Eagles Survive in the Snow (I Think)
January 20, 2025
As I write this blog post the morning after one of the most thrilling, exhausting and picturesque Eagles victories in their history, I am still processing the final minutes of a game that was 13 yards away from their worst loss ever.
That’s why I have to keep reminding myself that they won, that the last four plays of LA’s desperate final drive failed.
Thank God.
Can you imagine what today would be like if one of those wind-tossed, snow-slick footballs had landed in the hands of a Rams receiver in the end zone? I can because that’s all I could think as LA raced down the field with an epic upset suddenly within their icy grasp.
Thirty-three years at WIP programmed my brain for worst-case scenarios, and two years of retirement have not rebooted me. When the Rams had the ball at the Eagles 18 yard-line, down 28-22, with 1:25 remaining, I braced myself for the worst.
I really thought they were going to blow a 13-point lead in the final three minutes – despite having the NFL’s top defense, despite a driving, accumulating snow and despite a crowd that never stopped screaming its support.
But then a nondescript (at least to us) right guard named Kevin Dotson saved the Eagles. On second and 7 from the 18, Dotson twitched before the snap, derailing the Rams’ momentum. Then Eagles stud defensive tackle Jalen Carter thundered past Dotson and smothered Matthew Stafford for a nine-yard sack. The Rams never got closer than 13 yards from the end zone.
E-A-G-L-E-S!
The list of heroes is a long one today, starting with Carter. If he crush Stafford, I doubt the Eagles would have survived. In fact, after the game, Dotson handled the social-media furor for his two brutal mistakes with a message on X: “All I can do is improve for next year and anyone not a fan any longer off this game i’m glad you used to be.”
Then, of course, there’s Saquon Barkley. All he did was set an Eagles playoff franchise record with 205 yards on the ground, including two long TD runs. Maybe the Giants should send out a passive-aggressive tweet today like Dotson did. They could not possibly look dumber than they do right now for letting him go.
Despite many nasty emails today – yes, I get them even after huge wins – I’m including Jalen Hurts on the list of heroes, too. After his brilliant 44-yard TD run in the first quarter, he did something that’s essential in tight playoff games. He protected the ball, which is something Stafford failed to do. Hurts will always be a source of debate in Philadelphia, but he knows how to win. That’s enough for me right now.
The offensive line was terrific again, especially blocking for three monster runs. Yes, they allowed seven sacks. That’s OK when you win. (And yes, Hurts needs to get rid of the ball faster. His critics are right about that). That front line is as much a reason for the 16 wins this season as anyone.
And let’s not forget those massive plays by TE Dallas Goedert, who has never run more powerfully or caught the ball more surehandedly than in the last two weeks. He is never mentioned as one of the Eagles biggest offensive weapons. He should be, especially after this.
Even though his unit struggled at the end, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio dialed up the right schemes in that final sequence. He delivered with the season on the line, even though he lost his terrific rookie Quinyon Mitchell early in the game. Fangio is one of the top reasons the Eagles are still playing in late January.
Heck, even though he missed two extra points, Jake Elliott somehow managed to boot three field goals into the wind and snow. I still don’t trust him, but he provided the margin for victory, no?
As for people I would still like to criticize, even after this exciting win, . . . . no, not today. This is a day of celebration, not because the Eagles won, but because they didn’t lose. We should all be grateful that they didn’t blow that game, in that snow, with so much at stake.
Now it’s the Commanders standing in the way of a second Super-Bowl appearance in three seasons. Jayden Daniels is a force already in his rookie season, Dan Quinn is a really good coach. Washington is young, but also on a roll. I can’t believe we have to wait six more days for the next chapter in this incredible season.
If you’re not having fun right now following the Eagles, check with your doctor. You may be dead.
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Some other observations after the best football weekend of the NFL season . . . . .
- If you were watching the Texans-Chiefs game on Saturday, then you probably understand better my frustration and distaste for the Chiefs and their overrated coach, Andy Reid. All season, KC was rescued by dubious calls from the adoring refs, and the playoffs proved to be the same story. The Chiefs have now won 16 straight one-score games, an NFL record. In at least half of them, the officials provided an assist. This is not sour grapes. All of the bad calls are readily available on YouTube.
- I will go even further in my revulsion for the Chiefs. When the refs rescued their darling, Patrick Mahomes, with a totally bogus roughing-the-passer call in the third quarter of a close game on Saturday, I finally snapped. I can now say officially that I hate the Chiefs more than the pathetic Cowboys.
- The best network analyst by far right now is Troy Aikman of ESPN. Admittedly, Aikman has a very low bar to clear against dorks like Tony Romo, Cris Collinsworth and the rookie of no year, ever, Tom Brady. Would the other analysts have boldly pointed out the officiating mistakes the way Aikman did? Not a chance.
- Mark Andrews ruined the Ravens’ season. There, somebody finally spoke the truth about what happened at the end of a fantastic Ravens-Bills game. The tight end ruined a big drive in the fourth quarter with a fumble, and then he dropped a two-point conversion in the end zone to assure the loss. If he didn’t fumble, if he held onto the pass at the end, the Ravens either would have won or gone into overtime. It’s that simple.
- In what world can a player shove his own coach the way Kris Boyd of the Texans did on Saturday and face no repercussions? On the street, there there’s a legal term for what he did on the sideline to special-teams coach Frank Ross – assault and battery. “It was a little 10-second thing that happened. It’s football.” Huh? Giving your own coach whiplash is football? Oh, please.
- Roger Goodell is the ultimate empty suit to me, and he always will be. But he’s right about expanding soon to an 18-game regular season. Despite the commissioner, the awful officiating and the lapdog announcers, the NFL is so much better than any other sport, it’s ridiculous to compare. My only complaint is that the season ever has to end.
There’s really only one way to keep the season going after the Super Bowl. Hold a parade. Let’s do that. In a few weeks, let’s hold a para