Playoff QB Performance

It strikes me as interesting that the following QBs were unable to win even a single playoff game this year:

Tom Brady
Carson Palmer
Aaron Rodgers

So obviously they all suck. Obviously, they can't win the big game (or in Brady's case anymore). Obviously, it would be quite silly to think that any team led by any of these 3 QBs next year could have even a slim chance of winning a Super Bowl.

Raw Disappointment

Tonight, I am The Unhappy Apologist.

Eagles @ Cowboys Preview II

My preview from last week still stands. Which team shows up? I really think I'm the definition of a fan (aka fanatic), because I think they'll win tomorrow all evidence to the contrary.

I have read/heard nothing since last Sunday's game (see Fake Life post for more on why) so I have no comment on whatever's being said by the talking heads. I can guess though.

Here's what I think:
1) None of us has ever been a part of an NFL team so really have no idea of the mental makeup or what either team is emotionally capable of.
2) OK, the past is a good predictor of the future:
- Reid has won more playoff games than he's lost and never lost his first playoff game.
- Wade Phillips is 0 for 4 in playoff games.
3) I'm going to watch the game and it will probably be 3 of the most painful hours of my life no matter whether the Eagles win or not. I'll enjoy every minute of it. And they'll probably win just to set us up for a bigger gut punch down the line.

Eagles @ Cowboys Post Mortem: Rational Version

This was not a game that they needed to win in order to win the SB. It would have made things a lot easier (and my wallet a lot fatter when I sold my playoff tickets), but wasn't a must win. They've just gotten their OAK game out of their system and can now go on another 4 game win streak.

Good things that came out of this game:

1)The Cowboys now should be over confident for next week's game. Really, how can they be afraid to play this team again?
2)PHI still hasn't showed DAL what they're going to do to beat them. It would be just like Reid to hold back on his game plan in case they lost this game.
3)Eagles positively answered the biggest question facing the team: the offensive line looked pretty decent. And Cole (outside of the one low snap) looked very good. All of the pressure was on the outside, not up the middle. 5 had plenty of time to find the open receivers

There are very good and very bad versions of both the Eagles and the Cowboys. We've just seen the very bad Eagles and the very good Cowboys. There's no reason to think that both will show up next week. Looking at history, there's every reason to think that things will be reversed. Reid's got a much better playoff track record than Phillips (0-4). It's virtually impossible to beat a team 3x in one year and that's what DAL would have to do. And PHI's going to be extra motivated after losing like this. This is a team with high character who will play with a lot of pride next week.

Eagles @ Cowboys Post Mortem: Irrational Version

Unbelievable. This is the game the Cowboys played last year in PHI when they had to win. The defense couldn't stop anyone and the offense couldn't move the ball. Throw in a mediocre at best special teams play and the Eagles were lucky to lose by ? points.

Neither Reid nor McNabb decided to show up. Offensively the execution was poor both by McNabb and his WR. Nothing but missed throws and dropped passes. Several lapses by Reid whether it was timeouts that didn't need to be called or FGs that shouldn't have been kicked.

The defensive game plan was atrocious with limited blitzes in 1H. Tackling was suspect at best. I didn't see anyone flying around out there making plays.

As far as I can tell, the only people who decided to show up where Celek and . . . and . . . I guess the bus drivers who brought them to the game since I know I saw the Eagles on the football field. To lay the blame for this game on any one player (or 4 players) is to slight the entire team dis-effort that was displayed out there. Both coaches as well as players. I'll say it one more time: unbelievable. I never thought I'd see that game played. Close loss? Sure. But a blow-out loss with #2 playoff seed on the line?

Seriously, WTF just happened?!?!