PHI 54, CHI 11
Posted: December 23rd, 2013 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 131 Comments »That final score just sounds nuts. The Eagles played a complete game and flat-out dominated Chicago in every phase of the game. It truly was a thing of beauty.
The Eagles ran for 291 yards. Both Shady and Bryce Brown went over 100 yards. All 3 RBs ran for a TD. Nick Foles was very efficient as a passer, going 21 for 25. 2 of the incompletions were throwaways and a third one looked like it might have been the same thing.
The defense gave up 48 points last week, but only 11 tonight. The Eagles corners matched up better with the big Bears WRs than they did with the Vikings receivers who have such good RAC ability. Cary Williams played his best game of the year. Brandon Boykin had a pick-6. And the Eagles shut down Matt Forte. He finished with just 54 total yards. Trent Cole had 3 sacks. Mychal Kendricks had 2 sacks and a FF.
Devin Hester was a non-factor on STs. The coverage units were all over him. Bradley Fletcher even stripped him on a KOR and that set up a TD drive. Alex Henery knocked in a 49-yard FG and seems to be getting in a rhythm.
Is there a concern about the Eagles playing too perfect and playing a lesser game next week? I understand where some might think that. Chip Kelly was really pushing the team today. Even when the Eagles had a comfortable lead in the 2nd half, he was still willing to throw the ball down the field. Kelly is trying to get the Eagles to not think of this like a perfect game, but rather the standard he wants them to get to on a more regular basis.
It will be interesting to see if the Eagles are able to build off this game next week or if they take a step down. I’m not talking about exact results, but rather the fact they played so well. The 54 points are an aberration.
That was a fun game to close out the regular season at The Linc. What was once a house of horrors became a great place to play by the end of the season.
Next Sunday night the Eagles head to Dallas to play for the NFC East crown. This team has come a long way since last December, heck since the 3-5 start. Kudos to Kelly, the staff and the players.
_
Im still wondering what happened on defense last week.
Might have been just one of those days.
I saw someone call it the defensive version of the Dallas game.
My shallow thought was that Bill Davis simply made a mistake on the outset of the game, and played the WRs too loose. Cassel got into a rhythm, and that was that. Things flowed from there.
“Cassel got into a rhythm, and that was that.”
I think that’s basically what really happened.
It is quite amazing/disgusting to see Cassel’s line this week:
13/27, 114 yds, 1 TD, 3 INTs, 1 FumL, 32.6 QB Rating
I agree here. That whole rhythm thing has allowed many a poor QB to have a great game. Off coverage + poor pass rush = most NFL QBs can make that throw. McNabb was the King of rhythm. Give him a handful of short completions without duress, and he started humming. That’s why it was so maddening to watch Reid’s gameplan with McNabb. He would have him out there humming 40 yds ropes-cold- when McNabb had no rhythm.
A brief side bar-I feel that mcNabb was done an incredible disservice by Reid. Never had a legit WR-aside from TO-and we saw how that year went. Never catered his gameplan to McNabb’s strengths. Now, McNabb was pigheaded and resistant to change later in his career, but I believe that was a product of Reid always using kid gloves with him.
I was at the game, it was electric tonight well done boys.
What is Nick Foles wearing in the post-game conference? Very metrosexual or more ‘General Zod’ from Superman 2? Kneel before Foles, Romo!
Yeah…luckily he’s better with X and O’s than he is with fashion.
“Kneel before Foles, Romo!” That’s great.
No, I want Foles kneeling before Romo to end the game next week
Much prefer to see Vick taking the knee at the end of another massive blowout. 🙂
I was looking at his hair the whole time. Was he trying to get the main lead in “Grease?”
My friend’s 72-yeae father asked him if Foles was wearing a trash bag.
Yeah nike stuff can be weird. It looked like something from a P Diddy’s 90s video.
I think they need to leave the starting corners in on kickoffs for the rest of the year…
I think we was forced to do that because Coleman and Anderson was hurt
Agreed.
Must.Beat.Dallas.
I don’t think I’ve seen a bird’s win that complete in a very long time, maybe ever. Dominated every phase for 4 quarters, even through garbage time. Against a playoff hopeful no less.
Agreed. This was even better than the Oakland game.
Technically sound, and the Bears defense was just bad, not LOL bad. A good looking win that should inspire a little fear.
this is a team that blew out the cowboys on monday night. more than a win this was a blowout.
Not since the Monday night massacre… though the lolskins weren’t playoff contenders
Detroit… (06′?) Where Kevin Curtis had 200 yards. This is on par with that. This bears team is supposedly much better than that team though.
This game was an ideal Chip game. Everyone contributed. All phases were efficient. PLAYERS HAD FUN, a very important component to the Chip formula.
Coach Of The Year
How bout that Eagles vs Cowboys game where Dawk was generating a turnover every 5.4 minutes?
No matter what. The Eagles have been every bit as exciting, youthful and pleasant to watch. Kelly’s brought a youthful vibrancy of thought and coaching. He fits this team and they have taken to his philosophies.
This is the Chip magic. Eagles fans are now starting to believe.
I don’t think it’s a matter of starting to believe, Many Eagle teams in the past have given us glimpses of what they could be. They found a little success and we drank the kool-aid. This time there has been sustained progression of learning and improvement. In the classroom on the field. Last night’s game was as complete a win as I can remember. Offense, Defense & ST’s all made plays and contributions.
Yep, all four quarters, all phases of the game.
And kept their foot on the gas until the game was well out of reach. Love it
Coach of the Year
Only way he gets COY is if Reid gets blown out in his 1st KC playoff. But, Kelly would have to win his 1st playoff game as well.
Awesome game! Seriously dislike the Bears! McCoy, Brown, Polk solid ground game. Foles im really digging this dude! Efficient n smart n young. Hoping Vick comes back as backup that is a good 1-2 situation if someone gets injured with Barkley learning as well. Shux D did the job today! J. Cutty had no answer just a limp n a pick 6 lol
Merry Xmas T-Law n the rest of the fans n posters on here (you too GEAGLE;-) lol N a safe n Happy New Year! Go EAGLES!!! YEAH BUDDY!!!
Seriously, I just want to beat Dallas. It’s more important than reaching the playoffs to me. The idea of getting this far, exceeding expectations by this much, then losing to Dallas for a second time… ugh. Nauseating.
I know how you feel. Imagine being the Cowboys, though. They squeak by the lowly Redskins and watched the Eagles dominate. They know they are the weaker team. They can feel the storm brewing.
Yes, must check in on some Cowboys blogs this week. Hopefully there will be trembling.
You might as well forget that: They’ll hang their hat on the first game plus the old carnard about the Eagles having 0 SB wins.
And when it’s 44-6 again entering the 4th quarter next week, they’ll still claim “It’s just a flesh wound.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGPTWexB71g
On offense, why I am pleased:
1) Foles had been leaning on his playmakers with not especially on target throws. Today, *all* of his directed passes were where they were supposed to go. If the situation wasn’t good for his first read, he still made on target throws to the second, third, so forth. Also, if you’re reviewing, take a look at his throws to the outside, when DJax, Cooper, Ertz? did their comebacks, they got the ball upper belly to chest high and could do stuff, and not have to sink down and basket catch them. Balls to the outside were generally good. No outright missed throws.
2) Hallelujah! No deliberate underthrows. No underthrows at all!
3) No critical sacks, and I think the sacks he took were more legit coverage sacks than indecision/conservatism sacks.
4) You saw that offense keep going–working down the field and jumping down the field. We were getting those points, if y’all on the defense don’t mind…No unforced sputtering.
That’s what I can remember for now. Does this game make me change my mind? Well, had it happened against Minn, like how Dalton crushed them, it might have made more of a difference, but I’ll be a bit suspicious still. I still do not think he could be a star, and I think he’ll be a liability in the playoffs, but this was pretty–Schaub and Dalton on good days level. Still need more data points on what happened when a team is here, ready to play in a shootout or a defensive struggle.
I think this might be closest thing to praise that shah will ever foles
I have the opposite opinion regarding this game versus Minn. The Bears are an actual playoff contender. Against Minnesota I imagine the response would have been “well of COURSE it was a blow-out, they have a losing record!”
No. My attitude after the Lions game was like…one more shot or you’re done as far as I’m concerned, dude, and that was Minn. Of course, it was never particularly a hard deadline. The idea was never about whether Minn or Chi was worthy, but being able to run an offense properly, and not jury-rigged.
Lo and behold, no lofted balls, no misfires, non of that sloppy stuff that made us depend excessively on big plays to put points on the board. That’s what matters.
Football is super-stochastic. Probability layered over one another, interconnected with one another, and working around everything in all the possibilities you can imagine. As such, everything is just shaded to one thing or another. Note, for instance, that Foles had fewer yards and fewer touchdowns tonight than he did last Sunday–but the offense scored more points, and looked intimidatingly good while doing that! If you have a RB rushing for 2k yards, usually, that’s an indication of *problems* rather than true success. Hence last year with Ponder having a Y/A barely better than Peterson’s Y/C. Generally, you want very high yards rather than superhigh, and you want the TD production to match the relative success in yards, like 2005 Alexander (tho’ that still indicated Hasselbeck’s physical talent limitations). It all flows. That’s why the more fundamental stuff has to be done, to be credible. You have to be able to run the plays right, because usually, the play will never go off perfectly right. That’s why talent is generally supreme as well. It all works together to make a great player or a great team.
I actually noticed some differences in his play as well: throwing ball away several times, lasers instead of floaters, etc. He was once again money in the RZ. I’ll be curious to see A22 breakdowns.
Wow I was really getting a smile on my face but then you had to take it all back and then some by throwing in the Schaub and Dalton sentence.
Also, now that I am reading how Rex Ryan might get fired, can you tell me why in this his do or die season (not like season 1 of a 5 year deal) Rex wouldn’t have Geno run a simpler offense and win a bunch of games even if he would get stopped in the playoffs by a real defense? Rex isn’t generous enough to have Geno take lumps so he can be great a few seasons from now if it will cost Rex his job.
It’s difficult for some to admit they might be wrr, wro, wrro, err mistaken.
the only off target throw i remember was one to Celek where he made a sort of diving catch. he had a guy on him pretty close , so maybe that ball was just put in a spot where Celek could make a play on it and the defender couldn’t. we’d have to see the film to say for sure.
Thanks for your opinion that no one cares about because no one takes you seriously!
Defense played really great as well, and deserve just as much credit, really. They prevented any sort of back and forth shootout from ever having a chance of forming. In particular, they got to Cutler very well, and Kendricks just kept knocking Forte down.
Oh, and yeah, merry christmas to the rest of fandom. We got a good start.
Yea, Merry Christmas too you, too. Now, one more gift from Santa in Dallas next Sun.
Seriously, who down voted this?
S. Claus. He’s pissed that NBC reminded him last night of that 1968 incident in Philadelphia
Nothing would surprise next week except the Eagles getting shut out. Given up trying to figure out this team.
Foles’ season passer rating inched up to 118.8.
Yeah he’ll fall short of Aaron Rodgers’ record but still pretty freaking impressive.
coming into the game, Foles was 4th all time, currently he would be 3rd, if it stays where it is.
1.Aaron Rodgers (28)122.52011GNB2.Peyton Manning (28)121.12004IND3.Tom Brady (30)117.22007NWE4.Nick Foles (24)117.02013PHI5.Peyton Manning (37)112.92013DEN6.Steve Young+ (33)112.81994SFO7.Joe Montana+ (33)112.41989SFO8.Tom Brady (33)111.02010NWE
Which is insane when you consider he had that absolute clunker of a game against Dallas that was probably murder on his rating. Take that game away and I wonder what you’ve got.
If this is a serious question, I’ll tell you tomorrow.
It really does not hurt his stats as much as people think because he didnt throw an int.
I think you’re right. I have a spreadsheet that I can just plug the numbers in to to get the rating so we don’t have to guess though.
Take that Dalls game away and his QB rating goes from 118.75 to 126.89.
The biggest thing to me is that it pushes his completion percentage up to a gaudy 66.8%.
Take out the blizzard game where no mortal could pass consistently, and it goes up to 68.3%.
Shah tell us again about how bad Foles is and how Joe Webb would be better.
Joe Webb would have probed the shit out of that Bears defense, believe you me.
Talking bout sore butts all over the place. Dudes walking like ducks and everything.
In fairness to Shah, few people understand the brilliance lurking in the weeds that is Joe Webb.
That is pretty impressive.
DALLAS SUCKS!
Truth!
Most unpredictablesurprising Eagles team ever? T-Law, I think this would make a great post. Not only has this team far exceeded expectations, their game-to-game results (see last two weeks at the least) have been completely unpredictable. I can’t imagine anyone that could make a better post out of this than the great Tommy Lawlor.
eh throwing out dallas it hasn’t been that erratic. we still put up 38 last game.
Only 30.
Presented without comment:
Eagles over last 11 games: 8-3
Seahawks: 8-3
Defense
– No player has a higher ceiling or lower floor from here on out than Kendricks. Consistently inconsistent though.
– Fletcher is the Hyundai of this defense. Not flashy or sexy but quietly consistent and gets this team where they should be almost all the time.
– There is one legit playmaker on defense right now in Boykin. I don’t see anyone else with that kind of potential either besides Kendrick.
– Allen hardly ever gets mentioned and that actually is a good thing. Doesn’t make many plays but doesn’t screw up nearly as many either.
– Nice to Cole closing a season strong for the first time in his career.
– Cant remember the last time an Eagles’ defense played so much on emotion and how it effected their confidence. Bears should have tried to go deep early more and the middle of the field. Didn’t understand the Bears’ offensi their game plan early tonight.
Eagles were getting too much pressure for slow developing deep balls, and out big (slow) DBs matched up well with their big (slow) WRs.
So I guess that would make Chung the Pontiac Aztek of the defense.
Did you happen to notice that Chung should have gotten called for pass interference in the end zone on that 3rd and 38 bomb? The refs didn’t call it, but it was a legit call. The guy has no situational awareness. Wolff, please come back soon.
I had the same thought.
I would say “could” have gotten called, not should. The timing was close and the ball may have been uncatchable. However you’re right that Chung has to be aware there. Scary.
they call that one on Chung, they call the OPI on Marshall on his TD catch
I envision Chung as more of a Yugo…as in; “WR, Yugo by me to quickly.”
8 of their 15 games the Eagles have scored 30+ points. Yeah they have arguably the best RB in the NFL right now and several other favorable elements but that is damn impressive.
Suck on that Boomer.
Boomer? You mean Phil Simms?
Outlier for best play of the game goes to Cedric Thornton with the Safety!
A true outlier would be Thorton making plays as a safety.
Or, really, anyone making plays as a safety.
Hey, for the 8 plays Wolff actually played before he went out hurt again, it made me realize what we were missing. That kid has the potential to be a good safety for us.
I saw Chung back in, but I thought it was a mercy concession. What happened to Wolffe?
Apparently he hurt his knee again
i thought i saw him back in the game later on?
funny story about Ced Thornton, was at Buffalo Wild Wings with a co worker who happens to be a massive bears fan. He asked me, who do I watch for on your D. I paused, wanted to point out Fletcher Cox, the dude with the highest upside of anyone, but upon further thought, decided Ced Thornton has been more consistent, so I say watch for #72, especially against the run. Within a half hour of me saying that, Ced gets a safety. Huzzah!
He is definitely under-appreciated (outside of the locker room). Seems like a hard working high character player, which is exactly the kind of guy I enjoy seeing succeed.
Even inside the locker room. Players were poled for 3 eagles they think should go to the probowl, not one player gave one of their 3 votes to Ced, now if they asked coaches…
I think thats the best game Nick Foles has played in his career. Numbers don’t show it, but:
* Everything was faster. He was sprinting out to his right faster. He was getting the ball out faster. The decisions were faster.
* He put more velocity on pretty much every ball. The first TD was possibly the best throw he’s made all year.
* He looked in control. The game came easily to him. Credit Chip and the game plan, but it was really something to experience.
* The throw on the run to Ertz? The out to DeSean? The dig to Riley on 3rd and long? Jesus.
Really beautiful game.
Just praying we can bring this team to Dallas.
OK. For the first time this year, I feel like Nick played with a SENSE OF URGENCY. I think last week was a lesson, and he wasn’t going to play a game like that again. Just so dialed in.
I was extremely impressed as well, but calling him Jesus might be a bit over the top… at least until he beats Dallas.
Great game. One that popped off the screen when reviewing the game book were the team offensive totals.
Both teams had exactly 63 offensive plays. The bears had 257 yards of offense (total net yards) and the Eagles had exactly double that at 514 yards.
It would have been nice if NBC had given a little love to our former cheerleader turned soldier like the Eagles did:
http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/22/us/cheerleader-turned-soldier-honored/index.html?hpt=hp_c2
Serving with special operations soldiers is no joke.
Pretty sure I said Foles 61, Bears 11. Not too shabby, huh?
Didn’t you have the Bears at 9? Psh, way off. 🙂
Mistype .. yep, it was 9. Glad somebody is paying attention to the crap I post on here!
Tommy,
It seems Kendricks plays a lot better when he is attacking the LOS as opposed to dropping in coverage. Lets hope they keep using him in the correct way.
Might be a scheme thing. Najee Goode also looked great filling in for Kendricks’ attacking role.
He made some plays dropping coverage, too, though. I think some of the problem is Davis figuring out just how much he can ask Kendricks to do in coverage. Some of his coverage responsibilities start with him lining up next to, or just behind, Logan, and then dropping out into the flats. Some of it is up to Kendricks to improve upon, but I get the feeling some of it is just Davis testing the limits of what Kendricks can realistically pull off in terms of pre-snap disguise.
Could be….It seems like Kendricks problems in coverage are from him being a little too aggressive. Right now I feel like he is our best blitzer
As much as I was shocked that Tommy gave the Oline a “good” review last week, I’ll be shocked if they don’t warrant a “dominant” review this week. Sure, there were probably plays were things didn’t go right, but boy-o-boy, they just had their way with the front 7 of the bears in both phases. Huge holes in the running game, and Foles had very few plays where he didn’t have the ability to step into his throws. Utter domination.
Only question I have is: Were the Bears stacking the box like every other defense? If so, Chip really departed from his tendencies by running so much. If not, well, that was stupid…
Tight ends seemed to nail every block as well
Eagles opened at -2 and are -2.5 favorites at three offshore betting sites for game @Dallas.
Rise and Rise again(next Sunday)
Chris Collinsworth(if that’s how you spell it) has officially entered the realm of total douche. and I quote “The eagles offense is everything I thought they would be”. Oh he did? Funny, I don’t remember reading anything in the spring from him making statements like that. He must have a crystal ball too to predict Foles would excel in such an amazing way. I get the announcer “gig” … but please — statements like that show how much of a tool you really are… ok, back to Eagles …
Foles will want revenge. Again — win or lose — what a season!!! Amazing. I know what I’m asking Santa for …. I’ll be wearing my Eagles santa hat on xmas.
Some(very few – I remember those arguments 🙂 ) of us wanted to see what Foles can do. Nobody could have predicted his season. Besides who predicted what — anybody predict 2 flex game schedules for the last 2 weeks of the season? Simply amazing. Chip deserves a ton of credit how this team has responded immediately after they lost the week before.
I’m pretty sure Collinsworth meant that the Eagles were, seeing them for the first time in person this season, everything that he had expected based on what he has seen on TV. He wasn’t talking about his original expectations for them (and Foles particularly) which he has already acknowledged were way off (see his interview on the Eagles website earlier this week).
Speaking of Eagles Santa Hat, they had a pic up on the screen of Kelce wearing such a hat. Let me see if I can find it…
http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/3756045/20131222193532.jpg
It seems clear that Santa has forgiven the Eagles because of Jason Kelce’s heroic action.
This is way off base. I’m not even gonna touch on the blind Collinsworth-hate, because I’ll never understand it. He’s easily one of the better commentators today, and makes great observations. But anyway, he’s was quoted several times during the preseason believing Chip’s fast-paced, spread offense would in fact be effective at this level.
I really like Collinsworth on gameday, when he really spends the weekend preparing for the game, catching up with the teams. Hate him outside of the games, seems to just be another guy that gets spoon fed the sound bites and…well he’s just another national media guy outside of SNF. It was good to see him acknowledge Foles. It’s funny, seems like announcers hear the stats and see the tape and are stills skeptical, but it seems like every week these announcers have a revelation on Foles when they see him live. I think the booth perspective really helps, to see the whole field, the play design developing, and Nick in complete control.
Nothing to do with the Eagles but I thought you would appreciate this considering your fondness of PBR.
http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2013/12/pabst-blue-ribbon-festivus-pole-erected-in-florida.html
Happy Festivus!
sorry, double post
I am becoming a big fan of Brandon’s.
can we talk about fumbles? it looked like the Bears were trying to swat the ball out all game long and got on on Celek and nearly had another one from McCoy. i wonder if they saw something on tape that got them going that direction. (of course, mccoy always looks like you can hit the ball out easily haha)
Chicago does that more than any other team in the league (by repuration at least). I think that’s just par for course for them.
Yep this is true. Peanut Tillman is their best player at it as well. Luckily he was out.
Yeah, under Lovie Smith, they routinely were at the top of the league for turn overs. I’m sure that’s a hold over from the previous coaching regime.
I am thinking they saw something on the scoreboard that made them start going for turnovers…
“The Greatest Show on Reinforced Natural Grass” Award: The Eagles’ offense
The Eagles had 5 plays of 20+ yards, which is actually below their average on the season. So far this year, they have 93 plays of 20+ yards, or 6.2 per game, which is now the 2nd highest total since the league started tracking that statistic in 1991. The only team ahead of them is the 2001 Rams, or “The Greatest Show on Turf,” who had 96 plays of 20+ yards.
4 to go.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/sports/eagles/Handing-out-15-awards-from-the-Eagles-Bears-game.html#x1Xr6vfgD04M381i.99
Glad to see James Casey finally show up. He didn’t have any catches, but his blocking was phenomenal. There were a few plays later in the game where he was 10+ yards down field just laying the lumber on Bears LB’s. Had some great pull blocks on trap plays, too.
Those plays are a new wrinkle in the zone read. Before the DE crashed down the line, but is now stuffed by the pulling TE. It is a killer, game changing play call.
It was good to see foles bounce back in a big way.
It’s too bad the Eagles don’t know how to hold on to big halftime leads… lol