Stop me before I pass again

Last week was a mirage. Perhaps the quality (or lack thereof) of the opponent had something to do with it, but Coach Reid and company appeared to have learned a key lesson and ran the ball early and often on the way to an easy victory in Houston.

This week, however, the lessons learned were forgotten, and the results were disasterous, to say the least. For three quarters, the Eagles went pass-wacky and got quite a few points to show for it. But win them the game it didn't. They tried to flip a switch in the fourth quarter and suddenly start running the ball. But a fourth-quarter running game is only effective if you can pick up first downs on the ground. And the way to do that is to run early. Even if you're only getting two and three yards a carry, run the ball early to wear down the defense. Late in the game, when the defense is tired, those two and three yard carries will become five and six yard carries, which, when strung together, get first downs. And first downs run out the clock.

If the Eagles stay pass-wacky, the play action will cease to be effective. It was effective in Houston because they were running the ball. It was somewhat effective against New York because it was so effective last week, and NFL teams watch film. But after this game, I find it hard to swallow that professional teams will be sold on the Eagles running the ball.

With two cupcakes coming up, it should be easy to solve the Eagles' passwackyitis. Or so we can hope.