Birds Couldn't Buy A Bye At A Better Time
By: Matt Nadu
Like a big brother sticking up for kid brother, the Philadelphia Eagles have been vocally rallying around their highly criticized Head Coach Andy Reid all week.
When they hit the turf Sunday, they beat the 'skin off Redskin Rex Grossman for it.
The Eagles (2-4) pummeled Washington's (3-2) quarterback straight out of the game led by Kurt Coleman's career high three interceptions to hang onto a 20-13 victory on the road.
All season the media and fans alike have been questioning an underachieving Reid and his "dream team" yet after 13 seasons as the general for the Eagles, Reid continues to show that he can keep a team together.
"I have great coaches and great players and that's the bottom line," said Reid. "I appreciate how they went about business."
It wasn't a pretty win by any means but the Eagles avoided a 1-5 start and for at least now their playoff hopes in a weak NFC East are still alive.
Whether the team won for Reid or their own self respect, there were a few positives the Birds can pull from the win against their division rival and continue to build upon heading into the bye week.
Rushing: Brian Westbrook who? LeSean McCoy is Philadelphia's golden child right now and for good reason. He rushed for 126 yards on a career high 28 carries and scored a TD in his sixth straight game, two shy of the franchise record. His fourth quarter performance led to several key first downs forcing the Redskins to burn two late timeouts. Thinking he had secured another first down that would have surely allowed the Eagles to burn off the rest of the game clock, McCoy leaped up near the sideline where he was tackled and seeming punch Reid in the stomach, you know the standard celebration. Reid was left breathless, "At the point he can do whatever he wants," he joked after the game. The Birds would total 11 rushing first downs on Sunday and with the help of McCoy, their woeful red zone offense is at least temporarily functioning.
Defensive Line: The Eagles out gained the 'Skins 422 to 287 much in part to a d-line that was finally able to put together a noteworthy performance. Washington was without starting running back Tim Hightower, nevertheless the front four get a nod of approval holding the Redskins to just two rushing first downs on 42 yards thus forcing Grossman to go to the air.
Safeties: The Eagles have been shuffling safeties all season but then again they didn't face Grossman, yet. Pulled by Head Coach Mike Shanahan in the second half, Grossman, who said the Redskins were the best team in the NFC East at the beginning of the season, found the Eagles' safeties almost as much as he found his own receivers Sunday. Coleman had a career day with three picks and Nate Allen added the fourth. "That's a career day right there," Reid said of Coleman. They weren't perfect in the secondary allowing a late fourth quarter scoring drive by backup QB John Beck to pull Washington to within a touchdown but that's all the Redskins were able to get in three red zone attempts settling for two field goals. "They're young guys and improving," said Reid. "That's a good thing."
The Eagles are 12-0 under Reid after the bye week. Good news for the Eagles who will have two weeks to find their identity before facing Dallas at home. Yet, there are still some concerns one of which was evident Sunday.
Now that David Akers is gone, Reid's confidence in rookie kicker Alex Henery has become an issue especially after the Birds went on a 4th and 2 late in the fourth. "I've got trust in him, that's not the issue. I just wanted to get a touchdown." Henery had already connected from 28 and 24 yards but leading 20-6 and facing nearly a 50 yard field goal, Reid said he just wanted to put the game away. "We had a little momentum going, we needed points, (I said) let's knock this thing out. I want a touchdown now. It had nothing to do with confidence about our kicker."
If you say so Andy.
At 2-4 the Eagles still find themselves at the bottom of the NFC East but maybe the bye week is exactly what they need to make a playoff push. "We met today and went over the tape and let them out of here," Reid said Monday. "I want them to get away … take a deep breathe and get their bodies and minds back."
The team will have a week off and begin practice again next Monday. Hopefully by then Reid will get his breath back.
