The Day After...
Well, has everyone finally digested last night's thrilling game between the Cowboys and the Eagles? Personally, it will go down as a game that will be hard to forget about for a long time. (Don't tell that to Andy Reid, he's already looking towards next week's matchup with Reggie Bush and the Saints in Nawlins.)
On a day that saw the much maligned Terrell Owens return to town, the media and press jammed into Lincoln Financial Field, preparing to write stories about how the Philadelphia fans were arrogant and obnoxious to Owens. Surprise, surprise... it didn't happen. For the most part, the fans at the game were under control and did nothing to imprint bad thoughts among the minds of many.
The game started off with a turnover nightmare for the Cowboys, as the Eagles had the ball on the 12 and 14 Dallas yard lines respectively in the first quarter. The Eagles took over on their second possession after a fumble by punter Mat McBriar. Philadelphia started the game with the football, but quickly turned it over as Brian Westbrook released it into the waiting arms of Cowboys safety Roy Williams. After a loud chorus of boos directed towards Terrell Owens began the Cowboy drive, Dallas went 3 and out and prepared to punt. On the snap, McBriar botched it backwards, and struggled to pick it up. He was promptly drilled by special-teamer and starting strong side linebacker Matt McCoy, and the Eagles took over at the 12 yard line. Brian Westbrook picked up his NFL leading 6th touchdown of the season after bouncing to the outside on a 5 yard touchdown run.
After a booming David Akers kickoff, the Cowboys took over at the 24 yard line. It was not to be for very long though, as Darwin Walker rushed Cowboys quarterback Drew Bledsoe, jarring the ball loose. Defensive end Trent Cole, who has done an admirable job replacing the injured Jevon Kearse, scooped up the ball at the Cowboys 14. This led to a 27 yard Akers field goal, putting the Eagles up 10-0.
Knowing that they had their backs agaisnt the wall, Bill Parcells had to change up his usually conservative play-calling and open up the offense. The Cowboys put together a 10 play, 57 yard drive after Tyson Thompson gave Dallas great starting field position at their own 43 yard line. Marion Barber punched home the 2 yard touchdown run on 3rd down, cutting the Philadelphia lead to just three points. It appeared as if the Eagles were expecting a play action from Bledsoe, and instead the run caught them off guard.
After some good back and forth action, the energy was deflated from the Linc after Donovan McNabb had the ball knocked out of his throwing motion and into the air. DeMarcus Ware was the man waiting for it, and he gobbled it up and scooted downfield. Tight end L.J. Smith had an opportunity to bring Ware down at about the 40 yard line, but gave a poor attempt at a tackle and Ware rumbled the distance for the 69 yard touchdown to put Dallas up 14-10. The fans were in shock after the Eagles could have easily put up a 17-7 by this point.
On the next drive, the Eagles wasted no time in heading right back downfield. Donovan McNabb connected with Smith for a 60 yard pitch and catch that led to a first and goal for the Eagles at the 1 yard line. McNabb pulled the quarterback sneak on 3rd down for the score, and the Birds went back in front 17-14.
On the next possession, the Cowboys put together a clock-eating drive in which they converted 3 times on 3rd down. 12 plays and 75 yards later, Drew Bledsoe scrambled to the right side of the field and dove for the endzone. After a short hesitation, referees awarded Bledsoe with the touchdown and Dallas went back in front by four points, 21-17. All of this was coming as T.O. was being shutout by the Philadelphia secondary.
The second half began with some stalling from both offenses. The Cowboys and Eagles both
went out on 5 plays to start the half, and as Dallas got the football back they struggled to move it; forcing yet another McBriar punt. This time, he boomed it down to the Eagles 13 yard line. Owens finally made his first catch of the game, a 9 yard sideline pattern, at the 14:21 mark of the 3rd quarter. This drew (not surprisingly) many catcalls from the Eagles fans, but they would be redeemed later.
As the Eagles started at their own 13 yard line, it appeared that the Cowboys had them right where they wanted them. That is, until Donovan McNabb found rookie and training camp standout Hank Baskett streaking down the left side line. McNabb delivered the perfect pass to Baskett, who was just one step ahead of the flailing Pat Watkins. Baskett made the catch, and Watkins reached back as a last ditch effort to try and tackle Baskett. Baskett, though, pulled away from Watkins, and went 87 yards for the touchdown to re-energize the crowd and put the Eagles back in front 24-21.
After a pair of punts from McBriar and Dirk Johnson, the Cowboys took over at their own 28. After an incomplete pass to Terry Glenn, the ballgame certainly seemed to twist and take a turn of events. On 2nd down, Bledsoe dropped back and located Terrell Owens. Owens, who may have seen Michael Lewis in his rearview mirror, dropped the pass. The crowd erupted and began to cheer as they saw their once-lauded superstar player fail with the most hated team in the city for the first time of what they hope is many.
The Cowboys though, were not deterred. Mike Vanderjagt potted a 39 yard field goal after an 11-play drive to tie the game at 24 a piece. Suddenly, it was quiet again. That is of course until Andy Reid pulled one out of his bag of tricks once again.
On 1st and 10 from the Cowboys 40 yard line, McNabb handed the ball off to Correll Buckhalter. For the second time this season, it was the old flea flicker play. It worked in San Fran, so Reid figured he would give it another go. McNabb received the ball back from Buckhalter, and tossed a perfect spiral to a waiting Reggie Brown, who split his defenders to score the touchdown. The Eagles jumped back in front, 31-24.
With the game on the line and just 47 seconds to play, Bledsoe fired from his own 37 yard line on 4th and 18. Terry Glenn had great position on safety Michael Lewis, and Lewis tore down Glenn's shoulder, and a pass interference penalty was called. It was like someone stuck the proverbial needle in the balloon, and the crowd was silenced as the men in blue trotted downfield. The game had gone from life support to alive and kicking for Dallas. Yet it did not take long for that to change once more. On 2nd and 6, Bledsoe searched out Jason Witten in the endzone. The ball did not have enough mustard on it, and Bledsoe threw it right to Lito Sheppard for his 2nd interception of the game (3rd of the game) and dashed 102 yards to seal the deal and put the Eagles ahead 37-24. Akers tacked on the extra point as T.O. could only watch as his former teammates handled the Cowboys by a final score of 38-24.
Well, has everyone finally digested last night's thrilling game between the Cowboys and the Eagles? Personally, it will go down as a game that will be hard to forget about for a long time. (Don't tell that to Andy Reid, he's already looking towards next week's matchup with Reggie Bush and the Saints in Nawlins.)
On a day that saw the much maligned Terrell Owens return to town, the media and press jammed into Lincoln Financial Field, preparing to write stories about how the Philadelphia fans were arrogant and obnoxious to Owens. Surprise, surprise... it didn't happen. For the most part, the fans at the game were under control and did nothing to imprint bad thoughts among the minds of many.The game started off with a turnover nightmare for the Cowboys, as the Eagles had the ball on the 12 and 14 Dallas yard lines respectively in the first quarter. The Eagles took over on their second possession after a fumble by punter Mat McBriar. Philadelphia started the game with the football, but quickly turned it over as Brian Westbrook released it into the waiting arms of Cowboys safety Roy Williams. After a loud chorus of boos directed towards Terrell Owens began the Cowboy drive, Dallas went 3 and out and prepared to punt. On the snap, McBriar botched it backwards, and struggled to pick it up. He was promptly drilled by special-teamer and starting strong side linebacker Matt McCoy, and the Eagles took over at the 12 yard line. Brian Westbrook picked up his NFL leading 6th touchdown of the season after bouncing to the outside on a 5 yard touchdown run.
After a booming David Akers kickoff, the Cowboys took over at the 24 yard line. It was not to be for very long though, as Darwin Walker rushed Cowboys quarterback Drew Bledsoe, jarring the ball loose. Defensive end Trent Cole, who has done an admirable job replacing the injured Jevon Kearse, scooped up the ball at the Cowboys 14. This led to a 27 yard Akers field goal, putting the Eagles up 10-0.
Knowing that they had their backs agaisnt the wall, Bill Parcells had to change up his usually conservative play-calling and open up the offense. The Cowboys put together a 10 play, 57 yard drive after Tyson Thompson gave Dallas great starting field position at their own 43 yard line. Marion Barber punched home the 2 yard touchdown run on 3rd down, cutting the Philadelphia lead to just three points. It appeared as if the Eagles were expecting a play action from Bledsoe, and instead the run caught them off guard.
After some good back and forth action, the energy was deflated from the Linc after Donovan McNabb had the ball knocked out of his throwing motion and into the air. DeMarcus Ware was the man waiting for it, and he gobbled it up and scooted downfield. Tight end L.J. Smith had an opportunity to bring Ware down at about the 40 yard line, but gave a poor attempt at a tackle and Ware rumbled the distance for the 69 yard touchdown to put Dallas up 14-10. The fans were in shock after the Eagles could have easily put up a 17-7 by this point.
On the next drive, the Eagles wasted no time in heading right back downfield. Donovan McNabb connected with Smith for a 60 yard pitch and catch that led to a first and goal for the Eagles at the 1 yard line. McNabb pulled the quarterback sneak on 3rd down for the score, and the Birds went back in front 17-14.
On the next possession, the Cowboys put together a clock-eating drive in which they converted 3 times on 3rd down. 12 plays and 75 yards later, Drew Bledsoe scrambled to the right side of the field and dove for the endzone. After a short hesitation, referees awarded Bledsoe with the touchdown and Dallas went back in front by four points, 21-17. All of this was coming as T.O. was being shutout by the Philadelphia secondary.
The second half began with some stalling from both offenses. The Cowboys and Eagles both
went out on 5 plays to start the half, and as Dallas got the football back they struggled to move it; forcing yet another McBriar punt. This time, he boomed it down to the Eagles 13 yard line. Owens finally made his first catch of the game, a 9 yard sideline pattern, at the 14:21 mark of the 3rd quarter. This drew (not surprisingly) many catcalls from the Eagles fans, but they would be redeemed later.As the Eagles started at their own 13 yard line, it appeared that the Cowboys had them right where they wanted them. That is, until Donovan McNabb found rookie and training camp standout Hank Baskett streaking down the left side line. McNabb delivered the perfect pass to Baskett, who was just one step ahead of the flailing Pat Watkins. Baskett made the catch, and Watkins reached back as a last ditch effort to try and tackle Baskett. Baskett, though, pulled away from Watkins, and went 87 yards for the touchdown to re-energize the crowd and put the Eagles back in front 24-21.
After a pair of punts from McBriar and Dirk Johnson, the Cowboys took over at their own 28. After an incomplete pass to Terry Glenn, the ballgame certainly seemed to twist and take a turn of events. On 2nd down, Bledsoe dropped back and located Terrell Owens. Owens, who may have seen Michael Lewis in his rearview mirror, dropped the pass. The crowd erupted and began to cheer as they saw their once-lauded superstar player fail with the most hated team in the city for the first time of what they hope is many.
The Cowboys though, were not deterred. Mike Vanderjagt potted a 39 yard field goal after an 11-play drive to tie the game at 24 a piece. Suddenly, it was quiet again. That is of course until Andy Reid pulled one out of his bag of tricks once again.
On 1st and 10 from the Cowboys 40 yard line, McNabb handed the ball off to Correll Buckhalter. For the second time this season, it was the old flea flicker play. It worked in San Fran, so Reid figured he would give it another go. McNabb received the ball back from Buckhalter, and tossed a perfect spiral to a waiting Reggie Brown, who split his defenders to score the touchdown. The Eagles jumped back in front, 31-24.
With the game on the line and just 47 seconds to play, Bledsoe fired from his own 37 yard line on 4th and 18. Terry Glenn had great position on safety Michael Lewis, and Lewis tore down Glenn's shoulder, and a pass interference penalty was called. It was like someone stuck the proverbial needle in the balloon, and the crowd was silenced as the men in blue trotted downfield. The game had gone from life support to alive and kicking for Dallas. Yet it did not take long for that to change once more. On 2nd and 6, Bledsoe searched out Jason Witten in the endzone. The ball did not have enough mustard on it, and Bledsoe threw it right to Lito Sheppard for his 2nd interception of the game (3rd of the game) and dashed 102 yards to seal the deal and put the Eagles ahead 37-24. Akers tacked on the extra point as T.O. could only watch as his former teammates handled the Cowboys by a final score of 38-24.
posted by Victor at 12:13 PM
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