-Game2: vs Baltimore Ravens
-Flight Time:
and boy did this game took off since the coin tossed. it was everythin you'd expect from a Ravens vs Eagles home game with the physicality, turnovers, controversies, and potential all out melees. let's see where to start...obvious, we all know about the fearsome Ravens' defense led by future HOF'er LB Ray Lewis and S Ed Reed. this was a game where the offensive line need to protect Michael Vick at all cost and the backs have to pick up blitz better. with that said, Vick was sacked twice, both of which he could've thrown it away. he also threw 2 interceptions: 1 in the endzone where he was basically starin down his receiver that allow S Bernard Pollard to dive for it and the 2nd was a dump off to Brent Celek which bounced off his hands and into Ed Reed's. luckily WR Damaris Johnson was able to wrapped Reed off before he took it to the house like he did against their last opponent. however, i do feel that Celek mis-timed his jump because it was put high enough where his large frame could've jumped for it. either way, Vick cut down his TO's by 50%, that gotta be seen as some sort of improvement. but let's give credit to Vick as well as he was able to stay calm and poised to deliver some great throws like the 49yd (which i thought was longer) bomb to DeSean Jackson on the sideline before he was leveled by Reed. Jackson brushed it off by doin some push-ups and got back in the game and finished with 114 yards on 7 catches. Jeremy Maclin left nearin the late 2nd half but not after he got his only catch for a TD as Vick scrambled to his left and delivered the ball right down the seam perfectly for a wide open Maclin to put us closer with 14-1
to continue with the positive, we have to address the defense. the same defense that looked great last week, look great this week. in the middle of that defense is DeMeco Ryans again with a big game with a first interception and sack as an Eagle. along with the sack stat was also The Hunter, Trent Cole, got his first sack, and a fumble with it - the Eagles now has 2 sacks per game, givin them 4 (obviously) for the season. the front 4 stay with steady pressure from the likes of Derek Landri, Brandon Graham, and Cedric Thorton. even though the secondary of DRC and Nnamdi Asomugha weren't great, especially that TD allowed from Nnamdi to some unknown dancin fool, and DRC gettin lost coverin WR Torrey Smith, rookie Brandon Boykin was terrific. he made great plays and even had a spectacular leap to deflect a pass that must've been like 11ft in the air
i can't highlight the good without the bad. the bad, besides the obvious of the 2 INT's, was also the 2 fumbles. 1 from rookie Bryce Brown on the handoff, which was not a good look because now there's a smaller lack of confidence in the back...and the 2nd from oddly, LeSean McCoy. even though McCoy scored the 1st TD, he coughed it up with a Ravens recoverin it. not to take away LeSean good game even though the tough defense only gave him 81yd, it was enough to gash the Ravens' D. besides that, the penalties were still a factor, some were legit, some were suspcious - on both teams...but nevertheless, a win is a win
-Top Birds:
-QB Michael Vick: yes, he wasn't perfect. yes, he threw 2 picks. but yes, he took them down the field and score the winnin TD on a 2nd QB draw. Vick showed heart and confidence that allow his teammates to feed off him. he's showin that leadership that is needed to overcome such a deficit
-TE Brent Celek: havin 1 of his best game yet, he was a major factor in movin the chains and a reliable option for Vick. even though 1 pass tipped off his hands, i still think he could've caught that, Celek was able to make plays after plays. it almost seems like the Ravens never accounted for Celek and underestimated him - and he made them pay
-WR DeSean Jackson: lookin like a vintage DJax, he made plays all over the field inlcudin a bomb for 49yds. Jackson was fiesty and seems more willin to put up a fight...which broke out plenty of time with him in the middle of
- DE Trent Cole: still relentless, still pressurin QB regardless if he's doubled, chipped, or one on one. very still underrated and i hope he'll be more recognize for his effort.
-CB Brandon Boykin: made some terrific plays. a hard task that day as he asked to cover Pro Bowl WR Anquan Boldin and shut him down
-LB Mychael Kendricks: not goin unnoticed, Kendricks had a lot of great plays and a solid game. he was instinctive and had the tough task of coverin Pro Bowl RB Ray Rice durin the last drive on 4-and-1 where he went to deflect the pass to seal the win. Kendricks needs to work on his hands because he nearly came up with at least 2 INTs...but it's ok, an incomplete is better than a completion
-LB DeMeco Ryans: last but not least, the core of this win. Ryans' impact was felt all over the field as he made tackles after tackles, around the ball at all time and score an INT and sack for the night. Ryans showed his explosiveness yet calmness when he's off and on the field. that in turn shows it in his players that he's around. what a pick up!
overall - awesome, gut-wrenchin game. i couldn't ask for more, or less...maybe a better sense that we were goin to win instead of down to the wire. still, it's a highly memorable game with highly memorable plays. i can't wait for next week. hopefully they keep this momentum goin...specially since this is their first 2-0 since 2004...and you know what happened in 2004...:D!! not to jinx it because we still gotta get revenge on the dreaded Arizona Cardinals and Kevin Kolb
-Injury Report:
besides the usual, Jeremy Maclin left again with a reoccurrin hip problem, Jason Avant has a reoccurrin wrist problem since last game, Evan Mathis has a neck contusion, Jason Babin has an abdominal strain, Curtis Marsh still recoverin from his hamstring, so is Riley Cooper from his collarbone, Colt Anderson has a hyperextended knee on his non-surgical knee, Nate Allen has a shoulder contussion, and DeSean Jackson initially had a hamstring injury comin into the game but seems fine. the more serious injury was from Jason Kelce who had a injury, turned out today to be an MCL tear and partial ACL tear, which he could miss from most to full season. luckily, backup Dallas Reynolds came in and did better than i expected. King Dunlap left with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Demetress Bell and surprisinly, Bell didn't do as bad as i thought. hopefully they can get some quality practice before headin West and won't miss a beat
...GO EAGLES!!!
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