The "Dream Team" is quickly going down the drain. After last night's 31-14 loss to the Seattle Seahwaks, the Eagles have fallen to 4-8 and they show no signs of improvement. Vince Young had a pretty horrendous game, going 17-29 for 208 yards, one touchdown and four picks. One interception was due to a bobbled catch by wide receiver Riley Cooper, but the rest were simply horrible passes. Young's arm strength and accuracy were shaky. In the fourth quarter, when Philly was still in the game, the Eagles were driving down the field and Vince Young lobbed a screen pass to LeSean McCoy only to be intercepted by David Hawthorne for a pick six.
The star of the game was Marshawn Lynch, who rushed for 148 yards and two touchdowns on twenty-two carries. His biggest play came at the start of the second quarter when he broke off a forty yard touchdown run. Part of me is wondering if the Eagles' defense thought they were playing two-hand touch football last night, because the could not tackle anyone on Seattle's offense which, shockingly, is what they are paid to do. The first score of the game came when the Seahawks were in the red zone and Lynch ran up the middle only to get stuffed by the crowded line. At least four Eagles defenders got their hands on him, but he kept on powering through and stormed into the endzone.
I owe Tavaris Jackson an apology. As much as I ripped on him for turning the ball over and not being able to play at a high level, he had an excellent game last night. Jackson was 13-16 for 190 yards and a touchdown. If he can replicate that kind of performance the Seahawks have the potential to be at least an 8-8 or 9-7 sort of team. With an excellent running back in Marshawn Lynch, the pressure is taken off of Jackson, and he just has to make the throws on passing downs. A balanced, or even rushing-oriented offense allows him to make fewer throws and he won't be forced to make the offense go all on his own.
To make things worse for Philadelphia, salt was poured in their wound when Nnamdi Asomugha was injured with a head and neck injury and did not return to the field. Once again, DeSean Jackson had an extremely quiet game with only 4 catches for 34 yards. His body language throughout the game showed that he had given up on the team, especially when he failed to make a block for LeSean McCoy on a screen pass down the sideline. His post-game interview showed even more of his frustration when he got upset with the reporters for asking about his interactions with his teammates on offense. With Michael Vick out, the Eagles need LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson to step up on offense and clearly Jackson is checked out for the rest of the year. Jackson has 43 receptions, 698 yards, and two receiving touchdowns this season, not nearly the expected numbers for an explosive player with Pro Bowl worthy talent. All he has been this season in Philadelphia is an under-producing, quitting, locker room distraction, so I wouldn't be surprised if the Eagles check the trade market or simply release him. The Eagles finish their season with games against the Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys, and Washington Redskins. My guess is that they will go 2-2, with the possibility of 1-3 in that stretch. If they want to finish this season on a high note, someone in the locker room has to step up. Whether it's Vince Young on offense or Trent Cole on defense, the team needs a strong leader to rally the players. Andy Reid doesn't deserve to get fired. Philadelphia would have a hard time finding a better replacement.
The Eagles should be a lesson for the rest of the NFL, and all professional sports teams for that matter. Simply signing some of the most talented players does not automatically make you a championship contender. The Eagles are in a similar situation to the Miami Heat before Christmas last year, when they were still trying to figure out their rotations and team chemistry. Philadelphia probably needs a season or two to figure out their defensive schemes with all of their new talent and let team chemistry develop. And most of all, let the rest of the league and media deem you the "Dream Team," not one of your own players, or else the target will be on your back starting Week 1.
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