Arizona Cardinals 32 Philadelphia Eagles 25
It seems to me that the conversation after this game has centered on the losers (and I’ll get to them), but a lot of credit should go to the Cardinals here. For the third straight game they had a perfect game plan, and they executed it perfectly. For the third straight week the Cardinals tried to establish the run early, and used it to set up the pass. At this point everyone knew they had to be wary of Larry Fitzgerald, and for the second time this postseason the Cardinals perfectly executed a flea flicker for a touchdown to neutralize the coverage on Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald’s three first half touchdowns gave the Cardinals a seemingly insurmountable 24-6 lead.
But then Donovan McNabb brought the Eagles back. After a miserable first half where McNabb missed a lot of passes, he led the Eagles on three straight touchdown drives with several perfect passes including a 50-yarder to Kevin Curtis and the 62 yard TD to DeSean Jackson. And he turned over a one-point lead to his defense. And Kurt Warner cut the Eagles defense to Swiss Cheese on a 14-play, 72-yard, 8-minute touchdown drive.
But McNabb had one more chance and he may have used it to permanently cement his legacy. He completed three straight passes to get into Cardinals territory. Then four straight incompletions ended the game the season and maybe his Eagles career.
And that will be the legacy for McNabb assuming he never wins a Super Bowl (with the Eagles or otherwise). Good, but not good enough. So many times he took the Eagles to the edge, but could never push them over.
Does that mean he hasn’t had a great career? No. But to Eagles fans it does.
Pittsburgh Steelers 23 Baltimore Ravens 14
As I suspected, this game turned on quarterback play. Both defenses are so good that it fell on the quarterbacks to try to win (or not lose the game). And despite terrible passing stats (he started 7 for 21) the Ravens were still in the game when Flacco led them on one big scoring driving to get within 2. But with time winding town and the ball in Flacco’s hands he was picked off. Troy Polamalu returned it for a touchdown and the win.
Flacco will be back because with the exception of Ray Lewis a lot of the Ravens best defenders (Terrell Suggs, Bart Scott and Ed Reed) are still young.
As for the Steelers, they’re headed to their 7th Super Bowl, in search of their record 6th win.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
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1 comment:
Curtis should have caught that pass where the defender was touching his leg. It was in his hands. Jerry Rice, Michael Irvin even Amani Toomer make that catch. Can't blame all on McNabb. How about he cardinals fans burns messages into Donovan front lawn with his family in the house- pretty bush league move.
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