Games like today's are when you need your stars to come up big and lead the way. Thankfully, D Mac, B West, B Dawk (Lord, NFL nicknames are boring), and Asante Samuel stepped up and showed why they are paid the big bucks.
For three and a half quarters, the Birds were locked in a life and death struggle against the Vikes and then like a bolt of lightning, the game was broke wide friggin' open as a result of one of the best executed plays I think I've seen the Eagles run in my life time. The 71 yard screen pass touchdown was a perfect call and also run to perfection by the entire offense. Sure, D Mac sucked the defense in and threw a great screen pass, and B West was the guy that caught the pass and took it to the house, but Buckhalter, Nick Cole, and Kevin Curtis, among others, all had great blocks to spring the play.
As I was driving home from watching the game tonight, I was able to figure out what the screen pass to B West reminded me of...it had the feel of Ryan Howard's game 4 three run homer which cracked open the game and titled the series in the Phils' favor.
The funny thing about that play was before it occurred, my buddies and I were all ripping Westbrook for looking old and slow and wondering when Buckhalter would be given the ball. After the game changing play, I joked that it seemed like B West looked as if he had been cryogenically frozen like Austin Powers during the first three quarters and had been reanimated right before the touchdown screen pass.
In addition to the big plays from Donovan and B West, Asante Samuel showed why the Birds lavished him with a 6 year, $57 million contract when he jumped a pattern, picked off the pass and took it in for a seemingly game changing TD. To me, Asante had been kind of a disappointment this year, despite his Pro Bowl nod. It was great to see him step up and make a huge play at such a crucial time of year.
D Mac was efficient all day completing several big passes to Jason Avant, Kevin Curtis and Brent Celek (who is quickly making us forget L.J. Smith). If he continues to play like this, we have a great shot at continuing our post season run. The defense was a little spotty in the first half and had trouble early in the game getting off the field on third down, but returned to their stingy ways in the second half.
Overall, it was a strong performance by the team and coaching staff. Now, the question becomes....can they keep it up against a very strong Giants team that is looking for revenge after the thrashing the Birds gave them last month? However, that is a question for another day. Let's enjoy this victory for at least a day. Just think, you could be a Cowboys' fan and have gone more than 12 years without a playoff victory.
7 comments:
That's exactly what Merril said about Samuel on YSP. "That's why they pay Asante Samuel 52 Bazillion dollars."
Have you worked out all of the excuses to use if, heaven forbid, it is in fact not the E-Girls year, and they lose again, as they have every year since 1960?
As a New Yrok Rangers fan, I came to embrace the chant of "1940" at every arena I visited. Maybe "yous guys" can do the same with "1960" although most of yous might not gets it!
C'nest pas possible!
Sorry GWN, "1940" is a classic and I want no part of it.
Admittedly, logic doesn't dictate that this is our year. I still think our QB shies away from the big, big moment. Our coach is a moron that is great for beating other moronic coaches and that's about it. However, after the G Men run last year and the Stillers from 3 years ago, #6 seeds now feel like they have a shot. The Birds are going to need a bazillion breaks (ala "the helmet catch" and Asante Samuel dropping a sure interception) to even get to the Bowl, let alone win it, but for some reason this city is starting to believe. I blame it on the Phillies winning the Series. Now everyone thinks we have good karma in the city. The problem is that the Phils were pretty loaded (a Cy Young level starter, a stud closer, and 3 MVP level hitters). Comparatively speaking, the Eagles don't have have the top end talent that the Phils do. BUT....W/out Plax the Giants aren't the fire breathing monster they were the first 12 games of the year and there isn't anyone else out there that scares the bejesus out of you either. So, the Birds do seem to have a shot. Is it a great shot? No, but it's not outside the realm of possibility.
BTW, I thought I blocked French guys from this blog.
Yo Frederic, I googled Michalak....This confirms a lot of suspicisions I had.
F the French and anyone North of exit 12 on the NJTurnpike. Giants are in for trouble this week. Without Plax they're 1 dimensional and god forbid they fall behind and can't run it 47 times. I'm not buying Eli even with a lucky ring. Last year was what it was and December 7th exposed what the Giants are without a 6'6" gun toting WR. Take the money line and root em in. Birds will be in Carolina for the NFC Championship Game.
3 rings to 0 - Zero, Zilch, Zip, Nada. Yes I wish I had the multidimensional offense the Beagles have - throw throw and throw some more. Oh that's right, Westbrook is there.
I would respond to the rest, but I need to go once again look at our Championship rings.
BTW, I live at exit 11 off the NJT.
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