Thursday Night Football: Houston Texans at Philadelphia Eagles
Tonight’s matchup has the Philadelphia Eagles looking to rebound from a lackluster effort against the Chicago Bears facing a Houston Texans squad trying to keep its slim playoff hopes alive.
After tonight’s contest, the Eagles will have faced their fourth opponent in 18 days of those four teams three have led their respective divisions but all four have a stake in this year’s playoff chase.
A short week after two emotional wins could’ve been a contributor as the Birds sleepwalked in and out of Soldier Field without a bang – the only whimpering could be heard from the locker of wideout of DeSean Jackson who incurred the Wrath of Reid in the aftermath of their loss.
The availability of Pro Bowl corner Asante Samuel is of the utmost importance as the Eagles need all capable hand on deck to deal with Andre “I’llbeatyoulikeyoustolesumthin” Johnson. We all know that he’s the Texans only receiving threat and every year he continues to put up knockout numbers (pun intended).
I’m hearing about the Texans 32nd ranked pass defense and how the Eagles should provide an air display and get Jackson out of this slump, so forth and so on. The gameplan should be to get this team into a playoff mindset early - particularly the offensive line. With the temperature dipping tonight, it’s an ideal night to run the ball. Giving Shady McCoy and Jerome Harrison 15 rushes each would be a nice look – especially if the Eagles can get the Texans on their heels early. Get Brent Celek involved, if the Eagles are running the ball effectively and often there may be a chance for Celek downfield.
The Eagles will have their hands full, I’m not buying into the Texans poor passing defense largely because the Eagles’ is just as bad. If Asante Samuel is unable to go tonight (just found out that he will be inactive), the trickle-down effect in on the depth chart could expose some holes for a quarterback in Matt Schaub who is just as eager to throw downfield. Andre Johnson and Arian Foster are going to cause problems in the passing and running game. Defensively, Marion Williams will play on both ends, linebacker Brian Cushing will attempt to mirror Vick.
Pick: Eagles 31 – Texans 17
This is starting to seem like a “gimme” game to the Eagles from some higher being. As if this game was placed here solely to get over the Bears loss.
Sista Miranda I guess we see that Vick was a better QB then Schaub all along.
All I can say about Schuab is yuck (to borrow a word from brotha Temple). That dude is a true stat stuffer and nothing more.
Also remember how when Vick played in ATL folks said he hated to play in cold weather. Well he has looked great playing in cold weather this year.
Will these punk refs please call the dirty hits on Vick.
Also will Andy dumb butt run the ball to protect Vick.
I cant figure out why the Eagles won’t run the ball more….and yeah, looks like the refs are gonna let Vick get beat to death tonight.
Looks like Schaub gonna get the same whupping though.
Remember sista Kolb or some other golden boy must be in the game at QB in order for Reid to run the ball.
I tell you what though only Lebron going to Cleveland could slow down the Vick NFL rating boost tonight.
The 2 most hated athletes in America on TV at the same time.
Yep O…LOL…only thing left would be for Tiger to be on in a tournament somewhere. LOL
The Eagles D have decided to make this interesting….for the other team.
The Eagles playcalling is kinda atrocious.
Hey Miranda Reid point shaving with his play calling. Thats the 2nd time this game in which there was a 2nd and 2 and Reid passed 2 plays straight.
Like I said this year Reid is gonna get Vick killed.
Its ridiculous.
Makes folks realize how tough Mcnabb was to survive play calling like this season after season.
Yeah it looks like this may be a loss for the Eagles.
50 seconds lefts in the 3rd qrt and foster is the leading rusher for houston with 22 carries……Vick is the leading eagle rusher with 7 carries.
Reid is a freaking idiot.
It’s good to know defenders are allowed to grasp Vick’s face mask, but don’t you dare tap Peyton on his helmet.
Exactly Rob………..you can grab Vick’s face mask or bend in like a slinky or just hit him late.
But you can’t breath on Brady or Manning.
Can the Eagles tackle anything??
Somebody needs to slap Reid over his refusal to run the ball.
I’ve always wondered why McNabb didn’t audible to more runs. I don’t know if he did it often, but it seems like it would have made sense in many situations. I’ve always thought Philly considered running a necessary evil. Any thoughts from the Philly crowd on that? Did 5 do it? Could he do it? What if he did and it didn’t work? Etc.
One of the most unsatisfying Eagles’ wins I’ve ever watched because that defense will cost this team eventually just as much as the offensive playcalling. This game was much closer than it needed to be and while the defense took the whole third quarter off, Reid with his, stop me if you’ve read this before, lack of balanced playcalling with the receivers’ butter fingers kept the result undecided much too long just like against the Giants and the Bears. I’d sacrifice some turnovers for more three and outs and less spectacular plays for ones boring ones that matriculate that ball down the field.
I will say that that I’m becoming more and more impressed with Shady McCoy this season because the kid is starting to bring it every game now.
@T3
McNabb rarely audibled during his time in Philly. Why? Who knows? Maybe he drank the Reid kool-aid and actually thought some of those crap plays would work as well if they sold it hard enough. Or maybe it was just McNabb’s vaunted political skills coming into play and he knew he’d be chained to the pine if he did that too often in Reid’s offense. Happened/happens anyway, no?
One of my co-workers follows the Eagles like I do and he tried to pin me down and admit that the offense runs better under Vick than it did under McNabb. I told him that it’s still the same offense just that Vick is more decisive when it comes to running the ball than his predecessor was while McNabb had the size to take the hits that come from being exposed to all kinds of punishment and would lay licks to defenders who came back there trying to take him down. Vick can take some punishment but it’s going to tell on him eventually if it continues at the current rate for him especially if he starts accumulating dings below the waist.
Actually Harvey we have no idea how well the offense moved with Mcnabb. We can only compare the 2004 Mcnabb and team to the 2010.
The reason I say that is because a Mcnabb with healthy young legs never had a team as talented as this except in 2004. Plus Mcnabb even in his youth was never the athlete that Vick was. Mcnabb at his peak ran maybe a 4.6……….Vick even now runs a 4.3.
But you are right Vick can’t take this pounding………..he is too small. Mcnabb did have the size to take the pounding.
@Temple – Reid mentioned that he didn’t allow Mcnabb audible. I never know with these coaches because they lie so much. Shanahan mentioned that he doesn’t allow his QBs to audible because the play is designed to take into account any defense that is thrown at it. But in the Houston game Shanahan said that Mcnabb was audibling out of running plays and calling passing plays. But also the story was that the reason Mcnabb was benched was because he audibled out of a passing play to a running play against Detroit.
In saying all of this who knows what the reason or the truth is.
But a question can also be asked why doesn’t Vick audible out of these passes. Is he allowed to audible or does he just stick to the plays. Also why is the offense so balanced with Kolb but not with Vick/Mcnabb. Why so many QB in shotgun formations with Vick in……..like when Mcnabb played last year with them.
All in all the stuff is just fishy to me.
Maybe because this coaches – even the ones who appear progressive (whatever than means), still have that subconscious prejudice against a African quarterbacks ability to utilize all his available physical gifts.
If they can run, the coaches do everything to make sure they don’t run. if they CAN’T run, then question their ability to get the job done…because the belief is that intelligence wise the African quarterback will never be seen a cerebral.
Mcnabb is a classic case of this all rolled up into one. Vick will be beat up and then discarded as Kolb continues to learn the game and be inserted when he is more ready.
ahhhh! The life of a commodity in the coliseum of new Rome
The Eagles kinda mad bout this
http://www.csnphilly.com/12/03/10/Furious-Eagles-protest-to-NFL-over-hits-/landing_eagles.html?blockID=365823&feedID=704
@Miranda,
The only problem is, his name is not ‘Peyton Manning’ or ‘Tom Brady’, so the league will sweep it under the rug and keep moving.
The video, although funny as hell, explains it all:
http://www.bangcartoon.com/2009/skirt.htm
Sista Miranda……….Vick is getting the black QB treatment to the fullest. Not only is he a black QB, but he is a black QB that half the fans want to see get hurt during a game.
Watching Vick get hit yesterday right in front of th refs yet they would not throw a flag reminds me how Kobe wouldn’t get calls after his run in in Colorado. There were times that Kobe would get hit by defenders during the 2005-2007 seasons and you would be like wow so the ref isn’t going to call that.
I hate that Vick isn’t getting protected and I fear that he will eventually get injured from taking these dirty hits (He is just too small to just keep taking these hits). But its up to Reid to protect him………he knows what its like to have a QB who wasn’t protected (Mcnabb). Reid needs to run the ball and move the pocket around. Basically he needs to protect Vick like he would Jeff Garcia or Kevin Kolb.
@GN – Yes that is a perfect Bang cartoon…………its so true. People fail to realize how the NFL has taken a page from the NBA when it comes to the game of football and marketing it.
From propping up star players over teams (I.E. Golden Boy QBs). To watering down rules to eliminate a physical presence in the game…..to giving out superstar calls. To finally a commissioner who has the final say and is the judge and jury.
I love that cartoon….it should go viral.
Wow Cam Newton’s WRs suck ass!!!
LOL….well O, he should get used to that now…he probably won’t have the top receivers next season in the pros anyway. LOL
SC’s quarterback looks like he’s 30 years old.
HAHA……….you a trip sista……….but what you said is so true.
Shoot that brotha probably will have crap WRs his whole career…LOL!!!
But don’t worry he will get to play with Larry Fitzgerald and Andre Johnson in the NFL………..when they are over the hill 40 year old WRs.
HAHA
Anyway you see Cam Newton using that truck stick running over fools. And you are so right the SC QB does look old….you sure he isn’t a 30 year old Jr…like Chris Weinke was at Florida st.
Oh well that looks like game………Auburn vs Oregon. 2 black QBs going at it for the championship.
Hey Miranda with you being from Alabama………..how does your dad feel about this Auburn team?
Hold up………..the last time I looked, Auburn had 21 points…WTH??
LOL!! All the Cam haters……..sucks to be you!
O, my Dad is pulling for the black QB…plain and simple. LOL
HAHA………..sista you sure your dad isn’t related to me. You know I got some family in Alabama……LOL!!!
Your dad sounds like me when Dungy and Lovie met in the SuperBowl.
LOL@ the comments on the AJC and ESPN….they are LIVID!!! Oh this is great. Still hollering that Cam shouldn’t be playing….all the while he putting on a clinic. I can’t wait for him to do that victory run at the end and flash that award winning smile so these idiots can REALLY get their pressure raised up!
OK, I need a “U Mad” pic for Cam so i can post it everywhere the same way I do this pic for the Vick haters:
http://i51.tinypic.com/2iuffac.jpg
HAHA……….yeah I am online laughing at the haters too sista.
I love that Vick picture…..LOL!!
I don’t have one “U Mad” with Cam Newton on it but I have one that may be just as good.
http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lbzsgvnDVP1qexr4ro1_500.jpg
LOL!! Thanks O!!!! Got it saved to my favorites! Shall me using shortly!
No problem!!!!!!!!
You see Cam mixing kool aid in the Gatorade and calling it a secret mixture…….LOL!!!
These poor haters are going thru changes right now. LOL, this is hilarious. I haven’t laughed this much since…..oh since the Eagles beat the Colts. LOL!!
Smile for the cameras son!! Go head! FLASH ALL 32!!
I want haters to wind up at Grady tonight!
You know its killing the fools………I love it. And that young brotha Cam has a movie star smile.
This SEC Championship is for that Auburn team with Jason Campbell, Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams that got cheated out the national Championship.
Yep…..for sure!
O, you know how silly these people are??
http://atlanta.sbnation.com/2010/12/4/1854756/bcs-bowl-projections-arkansas-needs-auburn-to-win-you-know-what-to-do
and this is why I root for Coach Petrino. LMAO
Tyrod Taylor had a great game in the ACC Championship today too!
These “dual-threat” QBs are gonna cause a lot of angst and hand-wringing….LOL!!