Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Connor Barwin had a hell of a November. He was a sacking beast, leaving opposing quarterbacks little chance to remain on their feet. His feats were noticed around the NFL, with Barwin named as the NFC Defensive Player of the Month on Thursday.
It is the second time that Barwin has received the honor in his NFL career, the first with the Eagles.
In Barwin’s five games in November, he recorded 6.5 sacks, 24 tackles, and a forced fumble. The highlight of his performance for the month came in Philadelphia’s 45-21 win over the Carolina Panthers on November 10, where Barwin alone racked up 3.5 sacks on Cam Newton.
And how about this honor: Barwin is the first Eagle to be named NFC Defensive Player of the Month since Brian Dawkins won the award in December of 2008.
“It’s a representation of people taking notice about how well we’re all playing on defense…That Dallas game, it was the three guys on the interior who won every single matchup that game. That’s what’s good about (the award). People are starting to take notice of our defense as a whole.”
Looking forward to what you’ve got to show us in December, Connor Barwin and the entire Eagles defense. Congratulations!
This is what we were most thankful for on Thanksgiving Day: A total beatdown of the Dallas Cowboys by the Philadelphia Eagles. The defense was unstoppable. The offense was on fire. Tony Romo and his team were in meltdown mode. And the Eagles fought their way to #1 in the NFC East. All right in Jerry’s World. And thankfully, the revolution was televised across the land for all to see.
It just doesn’t get any better than that.
We’re all still riding the joyous feeling of victory so let it continue. Here are how Eagles celebrated their big win and shared it with fans on Twitter:
How bout Them eagles !!!! Team win happy thanksgiving … Notice the best Oline n the league behind me… http://t.co/x6ph5VKrM5 — Lesean McCoy (@CutonDime25) November 28, 2014
Great team win #EaglesNation we took care of business today! One game at a time!
There are leftovers to feast on (no, I don’t mean the Cowboys this time), it’s a holiday weekend and we have over a week to ride this high–and rub it in the face of each and ever Dallas fan that you meet. Maybe God likes Eagles fans after all.
If you’re hitting the stores today, don’t trample nobody, please!
With the many questions surrounding what this Philadelphia Eagles team is and what it isn’t heading into the fourth game of the season, there was never a question about the offense. The 3-0 start showed that, regardless of the start, the
Nick Foles and the Philadelphia Eagles offense could get nothing going against the San Francisco 49ers.
Birds would and could generate points in a variety of ways. Of course they can–that’s Chip Kelly’s hallmark.
Enter the trip across country to San Francisco to face the 49ers on Sunday, a game that flipped the script of the Eagles’ season so far. Yes, there were highlights, one of which you’ll see below. Even with the offense’s inability to get anything going, the game was within grasp until the last moments of the game. But Philadelphia just couldn’t finish. A 91-yard drive starting at 6:35 in the fourth quarter could have gotten the lead and probably the game for Philadelphia. They got within in 1-yard of the goal line, but they couldn’t seal the deal and fell 21-26.
Ironically, the Eagles didn’t wait until the second half to put points on the board against San Francisco. They got to a quick start and lead the Niners 21-10 at the half, but generated a grand total of 0 points in the second.
Nick Foles’ stat line for the day wasn’t pretty: He was 21 for 43 and 195 with no TDs and two interceptions. Ouch. The Eagles could have used some help from their running game, except it didn’t exist and is going to continue to struggle with the battered offensive line. LeSean ran the ball 10 times for a paltry 17 yards. After the game he called the performance “embarrassing” and said he didn’t want to talk about anything having to do with the run game. Makes sense, but, you’re the running back…
The offense’s implosion came on a day when the defense was stout. They showed that they could contain a potent offense and finally got some pass rush going. Safety Malcolm Jenkins returned an interception 51-yards to account for 6 of the Eagles total 21 points, making him the first in that position since Brian Dawkins to garner an interception in three straight games.
Special teams was amazing and accounted for the other two Eagles touchdowns, both of which occurred in the first half: Brad Smith recovered a blocked punt for a touchdown, then our boy Darren Sproles ran in an 82-yard punt return.
Quick aside: Please tell me that someone from the Eagles has at least sent flowers to the Saints organization for the acquisition of Jenkins and Sproles, as both seem to be gifts that keep on giving.
The Eagles now fall to 3-1 with a lot of reason for hope, but a number of concerns as well. A performance just as this–for the defense and special teams to step up when the offense falters–illustrates exactly why football is a team sport. But when the offense doesn’t just sputter but totally fails, you have what we witnessed on Sunday. Amazingly, though, the Eagles almost won it.
When we have a week when all phases of the team are firing on all cylinders for the majority of the game, we are going to have something wonderful to behold. It will happen. Having the o-line back to health, when it happens, will help. Until then, keep those Tums nearby.
The first Monday of the season when we’re dealing with a loss. No Dunkin Donuts coffee. The hits just keep coming. Think about this play to make your day a little bit less brutal–Jeremy Maclin’s incredible diving one-handed catch in the drive that almost pulled the Eagles through.
Donovan McNabb retires as a Philadelphia Eagle (Image via PhiladelphiaEagles.com)
Donovan McNabb was at the NovaCare on Monday morning to retire from his NFL career as a Philadelphia Eagle. Just before he took the podium, Jeffrey Lurie revealed even more news about his team’s former quarterback: That McNabb’s #5 jersey will be retired, never to be worn by another Philadelphia player.
The retirement ceremony will take place when Andy Reid makes his return to Philadelphia with his new team, the Kansas City Chiefs, on September 19. McNabb will be only the ninth player in Eagles history to be bestowed the honor.
Former teammate Brian Dawkins introduced his good friend McNabb at the NovaCare. An emotional McNabb spoke from the heart about giving his all on the field, his teammates, and his historic relationship with Andy Reid. And he confessed that his greatest regret –”not being able to get a parade down Broad Street to celebrate a Super Bowl win.”
“To everyone that’s here, everybody that’s watching, to all the fans, I truly love you. I gave everything I had when I stepped out on that field, I never complained. When you see ‘5’, you knew ‘5’ was going to give you what he’s got.”
McNabb continued with words of advice and encouragement for current Eagles players preparing for the upcoming season:
“To all you current players that are playing now, play with passion, play with heart, trust the man next to you, understand he’s going to give you what he’s got. “
All told, the numbers from McNabb’s time in Philadelphia are staggering. He is the Eagles’ all-time leader in pass attempts (4,746), completions (2,801), yards (32,873) and touchdowns (216). He was one of just four players in NFL history to amass 30,000 passing yards, 200 TD passes, 3,000 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns in his career, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers John Elway, Fran Tarkenton and Steve Young. Despite throwing the ball more than any other signal caller in team history, McNabb ranks fourth in NFL history in interception percentage, throwing a pick on only 2.25% of all passes. He’s the winningest quarterback in team history, securing 92 Ws while in Philadelphia.
It’s no question that the honor is deserved for the most prolific quarterback in franchise history. The fact of the matter is that, in a very short period of time, a very bad team began to enjoy the level of success we still expect from the Birds. Not just making it to the playoffs, but making a deep run. 4 NFC Championships. 5 trips to NFC Championship games. 1 Super Bowl. Unlike the brutal years that preceeded McNabb’s time as Philadelphia’s starting quarterback, he led an Eagles team that was fun to watch. Though still alluded by the ultimate prize, the team and its fans enjoyed an unprecedented level of success with McNabb under center.
The Philadelphia Eagles announced over the weekend that Lincoln Financial Field would undergo a Stadium Revitalization Project over the next two years, intended to enhance the fan experience at games.
Included in the project, which will conclude prior to the start of the 2014 season, includes Wi-FI (whoo hoo!), an additional 7,000 seats, 2 additional HD video boards, bridges connecting the upper levels of the stadium and imagery to connect great moments and players of the team, including 34 murals placed along the upper and main concourses. The project will total $125 million.
Of the planned improvements, team owner Jeffrey Lurie said,
“This is an exciting and new era for the Philadelphia Eagles. Just watching the new HD boards will be fun as the game will be captured in a powerful way for fans. And celebrating players and pivotal moments in games is a wonderful way to showcase the Eagles proud history as a team. Fans will see these all around the stadium.”
While improving the fan experience at games is certainly a goal for the Eagles organization, might there be anything else motivating the team to implement the changes?
With the improvements and state-of-the-art technology, Lurie says that seeking to host the most prestigious event in American sports certainly is a possibility.
“You know, that wasn’t the intention. But certainly when I’m on the Super Bowl committee, when you’re bidding for a Super Bowl, the committee looks very closely at your stadium and your city, what you can host, and Philadelphia would be a great place.”
Like the rest of the football world, Lurie will have his eyes closely on New York as they host the big game in 2014. Should the weather prove to be a non-factor in the game, then he sees no reason why Philadelphia can’t serve as host to the game one day.
“We’re going to root for a decent weather day in New York and New Jersey. We think we have a great city here to host it, and a great stadium. And I’m sure a lot of people feel the same way.”
That will all be determined at a much later time. For now, have fun looking through some of the renderings of what the Linc will look like at the project’s completion next year.
“McFive” will be back at the Linc as part of the team’s history.
What the new concourse in sections 104 and 105 will look like post-project.
Was there any doubt as to B-Dawk’s image in updated Linc? It’s pretty much mandatory.
…And that is what makes them arguably top 10 greatest football players on the defensive side of the ball to ever play the game. A number of professional athletes succumb to a “Joe Cool” attitude about the game they play for millions of dollars. Years of being given preferential treatment, being celebrated for jumping high, running fast, throwing hard, catching well, and hitting have led them to a sense of self entitlement and arrogance that waters down their passion (if they ever had that passion to begin with). The professional athlete has become so desensitized to the fans’ perspective and feelings, so detached from the reality of them playing a beautiful game, not for the money, but for the love, not to make it onto Sportscenter, but to be the very best they can possibly be. Not to extend the contract but to create a bond of brotherhood amongst teammates. These athletes enjoy the ancillary benefits of the lifestyle more so than the game. Oh sure, they do a United Way charity event or two. Why not?…tax break and good publicity for brand imaging. But do they really understand the lessons and character conveyed to an onlooker by them being impassioned and taking pride in their every breath? Do they understand that, yes it’s a child’s game that you make millions for, but it’s also the platform for the world to judge and learn from your every action. Should you be a role-model?…NO. Are you a role model?…YES. The ideal and the reality, the reality and the perception. Ray Lewis and Brian Dawkins are examples of players who appreciate every breath of life God gives them. Every opportunity to put the pads on and play a child’s game. Though they are vocal leaders, their actions speak the resounding volumes of their character, willing to follow as much as lead. There is a story of Ray Lewis bringing water to his teammates during practice…a 12 or 13 year veteran at the time, bringing water…no ego…just a desire to build the bonds of brotherhood a sports team needs to be successful.
These two players have the happiness, joy, passion, intensity, and love of a 1st year walk-on in college, decades into Hall of Fame careers.
“Dawk”: 216 games played, 215 games started, 892 tackles, 35 forced fumbles, 19 fumble recoveries, 25 sacks, 37 INTs, 2TDs.
They’re going to the Hall folks. They are arguably two of the greatest at their respective positions. I hope we all can learn to be as passionate and loving about life and our pursuits as these two dudes. No “Joe Cool” ego. Just love of life and the game.
Defensive Player of the Month on Thursday.
