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Week 16 Game Recap: Philadelphia Eagles 38, New Orleans Saints 23
What you need to know
| Philadelphia Eagles |
The Eagles looked like they should be a playoff contender in overcoming an early turnover by Brian Westbrook that led to a Saints touchdown and an early 14-7 deficit. They were able to get back in the game by using an efficient passing attack led by Donovan McNabb to control the ball and keep the Saints off the field. McNabb spread the ball around, targeting eight different receivers, and was able to keep the defense guessing by using various misdirection plays.
Brian Westbrook is the true offensive threat that the Eagles need to rely on in order to be considered playoff contenders. Westbrook was used as both a traditional running back, lining up in the backfield, and as a wide out to create mismatches against the defense.
Individually the Eagles receivers may not put up big stats, but as a whole they are a well functioning unit with each receiver knowing their role in the offense and performing well within that role. Kevin Curtis is the leader of the group, and is usually the first option in the passing game.
| New Orleans Saints |
Injuries seemed to be the undoing of the Saints. They lost two key players, Marques Colston on offense and Mike McKenzie defense, in the first quarter and Aaron Stecker for a short time in the second quarter. With the key injuries they never seemed to be able to get back in any type of rhythm offensively. They were in the game early thanks to a fumble recovery deep in Eagle territory that they were able to convert into a touchdown and a 14-7 lead. That lead proved to be short lived as the Saints were not able to muster any type of sustained scoring drive that would put points on the board and keep the ball out of the Eagles' hands. They did have one chance to tie the game in the third quarter, but were stopped on three straight plays from the one yard line.
The running game was not productive. Aaron Stecker led the way with two short touchdowns in the first quarter, but he had to leave with an ankle injury midway through the second quarter. He would return, but it was too late as the Saints were forced to play catch up.
Saints receivers showed their depth by having seven different players catch passes, including all five active wide outs. David Patten stepped into the role of number one receiver with the injury to Colston and proved to be a reliable target.
What you ought to know
| QB Donovan McNabb, Pass: 24 - 35 - 263 - 3 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 6 - 37 - 0 |
Donovan McNabb appears to be fully recovered from his knee injury that he suffered last season. He used his mobility to move around in the pocket to avoid sacks and gave him extra time to find open receivers. McNabb seemed to be content with finding his receivers open on high percentage short routes, but he would throw long enough to keep the defense honest. Roughly half of his incompletions were the result of either bad throws or plays where he had to get rid of the ball because he was under pressure. McNabb showed that he can still use his legs on the third play of the game. On that play he faked a pitch to Brian Westbrook and took off on a bootleg around the left side. He took off into open field for a long gain before a Saint defender knocked the ball out from behind at the 26 yard line. Kevin Curtis was able to recover the ball in the end zone for the game's first score.
| RB Brian Westbrook, Rush: 17 - 100 - 0, Rec: 3 - 9 - 0 (5 targets) |
Brian Westbrook is the cog that makes the Eagles offense go. He did not score, but he was clearly the difference maker for the offense. Westbrook lined up as both a running back and receiver in order to create mismatches with Saint defenders. On one play in particular he lined up as a receiver and took a handoff on an end around play in which he used his speed for his longest run of the day. He runs with patience and determination as it takes multiple defenders to bring him down. The Saints were only able to slow him down in the fourth quarter as the Eagles were trying to put the game away on their final touchdown drive.
| RB Correll Buckhalter, Rush: 4 - 37 - 1 |
Buckhalter only saw limited action in relief of Brian Westbrook. He made the most of his opportunities by breaking free on a touchdown run up the middle the first time he touched the ball.
| WR Reggie Brown, Rush: 1 - 10 - 0, Rec: 6 - 73 - 1 (7 targets) |
Reggie Brown is improving as a receiver in the Eagles offense. He is versatile enough to find the open spots in the zone defenses and to use his speed on end around plays. Brown has good hands and is able to catch the ball in stride, as evidenced on his touchdown grab in the first quarter. His only missed target was not his fault as Saints defender was able to break on the ball and knock it away at the last second.
| WR Kevin Curtis, Rec: 6 - 78 - 1 (10 targets) |
Curtis draws the main attention of the defense as the top receiver in the Eagle lineup. His reception percentage is not great, but that is more the result of him being the deep target and not a main indicator of his receiving ability. He did have two potential catches that did not happen due to one of them being ruled out of bounds and him juggling the other one.
| WR Jason Avant, Rec: 4 - 35 - 0 (4 targets) |
Avant is the number three receiver for the Eagles. He is a reliable possession type who is able to catch the ball in traffic and get the first down. He caught all four passes thrown his way, two of them for first downs. On one reception he was stopped just two yards short on a third and six play where McNabb had to scramble and Avant was the safety valve.
| WR Greg Lewis, Rec: 2 - 25 - 1 (4 targets) |
Lewis caught two of the four passes thrown his way and scored one touchdown on a play in which he was wide open in the end zone.
| WR Hank Baskett, Rec: 1 - 8 - 0 (1 targets) |
Baskett caught the only pass thrown his way in the fourth quarter.
| WR Michael Gasperson (1 targets) |
Gasperson did not catch the only pass thrown in his direction.
| TE Brent Celek, Rec: 2 - 35 - 0 (4 targets) |
Celek received the start due to injuries to the other tight ends on the roster. He made the most of his start by being involved in the offense early. He caught the first two passes thrown his way, but was not able to make any more catches later in the first half.
| PK David Akers 1 - 1 FG, 5 - 5 XP, 8 points |
Akers was a perfect five of five on extra points and nailed his only field goal attempt.
| PHI Rush Defense |
The Eagles rush defense was one that bended a little but did not break. The Saints had some modest ability to run on the outer corners, but had no success between the tackles. The defense was able to rise to occasion on two instances where the Saints had the ball inside the red zone but they were only able to come away with three points.
| PHI Pass Defense |
The Eagles were able to get pressure on Drew Brees and make him feel uncomfortable in the pocket. The final stats only show one sack, but they were able to get consistent pressure on him through the use of an aggressive blitz package. Brees had to improvise and rollout to create time to find an open receiver on pass plays.
| QB Drew Brees, Pass: 30 - 45 - 289 - 0 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 1 - -1 - 0, Rec: 1 - 8 - 0 (1 targets) |
Drew Brees started the game by completing his first six passes, and ten of his first 13. His first completion was on a beautiful pass to Devery Henderson that put the Saints in excellent field position for their first score. That was the only time that he was able to connect on any type of deep pass play. He was forced to use short, quick passes on the sidelines along with screen plays due to the pressure being applied by the blitzing defense. On some instances he would have time to throw deep over the middle, but he was undone by dropped balls by his receivers. He did catch one pass on a ball that was batted directly back to him and he took off gaining eight yards.
| RB Aaron Stecker, Rush: 13 - 49 - 2, Rec: 4 - 35 - 0 (5 targets) |
Stecker received the start due to the knee injury to Reggie Bush and made the most of his opportunity early on. He scored on two short touchdown runs in the first half and appeared to be the missing piece on offense. On the second drive he took a screen pass for 26 yards to give the Saints first and goal from the seven. This was a drive in which he would score his second touchdown four plays later. He left the game briefly in the second quarter with what appeared to be an ankle injury but would later return. He was clearly not himself upon returning to the game as he was unable to score on two straight opportunities from the one yard line in the third quarter that would have tied the game.
| RB Pierre Thomas, Rush: 3 - 17 - 0, Rec: 6 - 29 - 0 (7 targets) |
Thomas performed well in relief of Aaron Stecker. He took over the feature back role when Stecker went out with an injury and continued to see action upon Stecker's return. Thomas does not have the experience or the ability that Stecker has, but performed best when he split time with Stecker in the second half.
| RB Mike Karney, Rush: 1 - 0 - 0 |
Karney only saw action on one carry on the goal line in the third quarter.
| WR David Patten, Rec: 6 - 55 - 0 (10 targets) |
Patten was the primary target as the Saints turned to the air in order to get back in the game. He saw seven targets in the second half, but was only able to come up with four of them, one of which was overturned due to a holding penalty.
| WR Terrance Copper, Rec: 3 - 28 - 0 (4 targets) |
Copper saw limited action in the receiver rotation only when Colston left with an injury.
| WR Lance Moore, Rec: 3 - 28 - 0 (5 targets) |
Lance Moore saw increased playing time with the injury to Marques Colston. He was able to make the most of his increased time by making tough catches along the sidelines. He was overthrown on one deep ball and was unable to come up with an under thrown pass inside the five yard line.
| WR Marques Colston, Rec: 3 - 16 - 0 (2 targets) |
Colston caught both of his targets before leaving the game with a chest contusion.
| WR Devery Henderson, Rec: 1 - 52 - 0 (3 targets) |
Devery Henderson makes frustrating plays. On the first play from scrimmage he burned the Eagle defender deep on a 52 yard catch that gave the Saints the ball on the 14. Later, he dropped two very catchable passes that would have sustained drives. The last target was when he had both hands on the ball but coughed it up when he was hit coming down. The ball popped out and into the hands of a defender.
| TE Billy Miller, Rec: 3 - 38 - 0 (8 targets) |
Miller was far from a reliable target for Drew Brees. He was targeted numerous times over the middle, but was plagued by dropped passes.
| PK Martin Gramatica 3 - 3 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 11 points |
Gramatica was successful on all three of his attempts, including a career best from 55 yards to close out the first half.
| NO Rush Defense |
The Saints rushing defense was unable to contain the Eagles backs as they were able to break outside and beat the defenders to the corner.
| NO Pass Defense |
Saints linemen were able to get pressure on Donovan McNabb and force him out of the pocket in order to buy time. However, he was usually able to find a receiver open. Of the three sacks, one was as a result of McNabb tripped while dropping back to pass.
