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Shutdown Corner

Mon Oct 19, 2009 10:21 am EDT

McNabb: Not the most situationally aware fellow...

By Doug Farrar

He caught a lot of heat last year for not knowing how NFL ties work, though he's not the only one -- heck, even intelligent ex-quarterbacks-turned-announcers get it wrong from time to time. But Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb(notes) must carry the grief alone for his clock-butchering boo-boo in his team's 13-9 loss to the Oakland Raiders.

Down 10-3 with 27 seconds left in the first half, McNabb went to the line and called a timeout after deciding that he didn't like what he saw on the Raiders' side of the ball. Problem was, the Eagles had already used their customary three timeouts in the half, and no amount of bargaining could get them another one. Philly was busted for delay of game, the ball was pushed back from the Oakland 15 to the Oakland 20, McNabb took a Richard Seymour(notes) sack on the next play, and the Eagles had to settle for a field goal. Had the Eagles scored a touchdown and kicked the extra point in that drive, they would have had the points needed to tie the Raiders.

Of course, McNabb wasn't the only one at fault. He might have had a few other things going on, what with left tackle Jason Peters(notes) suffering a knee injury and giving way to King Dunlap(notes) (who???). And he might have expected that Andy Reid, his beloved head coach, would have left Mac5 a timeout late in the half instead of calling two on the previous drive -- both after incomplete passes (which kill the clock, anyway). Of course, when it comes to clock management, Reid won't make anyone's top ten list.

Whatever bedeviled McNabb on that particular occasion, he'd best get over it -- Peters is scheduled for an MRI today, and Reid isn't going to get any more prudent with the clock. The Eagles have an extra day this week before they face the Redskins on Monday Night Football, and they certainly don't want to be the team with the least amount of preparation and awareness in THAT particular matchup. After all, the Redskins have their own history with timeouts.

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1426 Comments

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  1. Steve
    1. Posted by Steve Mon Oct 19, 2009 10:35 am EDT

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    As an Eagles fan...That was a very tough game to watch; very frustrating.
  2. IBG
    2. Posted by IBG Mon Oct 19, 2009 10:37 am EDT

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    my eyes still hurt.
  3. 619RAIDER.
    3. Posted by 619RAIDER. Mon Oct 19, 2009 10:38 am EDT

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    raiders d baby
  4. 619RAIDER.
    4. Posted by 619RAIDER. Mon Oct 19, 2009 10:38 am EDT

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    call it what you want but scoreboard
  5. 619RAIDER.
    5. Posted by 619RAIDER. Mon Oct 19, 2009 10:38 am EDT

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    call it what you want but scoreboard
  6. IBG
    6. Posted by IBG Mon Oct 19, 2009 10:50 am EDT

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    I got off the train today, and instead of using the revolving doors for my building, I walked around King Dunlap and Winston Justice.
  7. sportsnut888
    7. Posted by sportsnut888 Mon Oct 19, 2009 10:53 am EDT

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    The question that comes from this game is: Are the Eagles over rated, or have the real Raiders finally begun to show up? My suspicion is that its quite a bit of the former, and a small amount of the latter.
    With the Raiders rush defense, it was surprising that the Eagles didn't run the ball more and put the game in McNabb's hands. With the LT hurt, it was a receipe for disaster. One addiitonal question is: Does McNabb have what it takes at this point in career to lead Eagles to the promised land?
  8. IBG
    8. Posted by IBG Mon Oct 19, 2009 10:58 am EDT

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    In other newz,
    PennDOT announced they will be phasing out the name "EZ Pass" in favor of.........
  9. IBG
    9. Posted by IBG Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:01 am EDT

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    sportnut888, what is McNabb going to do without protection? not much.
    Certaintly can't run the ball either...especially without Jason Peters.
  10. Keith
    10. Posted by Keith Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:12 am EDT

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    Sportsnut888: In the future, just understand that the phrase "it was surprising that the Eagles didn't run the ball more" has been uttered a million times on every Monday after every game played by the Eagles by the entire sports universe ever since Reid got here. Its amazing.
    I will say this, the Raiders studied the film and took away the short-passing game from the Eagles because they knew they wouldn't dump it down to the RB's. It is sad that they cannot adjust in a game to compensate for what the other team is doing. Our defense holds a team to 13 and can't win. Amazing. I love McNabb, but he is not a good fit for Philly anymore and I think he knows it too. It would be good for everyone if Kolb is given the chance and McNabb has an opportunity for success elsewhere where a team understands the needs for balance. He would light it up in Carolina.
    Ugh. This sucks. BTW, this is a note to Raiders fans: Russell still sucks and the Raiders aren't any better. Get a line that can block and they go back to bad as their defense needs to score because they can't. Don't get too excited Raiders fans, you only beat the Eagles and they can't even win the games they should. The Eagles are at best an 8-8 team. It's going to get ugly soon with their schedule.
  11. guy_from_lbi
    11. Posted by guy_from_lbi Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:19 am EDT

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    McFlab has got to go! Him and Fat Boy coach father of the year. This is the WORST Eagles team EVER
  12. jsx353
    12. Posted by jsx353 Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:21 am EDT

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    All I can say is Thank You Raiders, for showing up (finally) and beating the highly overrated eagletts.
    I'm sure all the other COWBOY fans would also like to thank you!!!
    By the way I picked the Raiders to win, this game helped me to win the office pool, nobody else picked the Raiders, not even the Raider fans here.
  13. IBG
    13. Posted by IBG Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:22 am EDT

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    My van has transmission problems.
    Mechanic said I have what they call a "Dunlap" problem, only reverse works.
  14. LongTrans
    14. Posted by LongTrans Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:23 am EDT

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    That was a Romo-esque move by McNabb. How does the QB not keep track of the timeouts?????
  15. Mallard Davis
    15. Posted by Mallard Davis Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:26 am EDT

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    Unlike Rush Limbaugh I have been a McNabb fan, but not knowing overtime rules and how many time outs you have is just bone headed. Yes, Raider haters, it has gotten so bad that we feel good when we win a game. The team will not get better while Al calls all the shots. I expext to be back to "normal" agains the Jets, unless Sanchez wants to throw a few our way...
  16. IBG
    16. Posted by IBG Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:27 am EDT

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    I think a Cowboy fan (jsx353) just called the Eagles overrated. amazing.
    still upset about last year I suppose.
  17. D
    17. Posted by D Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:31 am EDT

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    The Eagles are notorius for running up to the line late. Thats one of 3 things: They need to shorten their play codes/wear a arm sheet, Big Andy catches a brain fart at the end of every play, or Mcnabb gets tongue tied in the hudle.
  18. Triple H
    18. Posted by Triple H Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:31 am EDT

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    This is why the NFL is so suprising amazing things happen every game and eagles there not the best team in the world glad the oakland raiders beat them everyone talked about how bad oakland was and how they were going to get crushed by the eagles good job oakland to go in there and beat a team that is kinda good, donavan McCnab has to go hes not been the best Qb in the world as a chicago Bears fan im glad oakland won
  19. KingHill
    19. Posted by KingHill Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:31 am EDT

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    Does anyone else think the team might have played differently with Kevin Kolb? Granted the O line was bad, but McNabb looked slow and certainly can't take another hit to the ribs. Kolb took a couple of shots againts KC and completed the passes anyway. I think this game was lost because DMac panicked two weeks ago over Kolb's two 300 yard games and feared losing his starting job. Andy didn't want to damage McNabb's ego so he sat Kolb, when in reality DMac needed a few more weeks off. I think Richard Seymore figured that out and took great advantage of it.
  20. FairlyHonestBob
    20. Posted by FairlyHonestBob Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:32 am EDT

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    Who the heck is King Dunlap? I wouldn't say the Raiders are 'back' yet, but a win was desperately needed. Russell has got to quit with the interceptions. You can't win coughing the ball up all the time. Good job on the D. It's about time they showed a little imagination and put on the blitz.
  21. IBG
    21. Posted by IBG Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:49 am EDT

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    quote "Does anyone else think the team might have played differently with Kevin Kolb? "
    .
    Instead of zero interceptions, there would have been 1 or 2?
    Kolb would have been hurried and sacked just the same.
  22. rbdal34
    22. Posted by rbdal34 Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:49 am EDT

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    @17 Ironically, it would seem all you can think about is last year when the Eagles were successful.
  23. brian b
    23. Posted by brian b Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:56 am EDT

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    He wouldn't have scored anyway. Seymour still would have sacked his ass at the 15.
  24. brian b
    24. Posted by brian b Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:56 am EDT

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    I blame the win on Al Davis.

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Shutdown Corner is an NFL blog edited by Matthew J. Darnell. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

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