Tuesday, September 21, 2004
God bless MNF!
The apartment a mess, still adjusting from being on Hawaiian time, I sat down to watch the Eagles-Vikings game on Monday Night Football deeply excited, and not just because I found the bamboo chime I bought on Kauai in my suitcase which makes a cool “clunk-clunk” sound: living in Pittsburgh I am essentially at the mercy of the NFL’s scheduling committee as to when I get to watch the Eagles: I get the Steelers, or a local game affecting them (Browns, Ravens, Bengals) unless the Birds are on Sunday Night, Saturday, or MNF. This year, as in years past, the birds get 3 MNF slots, and I couldn’t be happier. On to the game …
My biggest fear going into the game was Randy Moss. As has been discussed, dissected and moaned about at length, the Birds corners are small and inexperienced. Going up against the NFL super-receiver (nice to see him so motivated to bother to try and earn his millions these days) scared me. I’m pleased to say that the Eagles defensive scheme did a terrific job containing him: eight catches, 69 yards. Moss’s longest catch was just 22 yards, pretty paltry from a guy who can break a big one on every play. The Eagles bend-but-don’t-break scheme kept the Vikings frustrated and unable to cash in their opportunities: the Vikes kept swinging the ball out into the flat, expecting their guy to catch the ball, break a tackle and go for the big score, and it never happened. The Eagles secondary cleanly made tackles and bottled up everything (Lito Shepard and Sheldon Brown had a combined 20 tackles). It was a performance to be pleased with.
The Eagles offense is harder to analyze: they held onto the ball for just over 22 minutes. McNabb was the offensive star: he threw the ball with a lot of zip and accuracy (season-to-date completion percentage: 70%) and ran at opportune moments. Great performance. Westbrook, aside from the fumble, did great: 128 yards despite just 17 touches (12 carries, 5 catches). Well on his way to being an “A-back”.
T.O.? Not like last week, eh? With the Birds 2-0, I think he’ll stay happy having “just” one TD.
Other thoughts:
Looks like the strategy of using Kearse to up-grade the pass-protection scheme worked: the Vikings couldn’t throw deep all night long, which prevented the Vikings from getting to utilize their size/height advantage (aside from Moss’ TD). Let's hope this works against the Rams.
What did I say about Culpepper being turnover-prone?: I remember the historian Doris Kearns Goodwin saying, in reference to a critical catch in the 1955 World Series that heralded the Brooklyn Dodgers victory, that there are plays which you know portend certain victory or defeat, you just know your team will win / lose when the play happens. The Culpepper fumble was that play. When the Birds stripped him at the goal line, I knew they’d win the game. Simple as that.
The Eagles rushing defense did a terrific job: Smith had just 28 yards on ten carries and, as a team, they had just 78 yards.
You have to love Reed’s kick-returns: looks like the Eagles recent skill in finding terrific return guys continues (Mitchell to Westbrook to Reed).
Next up for the Eagles: the improved Lions and the Bears. No reason to think the Birds can’t be 4-0, going into the Panthers game on October 17.
The Eagles are just one of seven 2-0 teams. Think about that.
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My biggest fear going into the game was Randy Moss. As has been discussed, dissected and moaned about at length, the Birds corners are small and inexperienced. Going up against the NFL super-receiver (nice to see him so motivated to bother to try and earn his millions these days) scared me. I’m pleased to say that the Eagles defensive scheme did a terrific job containing him: eight catches, 69 yards. Moss’s longest catch was just 22 yards, pretty paltry from a guy who can break a big one on every play. The Eagles bend-but-don’t-break scheme kept the Vikings frustrated and unable to cash in their opportunities: the Vikes kept swinging the ball out into the flat, expecting their guy to catch the ball, break a tackle and go for the big score, and it never happened. The Eagles secondary cleanly made tackles and bottled up everything (Lito Shepard and Sheldon Brown had a combined 20 tackles). It was a performance to be pleased with.
The Eagles offense is harder to analyze: they held onto the ball for just over 22 minutes. McNabb was the offensive star: he threw the ball with a lot of zip and accuracy (season-to-date completion percentage: 70%) and ran at opportune moments. Great performance. Westbrook, aside from the fumble, did great: 128 yards despite just 17 touches (12 carries, 5 catches). Well on his way to being an “A-back”.
T.O.? Not like last week, eh? With the Birds 2-0, I think he’ll stay happy having “just” one TD.
Other thoughts:
Looks like the strategy of using Kearse to up-grade the pass-protection scheme worked: the Vikings couldn’t throw deep all night long, which prevented the Vikings from getting to utilize their size/height advantage (aside from Moss’ TD). Let's hope this works against the Rams.
What did I say about Culpepper being turnover-prone?: I remember the historian Doris Kearns Goodwin saying, in reference to a critical catch in the 1955 World Series that heralded the Brooklyn Dodgers victory, that there are plays which you know portend certain victory or defeat, you just know your team will win / lose when the play happens. The Culpepper fumble was that play. When the Birds stripped him at the goal line, I knew they’d win the game. Simple as that.
The Eagles rushing defense did a terrific job: Smith had just 28 yards on ten carries and, as a team, they had just 78 yards.
You have to love Reed’s kick-returns: looks like the Eagles recent skill in finding terrific return guys continues (Mitchell to Westbrook to Reed).
Next up for the Eagles: the improved Lions and the Bears. No reason to think the Birds can’t be 4-0, going into the Panthers game on October 17.
The Eagles are just one of seven 2-0 teams. Think about that.
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