Opening Night

Posted: September 8th, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 62 Comments »

Anyone watching?

My enemy’s enemy is my friend.  GB is our enemy.  Saints become our friend.  But wait…Saints are our enemy so that makes GB our friend.  Ah, the heck with it.  I’ll figure out who to cheer for later.  Just gonna enjoy the return of the NFL.

62 Comments on “Opening Night”

  1. 1 WOOT! said at 8:36 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    WOOT!!

  2. 2 Go Saints Go! said at 8:38 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    Prove that the Packers aren’t invincible

  3. 3 JakFTW said at 8:39 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    And my enemy’s enemy’s enemy is my… ahhh

    Seriously… These are two great teams – not sure there’s a better way to to start the season – Should be good.

  4. 4 Tommy Lawlor said at 8:43 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    How ironic that the opening KO was returned?

  5. 5 BC said at 8:47 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    That was easy. They may have just been warming up last year. Hope not!!!!!!!!!!!

  6. 6 JakFTW said at 8:50 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    RE Kickoffs – I have a feeling the demise of the KO return has been greatly exaggerated – especially as we head towards winter.

  7. 7 D3Keith said at 9:02 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    1) Jermichael Finley looks like the roided-up version of David Boston, except it’s natural.

    2) Did anyone else start Jordy Nelson in fantasy tonight? My favorite white WR this side of Sunshine Cooper.

    (I *hate* Wes Welker btw … still mad about the Asante comment)

  8. 8 D3Keith said at 9:03 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    Also why do I keep reading how the Saints are going to be awesome on D?

    I realize this is a convenient time ask as they just went down 14-0, but I wasn’t seeing it before either. Was I missing something?

  9. 9 D3Keith said at 9:07 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    I’m saying the Saints score in 7 plays or fewer here.

    Packers can be the front-runner all year for all I care. Let ’em look good. We won’t see them til the playoffs anyway, and we’re built to neutralize that kind of passing.

    BTW the throw to the back shoulder in the front of the end zone is the most unstoppable development in football of the past 10 years.

    Darren Sproles’ legs look like a cartoon character when he runs.

  10. 10 ATG said at 9:16 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    Aaron Rodgers is the QB on my pretend football team, so my rooting decision is easy. As a bonus, our league will be over before he brings his team to Philly. (Yeah, that’s right, the game will be in Philly.)

  11. 11 ATG said at 9:18 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    Also, I hope we miss that backup TE as little as Green Bay is missing him. What was his name again…

  12. 12 Corry said at 9:20 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    Aaron Rodgers is looking awesome. Even more so since he is also my pretend football team’s QB. Just wish he’d throw to Greg Jennings some more.

  13. 13 James said at 9:23 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    Well, I’m playing against Brees, Colston, and Graham. I hope GB goes into clock control mode and run the time out.

  14. 14 deg0ey said at 9:30 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    Neither team really playing defense tonight; not seen a single 4th down yet

  15. 15 Stephen said at 9:30 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    So Aaron Rodgers line in the first quarter: 14/15 passing for 188 yards and 3td’s. The one incompletion was a throwaway. This guy looks scary good.

  16. 16 theguyotc said at 9:31 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    @Tommy

    This really feels like something I should know, but it seems like an OL typically sits or drops back on a pass, and attacks on a run.

    If that’s the case, does that become an advantage to the Mudd system of always attacking, since the D can’t immediately assess the play?

  17. 17 Tommy Lawlor said at 9:41 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    @ guyotc…

    The blocking should help on play action passes. The run and pass action is basically the same.

    Downside is on draw plays. Trying to get the DL upfield is easier when OL retreat and then wall them off.

  18. 18 ATG said at 9:41 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    So, that Sproles guy would have been an okay pickup too.

    Oh, well. I guess Rodgers is going to have to throw a few more passes before the half.

  19. 19 Tommy Lawlor said at 9:42 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    RE: Saints D

    They added big DTs (Franklin, Rogers). Hope was to be able to shut down run, force teams to pass where Gregggg Williams could turn loose the blitzers.

    Team is really missing DE Will Smith tonight.

  20. 20 ATG said at 9:45 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    Is it conditioning as an Eagles fan or a total lack of defense that makes the occasional run we are seeing seem like wasted plays?

  21. 21 Tommy Lawlor said at 9:49 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    @ ATG…

    Ha. Excellent point.

  22. 22 Jason-E said at 9:52 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    Wishing we had gotten sproles.

  23. 23 Tommy Lawlor said at 9:56 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    Sproles is good, but honestly I’ll pass. I don’t want Andy getting too many extra toys.

    Rather have Ronnie Brown as primary backup since he’s a bigger back.

    Would love to have James Starks, who Eagles wanted last year but GB took him a few picks earlier.

  24. 24 Jason-e said at 10:01 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    Ehh. We don’t run the ball. I don’t care about size. Shady can do it all, anyway. I’ll take a top flight returner and huge receiving threat as my #2.

  25. 25 Matt D said at 10:02 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    Drinkin whiskey. Listening to Thin Lizzy on 11. Tuning out the commercials and waiting for more NFL football. Life is is awesome.

    …and by awesome, I mean full of awe.

  26. 26 Tommy Lawlor said at 10:05 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    @ JasonE…

    Fair enough.

    @ Matt D…

    Love some Thin Lizzy. The Rocker has 2:30 guitar solo in the middle. How awesome is that?

  27. 27 Jason-e said at 10:06 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    Starks is looking like a beast tonight. God it’s great to have football back

  28. 28 Matt D said at 10:08 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    [somewhat apologetic] if the Eagles were involed and I didn’t have to work work tomorrow, whiskey wouldn’t be involved…

    [unapologetic] but since neither are the case, party on Wayne!

  29. 29 Matt D said at 10:10 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    @ Tommy

    I will do a full igglesblitz-worthy write-up when I’m sober. Promise.

  30. 30 Jason-E said at 10:13 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    The Saints O looks like garbage tonight. Take away sproles and they might have 3 points.

  31. 31 Boyboy said at 10:25 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    Anyone else have to go out of town for work / hit up the hotel bar for a few long island iced teas / pass out waiting for the game to start / wake up to find out the hotel doesn’t have a local NBC station / drive around til they found a Buffalo Wild Wings / miss the entire first half?

  32. 32 Steve D. said at 10:31 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    @Tommy,

    I would have loved the Eagles to have drafted Starks just so he wouldn’t have been playing for the Packers against the Eagles in the playoffs last year.

  33. 33 Tommy Lawlor said at 10:37 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    We faced Starks last year in the playoffs? Strange. I don’t recall that. I remember us beating the Packers and winning the Super Bowl, but none of the details.

  34. 34 Tommy Lawlor said at 10:38 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    Someone call Morton and get the “We should taken Randall Cobb instead of Watkins” post ready.

  35. 35 theguyotc said at 10:41 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    RE: Morton

    We should have taken Cobb clearly. Nobody likes that Avant guy. And missing out on Sproles was the final straw.

  36. 36 Jason-E said at 10:43 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    Tommy

    I’m confused because I remember the same thing, but all I’ve heard all day is about how the Packers are going to defend their super bowl title… Someone needs to inform the rest of the world that they’re mistaken.

  37. 37 Tommy Lawlor said at 10:48 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    One heckuva game. Aaron Rodgers is pretty darn good.

  38. 38 McG said at 10:49 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    I was really pulling for Sproles to be part of our aggressive plan… ah well… I’m still pretty amped about Ronnie Brown.

  39. 39 Tommy Lawlor said at 10:49 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    And Darren Sproles is having his best game in a long time. Saints look brilliant for signing him.

  40. 40 McG said at 10:56 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    wow nice stop by the packers D… impressive

  41. 41 Tommy Lawlor said at 10:57 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    As someone on Twitter pointed out, decision to keep Colt Anderson looking real good right now.

  42. 42 McG said at 10:59 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    I realize that Brees isn’t a super mobile QB, but he had a pretty big hole to his left to get a foot… possibly a TD.

  43. 43 Tommy Lawlor said at 11:01 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    Brees is making a few odd decisions tonight. I think he senses the need for big plays due to the score.

  44. 44 McG said at 11:06 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    Do any of you guys get the sense that players may be wincing a bit more after big hits (as a result of less contact during practices this year)? I forget which commentator thought it might have an impact, but…

    So far… I’m not seeing it.

  45. 45 McG said at 11:09 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    Looks like Sean Peyton may need to adopt the pass on 3rd and 1 this year. Where have I seen that before?

  46. 46 McG said at 11:12 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    man… Shaun Rogers got manhandled on that score by Kuhn. Yikes. Packers made that look too easy.

  47. 47 ATG said at 11:12 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    These selfish running backs and returners have really derailed the GB passing attack. That’s like an entire quarter without Rodgers scoring me a (pretend) touchdown.

  48. 48 Tommy Lawlor said at 11:15 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    @ ATG…

    Sickening to see that side of the game. Goddell needs to step in.

  49. 49 Tommy Lawlor said at 11:16 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    @ McG…

    Wells isn’t huge guy either…6’2, 300. Smart, athletic C who has developed into real good player.

  50. 50 McG said at 11:16 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    Ok, I retract my previous comment about darren sproles. lol… don’t wanna get my QB killed on 3rd down.

  51. 51 Tommy Lawlor said at 11:33 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    Brees doesn’t have his normal pinpoint accuracy. Looks a bit rusty.

  52. 52 McG said at 11:49 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    wow… what a way to end a game. Wow

  53. 53 ATG said at 11:59 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    I thought Brees looked a little off too (granted, to the tune of 400 yards) and that decision to throw short over the middle on first down at the 20 with 30 seconds would have been grounds to revoke his return flight ticket, if he played in Philly. I shutter to think what would have been said on WIP the day after a pass like that from McNabb a few years back.

    If the rest of the season builds from here no one will remember there was ever a lockout.

  54. 54 Stephen said at 11:59 PM on September 8th, 2011:

    I’m shocked they didn’t give the ball to Brees and let him take a shot into the endzone there. A.J. Hawk would have been a real goat if they had lost, the missed tackle leading to Trumon Williams’ injury and the P.I. at the end.

  55. 55 theguyotc said at 12:02 AM on September 9th, 2011:

    Ingram looked really good tackling his offensive lineman for short gains.

    On a serious note, who was the last Heisman winner to really succeed in the NFL? I really cannot remember.

  56. 56 McG said at 12:02 AM on September 9th, 2011:

    I’m shocked that Chris Collinsworth didn’t sound like a total douche. This might be the first time I’ve heard him on a non-Eagles game… just kinda confirms the fact that he’s a hater, but I actually wasn’t totally annoyed by him tonight.

    What a great game though. Great way to start the season. The only thing missing was an interception. lol

  57. 57 Tommy Lawlor said at 12:19 AM on September 9th, 2011:

    Heisman winners?

    Charles Woodson, 1997.

    I’m sure someone else has done well, but I’d have to look up a list of winners. Did Carson Palmer win?

  58. 58 theguyotc said at 12:27 AM on September 9th, 2011:

    Yeah Carson Palmer won in 2002. You can maybe make a case for him, but that’s still almost 10 years.

    Bradford is possible, guess we’ll find out Sunday.

  59. 59 Iowa Eagle said at 12:34 AM on September 9th, 2011:

    I knew Cole was a hunter, but… WOW

    http://www.coleoutdoors.com

  60. 60 rage114 said at 8:12 AM on September 9th, 2011:

    This game was a reminder as to why the Eagles found it necessary to go after Asomugha, DRC, Jenkins, and Babin; why it was necessary to keep Samuel (unless some team overpaid) and why it was necessary to resign Hanson.

  61. 61 Steve D. said at 10:01 AM on September 9th, 2011:

    @ATG, imagine the criticism of Reid if he had blown two timeouts early in the second half the way the Saints did.

    @rage, too bad according to trent dilfer, none of their corner backs will be able to cover Danny Amendola.

  62. 62 Matt said at 10:37 AM on September 9th, 2011:

    Are we really still doing the “insert commentator here” is an Eagles hater. I hate Joe Buck as much as everyone else, but the guy isn’t a hater, nor are most announcers. Two fan bases listen to the same game and both come away thinking the announcer hates their team. It’s such an insecurity complex for always wanting to jump on someone for “hating” us.
    I personally think Cris Collinsworth is the best commentator in the NFL right now.