Heartbreak On The Bayou: Saints End Eagles’ Improbable Run

The Philadelphia Eagles’ decision to punt the ball with one minute and fifty seconds left in the game perplexed Eagles fans everywhere, who watched their storybook season end with a disheartening whimper, rather than with the fight this Eagles’ season had come to represent. The Eagles’ loss to the New Orleans Saints was not directly an end result of the decision to punt or not, but in a game in which the birds gave the Saints enough fight to leave New Orleans with a victory. The loss forces fans and analysts to examine the smaller plays and game decisions that could have made the difference.

The first quarter started expectedly, with the New Orleans Saints amidst an adrenaline storm, throwing everything they had an Eagles’ defense that was just trying to survive the initial onslaught in the raucous Superdome. The Eagles’ defense weathered the Saints excitement, giving up only six points, a result of two John Carney field goals. The second quarter differed from the first in that the early adrenaline had died down, and the game turned into a grind. Much like a heavyweight bout, both teams flurried offensive momentum, trading touchdown for touchdown, and jousting for field position. The Eagles finished the half with an attractive drive that ended with a Brian Westbrook leap over the pile from the one yard line, giving the Eagles the 14-13 lead at the half.

The second half started with the Eagles having total momentum. What looked like trouble for the New Orleans Saints, was solved by Saints’ running back Deuce McAllister. McAllister ran the ball like a Sherman tank, wearing down a Philadelphia Eagles’ defense that was clearly exhausted. All of a sudden the Eagles struggled to find an answer for the Saints’ attack. This, mixed with some questionable play calling on offense, led the Eagles down the path of heartbreaking defeat in a game they had full control of early in the half. The Saints eventually defeated the Eagles 27-24.

Thumbs Up
Brian Westbrook
Again Brian Westbrook showed how underrated he is as a running back in front of a national audience. Despite three drops (one of which would have resulted in a touchdown) Westbrook is clearly the keystone and catalyst of the Eagles’ offense. Westbrook had 116 rushing yards on 13 attempts, with two touchdowns. This kind of rushing production from Brian was only discovered toward the second half of the Eagles’ season, and should be something to watch for next season with the return of Donovan McNabb. It will be interesting to see if coach Andy Reid continues this dimension of offense that gave the Eagles so much success down the road, and if this extra dimension will take an already outstanding quarterback in Donovan McNabb, and make him even better.

Donte’ Stallworth
Donte’ Stallworth’s probable final game with the Eagles was a memorable one, as he had three receptions for 100 yards, and one touchdown. The speedster Stallworth gave the Eagles a credible deep threat against New Orleans’ secondary, which helped them spread the field with the ball. Though Stallworth seemed to develop a mutual love affair with the Eagles and their fans this season, this is his contract year. With the boorish Drew Rosenhaus as his agent, Stallworth will most likely ask for top dollar, and go to the highest bidder. There is no doubt the Eagles would like to resign him, and will make an offer. But they will not throw franchise money at any oft-injured receiver simply due to decent numbers and a shining personality.

Sheldon Brown’s Hit
What appeared only two plays into the game to be a game changing hit, turned into an example of star rookie running back, Reggie Bush’s toughness and resiliency. The hit was set up by a sniffed out screen pass to a flanking Bush. Brown knew the pass was coming for Bush and broke off his coverage to move in and make the hit. Bush caught the ball, planted his feet, and was instantly clobbered by Brown. Sheldon Brown can tackle but is far from the hardest hitter on the Eagles’ defense. One may not want to imagine what could have happened if madman Brian Dawkins was on the giving end of a hit like that… Bush may have evaporated.

Thumbs Down
Andy Reid
“I guess with hindsight we should have done that,” Coach Andy Reid spouted when asked about his decision not to attempt a first down on 4th and 15. The Eagles’ defense had not been able to stop Deuce McAllister and the Saint’s offense all day, and continued to struggle after giving the Saints the ball back with less than two minutes. This decision did not lose the game for the Eagles but it certainly did not give them a chance to win. The play calling was questionable all game, specifically around the 10 minute mark in the 4th quarter. The Eagles had the ball at the goal line, and Reid chose to try everything possible except run the ball. Reid is not at total fault for the Eagles loss, but considering the players playing their tails off, and this being Philadelphia, someone has to be at fault.

Special Teams
The Eagles’ special teams was atrocious all game. Eagles kicker David Akers failed to get kickoffs into the end zone, which resulted in giving the Saints good field position at around the 35 yard line all day. With five total kickoffs, Akers managed to hit the end zone once, and did not get a touchback all game. This is compared with the Saints who had a total of six kickoffs, and reached the end zone four times with two touchbacks.

Run Defense
The Eagles’ poor run defense allowed the Saints to run for 208 yards on 37 carries. What killed the birds specifically was allowing the Saints’ run game to convert third downs. The Saints converted 15 first downs by the run compared to the Eagles’ five. This inability to stop the Saints from driving down the field, doomed the Eagles once they gave up the lead in the 4th quarter.

(Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)