Philadelphia Eagles - Where to go from here.

Philadelphia Eagles' QB Michael Vick, Head Coach Andy Reid

       
         Today was the day; today was the day the Philadelphia Eagles were going to show you what type of team they are. Facing Michael Vick's former team, the 6-0 Atlanta Falcons, today was the day that defined our season thus far. Either we would lose our third straight game, and then go and face the still-dangerous New Orleans Saints in the Superdome, or we would beat the NFL's only undefeated team, and ride that momentum to making a post-bye week run to the playoffs. After an embarrassing loss, I'm just not sure that this team is good enough. This team has plenty of talent scattered around, however they are not succeeding, and they are missing the heart that takes their so-called talent to that next level.

        The Philadelphia Eagles have lost three games in a row since starting the season 3-1. Andy Reid fired defensive coordinator Juan Castillo and replaced him with Todd Bowles two days after Philadelphia blew its second straight fourth-quarter lead in an overtime loss to the Detroit Lions. Many people questioned the firing of Castillo, his defense allowed 18.5 points per game. Marty Mornhinweg's offense is average 17 points per game. Todd Bowles' defense allowed 21 points in the first 24 minutes of the game. The defense couldn't stand up and make a stop until the fourth quarter after the Falcons scored on their first six possessions before punting for the first time with 5:35 left. The defense got what they wanted, after questioning whether Castillo knew what he was doing as the defensive coordinator, they got their guy in Todd Bowles. Now fans are questioning if this team knows what they're doing out on the football field.

        Pathetic. Embarrassing. These are some of the cleaner words that fans are using to describe this team. A sellout crowd anticipating Hurricane Sandy started filtering out in the third quarter and those who stuck around booed the Eagles off the field. The only time I heard a cheer was when the Eagles recorded their first sack in 4-and-a-half games. That brings us to the main problem with this team, they are soft in the trenches. The defensive-line has been getting little pressure, and leaving their secondary high and dry. They are out there covering wide receivers for way too long, and with Nate Allen and Kurt Coleman biting on every play action and pump fake, our coveted cornerbacks have looked terrible at points in every game. The other side of the line has been embarrassingly worse. You need an offensive line that can block in order to run the type of offense that Philadelphia wants to run. There have been no big plays down the field, and Vick has been laying on his back more than a dog who wants his belly rubbed. DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin need time to run their deep routes, and with an offensive-line that can't hold the defense for more than three seconds, it's near-impossible to get down the field for big passing plays.

        Former Philadelphia Eagles cornerback, Asante Samuel, "That was a good, old-fashioned a**-whopping." Also saying the difference between his old team and the Falcons: coaching and Atlanta runs the ball.

        There is a small light of hope. If, and this is a big IF, the Eagles can win at New Orleans and get to 4-4, the Eagles would then face another winnable game against the Dallas Cowboys the next week. Since the Cowgirls are just about as disappointing and unpredictable as the Eagles are, it could cancel out in our favor. After that, the second half of the season gives us very beatable opponents in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers, and Cincinnati Bengals. As long as the Eagles can handle their business there, then Philadelphia would just need to hold their own against the NFC East the rest of the way.

        All this is certainly doable, but not with the effort that Philadelphia showed this week against Atlanta. This team is not a 'very talented 3-4 team', or an 'underachieving 3-4 team', they are a 3-4 football team, simple as that. I saw guys in the last 2 minutes of this game smiling, and joking around. That sickens me. I don't recognize this team, I grew up with a team that wasn't always characterized as gritty, but as one that always had heart. A blue-collared team for a blue-collared city. Last decade, guys like Brian Dawkins, Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook worked their tails off, and poured their blood, sweat and tears in to this team. They worked hard for years and made this franchise a NFC powerhouse. This 2012 Philadelphia Eagles team is not one that was built by these players. This years' team is full of a lot of guys that might not even be here next year. Do they even care? It's time for these players to stand up, earn their paychecks, and care about this team as much as their fans do.