The Eagles turned a game that should have put the St. Louis Rams away early into a contest that went down to the wire. Once holding a commanding 34-7 lead, the Rams went on a 21-0 run in the second half to come to an uncomfortably close 34-28. All this while St. Louis was led by Austin Davis, a quarterback making only his fourth start.
The cartoon above perfectly illustrates the experience of every single Philadelphia Eagles fan, every game this year, courtesy of Rob Tornoe of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Seriously, though. There has to be an easier way.
The Birds now have a 4-1 record and must be one of the luckiest teams in the league this season, as their play and stats reveal a team that does not match its wins. But, as Chip Kelly correctly stated, “tough 4‑1, soft 4‑1, doesn’t matter, you’re 4‑1, and it’s the same thing.”
While the talk surrounding Kelly always involves his high-octane offense, this season it should be about special teams. It is the only unit that has performed consistently well through five games and at this stage is saving the offense and defense from their many flaws. For the second straight week, special teams scored a touchdown off of a blocked punt. The Eagles have four special teams touchdowns so far this season, including one in each of the last three games, which is a first in team history.
While special teams makes history, the offense and defense continue to make us scratch our heads. Or come close to heart attacks. On offense, LeSean McCoy finally got a little something going on the ground, getting 81 yards on 24 carries. But, concerns surrounding the offensive line and McCoy’s own ability to find a way to get it done under less-than-stellar conditions remain. Nick Foles finished the game 24/37 for 207 yards with two touchdowns, an interception and a fumble. Foles’ decision-making is a cause for concern at times, and he had a few near-misses that the stats don’t reveal.
The Eagles defense let an unseasoned QB put up elite numbers in their home. Davis finished the game with three touchdowns and no interceptions for 375 yards. The D simply couldn’t stop the Rams in the second half of the game, particularly the last quarter, which does not bode well for upcoming opponents, like next week’s prime-time matchup with the Giants.
But the game was won, no matter how ugly, and that’s what matters. The Eagles are a team of two halves, and perhaps we’ll be treated to a complete game played well in the coming weeks. But, more likely, you probably need to continue to keep those Tums nearby.
Happy Victory Monday, Eagles fans.
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