All season long, the Eagles have overcome their inability to cover the tight end. Today, the tight end bit them in their hindside.
Raiders tight end Zach Miller torched the Eagles for six receptions and 139 yards, including an 86-yard touchdown from JaMarcus Russell in the first quarter. Former Eagle Tony Stewart added two catches for 11 yards.
Miller’s touchdown was the only score of the game, and the early dagger shot at the eagles defense.
Justin Fargas and the Raiders ran past the Eagles, 13-9, on Sunday.
The Eagles couldn’t get anything going and looked confused and lost in all phases of the game.
The offensive line was in shambles and allowed six sacks, including two each to Richard Seymour and Trevor Scott. Starting left tackle Jason Peters went down with a knee injury in the first quarter, and was replaced by King Dunlap. Seymour then Dunlapped him all game and wreaked havoc on Donovan McNabb.
Injuries were the theme of the game for the Eagles. In addition to Peters, the Eagles had Omar Gaither, Brodrick Bunkley, DeSean Jackson, Victor Abiamiri and John Dorenbos leave the game with injury.
Jackson was able to return. Gaither, Peters and Abiamiri all had sprained knees and will have MRIs on Monday, said coach Andy Reid.
The Eagles were simply not ready to play.
“The Raiders were better prepared than us today in all phases,” said Reid. “They outcoached us and outplayed us.”
Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid again managed to misuse timeouts and mismanage the game clock. They used all three timeouts with five minutes left in the first half.
Then, when driving late in the half, Donovan called a timeout, resulting in a penalty. Your Daily Philadelphian wonders if he knows that overtime is sudden death.
The normally reliable David Akers was off his game as well, missing two field goals. One of his misses came after an Asante Samuel interception hat had the Eagles offense start at the Raiders 29-yard-line in the first quarter.
Squandered opportunities killed the Eagles all day long.
While the defense forced two turnovers as Quintin Mikell also recorded a pick, the fact is that JaMarcus Russell took advantage of the fact that they can not cover a tight end. Russell, who had averaged just over 100 yards a game for the season, was 17-of-28 for 224 yards and the touchdown to Miller.
McNabb finished the game 22-of-46 for 269 yards.
The Eagles (3-2) face the Washington Redskins (2-4), a 14-6 loser to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
Based on the way the Eagles defense has played this year, Washington Pro Bowl tight end Chris Cooley is salivating right now.
