Huge Win Makes This An Interesting December
The point spreads all favored New England. All of the smart money was betting on New England. And, why not? They were at home, in December. And, despite the fact that Julian Edleman and Rob Gronkowski would not be available, the plug-and-play Patriots always found ways to win these types of games. But, somewhere along the way, the Eagles team found a little pride. They did a gut check, and found that they still had some fight left in them, and they walked out of Foxborough with a 35-28 win.
It wasn’t conventional. Sam Bradford didn’t have a big day. But, Darren Sproles brought his A-plus game, especially in the return game. His 115 yds in punt returns set the team up in great field position, yielded a touchdown, and put the team back in a first-place tie in the division. Malcolm Jenkins took a Brady interception back 100 yards for a score, and Najee Goode took a blocked punt back for a score. It got so bad for a moment, that, it seemed as if New England would not come back on the field in the fourth quarter. But, despite all of the points that came off Patriot mistakes, they kept coming. In the end, they made it closer than it had to be, but, it wasn’t quite enough.
Now, a game that everyone that was looking at the team schedule and had it slated as a loss, becomes a win. Now, a season that, 3 weeks ago, was in such disarray, now has some promise. But, it may appear to not be all happy feelings at the Nova Care facility.
Recent reports have running back DeMarco Murray being unhappy with his role in the offense. There was an apparent meeting between Murray and team owner Jeffrey Lurie. It seems, however, that Lurie is siding with the staff, preferring to let them make the decisions, rather than Lurie stepping in, Jerry Jones ham-fisted style, and saying that Murray must get all of the touches.
When the team traded LeSean McCoy, who returns to Philadelphia this weekend, by the way, head coach Chip Kelly was quoted as saying he wanted a running back that ran straight ahead, not side to side. Murray was signed, and Kelly thought he had his straight-ahead back. But, something funny happened. Murray became exactly what McCoy was, only slower. He became a side-to-side running back. He became a back that would stop and wait for a lane to develop, rather than try to break free with brute strength. In other words, Murray became the anti-Ryan Mathews.
Now, as Buffalo visits Lincoln Financial Field, they will be bringing with them a defense that is 14th overall against the run. And, since the Patriots are just ahead of Buffalo in total run defense, Murray doesn’t look to be the feature back again this weekend, either. But, looks can always be deceiving.
Murray knew this could happen. As a running back, in the NFL, he looked ahead. He just had a tremendous season, running behind a great offensive line. His yardage was through the roof. But, when he wanted a new deal from Dallas, Jones balked. History tells us all that Jones balks on paying his running backs. Don’t believe me? Go ask Emmitt Smith. Murray was allowed to go find a better deal. He did, in Philadelphia. At 27, he knows his time, as a player, grows short. He took a “money deal”, plain and simple. If that money were tied to incentives, I promise you, he’d be much more productive, despite all of the O-line problems the team has suffered. Murray’s petulance now threatens a potential playoff bid for this team.
This is where Bradford needs to show he’s a leader. This is where Bradford needs to take aside his college teammate, and explain to him that, it’s 53 men working toward one goal, not just one man trying to get more carries. In a season that now becomes only 4 weeks long, and the team, basically, needs to win all 4, one man cannot undermine the collective.
Four weeks. Buffalo, Arizona, New York, and Washington. That’s now the season. And, as I previously stated, they all pretty much have to be wins. Thanksgiving Day, I would have said it was impossible. Now, I’m switching my opinion. This team found a way to win on Sunday. They need to find ways to win in the coming weeks. None of these games will be easy. But, when center Jason Kelce talked about we’ll get to see what everyone is made of, this is the time to see it.
And, if nothing else, it’s certainly made for an interesting last month of the season in the NFC East. Go Eagles! Beat Buffalo!!!
Fly, Eagles…..Fly!!!!!!
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Categorized:Eagles