The Morning After: This Was All Expected (And a Boardwalk Empire Spoiler)

Sunday went according to plan.

We all expected the Eagles to beat the Lions, we all expected Michael Vick to have a good game, and we all expected the quarterback controversey (at least in the eyes of the fans) that is about to ensue.

One of my favorite things ever is to watch the media do exactly what I am about to do: talk about how there is no controversy, and in doing so, start a controversy.  It's as predictable as the seasons, but there's really no avoiding it.  Especially in this scenario.

Andy Reid has stated that Kevin Kolb will be the quarterback next week.  And he is right to do so. The Eagles have put all of their eggs in Kolb's basket and they're not going to allow one bad half stop him from being the great quarterback they expect him to be. 

Here's the problem: he has never done anything to show anyone that he will be a great quarterback. He was a second round pick, a backup in waiting, and other than a few starts (one against the worst team in the league), he hasn't given us any reason to think he will be anything more than an average NFL passer.  To fans, it just feels like Bobby Hoying redux.  We all expect him to be good. But quite honestly, we know nothing about him.  We would like to see him pull a "Jimmy" and steal $60k worth of whiskey, sell it to Al Capone, and then show us the loot.  We want to be Nucky.  We want Kevin Kolb to show us what he's capable of- we'll be on board.  But so far, he's done nothing more than be our "number two" and kick up a fuss (how's THAT for an uberly- current pop culture reference?)

On the other hand, you have a proven NFL player who has put up 52 points in six quarters this season.  It's hard to not want him to be the guy.  Yesterday, Vick showed you what a superior athlete he was, as he flicked the ball 60 yards down field, spun out of the pocket, and orchestrated a normal two-minute drill.  We haven't seen that from a quarterback in quite a while.

Is there a controversey?  Not in Reid's eyes.  He has to play Kolb.  The real controversey will come if Kolb stinks against Jacksonville and Washington.  Oh boy.  He will be on a very, very short leash with the fans.

And that is to be expected.

What else was expected?  The horrible tackling in the secondary and the awful, depleted offensive line.  If Kolb, who already struggles with the blitz, gets that same blocking next week, it is going to be ugly.

What wasn't expected?  Riley Cooper slapping at the ball on the onsides kick.  I don't think I've ever seen an NFL player slap a ball.  What the hell was that?

Oh yeah, I guess this was expected too.  McNabb face:

H/T to @08_wfc_26.