Knee Jerk Reactions: Eagles' Season Hanging By A Thread, After Embarrassing Defeat
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- That was the worst of them all.
Of all the awful football games we've been forced to watch the Eagles play this season, today's 45-17 loss to the Bucs was the worst of the year.
But hey, look on the bright side, the Eagles play the Lions in less than four days!
• The offensive performance (383 total yards, 17 points) was relatively expected, especially with a backup QB starting, but allowing 521 yards of total offense to the Bucs is almost impossible to comprehend.
• Jameis Winston had the best game of his NFL career and boy did he look good: 19-29, 246 yards, 5 TD's, 0 INT's
• And Doug Martin had one of the best games of his NFL career, as well: 27 carries for 235 yards (!!)
• Nolan Carroll had his worst game of the season, allowing all three of the Bucs' first three touchdowns.
• Tampa Bay pretty much iced the game with their 15 play, 80 yard, 9:47 touchdown drive to open the second half, making it 35-14.
• Where is Kiko Alonso? Seriously, where the heck is he? HE HAD ONE TACKLE. ONE.
• Has he made a play all season long, other than the interception against the Falcons?
• DeMeco Ryans had TWO TACKLES. TWO!
• Brandon Graham had TWO TACKLES.
• What are these guys doing?
• The defense had three dropped interceptions (Barwin 2, Jenkins---who seems to drop at least one per game) and forced two fumbles in three plays---one on a Walter Thurmond strip sack---and neither were recovered.
• Connor Barwin probably had the best game of any Eagle, and it wasn't even that good of a performance: Six tackles, one for a loss, two QB hits, and two pass deflections (really a dropped INT)
• Jordan Hicks gets better every week and he's not even playing.
• Mark Sanchez had the offense moving early on and hit Josh Huff on a nice slant for a 39-yard touchdown on the Eagles' opening drive. Things were looking good.
• But then, the Eagles became the Eagles again.
• And Sanchez became Sanchez, throwing three interceptions.
• Three-and-outs, dropped passes, and a Sanchez interception to end the half really sealed the deal.
• Darren Sproles had nine touches, despite a screen-pass TD
• DeMarco Murray was blah, again.
• Brent Celek led the team in targets (10) and catches (7) and receiving yards (79)...and he's their oldest, slowest pass catcher.
• Josh Huff caught that touchdown, but then DID NOT CATCH ANOTHER PASS.
• Nelson Agholor caught two of Sanchez's first three passes, but finished the game with 3 catches on 4 targets for a WHOPPING 11 yards.
• Jordan Matthews? 4 catches for 13 whole yards. Yippee!
• I talked to Lane Johnson, Jordan Matthews, Jason Peters, and Malcolm Jenkins after the game and none of them questioned the direction, philosophy, or ability of the team. While their spirits are noticeable and understandably low, you can tell---whether you still do or not----they still have confidence in their football team.
• The amazing thing is, thanks to the gross NFC East, an Eagles win on Thanksgiving and a Redskins win at home over the Giants next Sunday, we're looking at a sick three-way tie atop the division at 5-6.
• Sick, I know, but the Eagles' is still hanging by the thread of the NFC East.
