Detroit
21
Philadelphia56
Detroit
Philadelphia
| Detroit 21 | Philadelphia 56 |
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| September 23, 2007 | Lincoln Financial Field-Attendance: 67,570 (68,532) | Time: 3:16 |
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| Scoring Summary |
| FIRST QUARTER | DET | PHI |
| PHI | TD | 11:59 | Brian Westbrook rush to the left for 25 yards for a touchdown. | 0 | 6 |
| PHI | PAT | 11:59 | David Akers extra point attempt is good. | 0 | 7 |
| DET | TD | 9:07 | Kevin Jones rush up the middle for 2 yards for a touchdown. | 6 | 7 |
| DET | PAT | 9:07 | Jason Hanson extra point attempt is good. | 7 | 7 |
| PHI | TD | 3:41 | Brian Westbrook rush to the left for 5 yards for a touchdown. | 7 | 13 |
| PHI | PAT | 3:41 | David Akers extra point attempt is good. | 7 | 14 |
| PHI | TD | 3:04 | Donovan McNabb pass completion to the middle to Kevin Curtis for 68 yards for a touchdown. | 7 | 20 |
| PHI | PAT | 3:04 | David Akers extra point attempt is good. | 7 | 21 |
| SECOND QUARTER | DET | PHI |
| PHI | TD | 12:45 | Donovan McNabb pass completion to the left to Kevin Curtis for 12 yards for a touchdown. | 7 | 27 |
| PHI | PAT | 12:45 | David Akers extra point attempt is good. | 7 | 28 |
| PHI | TD | 11:32 | Donovan McNabb pass completion to the left to Kevin Curtis for 43 yards for a touchdown. | 7 | 34 |
| PHI | PAT | 11:32 | David Akers extra point attempt is good. | 7 | 35 |
| DET | TD | 8:51 | Jon Kitna pass completion to the right to Shaun McDonald for 11 yards for a touchdown. | 13 | 35 |
| DET | PAT | 8:45 | Jason Hanson extra point attempt is good. | 14 | 35 |
| DET | TD | 5:01 | Jon Kitna pass completion to the right to Roy Williams for 91 yards for a touchdown. | 20 | 35 |
| DET | PAT | 5:01 | Jason Hanson extra point attempt is good. | 21 | 35 |
| PHI | TD | 1:49 | Donovan McNabb pass completion to the right to Brian Westbrook for 43 yards for a touchdown. | 21 | 41 |
| PHI | PAT | 1:49 | David Akers extra point attempt is good. | 21 | 42 |
| THIRD QUARTER | DET | PHI |
| PHI | TD | 2:26 | Correll Buckhalter rush up the middle for 1 yard for a touchdown. | 21 | 48 |
| PHI | PAT | 2:24 | David Akers extra point attempt is good. | 21 | 49 |
| FOURTH QUARTER | DET | PHI |
| PHI | TD | 7:31 | Tony Hunt rush up the middle for 1 yard for a touchdown. | 21 | 55 |
| PHI | PAT | 7:27 | David Akers extra point attempt is good. | 21 | 56 |
| Statistics |
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| Team Stat Comparison |
| DET | PHI | |
| 1st Downs | 20 | 29 |
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| 3rd down efficiency | 4-14 | 3-8 |
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| 4th down efficiency | 0-2 | 0-0 |
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| Total Yards | 432 | 536 |
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| Passing | 393 | 363 |
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| Comp-Att | 29-46 | 21-26 |
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| Yards per pass | 7.1 | 12.5 |
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| Rushing | 39 | 173 |
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| Rushing Attempts | 12 | 34 |
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| Yards per rush | 3.3 | 5.1 |
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| Penalties | 9-65 | 5-35 |
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| Sacks against | 9-53 | 3-18 |
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| Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
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| Fumbles-lost | 3-2 | 2-2 |
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| Interceptions thrown | 1 | 0 |
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| Possession | 27:30 | 32:30 |
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| Officials |
| Referee: Gene Steratore, Umpire: Carl Madsen, Line Judge: Tom Barnes, Side Judge: Barry Anderson, Head Linesman: Paul Weidner, Back Judge: Anthony Steratore, Field Judge: Doug Rosenbaum |
McNabb threw for 381 yards and four touchdown passes, Curtis had 221 yards receiving and three scores and the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Lions 56-21 on Sunday for their first win.
In a stunning offensive display, the Eagles (1-2) scored touchdowns on their first five possessions and had a franchise-record 42 points in the first half. It was their most points scored since a 56-17 victory at the Chicago Cardinals in 1953.
Brian Westbrook had 110 yards rushing, 111 more receiving and scored three TDs before leaving in the third quarter with injured ribs. X-rays were negative.
''I'm not surprised by what we were able to do,'' Westbrook said. ''It's a matter of guys continuing to connect. We're an explosive offense when things work out the way we want. We didn't have too many incomplete balls in practice and that rolled over.''
Jon Kitna threw for a franchise-record 446 yards and two TDs and Roy Williams had nine catches for 204 yards, including a 91-yard TD for Detroit (2-1).
Just six days ago, the Eagles were booed off the field after losing 20-12 to Washington on Monday night. A day later, it got uglier when McNabb said on HBO that black quarterbacks face greater scrutiny than their white counterparts.
McNabb spent a lot of time this week answering questions about his comment he made in August that aired Tuesday. He came under heavy criticism for his statement and heard a mixture of boos in pregame introductions.
It didn't help that the five-time Pro Bowl quarterback played poorly in his first two games since tearing a knee ligament in Week 11 last year. Some were calling for rookie Kevin Kolb or backup A.J. Feeley to replace him.
Kolb made his NFL debut in the fourth quarter, while McNabb rested after an outstanding performance. McNabb completed 18 consecutive passes at one point, and finished 21-for-26.
''That wasn't part of my mind-set,'' McNabb said of his tumultuous week. ''With everything that happened, we still have to play football.''
The Lions came in looking for their first 3-0 start in 27 years, but they played like the hapless bunch that hasn't had a winning record since 2000.
''They outplayed us as a coaching staff,'' Detroit coach Rod Marinelli said. ''They outplayed us on offense, defense, and special teams in all areas.''
Desperate to avoid their first 0-3 start in nine years, the Eagles were fired up from the outset.
Despite missing All-Pro safety Brian Dawkins (neck) and Pro Bowl cornerback Lito Sheppard, the defense forced the Lions to go three-and out on four of their first five possessions.
Meanwhile, McNabb, Westbrook and Curtis were unstoppable. The Eagles led 35-7 less than 19 minutes in.
They were driving for a sixth consecutive score, but McNabb fumbled at Detroit's 4 after getting sacked.
Wearing powder blue and yellow uniforms to commemorate their 75-year anniversary, the Eagles looked more like the St. Louis Rams and played like ''The Greatest Show on Turf.''
''It was definitely needed,'' McNabb said. ''Coming out and not playing like ourselves, we had to make an explosion.''
Westbrook scampered 25 yards off left end, breaking one arm tackle to give Philly a 7-0 lead. Kevin Jones scored from the 2 on his first carry since injuring his foot last December to tie it at 7.
Westbrook ran in from the 5 to make it 14-7, and Philly needed just one play to find the end zone again after a punt. McNabb hit Curtis perfectly in stride down the middle for a 68-yard TD.
The Eagles hadn't scored three touchdowns in the first quarter since Andy Reid's first game as coach in 1999 against Arizona. The Cardinals rallied to win 25-24.
On the next drive, Curtis was alone in the corner of the end zone for a 12-yard TD pass. McNabb briefly went down, clutching his back after taking a shot from Dewayne White after the pass.
On his next play, McNabb connected with a wide-open Curtis for a 43-yard TD.
''It seemed like we couldn't do no wrong,'' Curtis said. ''Everything was going right. It doesn't take much sometimes to have that little difference.''
The Lions finally got going and Kitna's 11-yard TD pass to Shaun McDonald made it 35-14. After Corey Smith forced McNabb's fumble, Williams split the defense on a slant route and outraced the secondary for a 91-yard TD to cut it to 35-21.
Westbrook turned a short screen pass into a 43-yard TD by breaking a couple tackles to put the Eagles ahead 42-21 late in the second quarter.
Correll Buckhalter and Tony Hunt each had 1-yard TD runs in the second half.
Philly's defense finished with nine sacks.
''Their defense is predicated on putting pressure on the quarterback and they do a lot of different blitzes and things,'' Kitna said. ''What was surprising is for us to fall behind like we did early.
Notes: Curtis surpassed his career-best 105 yards receiving in just the first quarter, getting 132. ... The teams had 63 points and 763 total yards in the first half.
I concede - I bought into the hype and actually thought the Lions had a chance to beat the Eagles. Lets just say that won't happen anytime soon. It what was the worst first half of football I have ever seen the honolulu blue and silver play. How bad was it??? Philadelpia scored touchdowns on their first five drives! Are you kidding me? This was the same team that struggled mightly against Green Bay and Washington the past two weeks! After Philadelia got their sixth touchdown from several mistackles in the first half, that is all I cared to watch. The Lions were not going to ruin my great weekend after I watched my Spartans take care of business again in South Bend. At least Michigan State wins games I go to on the road. The Offense scored 21 points but for the most part was off. The Offensive Line gave up only NINE sacks! I have nothing more to comment on this waste of a game.
Offense: --- D-. Where is the running game? 39 yards for the entire game? Who cares if you have a great passing game when you are DEAD LAST in rushing in the NFL. Kevin Jones came back but was ineffective besides his first run for a touchdown. Roy Williams had a great game including a 91 yard touchdown reception. The Offensive Line was miserable giving up 9 sacks. It won't get any easier next week with the Bears defense coming into town.
Defense: --- F-. If I could give them a grade lower than a F-, I would do it in a heart beat. I cannot even describe how pathetic and utterly disgusting it was to watch that first half carnage! Its not like they were facing the Colts, it was the Eagles! They did nothing on Offense against two mediocre teams the prior two weeks! Kevin Curtis, Donovan McNabb and Bryan Westbrook torched the Lions all day as if it were training camp. The secondary could not have been any worse and got exposed to what they are - if not the worst in the NFL. This was the most points the Defense gave up in THIRTY NINE years! Are you kidding me? Its ashame they got paid for that shameful performance. What a joke!
Special Teams: --- C. Bryan Calhoun was a busy guy returning kicks and did a decent job. Hanson missed his only field goal chance of the game.
Coaching: --- F. Marinelli did not have his team ready to play and that is on him. Keeping Kitna in the game to get abused in the fourth quarter was a complete coaching blunder. Marinelli needs to get his head examined for that decision.
Overall: --- F-. This reminded me of the past Thanksgiving Day games were the Lions have routinely gotten blown out. But to give up five straight touchdowns? It was a game they better forget about quickly or this season could spiral out of control quickly. Fortunately for the hapless Defense, if not the worst Offense in football heads into Ford Field next Sunday. The Bears Offense has been just awful the first three games this season. As badly as the Lions played against Philadelphia, I think they can beat the Bears given they are regressing back to reality this season. If there ever was a game this early in the season that meant something, this is it. A win would give the Lions a 3-1 record and help them bury the carnage that took place in Philadelphia.
I will be in Las Vegas next week and San Diego the following week on vacation. Game commentary and grades will be available later each week.
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