Re: Super Bowl XXXIX: Patriots vs Eagles
pats win, pats win 
Re: Super Bowl XXXIX: Patriots vs Eagles
Well, surprise surprise.
Patriots win.
I hate to be the one saying "I told you so" but hell...oops...heck, somebody has to say it.
I TOLD YOU SO
Amazing performance by Brady. He is the best QB in the league without a doubt. Donovon Mcnabb is great but when the oppurtunity came, he couldn't seal the deal. O man, freddy would love to have a time machine right about now. Just one reception while harrison got 2 sacks and 2 picks. With this win, New England has proved that they are the real deal to all the doubters out there. They definitaly beat the second best team in the league and victory was theres no matter what. And what was philly doing at the end? The game clock was ticking and they kept on going into hurdles. If i was a philly fan i would have thrown something at my TV set at that sight.
Oh, btw, props to T.O. Eventhough he was crippled he still managed to pull together an amazing performance, unfortunalty in vain. Man, i never knew how strong he was until today. He kept on breaking every one's tackle and i cant remeber him getting hit even once. No matter what all the philly fans would have liked to think before the game, i think a healthy owens would have made a huge difference in the outcome of the game.
Re: Super Bowl XXXIX: Patriots vs Eagles
st. louis, carolina, now philly..so which team will lose the big one next year to the patriots? could be atlanta..could be carolina..could be philly again
this team just doesnt know how to lose man...if it wasnt for the run defence in 2002..this team could have won 4 in a row..oh well..3 out of 4 aint bad either
Re: Super Bowl XXXIX: Patriots vs Eagles
Well, as predicted..the defense was big for both teams especially in the first two quarters..but I’d say it had more to with their crappy offense. The rushing game was almost nonexistent especially from the Eagles side. Injuries to some key players didn’t help much either. Mcnab was certainly under immense pressure ..If they had got a field goal in the fourth quarter where Mcnab screwed up and got intercepted ..thing might have been different.
Anyway, two words..Brady-Branch ..this combo was just too hot for the Eagles to handle.
Even though I am not a big fan of Brady but I will give it to the guy…he is good..not sure if he is in the league of John Elway, Terri Bradshaw etc but his cool and composure was much better as compared to his opponent..
This superbowl was not a classic by any means but it will do! maybe we had higher expectations.
Re: Super Bowl XXXIX: Patriots vs Eagles
The thing that strikes the most about Brady is his calm demeanor. He is really a cool customer. Good job Pats for winning their third in four outings. Dunno about the whole Dynasty debate, but they sure as heck are a great team.
Re: Super Bowl XXXIX: Patriots vs Eagles
pats are lucky to come away with this one. Eugene's sub dexter guy try to did his best to end at up at the losing side by giving up two TDs - one to westrbook and other to smith.
One can also argue that maybe eagles should have gone with the normal kickoff rather than the onside kick. The major reason being them only down by 3 pts. With the kickoff pats would have probably ended up with the ball at their 25 or 30. Eagles D hold them to a 3 and out and pats are forced to punt. Eagles get the ball back at perhaps their 30. Westbrook returns it for 5 or 10 yds. Needless to say but starting at your own 40 is much better than being at your own 5. Two quick plays and you get Akers(one of the best kickers in the league) to hit a 40/45 yarder and the game is tied.
Re: Super Bowl XXXIX: Patriots vs Eagles
STFU all of you bandwagon fans!!
im so disappointed and drunk, i just got home ****ing 1AM in the morning
i cant believe what just happened
we came so close but not close enough
football season is over
Re: Super Bowl XXXIX: Patriots vs Eagles
McNabb you are still my hero
Re: Super Bowl XXXIX: Patriots vs Eagles
^ghum ka saathi rum
Re: Super Bowl XXXIX: Patriots vs Eagles
Thanks for a memorable season.
[thumb=H]mcnabb11313_9775189.JPG[/thumb]
McNabb wasn’t brilliant enough
By Seth Wickersham
ESPN The Magazine
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – He tried, you know? The slick tan suit, the snakeskin kicks, the brown vest, the perfect tie, cooling off with a swig of fruit punch Gatorade, rubbing the biceps of a right arm that threw for 357 yards and three touchdowns.
Donovan McNabb looked the part of a winning quarterback after Super Bowl XXXIX. He looked good. Except for his bottom lip. It was bleeding. Bad.
Live, in front of the cameras, there was blood on his mouth. And so as he answered questions after his first Super Bowl – and first Super Bowl loss – McNabb’s postgame look served well for the game he played. He looked sharp, but for his lip. And he played well, but …
It’s hard to criticize McNabb’s exhibition in Philadelphia’s 24-21 loss to New England. He played well enough to give Philly a chance to win its first Super Bowl. And he played bad enough to end the best season of his career with the same question that has dogged his six-year career: Is he accurate enough to win a championship?
The numbers show that McNabb completed 58 percent of his 51 passes Sunday, a percentage that is roughly square with his career mark. But it’s a rate that’s low for a 28-year-old who’s played his entire career in a quarterback-friendly offense. McNabb gave Super Bowl XXXIX its best offensive plays. He also gave the game its worst.
Even though McNabb nearly beat the two-time defending champion Pats alone, he was never really on his game. Although it was overturned by a smart replay challenge by Eagles coach Andy Reid, McNabb fumbled on the game’s third play. On Philadelphia’s third possession, he sliced New England apart with a 30-yard pass to Terrell Owens that gave the Eagles a first-and-goal at the 8. But on first down, Mike Vrabel dropped him for a 16-yard loss. On second down, he tossed an airball into the end zone that Asante Samuel intercepted. Fortunately, he was bailed out by an illegal-contact penalty on Pats linebacker Roman Phifer.
Unfortunately, he threw an even worse pass, seven yards short of Brian Westbrook and perfectly placed for safety Rodney Harrison, who hustled to the ball, stopped, waited, ordered take-out, looked for former presidents Bush and Clinton in the stands, weighed the musical “talents” of the Black Eyed Peas, yawned, and finally intercepted the pass.
“I don’t think he got frustrated,” said Eagles tight end L.J. Smith. “It just took him a little while to get in rhythm.”
When McNabb did, it was brief and spectacular. In the second quarter, he found Todd Pinkston over the middle for 17 yards. Then Pinkston again deeper over the middle for 40 yards. Then, on third-and-goal from the 7, he looked for Owens outside, came back inside, and saw a window to Smith’s hands where everyone else saw a wall. The touchdown put the Eagles up 7-0.
But still, it was shaky. At that point in the game, Philadelphia had two turnovers, had outgained New England 149 to 27, but only had a seven-point lead.
“It could have possibly been a blowout,” McNabb said later.
McNabb’s second half started the same as the first, with Pinkston being overthrown and sacks being taken. Then, again, McNabb settled into a short zone, throwing on eight of 10 plays and hitting seven of them, including a 10-yarder to Westbrook to tie the game at 14. At that point, Reid had all but burned his running plays, electing instead to place the season in the hands of a player who was booed by Eagles fans upon being drafted in 1999.
What beat Philadelphia was that McNabb started getting jittery with his throws, and Reid started getting ditzy with his playcalling. In the fourth quarter, trailing by 10, McNabb hit Owens with a perfect pass for 36 yards. On the next play, he threw to Westbrook, and we use the term “to Westbrook” charitably. That’s because with his tailback wide-open in the middle of the field, McNabb threw it high and behind, making it impossible for Westbrook to salvage anything, but very easy for Tedy Bruschi to make a falling interception.
Undoubtedly, analysts will praise Bruschi, one of the league’s premier playmakers, for another smart play on a championship defense. But even more of a factor was that McNabb couldn’t make a throw that every successful West Coast quarterback makes on the game’s biggest stage. And McNabb knows it.
“I’m not going to make excuses,” he said.
Still, he had a chance late in the game, finding himself in the same position as Jake Delhomme and Kurt Warner before him – rallying his team in the fourth quarter against the Patriots. But what followed was a strange and lousy drive, if indeed a lousy drive can end in a touchdown. With 5:40 left, the Eagles took over at their 21 down 10, with all three timeouts. Harrison admitted later he was expecting the Eagles to attack with five wide receivers and throw deep on a Pats secondary that lost starting safety Eugene Wilson. But instead …
McNabb passed four yards to Smith. Then McNabb threw another dump off to Greg Lewis. Then to Owens for another four. Then to fullback Josh Perry for two yards. All the while, the Eagles were huddling up, receivers were walking back to get the play, and as minute after minute disappeared, no one wearing green seemed to grasp the gravity of the situation or the simple math that producing 10 points against the two-time champs is not easy.
Reid, who was calling the plays and wasn’t exactly on the field screaming for his players to show more urgency, said later, “We were trying to hurry it up, but things didn’t work out that way.”
No, they didn’t. It was a painful, hair-gouging 79-yard march that McNabb called a “no-huddle” attack even though all 13 plays featured huddles. Even though it ended in a perfectly thrown 30-yard touchdown pass to Lewis, in a very real way it seemed too little too late. And it’s as if the Eagles offense knew it. When they got the ball with 46 seconds left, McNabb threw a 1-yard pass to Westbrook. Philly was killing itself softly.
After three successive NFC championship losses, McNabb showed in the Super Bowl that he’s able to raise his game to a Brady-esque level for spurts. In a Super Bowl poorly played and devoid of any lingering, memorable, snapshot plays, McNabb took on a defense that had dough-popped Peyton Manning and threw for more yards and touchdowns than Brady. Only two quarterbacks have ever thrown for more yards on Super Sunday. But for the next time – and McNabb wholeheartedly believes there will be a next time – the spurts will have to become games.
“He battled his heart out on the field,” Reid said.
But the blood – and the hurt – followed him off.
Re: Super Bowl XXXIX: Patriots vs Eagles
what a game what a game hahaha
mcnabb is no brady..with 45 seconds left and ball at their own 5 yards..and ppl think they could have won that game? u just can't beat the patriots in the big game
Patriots are a great team - and that's something i never doubted - Deion Branch is a receiver with elite talent, aren't too many better in the league. Bill Belichick is the best coach in the league - and a HOF guy, Tom Brady is still extremely underrated - and i have the utmost respect for the Patriots as a team - and I knew this wasn't going to be a blowout.
The difference of this game came when McNabb threw the interception on the goal line in the first quarter to Rodney Harrison. Right there if the Eagles could've even put a field goal up it'd be a different game but i think we got more hurt on the interception by Tedy(an extremely under-rated defensive player in the league) - right there Eagles could have march down the end zone.
Another game changing moment came when the Patriots figured out that you could get Jeremiah Trotter off the field by playing four receivers - and that changed the face of the game - even though they didn't score on the first drive their run game was successfull - that was huge since Dirk Johnson had his first bad punt on the offseason giving them back the ball around the 40.
The Patriots did a great job blocking Jevon Kearse, but had their fair share of trouble dealing with Derrick Burgess - Burgess is a guy the Eagles should definitely bring back - he's a big time player especially when he's playing the other end.
i wouldn't mind bringing back Corey Simon, but the Eagles' definitely need an upgrade over Darwin Walker - he's pathetic - and i have felt this way since early in the season he hasn't been the same player since he got his contract extension a few seasons back.
Owens, Pinkston, and Gregory A. Lewis came up huge in this one. I like Freddie, but Lewis' emergence in the postseason and the contract extension he signed, might mean Freddie will be playing somewhere else in the offseason - if you didn't know Terrell Owens is the best receiver in the game, to do that on one leg fr for 9 catches, 122 yards against the Patriots is amazing.
The hurry up offense for the Eagles was atrocious, but those with a longer memory would notice that the last time the Eagles were in Jacksonville (Vs the Jags in 2003-04), it was a similar situation they scored late to make it closer and let too much time run away - it's obvious Donovan let the big time lights get to him - he got over it in the second quarter but that long wait took it's toll. He continuously locked onto targets - and he didn't put anywhere near enough on his deep ball - another thing, the Eagles definitely missed Chad Lewis - where they could have two TE in a rotation.
i m not upset, but it's sort of an empty feeling that feels like a whole season was wasted - it was a huge step for this franchise - and the season was a great experience - i was glad to see the Eagles step up to the challenge, they just made way too many mistakes for their own good.
I could go on and complain about the defensive holdings that weren't called on the Pats, and that the Corey Simon hit was called roughing and the Richard Seymour wasn't.. but that's a waste and i don't want to take anything away from a great run the Patriots have had.
I guess, now it's time for me to focus onto the draft, and get ready for the next season.
Re: Super Bowl XXXIX: Patriots vs Eagles
YEAH can't wait for the draft
patriots need to find a cb, OL, and well thats all they really need
they are set at qb, rb, wr, lb, dl, de, k, p
Re: Super Bowl XXXIX: Patriots vs Eagles
man, what I wouldn’t do to be in philly right now. just to see ugly northern versions of redneck faces quivering and moaning like a little dog. God doesn’t like a$$holes-translation- god doesn’t like filthadelphia.
DIE EAGLE DIE
ON THE ROAD TO MISERY
Re: Super Bowl XXXIX: Patriots vs Eagles
^^ This after Phillies made Mike Vick look like a scared little boy? I hope you are not really a Falcons fan.
Sheraz, Pats have been one of the best teams in the last 5 years. What do you think about bothe coordinators leaving? For the sake of the NFL, I hope it is the begining of the end......you cannot have the same team winning year after year...same as Yankees should not win the world series every year. Dont get me wrong, I think they will still be a good team, but will they win the SB again....I hope not.
Re: Super Bowl XXXIX: Patriots vs Eagles
^ kaleem bhai...we still have bill bellichek..he is the teacher of the teachers..i just hope they can retain secondary coach erik mangini..now this guy is only 34 yrs old and look at the job he did with the secondary this year and last year..specially this year..i hope they can give him the defensive coordinator job...i dont kno what they will do with the offensive coordinator opening..but i m sure bill will hire his man..
basically the entire team will be back..i hope they don't give ty law big money..rosevelt colvin will be a factor again next year..we will have our 2nd TW benjamin watson who got injured in the beginning..he was their 1st round pick..plus this team drafts so well..so i think they can find 2 or 3 solid players in draft as well
Re: Super Bowl XXXIX: Patriots vs Eagles
Man, Brady isn’t even one of the top 3 QB’s in the league right now. He might be the number 1 clutch QB.
Just because they have won 3 super bowls in 4 years doesn’t mean that the QB is the best. The reason they are the best is because the combination of Brady, Dillon, whole WR core, then not to forget all the defencive players like Harrison, Brushci, the coach Bellicheck, etc.
Brady is a hall-of-famer, but not numero uno
Re: Super Bowl XXXIX: Patriots vs Eagles
Again, with fantasy football perspective, he might be the one of the worst QBs in the league but in real life, he is the best no doubt. Manning can only work magic with the loaded colts offence and mcnabb is a close second, but he buckled under pressure last night. Brady does the little intangibles that make him superior to other quarterbacks. Stats don’t really do justice to a QB. I think brady has proven to everyone that he is a winning QB and that is a difference between a great quarterback and a good one. A QB is like a PG in basketball. Marbury fills up the stats sheet night in and night out but he stills manages to lose whereas Nash might not light up the scoreboard but he leads his team to victory, which matters more.
Re: Super Bowl XXXIX: Patriots vs Eagles
Sheraz: History is working against the Pats. They have won 2 in a row and no team in the history of NFL has won 3 in a row ever. Not the dynasties of Steelers of 70s or 49ers of 80s or Cowboys of 90s (btw, in my opinion the 1993 Dallas Cowboys was one of the best team in NFL history). So we will see if Pats win a 3rd one in a row.
Im Kool/AAM786: Brady is one of the best, if not THE best QBs in NFL right now, why, cos he gets the job done. Its the simplest things that matter e.g following the game plan, controlling the ball, no turnovers, fumbles, etc, just your normal QB 101. He knows how to win games. The entire Pats team plays to win, not for individual glory or stats. Just a great team effort from definsive line to offensive line. Its just a remarkable team and the nucleus of the team will stay intact even after the offensive and defensive co-ordinators leave.
Brady will be in hall of fame, just cos he has won more post-season games than even Joe Montana and Troy Aikman but i wouldnt call him the best QB ever in NFL.
As far Eagles are concerned, they will most likely be in Suberbowl next year firstly cos they will have the same offense lead by McNabb and a healthy T.O, Hollywood Mitchell, Westbrook etc and secondly cos the rest NFC teams just plain suck and not ever close to where Eagles are at the moment. I dont see anyone in NFC giving Eagles any sleepless nights.
AFC is a different story, you have Steelers (who will learn from this years mistakes) and Mannin's Colts.
But still, Pats beat the 3 best teams in NFL this year on way to 3rd title. Kudos to them.