You know the drill. I'm watching online so I'll update throughout. Leave your thoughts in the comments.
1st Quarter
Westbrook is starting, which is a little bit of a shock to me. He didn't practice all week.
The Eagles go with the no-huddle from the get-go. They don't do much with it, though. Sav punts one into the end zone after the Eagles manage one first down.
This is going to be a defensive battle, let's hope the Eagles can punish Flacco throughout.
On their second drive, the Ravens are just ramming the ball down the Eagles throat. They've covered about 35 yards on 5 straight carries. Bunkley was hurt on the last play. If they can't stop the run it won't matter how much pressure they can put on the rookie QB.
Big stop on 3rd and 1 for the D.
Three and out for the O. 6 passes, 2 runs so far. Andy really is committed to the run.
The birds end the first on the drive, and actually running the ball well with both Buckhalter and Westbrook. Let's see if they can keep it going in the second.
2nd Quarter
Baskett with a huge 3rd down catch inside the 30.
And McNabb coughs up the ball, the Ravens return it to about midfield. Sack and fumble.
The D holds, but keep these early drives in mind. The Eagles cannot stay on the field, when they do get into scoring range something happens. The D is going to wear down and the Ravens are ready, willing and able to run the ball over and over again. They have three good backs.
On 3rd and about a foot the Eagles run play action, McNabb throws a pick deep down the field. Just as good as a punt, I guess. Which is what you're going for on third and short, obviously.
Two sacks for the Eagles forcing a punt. They finally get good field position, Eagles ball at their own 43.
3 and out. Excellent.
And another 3 and out for the Birds. This is just pitiful.
Big return for the Ravens, plus ten yards tacked on for a penalty. Ravens ball on the Eagles 28. Here come the first points of the game.
Stover hits from 44 yards. 3-0, Ballmer.
McNabb throws a pick on the first play, Ed Reed returns it to about the 5. Horrible, horrible pass by McNabb.
Flacco throws for a TD off play action on 3rd and goal from the 1. 10-0, purple birds. Considine got torched on the play.
At least we get to see McNabb run the 2-minute drill now. I wonder if he'll puke.
Demps returns the kickoff about 101 yards for a TD. 10-7 Ravens.
First kick return for a TD for the Eagles since 2001.
It's a shame this special teams and defensive unit has to watch the Eagles' offense piss away all their hard work every week.
Considine and Hanson combine on a sack, ball is knocked loose, called a fumble on the field, but it's probably going to be overturned. The funniest thing about the play was that Considine seemed to take the worst of the hit.
And.....yep, it's overturned. This is going to turn into points for Baltimore.
The Ravens miss a 53-yarder. 17 seconds left for the Eagles to do something.
3rd Quarter
Holy shit. McNabb is healthy, and Kolb is starting the second half. Wow.
Kolb gets them a first down at least.
We may have just witnessed the end of the McNabb era in Philly.
Asante is down. He was hit early on a pass play, no flag.
The D holds. Kolb will start his second drive at the 20.
The offense goes about 10 yards in the wrong direction.
The Ravens block Sav's punt for a safety. 12-7, Ravens.
The good news: Kolb has a sweet porno/state trooper mustache.
Andy Reid tried to challenge something, he wasn't allowed, no one knows what the hell he was challenging anyway.
Ravens are driving.
Reid throws the challenge flag again, again they give it back to him because the play cannot be challenged. Awesome.
Mikell sacks Flacco, forces a fumble, Abiamiri tries to pick it up, kicks it, and the Ravens get it back on a huge loss. Ravens to punt again.
Kolb is picked on his 6th attempt of the game. The offensive line picked up the blitz really well, Kolb just didn't have enough on the deep pass to Curtis, who was covered tightly.
The Ravens are comfortably in field goal position at the 24 when the third comes to an end.
4th Quarter
FG, Ravens. 15-7.
Prediction: The Iggles score a TD, somehow, then botch the 2-point conversion.
3 & out.
53-yard TD pass to Mark Clayton. Lito watched him go right by on a slant. 22-7, Ravens.
Kolb drives the Eagles all the way down to the 1-inch line, then throws a pick to Ed Reed in the back of the end zone. Reed brings it back 108 yards for a touchdown. Kolb could've walked into the end zone. It was 2nd and literally an inch. 29-7, Balto.
That's all I can handle for right now. This game is over. This season is over. The McNabb era is over. Hopefully, Andy Reid's time with the team will come to an end as well. What a disgrace.
Mcnabb and this offense flat out suck.
and please...PLEASE sit Brian Westbrook...all he does is run 1 yard and fall down every damn play. Let Buck play...
With Westbrook hurting, Reid deactivates Lorenzo Booker for the game. Now Booker hasn't shown anything but...HUH?! What happens if Buck's knee doesn't hold out?
This move really shocked me. This is going to mess with McNabb's head. Does this mean McNabb is outta here and on a fast train home to Chicago in the off season? What do you think Brian?
Reid is desperate, which is a good thing, I guess. If Kolb has even a little bit of success, McNabb is done in Philly. His only hope is that Kolb performs horribly.
The only way Reid can back out of a move like this is to say he was sending a message to the entire team, or make up an injury for McNabb.
McNabb's playing shitty, but I don't think Kolb is going to do any better, as long as Reid is calling the plays. So this looks like the end of an era....out with a wimper.
I'm out in california so not getting this game but be curios to hear what Reid says after the game regarding McNabb and pulling him, how will they play it out to the media...to me it just smells like desperation. Reid probably feels he needs to make the playoffs to even consider saving his job and after that god awful tie (and the totally blown out of proportion week McNabb had regarding that tie) he's going to try anything - they pretty much have to win this game today.
I've got cowboys with joe buck and troy aikman - joe buck is seriously the devil of all announcers and i want him to suffer some minor disease that causes him to lose his voice forever.
"Watching" the game on Sportsline.com - I think the problem is that the eagles just aren't very good - top to bottom - they're an average team with above average expectations and this could be a long term issue that I'm concerned about.
Maybe all that love of DeSean Jackson was something the Ravens picked up on, they aren't dumb defensively.
I don't buy that the McNabb era is over, yet, I'm waiting for the post game comments from Reid and how he couches the McNabb benching in the second half...if somehow there's an 'injury' involved - it'll be interesting - short week too - and a game I get to see - and the cardinals don't suck this year
Does Joe Flacco remind you a little of a young Daunte Culpepper, before injuries?
(PS... Admittedly I was wrong on draft day. I wanted the Eagles to draft Culpepper)
A rare good play by Considine and Hansen is taken away.
That kicker had the distance. We got lucky there.
Here's a dismal stat...
Dan Klecko is the leading receiver for the Eagles at the half...
Mcnabb and this offense flat out suck.
and please...PLEASE sit Brian Westbrook...all he does is run 1 yard and fall down every damn play. Let Buck play...
With Westbrook hurting, Reid deactivates Lorenzo Booker for the game. Now Booker hasn't shown anything but...HUH?! What happens if Buck's knee doesn't hold out?
OMG... AM I HALLUCINATING, or is that Kevin Kolb?!
Yup, I think we may have just seen the end of the McNabb era, and hopefully the beginning of the end of the Reid era.
This move really shocked me. This is going to mess with McNabb's head. Does this mean McNabb is outta here and on a fast train home to Chicago in the off season? What do you think Brian?
I don't know. I couldn't believe my eyes.
Reid is desperate, which is a good thing, I guess. If Kolb has even a little bit of success, McNabb is done in Philly. His only hope is that Kolb performs horribly.
The only way Reid can back out of a move like this is to say he was sending a message to the entire team, or make up an injury for McNabb.
McNabb's playing shitty, but I don't think Kolb is going to do any better, as long as Reid is calling the plays. So this looks like the end of an era....out with a wimper.
Brian,
Did that look like Offensive Pass Interference on Samuel earlier?
Yeah, absolutely.
Kolb's not doing any better. Does that open the door for McNabb to come back next week?
Probably, who knows. Reid is a complete mess at this point.
I'm out in california so not getting this game but be curios to hear what Reid says after the game regarding McNabb and pulling him, how will they play it out to the media...to me it just smells like desperation. Reid probably feels he needs to make the playoffs to even consider saving his job and after that god awful tie (and the totally blown out of proportion week McNabb had regarding that tie) he's going to try anything - they pretty much have to win this game today.
John,
you are lucky you are missing this game. It's painful to watch, like a trainwreck in slow motion.
I've got cowboys with joe buck and troy aikman - joe buck is seriously the devil of all announcers and i want him to suffer some minor disease that causes him to lose his voice forever.
"Watching" the game on Sportsline.com - I think the problem is that the eagles just aren't very good - top to bottom - they're an average team with above average expectations and this could be a long term issue that I'm concerned about.
I just want to say that it seems that Kevin Kolb likes DeSean Jackson :)
He likes Ed Reed more.
Aikman's a thoughtful announcer, but Joe Schmuck is just awful. I wish they'd get Aikman a better guy to share the booth with.
That last INT was a stake through the heart. This season is over.
Good one, Brian! LOL It even hurts to laugh about it... I'm depressed.
Maybe all that love of DeSean Jackson was something the Ravens picked up on, they aren't dumb defensively.
I don't buy that the McNabb era is over, yet, I'm waiting for the post game comments from Reid and how he couches the McNabb benching in the second half...if somehow there's an 'injury' involved - it'll be interesting - short week too - and a game I get to see - and the cardinals don't suck this year
If Asante Samuel isn't healthy for the Turkey game, Warner could throw for 400 yards.
Does Joe Flacco remind you a little of a young Daunte Culpepper, before injuries?
(PS... Admittedly I was wrong on draft day. I wanted the Eagles to draft Culpepper)