What happened?
The Eagles allowed a long scoring drive to start the game, but then forced Jake Delhomme out of the game and dominated the next three and a half quarters. Of course, not all the news was good, as Donovan McNabb was injured on a touchdown run in the third quarter.
The Good:
The defense was awesome, allowing just ten points for the game. They recorded five sacks, intercepted five passes, recovered two fumbles and scored a touchdown. Jake Delhomme was pulled midway through the third quarter, and his replacements didn't do much better.
DeSean Jackson scored on an 85 yard punt return, the second longest in Eagles history.
LeSean McCoy looked good, picking up 46 yards on nine carries.
Brian Westbrook has 64 yards on 13 carries, and also had three catches and a touchdown.
The offensive line looked great, giving up just two sacks on the day.
Donovan McNabb went 10/18 for 78 yards and two touchdowns. He also had 27 rushing yards and a touchdown.
The Bad:
On the touchdown run, McNabb was injured. According to Andy Reid, he's got a cracked rib, and while he might play next week, odds are he's going to miss 2-4 weeks.
Kevin Kolb was not that impressive in relief of McNabb, completing 7/11 passes for just 23 yards.
The Ugly:
Did I mention that Kevin Kolb is probably going to start next week against the Saints?
Kevin...Kolb.
The Breakdown:
Ugh. This game against Carolina was looking like a great way to start the regular season after an interesting preseason. Aside from the opening drive of the game, the defense locked the Panthers down and kept them away from the end zone, and the makeshift offensive line was great, aside from a few false start calls. That's not what matters right now, though.
What matters is the health of Donovan McNabb, especially for next week. On the last scoring drive the Eagles had, McNabb ran for a three yard touchdown run, but Jon Beason hit him late, after he had scored. McNabb broke a rib on that play and didn't return to the game. I didn't want him to come back in, but that's not important. What is important is whether or not McNabb is even going to be close to playing next Sunday in the home opener against the Saints. I've heard conflicting reports right now that he could play next week, or he could miss 2-4 weeks. If the latter is the case, I want A.J. Feeley on the next plane to Philadelphia before this day is over.
I don't trust Kevin Kolb to run this offense. I never have. If McNabb can't start next week, odds are the Kolb is going to get his first career start, then things will get interesting, since Michael Vick can play in Week 3. Do the Eagles let Vick start that game if McNabb can't go? I don't even want to think about that right now. All I care about right now is the health of #5. We're not going to know more until tomorrow, when he gets looked at back at the NovaCare Complex, so it's going to be an anxious night for Eagles fans.
Big ups to the defense, who looked leaps and bounds better than they did at any point during the preseason. Any time you can get the opposing quarterback booed off the field, during the season opener, you're doing something right. Jake Delhomme had no time to throw all day, and ended up throwing four interceptions and fumbling once. By the time the dust had settled in the second quarter, the Eagles were up 31-7, and Delhomme was looking for the license plate of the truck that ran him over.
The offense was solid, too. I was thrilled with the way LeSean McCoy looked, and Brian Westbrook didn't seem to have any ill effects from missing all of preseason. DeSean Jackson was sharp on punt returns, taking one back in the second quarter that really turned things around for the Eagles. If this is what this offense can do, and McNabb doesn't miss much time, you had better look out.
Dammit, this game was so good, too...it's just that one injury that the Eagles couldn't afford to have happen did.
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