Show’s over, folks.
The greatest team in the history of the National Football League, the 2011 Philadelphia Eagles, lost Thursday night.
There goes the undefeated season. The 1972 Miami Dolphins are safe for another year.
There goes the can’t-miss offense. The Eagles were down 21-0 to the Steelers at halftime. 21-0! At halftime! It was unbelievable to see such superior talent humbled. And 2011 NFL MVP Michael Vick, man, he was horrid. With three interceptions in the first half, he was Jake Delhomme-esque. DeSean Jackson also saw any hope of his planned assault on the league receiving records dashed. Two catches for eight yards? My grandmother could get that in a night’s work.
There goes the impenetrable defense. The ’85 Bears they are not. Philly brought in half the league’s defensive players through free agency, and they flopped. Pittsburgh converted seven-of-10 third downs in the first half alone. The Steelers had a 96-yard scoring drive at one point. Ben Roethlisberger torched the Eagles’ secondary a handful of times.
It’s all over, guys. At 1-1, Philly’s hopes for greatness are kaput. Maybe it’s our fault. Maybe we put too much pressure on the Eagles, put the bar too high. They did their best out there. They just weren’t good enough.
It all seemed like a sure thing. 19-0, Super Bowl, parade. There was no way it couldn’t happen. But, it won’t. That’s just the way the world works. Oh well, time to move on and accep…
What? It was only a preseason game? You mean this game didn’t count? It was just a meaningless exhibition game and all the guys playing in the second half will be bagging groceries in three weeks? And no one cares, or should care?
Yes to all the above? Oh, wow. Look at that overreaction. The totally measured prediction of the greatest single-season in NFL history was almost out the window because of a silly preseason game. Damn, we can really get carried away here in this era.
OK, then. The drive toward immortality is back one. Fly Eagles, fly. We’re coming for you Shula. 19-0 and Super Bowl, here they come.
