Week 12 Game Recap: Philadelphia Eagles 21, Indianapolis Colts 45

What you need to know

Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia went down early and never really had a chance to win the game. The Eagles were down 21 in the first half and 17 at halftime. They made a run and pulled to within ten in the second half, but two quick Indianapolis touchdowns put the game out of reach. The game wasn’t very close, with the Eagles’ offense unable to match Indianapolis score for score.

Jeff Garcia made his first start of the year (with usual starter Donovan McNabb lost for the year with a torn ACL), and he played much better than expected. He completed 82.6% of his passes while distributing his targets to nine different receivers. He also threw two touchdowns, one each to L.J. Smith and Reggie Brown.

Running back Brian Westbrook had an excellent game running and catching the ball, as expected against the soft Colts’ rushing defense. He led the team in carries, rushing yards, receptions, and receiving yards. He scored one touchdown in the fourth quarter.

The real story of the game was the Philadelphia defense, which gave up touchdowns on the Colts’ first three drives, and never found a way to stop Indianapolis. The rushing defense gave up four touchdowns to rookie running back Joseph Addai and 237 total yards rushing. The defense couldn’t make any critical stops, and the final score reflected it.

Indianapolis Colts

Indianapolis jumped out to a quick lead and never looked back, earning a convincing bounce-back victory after their first loss of the season last week at Dallas. The rushing offense was excellent, and allowed the Colts to eat up lots of clock while pounding the ball and running away with the game. The running game was so good that it hurt Peyton Manning’s numbers (as well as his receivers’). The running game outperformed the passing game 237 yards to 183, and four touchdowns to one.

This game proved to be the coming-out party of rookie running back Joseph Addai, who had his best game yet as a professional. He carried the football 24 times for 171 yards and an Indianapolis rookie record four touchdowns. He averaged 7.1 yards per carry. Dominic Rhodes contributed 15 carries, and averaged 4.5 yards with each.

With the running game performing so outstandingly, Manning didn’t throw the ball very much. Wide receiver Reggie Wayne led the team with five targets, 77 yards, and one touchdown. Marvin Harrison had one of his worst games in recent memory, only catching one ball for eight yards and having another catch ripped from his hands by defender Lito Sheppard.

The rushing defense was porous as usual, and the passing defense allowed a high percentage of Jeff Garcia’s throws to be completed. Despite this, the defense made enough plays and got enough stops to allow their offensive counterparts to run away with the game. Nick Harper intercepted a wide receiver pass by Hank Baskett on the Eagles’ second drive of the game. The Colts’ defense sealed the game with a sack of Jeff Garcia that caused a fumbled that Kelvin Hayden returned for the final score of the game.

Dallas Clark appeared to injure his knee in the first-half, and did not return. He was seen in street clothes on the sideline in the second half. Reports indicate that he had a sprained right knee, but the severity is not known at this time.

What you ought to know

QB Jeff Garcia, Pass: 19 - 23 - 140 - 2 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 1 - 7 - 0

Garcia played well in his first start of the 2006 season. He completed 82.6% of his passes, while spreading the ball around to nine different targets. Garcia threw touchdown passes in both halves; the first to tight end L.J. Smith and the second to wide receiver Reggie Brown. His favorite target was running back Brian Westbrook coming out of the backfield. Garcia’s last play of the game sealed the loss, as he was sacked and coughed up the ball, which was returned for a touchdown. Overall, he had a very decent game.

QB A.J. Feeley, Pass: 4 - 5 - 21 - 0 TD / 0 INT

Feeley came in after Garcia’s fourth quarter fumble was returned for a touchdown. He completed four of his five passes on the final drive of the game, but he suffered the same fate as Garcia. His final play was a sack where he fumbled and Indianapolis recovered. Feeley came in when the game was out of reach, and given Garcia’s solid performance, it is not anticipated that he will step into the starting job.

RB Brian Westbrook, Rush: 20 - 124 - 1, Rec: 7 - 46 - 0 (9 targets)

Westbrook had an excellent game. He had a season high 124 yards rushing. Westbrook led the Eagles in targets, catches, receiving yards, rushes, and rushing yards. He was the definition of an offensive workhorse. Westbrook scored one touchdown, a six yard run in the third quarter. Two of Westbrook’s targets came from Feeley, and the others were from Garcia.

RB Correll Buckhalter, Rush: 4 - 18 - 0, Rec: 2 - 26 - 0

Buckhalter had his rushing attempts at the end of the second quarter and beginning of the third. He also had two catches on his three targets. Buckhalter showed good speed and burst with his limited opportunities.

RB Thomas Tapeh, Rec: 1 - 1 - 0 (1 targets)

Tapeh saw action on the last Eagles’ drive of the game, catching one pass from A.J. Feeley. He also recovered a Reno Mahe fumble on a kickoff return.

WR Hank Baskett, Pass: 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 TD / 1 INT, Rec: 2 - 20 - 0 (3 targets)

Baskett caught two of the passes thrown his way. He also threw an interception on a trick play in the first half. Jeff Garcia handed off to him and he threw deep for Brian Westbrook, but the pass was short and intercepted by Nick Harper. Two of his looks came from Feeley, one from Garcia.

WR Greg Lewis, Rec: 2 - 26 - 0 (2 targets)

Lewis caught both his targets, and both were good for 13 yards.

WR Donte Stallworth, Rec: 2 - 9 - 0 (3 targets)

Stallworth caught two of the passes thrown his way. It was his lowest target and yardage totals in any game he played in this year. The one pass he didn’t catch hit him right in the hands and should have been caught for a big gain.

WR Reggie Brown, Rec: 2 - 9 - 1 (3 targets)

Brown caught two of the passes thrown his way, including a three yard touchdown in the third quarter.

TE L.J. Smith, Rec: 4 - 21 - 1 (4 targets)

Smith caught all four of his targets, including a one yard touchdown in the second quarter.

TE Matt Schobel, Rec: 1 - 3 - 0 (1 targets)

Schobel was primarily used as a blocker, but did catch one pass in the first half.

PK David Akers 0 - 1 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 3 points

Akers missed a 36 yard field goal on the Eagles’ opening drive of the game. Otherwise, he was perfect on all three of his PATs.

PHI Rush Defense

Philadelphia’s rush defense was abused to the tune of 237 yards. Colts’ rookie running back Joseph Addai did the most damage, earning 171 yards and four rushing touchdowns. The rushing defense couldn’t get a stop late, and as such the Colts padded their lead and ate up huge chunks of the clock.

PHI Pass Defense

Philadelphia’s pass defense had a statistically good game, especially considering that Peyton Manning and the Colts were their opponent. The reality of the situation is that the rush defense was so bad that the Colts didn’t have to throw the ball very much. Manning completed 70% of his passes for only 183 yards. They gave up one touchdown to Reggie Wayne. Lito Sheppard intercepted a pass intended for Marvin Harrison, but in reality he simply stripped Harrison of the ball before he had completely possession. The pass rush didn’t get to Peyton Manning, earning zero sacks for the game.

QB Peyton Manning, Pass: 14 - 20 - 183 - 1 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 2 - -2 - 0

Manning had a good game, completing 70% of his passes and throwing one touchdown to Reggie Wayne. His statistics were depressed by the domination of the Colts’ running game, which was the primary focus of the offense, especially in the second half. Manning became the quickest NFL player to 3000 career completions, doing so in 139 games. He beat the previous record holders, Drew Bledsoe and Dan Marino.

RB Joseph Addai, Rush: 24 - 171 - 4, Rec: 2 - 37 - 0 (3 targets)

Addai had his best game yet as a professional. He ran with great power, frequently running through would-be tacklers. His three first-half rushing touchdowns of ten yards or more set a new NFL record. His four touchdowns set a new Colts’ record for touchdowns in a game by a rookie. Addai added 37 yards receiving to his 171 rushing for a 208 yard game. Although Rhodes is still technically the starter, Addai is by far the better producer.

RB Dominic Rhodes, Rush: 15 - 68 - 0, Rec: 3 - 21 - 0 (3 targets)

Rhodes quietly had a very effective game, but was overshadowed by the outstanding performance of fellow running mate Joseph Addai. Rhodes started at tailback and immediately went to work on the ground. His 68 yards on 15 carries was good for 4.5 yards per carry. He also caught all three passes thrown his way.

WR Reggie Wayne, Rec: 4 - 77 - 1 (5 targets)

Wayne led the Colts in targets, catches, and receiving yards. His last target of the game was an 11 yard touchdown halfway through the third quarter.

WR Marvin Harrison, Rec: 1 - 8 - 0 (2 targets)

Harrison had his worst game in recent memory. He looked very disinterested at times, and it hurt his team. He caught a pass that was ripped from him by Lito Sheppard. The play was scored as an interception.

TE Ben Utecht, Rec: 2 - 18 - 0 (3 targets)

Utecht caught two of the passes thrown his way, for 18 total receiving yards.

TE Dallas Clark, Rec: 1 - 4 - 0 (1 targets)

Clark caught his only target, but was injured on the play. He was shown in street clothes on the sideline in the second half. It was reported that he had a sprained knee, but the severity of the injury and whether he’ll miss any playing time is unknown.

TE Bryan Fletcher, Rec: 1 - 18 - 0 (2 targets)

Fletcher’s playing time was a direct result of Dallas Clark’s injury. He caught one of the passes thrown his way for an 18 yard gain.

PK Adam Vinatieri 1 - 1 FG, 6 - 6 XP, 9 points

Vinatieri made his only field goal attempt from 44 yards, and made all six of his PATs.

IND Rush Defense

The Colts’ rush defense gave up 149 yards on the ground. Brian Westbrook had his best rushing game of the season, going for 124 yards and one touchdown. It was another poor performance by this unit, but it wasn’t bad enough to cost them the game.

IND Pass Defense

The Colts’ pass defense gave up a high completion percentage to the Eagles, but only 161 yards. They gave up passing touchdowns to both L.J. Smith and Reggie Brown. Robert Mathis sacked each Eagles quarterback once, forcing a fumble both times. He recovered the latter, while fellow defender Kelvin Hayden recovered the former and returned it for a game sealing touchdown. Nick Harper intercepted Hank Baskett’s wide receiver pass intended deep for Brian Westbrook. It was a solid effort by this unit.