Didinger: Chip Kelly Out-Coached By Dan Quinn
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Football analyst Ray Didinger analyzed the Eagles disappointing opening game loss to the Atlanta Falcons, suggesting that Head Coach Chip Kelly did not have his team ready and insisting they cannot afford a repeat performance next week against the Cowboys.
Didinger told Chris Stigall on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT that Kelly was outcoached at the start by his Atlanta counterpart.
"Certainly in the first half, Dan Quinn, the new Head Coach of the Falcons, got the better of Chip. In part, almost in the manner of preparation, it seemed to me that the Falcons showed up ready to play and the Eagles didn't. To some degree, that's on the coach. Your team's got to be ready to play when they start and it was obvious from the beginning the Falcons really were and the Eagles were slow to engage."
Listen: Ray Didinger with Chris Stigall on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT
He did say he was encouraged by quarterback Sam Bradford's efforts to lead a rally after struggling initially in his return from injuries.
"I really do think the first half was really a rust thing. I really do think it took him a while. He looked just little off his game. He was missing passes. He wasn't in sync with his receivers a lot of the time. He was throwing the ball and guys weren't even looking. But, in the second half, he got into a flow. He really is a rhythm passer and in the second half, the offense found its rhythm. He was really spot on."
Didinger stated they need to win next week's game at home against Dallas to avoid losing control of their season.
"It's real important that you beat them right now. Whatever you want to think about the Cowboys, they are 1-0 and the Eagles cannot afford to get to 0-2. It was going to be a big game anyway, because Eagles-Cowboys in Philadelphia is always a big game. But now it takes on even more importance after the events of the last 48 hours. The Cowboys wound up winning a game that they had no right winning and the Eagles lose a game that, I know in their heart of hearts, they know they never should have lost. You hate to say that it's a must win game in week two, but for where for where the Eagles are right now, it almost is."
