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The Eagles have two losses this season, both on the road, against teams in red, where they had chances to win the game from inside the TV-facing-left five yard line. Both times, they made a stink.

Against the 49ers, it was two pass plays because confidence in the offensive line and run game was hovering just north of 0 but below 1. Neither worked.

Against the Cardinals, a running play on 2nd and 4 from the 5, another one of 3rd and 1 from the 2. Neither got the first down, or the touchdown, and a field proved not to be enough.

via (@banditmax)

via (@banditmax)

Four plays, from within the five, to win two road games, against quality NFC opponents, no touchdowns.

That’s a problem.

Of course, against the Cardinals, there were many.

How did we get here?

 

Foles

Eesh. While I still think he’s better than Blake Bortles (more on this inanity tomorrow), Foles actively hurt the Eagles today. It’s no longer about being figured out by opponents, or a bad offensive line– he makes bad throws. Lots of them. Off his back foot. To defenders. To areas in which his receivers may become martyrs. He has to be better. It’s concerning that he can’t make the simple, obvious plays anymore.

 

Jeremy Maclin

This was sooo close to being The Gatorade Game. So close. He was terrific today. If Foles didn’t kill him with bad throws, another punt return or two surely would’ve done it. But he was great. Tremendous bounce back season. Better than expected.

 

Josh Huff

YO HOLMES, don’t call for the ball in the red zone and then fumble it. Just don’t do that.

 

Horse collar

I guess we’re just going to call this some of the time? Why a flag was picked up on that final drive on what was an OBVIOUS horse collar is mind-boggling to me, and to the progressively mysterious Mike Pereira, whom I think is slowly morphing into a Don Juan-esque figure right before our very eyes:

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Officiating

Setting aside the 89-year-old referee and the fact that the Eagles looked stale, especially early on, there were wayyyyyy tooooo many flags, on both teams. And yet, the officials didn’t have the guts to call the penalty – the aforementioned horse collar – that may have directly influenced the outcome of the game.

 

Offensive line

I still think a lot of the offensive issues (won’t call them problems or struggles, because the Eagles are 5-2 and I have RedZone and see the other garbage around the league) stem from missing Kelce and Mathis. Those are Foles’ guys, and he just doesn’t seem comfortable behind the Molkman. We’ll see how concerned we should be about Nick if his issues continue once the Kelce and Mathis return. If they do, then we worry.

 

Defense

They continue to get better. Look how far they’ve come since the start of last season. Bradley Fletcher and Cary Williams were decent today, Nate Allen had his moments (even with that game-winning bomb by the Cardinals), and the box men continue to be very good. The defense is now good enough for the Eagles to contend for a Super Bowl… if they can get the offense clicking on all cylinders.

 

Chris Myers and Ronde Barber

Maybe FOX’s worst crew. Actually worse than McNabb doing the Chiefs game today. Also, what?

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The Eagles were 7-0 and 13-1 during the 2004 season. This graphic is, at best, misleading.

 

Overall

Still not worried. Sluggish start after bye week, missing Kelce, Mathis and Sproles, two turnovers inside the 20, and a field goal after 2nd and 4 from the 5… and they still came within literal inches of winning on a last-second touchdown pass. Sometimes you just lose. Today, the Eagles lost. They’ll be fine.