn't seem to hurt as much as last year (for me at least) because I (as a long-time Philly fan) was fully prepared for them to lose - almost expected it to happen. (Yes, welcome to Negadelphia.)

Title: Re: EAGLES - NFC CHAMPIONSHIP ANALYSIS - THE EXORC
Post by DOLFAN on Jan 19^th, 2004, 8:51pm

The Eagles got slammed. Their offense is veru different w/o Westbrook. No excuses though they got spanked on both sides. The CAR DEF dominated.
Yes CAR is that good. I wont use Mcnabb and Westy as an excuse they woud have lost if Mcnabb was healthy the entire game. SD was not himself either.
This will be yet another great matchup in the SB!!! I will take Carolina and the points, just like i did against the PHI FEEBLES.

Title: Re: EAGLES - NFC CHAMPIONSHIP ANALYSIS - THE EXORC
Post by Philly on Jan 19^th, 2004, 10:20pm

on 01/19/04 at 20:51:06, DOLFAN wrote:

Easy for you to bash the Eagles when your Dolphins pull an even more embarrassing disappearing act every year. At least the Eagles wait until the NFC Championship game...

C'mon, of course the injuries hurt the team (and we're not just talking McNabb and Westbrook... we're talking Carlos Emmons, Jermane Mayberry, Troy Vincent - who clearly wasn't 100%, half of the D-line).

But that's not the reason the Eagles lost -- they should have won the game regardless. The problem is that the Eagles did not keep running the ball, despite averaging nearly 5 1/2 yards a carry against that "impenetrable" Panthers defensive front. But that is the M.O. for Andy Reid. Pass, pass, pass...

They got spanked on defense too? They gave up 101 passing yards! They gave up 14 total points! I'm not saying the defense couldn't have done better, they could have. But they did enough to win the game.

The real problem in the game was the receivers. All four interceptions could have been prevented. On the first INT, James Thrash did not turn around to locate the ball soon enough on a blitz. On the second, Todd Pinkston broke off his slant route (inexplicably). On the third, James Thrash had the ball jarred loose. On the final one, Duce Staley chose to break toward the endzone instead of sitting down in the middle where the ball was thrown. Then there were the dropped passes. Then there were the broken routes when the receivers got out-physicalled at the line of scrimmage. Unfortunately, Andy Reid chose to keep throwing the ball.

The only hope we have now is that Andy Reid finally realizes that (1) he needs to upgrade his receiving corps or (2) he needs to adjust his offensive philosophy and use the run to set up the pass, and not vice-versa.

Title: Re: EAGLES - NFC CHAMPIONSHIP ANALYSIS - THE EXORC
Post by DOLFAN on Jan 20^th, 2004, 12:28am

I knew it. At least your defenses are fair. Yet still reasons.
I have said all year long that the Fins would not win their division and that they would miss the playoffs by 1 game. Hell ask Stegey or Dirk Diggler. I predicted it befor the season even started. This topic is about the NFC game...........
not my sorry excuse for a wanna/"Wanny"be coach whom I said should have been fired unless the WON a SB. I lived through hell every game this year. I have been a Fins basher for most of the year. I love my boys true enough, but am not ingnorant enough to think they had a shot....
Hell, if i wanted that then I would become a Redskins fan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NUF SAID