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The peculiar clock management tendencies of Philadelphia head coach Andy Reid are well known. Sunday night was hardly the first time we've seen the Eagles involved in a winnable game, but without timeouts (or any apparent sense of the passage of time).

Following Philly's 20-16 loss to Dallas, Reid offered this:

"I guess if hindsight is 20-20, I'd probably like to have those [challenges] back. It didn't go as I anticipated it."

He was referring to the two timeouts he burned in failed efforts to get officials to re-spot the football – and honestly, Reid had a solid case on the second challenge. The refs gave Philadelphia a terrible spot on Donovan McNabb's(notes) fourth down plunge with 10:49 remaining.

But when that particular ruling was upheld, the Eagles had exhausted their supply of timeouts and the Cowboys had the ball in excellent field position, with the score tied at 13. Four plays later, Miles Austin(notes) was in the end zone. Philadelphia trailed by a touchdown with 8:04 remaining.

On the Eagles' next drive, for reasons known only to Coach Reid, they attempted a 52-yard field goal with 4:33 on the clock, unwilling to go for another fourth down conversion. (OK, they needed 11 yards; it wasn't a layup). David Akers'(notes) kick was good, though it ultimately helped only two parties: His fantasy owners and the Cowboys.

Philly kicked off to Dallas trailing by four, still in need of a touchdown, and with no way to stop the clock.

Here's more Reid:

"I thought we could get the ball back and win the game. But it didn't work out that way."

Nope, it did not. Dallas picked up two first downs, then Tony Romo(notes) went to the kneel-down after the two-minute warning. Today, the Cowboys lead the NFC East at 6-2.

Most of the Monday second-guessing will focus on the challenges that didn't work and the field goal that did (which, again, only cut the deficit to four points). But let's not forget the way Philadelphia spent its first timeout of the second half. Michael Vick(notes) entered the game midway through the third quarter, handed off to LeSean McCoy(notes) for a gain of three, then left the field. McNabb returned, but the Eagles were not moving with alacrity so they had to stop the clock.

Rotating Vick into the game for a 3-yard McCoy carry cost the Eagles a timeout, one that Reid probably would like to have back. But hindsight is 20-20.

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/ept_sports_fantasy_experts__21/ept_sports_fantasy_experts-612031268-1257777965.jpg?ymt8bLCD2BZOgi9fAccording to Washington head coach Jim Zorn, Clinton Portis(notes) was apparently "knocked out and a little woozy" following the pair of helmet-to-helmet hits he sustained early in the loss to Atlanta. Portis suffered a concussion and his availability for Week 10 is in doubt. Ladell Betts(notes) is the necessary add. The longtime handcuff gained 93 total yards on 16 touches in Portis' absence, and he found the end zone once. Betts was outstanding back in '06, leading many of us to virtual titles with a stellar second half. [Washington Times

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/ept_sports_fantasy_experts__21/ept_sports_fantasy_experts-612031268-1257777965.jpg?ymt8bLCD2BZOgi9fMore news from DC: At halftime, Zorn reportedly "went off" on his team, which may have played a role in the 'Skins' 17-point offensive explosion. (For them, 17 is an explosion). "'He hasn't done that before, not like that, anyway,' said one veteran player who requested anonymity." [Washington Post]

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/ept_sports_fantasy_experts__21/ept_sports_fantasy_experts-612031268-1257777965.jpg?ymt8bLCD2BZOgi9fAustin Collie(notes) checked out of the Colts' narrow win over the Texans due to a fourth quarter neck/head injury of as-yet-unknown severity. We await updates. Collie caught just two passes for 26 yards before departing. [Rotowire]

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/ept_sports_fantasy_experts__21/ept_sports_fantasy_experts-612031268-1257777965.jpg?ymt8bLCD2BZOgi9fAnquan Boldin's(notes) team eviscerated the Bears on Sunday, but he was inactive due to an ankle injury…and he wasn't happy about it:

"I'd have probably felt better if somebody would have been man enough and walked up to me and told me what the situation was," he said, "but I had to walk back in the locker room and find all of my stuff gone."

To be fair, Ken Whisenhunt claims that he was sufficiently manly:

Two witnesses to Whisenhunt's conversation with Boldin said the receiver would not look at the coach during the conversation.

You won, Anquan. Just let it go. [The Arizona Republic]

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/ept_sports_fantasy_experts__21/ept_sports_fantasy_experts-612031268-1257777965.jpg?ymt8bLCD2BZOgi9fWe should also note that Whisenhunt authored the highlight of the day during his postgame press conference. He is not who we thought he was. It turns out he's much funnier. [Shutdown Corner]

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/ept_sports_fantasy_experts__21/ept_sports_fantasy_experts-612031268-1257777965.jpg?ymt8bLCD2BZOgi9fIsaac Bruce(notes) is nowhere near the top of the Niners' wide receiver hierarchy right now, in case you were wondering. He's behind both Josh Morgan(notes) and Jason Hill(notes). "It was nice to have [Hill] out there," said quarterback Alex Smith following the loss to Tennessee. "He and I got a lot of work together the first six weeks of the season, working out there on the scout team together. I’ve got a lot of trust in Jason, and it showed out there today." Hill caught four passes for 50 yards and two scores against the Titans. [Santa Rosa Press Democrat]

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Photo via AP Images 

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  1. Dan B
    1. Posted by Dan B Mon Nov 09, 2009 10:17 am EST

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    its not mentioned here but how did the giants let san diego drive down the field and score the winning td with just enough time for them to not have a chance to win. that last second v jax td (along with matt staffords 5 pics) killed me yesterday. (no i didnt start stafford but my opponent started the seattle defense)
  2. Dan B
    2. Posted by Dan B Mon Nov 09, 2009 10:19 am EST

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    its not mentioned here but how did the giants let san diego drive down the field and score with just enough time left for them to not have a chance to go down a kick a field goal? that last second v-jax td killed me yesterday. along with matt staffords five pics (my opponent started the seattle defense)
  3. Dan B
    3. Posted by Dan B Mon Nov 09, 2009 10:20 am EST

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    oops internet screwed up. sorry for the double post..
    yeah case of the Mondays for sure. only my second loss of the season..
  4. Matthew S
    4. Posted by Matthew S Mon Nov 09, 2009 10:22 am EST

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    Eagles suck- i particularly loved the play calling after the 2 minute warning in the first half..... after the timeout, lets go to the draw play and not get the first..... hahaha
  5. Les Dong
    5. Posted by Les Dong Mon Nov 09, 2009 10:28 am EST

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    Dan B.,
    I had the exact same thing happen to me. Played against SEA D and V. Jackson. 20 secs left in the SD game and jackson gets a TD, about a minute left in the Seattle game and they take a pick to the house. BRUTAL.
  6. spookyanathema
    6. Posted by spookyanathema Mon Nov 09, 2009 10:55 am EST

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    God bless Andy Reid's choice to go FG and Akers leg...won Week 9 by .30 points because of it, with neither my team or opponents having players from tonights MNF game.
  7. mike
    7. Posted by mike Mon Nov 09, 2009 10:56 am EST

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    Thanks Andy Reid for letting David Akers kick the 50 yarder!!!
  8. Matt A
    8. Posted by Matt A Mon Nov 09, 2009 11:18 am EST

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    How about them NFC CHAMPION Arizona Cardinals? LOL and YES. GO BIG RED!
  9. Fantasy Guru
    9. Posted by Fantasy Guru Mon Nov 09, 2009 11:27 am EST

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    The big play was the 3rd down before the Akers kick. McNabb had a first down run, clearly wide open but his fat ass can't run anymore. He gets shoe string tackle and the game is basically over...
  10. Lee Majors
    10. Posted by Lee Majors Mon Nov 09, 2009 11:37 am EST

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    Yup KB, all Roto Arcade Insider fees are waived. Please enjoy!
  11. David
    11. Posted by David Mon Nov 09, 2009 11:45 am EST

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    As someone who lost by 2 points due to Akers' 52-yard field goal, Andy Reid is now my least favorite person in the world.
  12. daymonz21
    12. Posted by daymonz21 Mon Nov 09, 2009 11:48 am EST

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    The problem is that even though it's free you still can't give that advice away. Yahoo needs to clean house!
  13. Jaimie
    13. Posted by Jaimie Mon Nov 09, 2009 12:09 pm EST

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    Stop whining about what the Eagles should or would have done. They got beat all night baby!!!!!! How bout them Cowboys!!!!!!!!!!!
  14. Glen
    14. Posted by Glen Mon Nov 09, 2009 12:18 pm EST

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    I am no philly fan by any means actually I am from texas but being able to down the ball and eat up 2 minutes of clock time to end the game in my opinion is just plain boring!! The NFL needs to do something to force the ball to move till the last second ticks off of the clock being able to sit on the ball for the last 2 minutes of the game is absurd!! Just my opinion but is anyone else tired of seeing teams sit on the ball for the last 4 to 5 minutes of the game!!!
  15. million_dollar_sleeper
    15. Posted by million_dollar_sleeper Mon Nov 09, 2009 12:32 pm EST

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    no LJ cut news? what are the %s he becomes the next Cedric Benson
    leaving a bad oline, should be motivated to get his money back. that sounds like cedric
  16. Jason
    16. Posted by Jason Mon Nov 09, 2009 12:33 pm EST

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    Jaimie....beat all night? Uhhhh..... it was a close game all the way to the end (with the Eagles up 13 -10 in the 2nd half). It was also a very winnable game and the Eagles poor clock management was as big a factor as any.
    Also, can someone please talk the Eagles into releasing Michael Vick? The experiment hasn't worked, isn't working and is never going to work.
  17. Lee Majors
    17. Posted by Lee Majors Mon Nov 09, 2009 12:35 pm EST

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    You'll take it and like it, daymonz. If you prefer, call my 800-line.
  18. Chaz
    18. Posted by Chaz Mon Nov 09, 2009 12:46 pm EST

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    Haha, I love that Andy Reid can't manage a clock. Makes me in the running for my weekly football pool.
    Props to the D for limiting Romo's activity, as it helped me win two leagues as well.
    I don't think Larry Johnson will be the next Cedric Benson. He has a lot more miles than Benson's limited starting career. However, I am sure he has more juice left in him than his putrid 2.7ypc average would lead you to believe.
    Only problem is the only teams that are in need of Running backs, are also in need of o-lines as well. So I don't see his future getting any brighter.
  19. chun k
    19. Posted by chun k Mon Nov 09, 2009 1:06 pm EST

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    is hill worth a pickup?
  20. Paul Bearer
    20. Posted by Paul Bearer Mon Nov 09, 2009 1:13 pm EST

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    Not one mention of the night Roy Williams had. I'll take the ball here. Sure Austin scored the touchdown, but Roy has put up respectable lines now for two weeks. It really does appear that whatever timing issues Romo to Williams had has been resolved. Going forward, given the statements made by tony romo and observations by my own two-eyes, you should have full confidence starting Roy Williams as your WR3 and possibly as WR2.
  21. Jon P
    21. Posted by Jon P Mon Nov 09, 2009 1:29 pm EST

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    I'd put LJ turning around his career like CB at 15% or less. Lots of miles on that body, much more so than CB. In a way LJ had the good fortune of playing on a bad team with questionable OL. It's going to make enough prospective teams roll the dice on the off chance that LJ's troubles aren't entirely of his making.
  22. Bartolo
    22. Posted by Bartolo Mon Nov 09, 2009 1:38 pm EST

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    Ced Benson = LJ minus 600 carries (ie. Ced Benson will crash in 2011)
  23. Bartolo
    23. Posted by Bartolo Mon Nov 09, 2009 1:39 pm EST

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    "It's going to make enough prospective teams roll the dice on the off chance that LJ's troubles aren't entirely of his making. "
    Yeah those women were asking for it! If any team signs LJ, they deserve all the crap that comes with him...
  24. norrisou
    24. Posted by norrisou Mon Nov 09, 2009 2:01 pm EST

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    Benson will be the first to fall to the curse of 470.
  25. norrisou
    25. Posted by norrisou Mon Nov 09, 2009 2:02 pm EST

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    LJ will be a Patriot.

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