THE COLD COMFORTS OF A MORAL VICTORY
they're killing me.
These are the facts. The numbers. The hard, cold
truths that, this gray and rainy late November morning, are supposed to make me
feel better:
Tom Brady had only thrown 88 incompletions all year; last night, under constant pressure from the relentless Eagles' pass rush, he threw 20.
Tom Brady hadn't thrown fewer than 3 touchdown passes in a game all season; last night, with Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown putting Randy Moss and Donte Stallworth into the Eagles' Secondary Witness Protection Program, he threw 1.
The Eagles scored more first half points (21) against the Patriots than any other team this year.
The Patriots gave up more points on defense (28), and scored fewer points on offense (24), than they had all year.
The Eagles were only the second team this season (the Colts, playing at home, were the first) to lead the Patriots at the start of the 4th Quarter.
With 7:39 left in the game, the Eagles still lead, 28-24.
With 3:58 left, trailing by only three points, the Eagles had 2nd and 4 at the Patriots' 29 yard-line, in excellent position to tie or possibly even to win, until A.J. Feely overthrew Kevin Curtis and was intercepted by Asante Samuel.
The Las Vegas line said the Eagles would lose by 24. They lost by 3. It was the Patriots' smallest margin of victory all year -- 14 points lower than their smallest margin of victory at home.
These are the facts, the numbers, the hard, cold truths that should make me feel better but just make me feel worse. Because the truth is, these numbers weren't enough, and the only facts I'm able to acknowledge this morning are that the Eagles once again had a chance to upset the Patriots, that they once again came up short, and that, unlike the last time, the comforts of a moral victory seem especially cold.
In the end, Andy Reid, usually a man of few and forgettable words, said it best: Three points, man. Three points. The Patriots and three points. They're killing me with it.
Tom Brady had only thrown 88 incompletions all year; last night, under constant pressure from the relentless Eagles' pass rush, he threw 20.
Tom Brady hadn't thrown fewer than 3 touchdown passes in a game all season; last night, with Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown putting Randy Moss and Donte Stallworth into the Eagles' Secondary Witness Protection Program, he threw 1.
The Eagles scored more first half points (21) against the Patriots than any other team this year.
The Patriots gave up more points on defense (28), and scored fewer points on offense (24), than they had all year.
The Eagles were only the second team this season (the Colts, playing at home, were the first) to lead the Patriots at the start of the 4th Quarter.
With 7:39 left in the game, the Eagles still lead, 28-24.
With 3:58 left, trailing by only three points, the Eagles had 2nd and 4 at the Patriots' 29 yard-line, in excellent position to tie or possibly even to win, until A.J. Feely overthrew Kevin Curtis and was intercepted by Asante Samuel.
The Las Vegas line said the Eagles would lose by 24. They lost by 3. It was the Patriots' smallest margin of victory all year -- 14 points lower than their smallest margin of victory at home.
These are the facts, the numbers, the hard, cold truths that should make me feel better but just make me feel worse. Because the truth is, these numbers weren't enough, and the only facts I'm able to acknowledge this morning are that the Eagles once again had a chance to upset the Patriots, that they once again came up short, and that, unlike the last time, the comforts of a moral victory seem especially cold.
In the end, Andy Reid, usually a man of few and forgettable words, said it best: Three points, man. Three points. The Patriots and three points. They're killing me with it.
Posted: Mon - November 26, 2007 at 09:51 AM
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Published On: Nov 30, 2007 03:57 PM
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Published On: Nov 30, 2007 03:57 PM