Now That's More Like It! (Originally posted on December 5, 2006)

I was 7 yards away from freedom. The Carolina Panthers had first and goal at the 7 yard line, down 27-24, with less than a minute to play. If they had scored, the Panthers would have won, the Eagles would have had a 5-7 record, essentially ending their playoff hopes for 2006. And I would have been free. Free to spend Sundays with my wife. Free to watch sporting events through the eyes of a fan, and not like the obsessive freak that I've become. But Lito Sheppard intercepted Jake Delhomme's final pass in the end zone, and I'm sucked back in, emotionally invested, all too vulnerable to that inevitable annual heartbreak that has become my rite of winter.

The good:

The team's heart - after sleepwalking through the last month, the Eagles actually remembered they were professional athletes.

Jeff Garcia - he played well, making good reads and tough throws. He took some big hits, but showed no ill effects.

Stallworth & Brown - when both wide receivers play well, the Eagles win.

The run defense - after 4 embarrassing performances, the Eagles managed to "limit" the Panthers to 108 yards rushing. Not great, but a huge improvement over the previous month.

Lito Sheppard - 2 game saving interceptions - not bad for missing much of the first month with ankle injuries.

The bad:

The pass rush (or lack thereof) - again, the defensive line just could not put any type of pressure on Jake Delhomme. The absence of Jevon Kearse has crippled the Eagles ability to harass the quarterback.

The blitz - every team the Eagles have played is able to recognize the Eagles blitz. And when they do blitz, the offense seems to have the perfect play called. For example, when the Eagles called a safety blitz late in the 3rd quarter, the Panthers managed to counter them with a perfectly executed screen pass, which resulted in DeAngelo Williams running through the area vacated by Brian Dawkins for a 35 yard touchdown reception. Is the Eagles defense developing obvious blitzing tendencies? Are they just not fast enough to reach the quarterback? Either way, the Eagles MUST figure out a way to generate pass rush. Otherwise, this is going to be a very long final month.

Sean Considine - How does his shoulder manage to stay in its socket after so many missed arm tackles? I don't feel that Michael Lewis' play was bad enough to warrant benching; Lewis' absence for the last month is a big reason for the Eagles struggles against the run.

L.J. Smith - Where did he go? Zero catches. Matt Schoebel was playing tight end in the final quarter, so I'd assumed that LJ was hurt, but he returned to the field when the Eagles downed the ball to end the game. He wasn't mentioned in Andy Reid's post game injury report. Last night's game notwithstanding, Jeff Garcia's forte is not launching 40 yard rockets to his wide receivers - he needs a solid target in the middle of the field to catch those 7 yard passes on 3rd and 4. (Or 3rd and inches, if you're the Eagles.) For the Eagles to be successful, LJ will need to return to form and play the role of Garcia's security blanket.

Me - sentenced to another 2 of weeks of manically screaming at the television, while at the same time alienating friends, neighbors, and relatives.