Super Bowl XXXIX Recap

I'm going to start with part of a column published by Bill Simmons "The Sports Guy" and avid Patriots fan from ESPN.com :
"There's a way for the Eagles to win this game; I'm just not sure they can pull it off. Offensively, they need to play fearlessly -- keep chucking the ball downfield and hoping McNabb's improvisational skills become the biggest X-factor in the game. During the entire Belichick-Brady run, offenses have succeeded against the Pats in one particular way -- by dictating the pace of the game, usually with a no-huddle offense, and forcing the Patriots to keep the same 11 guys on the field, without the benefit of switching up personnel and formations. That's how Carolina clawed back into last year's Super Bowl. That's how the Rams clawed back into Super Bowl 36. That's how the Colts nearly rallied in the 2004 AFC title game, and that's how Miami shocked the Pats in Week 15."
Well, not only did Andy Reid revert to his conservative in big-games play-calling ; with five minutes left in the game and down by 24-14 the Eagles took 30 seconds to call each play. It would appear that Reid had no hurry-up offense prepared - there is really no other explanation. Aside from the atrocious time management in the waning minutes of the game, it was an absolutely awful job of preparation on Reid's part. For one of the "best coaches of his day" this was inexcusable. One would think that going into the Super Bowl, a coach would watch tape of games where their opponent either lost or was on the ropes. And as Simmons pointed out before the Super Bowl, whenever the Pats have been in trouble, it has been the no huddle offense that has done the trick. Bill Belichick is one of the most meticulous coaches to ever stroll the NFL sidelines. He makes sure each and every player on the field is the player he wants at that position for that exact play. The no huddle does not give him that option. He's stuck with whoever is on the field. The Eagles would have to run the no huddle, find the weakness in the defense (not to mention the middle was open all game) and expolit it play after play. But this is signature Andy Reid playcalling. Look at big games against tough teams. With Reid calling the plays, the Eagles cannot play from behind. Pittsburgh, Carolina, Tampa Bay - all jumped on the Eagles early - all easily handled Reid's conservative play-calling the rest of the way.
Donovan McNabb didn't necessarily play a bad game, but he by no means played a great game either. I'll let him slide on that last INT - they didnt really have a chance at their own 3 with 30 seconds left. But some of his passes weren't even close: Brian Westbrook cut perfectly and if McNabb puts that ball in the back left corner of the endzone, Philly gets seven points. Instead McNabb underthrew Westbrook by 5 yards and it landed nicely in the hands of Rodney Harrison. The second interception wasn't any prettier - a strike that hit Teddy Bruschi right in the numbers.
Other notable performances : Terrell Owens - unbelievable. The man was playing on a broken leg and caught 9 passes for 122 yards. TO showed early he would be much more than a distraction when on his first reception he caught a seven yard out and stiff armed a would be tackler before going out of bounds. Todd Pinkston also had a good game, making a Willie Mays like spectacular catch down the middle and totaling 4 receptions for 82 yards. Keep in mind this is a guy who was catching all kinds of flack nationally and locally for shying away from the middle - he came to play. The same cannot be said of the loudest and most obnoxious Eagle Freddie Mitchell. 1 catch for 11 yards pathetic. The three words Philadelphia fans will continue to hear until at least January : Maybe next year.