NFC EAST FLY BY Week #3

 

The Games:

 

Eagles @ 49ers

Giants @ Seahawks

Redskins @ Texans

Cowboys: Bye

 

 

Eagles @ 49ers

           

The Eagles (2-1) had plenty of highlights to be proud of. Brian Westbrook rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns, also catching a scoring pass from Donovan McNabb, who passed for 296 yards -- but Patterson's 98 yard fumble return was the most memorable moment of an otherwise expected win. Reggie Brown caught five passes for 106 yards as Philadelphia shook off last week's embarrassing collapse against the Giants.  They were able to protect a huge lead this time with 416 yards of offense, making them the number one rated offense in the league.

                        The Niners lost more than the football and points on the big fumble: Gore, who fumbled at the goal line last week as well, and rookie tight end Vernon Davis were injured on the play. Davis, the sixth overall pick, will be out for a month with a broken leg.  For more information on this game, please check out the post game wrap-up. 

 

Eagles 38 49ers 24

 

Giants @ Seahawks

 

New York trailed 42-3 before rallying in the fourth quarter to a 42-30 loss Sunday. "I don't know what it is. But it's not flat," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said after his team followed a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit at Philadelphia last week with a 35-0 flop in the first half against the soaring Seahawks. Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck threw five touchdowns -- four in a first half in which Eli Manning had three interceptions.  All in all, it was a long day for the Giants who had their largest half time deficit of its 82 year history. 

Hasselbeck's scoring throws went to Jackson, Nate Burleson, Bobby Engram and even third-string tight end Will Heller -- plus Shaun Alexander's 2-yard score put the Giants behind 35-0 for the first time since Sept. 4, 1995, when they lost by that score to Dallas en route to a 5-11 season.

With the horrid loss, comes dissent with possible “Giant” mutiny. "A team that does nothing but preach and talk about turnovers, we turn it over like nothing matters, nothing counts," Coughlin said. "It cost us the game." "We got outplayed, and out coached. Write that down," the volatile tight end said after he was told of Coughlin's frustrated outburst. When asked what he meant by "out coached" Shockey said, "You saw the game."  Right now," linebacker Antonio Pierce said entering New York's bye week, "we're a horrible team." 

 

Notes: Alexander's touchdown gave him 102 for his career, most in Seattle history. Alexander has 91 career touchdowns rushing, tied for eighth in NFL history with Franco Harris and Jerome Bettis. ... Giants LB Carlos Emmons left with a pectoral strain and didn't return.

 

Seahawks 42 Giants 30

 

 

 

 

 

 

Redskins @ Texans

 

One connection after another, Brunell kept finding holes in the Houston Texans shaky defense, breaking an NFL record for consecutive completed passes en route to Washington's first win. Brunell completed his first 22 throws and Clinton Portis scored two touchdowns in his first start of the season as the Redskins beat Houston 31-15.  The Redskins finished with 495 yards to Houston's 261.  Once again Houston was dominated by a NFC East team leaving new head coach Gary Kubiak winless. 

The game was tied at 7 when Antwaan Randle El caught a 23-yard pass before high stepping his way into the end zone for his first touchdown as a Redskin to give Washington (1-2) the lead early in the second quarter. Portis capped the first half by leaving a trail of four diving Houston defenders in his wake on a 30-yard touchdown run that gave the Redskins a 21-7 lead. Portis celebrated the score with a dance that was interrupted by hugs from teammates. In the third, Portis lost the ball as he was diving for the end zone and it was ruled a fumble. Gibbs challenged the ruling and it was overturned, giving Washington the ball on the 1. Portis bulled for the touchdown on the next play. He also set up the Redskins first score when he took a shovel pass 74 yards before being shoved out of bounds by Dunta Robinson at the 13. Two plays later, Ladell Betts scored on a 9-yard run to tie it at 7 in the first quarter. Betts had 16 carries for 124 yards. In the return of Portis to the line up was critical to the balanced success of the Redskins’ offense.

 

Notes: Donovan McNabb holds the NFL record for most consecutive passes completed over a two-game span with 24. That was 10 straight on Nov. 28, 2004 against the Giants and 14 in a row on Dec. 5, 2004 against Green Bay. ... No. 1 pick Mario Williams had two tackles and an assist, but again failed to get to the quarterback.  Dayne started his first game in almost two years and had 14 carries for 58 yards.

 

Redskins 31 Texans 15

 

Cowboys: Bye

            The Cowboys took a well needed break as Terrell Owens heals his injured hand.  Let’s just hope the spotlight and distractions continue for the Birds well hated rival. 

 

What does it mean for the eagles?

 

            The NFC east still seems to be a cloudy picture with no clear team ahead of the pack.  It is a good thing to know that the birds still stand a fair chance at winning the division.  The next several weeks will tell a lot about this years Eagles squad.  If Donovan and the offense’s superb play continues, the Eagles will be in contention for winning the division and returning to the playoffs.  The defense must be much stronger against the pass if they wish to return to the super bowl.  Once again injuries will be of high importance as the Eagles schedule only gets tougher in the following weeks ahead.

            All the other teams have questions to ask themselves as they have the same goal as the Eagles.  Dallas must look past the extreme media attention, and hope that they can make it through a season with T.O. with no major malfunctions.  If this can be attained then they too will be in contention for playoff aspirations. 

            On the other side the Giants must pray that they do not experience a team melt down or mutiny of head coach Tom Coughlin.  It is very early in the season for the team to be experiencing problems of this magnitude between players and coaches.  Is Coughlin near the end of the road, only time will tell?

The Redskins are dealing with the same questions they are so familiar with.  Will their quarterback be good enough? Does paying for proven high caliber players lead to chemistry? Are the defensive and offensive lines good enough to hold up against the NFC East? Sadly, for

Redskins fans do far the answers seem to be yes to all of these questions.  By mid season as usual we shall see if the Redskins have what it takes to make a push for the division.