Miami Dolphins Alumni Update (Dec. 2009)

I’m back again with my Miami Dolphins Alumni Update for December 2009. Here are all of this past month’s pro football transactions involving ex-Dolphins players. Enjoy!

• 12/1 — The Atlanta Falcons signed placekicker Matt Bryant to their active roster. Bryant went 3-for-3 on field-goal attempts and seven-for-seven on extra-point attempts in three games with the Dolphins during the 2004 season.
• 12/1 — The Cleveland Browns released wide receiver James Robinson from their practice squad. Robinson spent part of the 2009 preseason with the Dolphins and was on the team’s practice squad until his release on Nov. 4.
• 12/1 — The San Diego Chargers signed defensive end Derrick Jones to their practice squad. Jones spent part of October 2009 on the Dolphins’ practice squad.
• 12/1 — The Carolina Panthers placed linebacker Kelvin Smith on injured reserve with a knee injury. The Dolphins’ seventh-round pick in 2007, Smith played in four games for the Dolphins as a rookie and spent the entire 2008 season with the team on injured reserve with a knee injury.
• 12/2 — The New York Jets promoted tight end Matthew Mulligan to their active roster from the practice squad. Mulligan signed with the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent out of Maine in 2008. He failed to make the active roster following the preseason and was on the team’s practice squad until being released Nov. 5 of that year.
• 12/2 — The Philadelphia Eagles signed cornerback Chris Roberson to their practice squad. Roberson spent part of the 2008 preseason with the Dolphins.
• 12/7 — The Cleveland Browns signed defensive end Derreck Robinson to their active roster. Robinson played in seven games and recorded five tackles as a reserve defensive end for the Dolphins in 2007.
• 12/8 — The Atlanta Falcons signed tight end Jason Rader to their active roster. Rader spent the 2005 and 2006 seasons between the Dolphins’ practice squad and active roster, appearing in five games and starting one in 2006.
• 12/8 — The Cincinnati Bengals released safety Brannon Condren from their practice squad. Condren spent nearly a month with the Dolphins between October and November 2008, appearing in four games and recording three special teams tackles before his release.
• 12/8 — The New Orleans Saints waived fullback Kyle Eckel. Eckel was under contract with the Dolphins from Sept. 2005 to Sept. 2007, but did not see game action as he was on the Reserve/Military list for the majority of that time.
• 12/8 — The Washington Redskins signed wide receiver James Robinson to their practice squad.
• 12/11 — The Arizona Cardinals signed linebacker Mark Washington to their practice squad. Washington played in three games and recorded one tackle for the Dolphins during the 2007 season.
• 12/14 — The Carolina Panthers waived linebacker Kelvin Smith from injured reserve.
• 12/14 — The Detroit Lions released linebacker Danny Lansanah from their practice squad. Lansanah spent most of September on the Dolphins’ practice squad.
• 12/22 — The Buffalo Bills signed quarterback Gibran Hamdan to their active roster. Hamdan spent the 2007 offseason and preseason with the Dolphins before his released on Sept. 1.
• 12/23 — The Kansas City Chiefs signed wide receiver Chandler Williams to their practice squad. Williams spent the entire 2007 season on the Dolphins’ practice squad and was re-signed in the 2008 offseason before being waived that April.
• 12/24 — The New York Jets signed safety Brannon Condren to their practice squad.
• 12/25 — The Oakland Raiders promoted fullback Marcel Reece from their practice squad to the active roster. A college wide receiver, Reece signed with the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in April 2008, but was waived less than week later on May 5.
• 12/26 — The Chicago Bears placed defensive end Adewale Ogunleye on injured reserve. Signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dolphins in 2000, Ogunleye played three seasons and led the AFC with 15 sacks on his way to a Pro Bowl selection in 2003. He was traded to the Bears in August 2004 for wide receiver Marty Booker.
• 12/26 — The Cleveland Browns promoted linebacker Titus Brown from their practice squad to the active roster. Brown signed with the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent out of Mississippi State in 2008, but failed to make the team.
• 12/30 — The Green Bay Packers promoted defensive tackle Anthony Toribio from their practice squad to the active roster. Toribio was signed by the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2008 and spent part of that regular season on the team’s practice squad.
• 12/30 — The St. Louis Rams signed guard Mark Lewis to the practice squad. Lewis was signed by the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2009 and spent part of the season on the team’s practice squad.

 

 

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Sanchez’s Unimpressive Rookie Season Fogs Up a Bright Future For Jets

History will remember Mark Sanchez as the rookie quarterback who led the Jets to the playoffs for the first time in three years.

 

However, had they faced the Colts a couple months earlier, or any of their Wild Card competition done their jobs down the stretch, he would be remembered in a much different light: the only quarterback of a team that didn’t make the playoffs with a number one rush offense and best overall defense.

 

After the Jets flip-flopped draft slots with the head coach that had been run out of town, it appeared Mark Sanchez had landed a dream job. The quarterback who played his ball in Hollywood would go across the country to a team that boasted the AFC’s leading rusher from the previous season and a talented defense that was inherited by a defensive mastermind.

 

Not many quarterbacks selected in the top five find themselves in that type of situation. Couple that with the fact that the quarterback taken four slots ahead of him was starting for a team that hadn’t won in over a year, and Sanchez had plenty to be thankful for.

 

Following an off-season full of promises and declarations from the head man and his ball players, Sanchez and the Jets cruised to a smooth start, winning their first three. Although not the focal point of the hot start, Sanchez was throwing the ball efficiently, compiling four touchdowns to just two interceptions.

 

That’s when things started to become crazy for the rookie. After a hiccup for the Jets defense at Miami, Sanchez self-destructed for the first time in New Orleans.

 

Against a pass defense that has proven to be soft over the past two months, he gave the Saints fourteen points with a pick six thrown in the red zone, and a costly fumble in the end zone on a play in which the ball should have been out of his hands much sooner.

 

Of course, mistakes such as those are to be expected early in a quarterback’s rookie season.

 

The problem is the mistakes remained prominent throughout the next three months. And the only reason the problems appeared to have been addressed is because of a corny color system instituted by a desperate coach following a five game losing streak.

 

But the reality is Sanchez hasn’t had the opportunities to make mistakes. Despite unequivocally having the league’s most dominant rushing attack, Sanchez played so poorly the last three months that his coach did anything to avoid putting the ball in the kid’s hands in games 15 and 16, one of which in a dome against a backup defense.

 

It’s gotten to the point where a wide receiver playing quarterback attracts more respect from a defense than a three-step drop by Sanchez.

 

Last night, Cris Collinsworth astutely pointed out that there was no quarterback in the league touched less than Sanchez. His defense is ranked number one in the league, and his team has rarely trailed by more than a touchdown during the course of the season. Yet he has still thrown 20 picks and played poorly enough to provoke his coach to move forward without Sanchez being an important part of the game plan.

 

Imagine if the Lions had a change of heart on draft day and deemed Sanchez their man going forward? I don’t think thirty interceptions would be out of the question. Seriously.

 

It’s not the mistakes that should have the Jets pessimistic about his 2009 performance, but other aspects of the game. Many correlate great quarterbacks with having the “it” factor, a label is likely associated with the quarterback’s ability to take over a game or lead a miraculous comeback.

 

Has Sanchez done anything to show that he has “it?” In only one game this year has he had to drive the Jets to a touchdown or they would lose, and it came at home against the Dolphins. He actually was playing well that day, and they managed to move the ball inside the red zone. But he was unable to complete the drive, and ultimately turned the ball over on downs.

 

Another instance in which the Jets needed Sanchez to lead a comeback was against the Falcons just a few weeks ago. It would have been an unspectacular comeback had he even pulled it off. A minute and a half left, two time outs, a suspect secondary, and about fifty yards to get into field goal range.

 

Still, he throws a ball right into the gut of the Falcons defensive back before he can accumulate one first down.

 

His immaturity is open for criticism, too. His demeanor following personal failure has already been reprimanded, which is a problem in itself. But everything else about him reeks of childishness.

 

Eating the hot dog on the sidelines has been ridiculed enough so I won’t go into further detail regarding that one. Even though I still don’t get what was going through his mind when he did it. A stomachache? C’mon man.

 

I’ve noticed that after the majority of his completions this season he’s run up to the receiver on the other end to give him a hi-five. Apologists would call that leadership, but I don’t think professionals look highly on that type of behavior.

 

Actually, if you look back to the second Bills game, Sanchez ran all the way down the field to meet with Braylon Edwards after his awful drop to console him. The Jets were unable to get the next snap off before the play clock expired and took a five-yard penalty.

 

This observation is petty, but trivial criticisms of New York quarterbacks are all part of it. After a nine-yard pass (nine yards!) to Dustin Keller on Sunday night, Sanchez ran up to Keller and did a pound it then explode with his tight end. Seriously? I thought that stuff stopped being cool after high school graduation.

 

Listen, I understand that he’s a rookie quarterback. And an unusually younger one at that. But in a quarterback driven league, it may not matter how well the Jets can run the ball. The AFC still goes through the likes of Rivers, Brady, and Manning, and Sanchez will have to step up his game if the Jets want to supplant them down the road.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

NFL Coaching News: Mike Leach to the Oakland Raiders?

Today has been nothing short of amazing it terms of NFL news. Things have been especially entertaining here in the Washington D.C. area, where the Washington Redskins always keep you busy during the offseason. However, this bit of news comes from the other side of the country, all the way in Oakland.

According to sources at the Dan Patrick Show, the Oakland Raiders are very interested in former Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach. While it would be a surprising move, it would actually make some sense.

Current Raiders’ coach Tom Cable has been under fire all season, beginning with an incident in which he may or may not have broken the jaw of his assistants during training camp. Combine that with a losing record and the revolving door at quarterback, and you have a man who could be on his way out.

In Mike Leach, you also have a man who is surrounded by controversy. His issues stem  from dealing with kids at Texas Tech.

The Raiders have proved in the past that they are not afraid to dip into the college ranks for a coach. In Mike Leach, they get a quirky guy, but a pretty good football coach. Leach is best known for his innovative, pass happy offense that has lit up the Big 12 South for the past 10 seasons. It is no secret that Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis loves the vertical passing game. From that perspective, hiring Leach should be a match made in heaven.

Let’s just hope this pass happy college coach fairs better than the last one who made the jump to the NFL. Remember Steve Spurrier’s NFL experiment? Washington Redskin fans do.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

One and Done: Irreplaceable Players for 2009-10 NFL Playoff Teams

Only days away from entering the tournament bracket that will yield the two combatants for Super Bowl XLIV, we are reminded that football is a team sport, and that contributions both large and small throughout the season helped the twelve teams get to where they are right now.

Be that as it may, there are some guys a team just can’t survive without, especially in the playoffs. Expect early exits for these teams if the following playmakers can’t get it going in the post-season.

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NFL Coaching News: Washington Redskins Talk With Mike Shanahan

In what has been a very busy day here at Walker Sports we have recently received news that the Washington Redskins have found their new head coach.

This comes less than 12 hours after firing their previous head coach, Jim Zorn. 

Owner Bruce Allen seems hellbent on improving the state of this shamed franchise as swiftly as possible.

According to reporters from 106.7 The Fan in Washington DC, Redskins Owner, Dan Snyder’s private jet landed at Dulles airport earlier today. Former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan proceded to climb off the plane and enter a limousine with Snyder and drove off to a private meeting.

While there has been no official word if Shanahan has been offered the job, the Washington Redskins have never hid their strong feelings towards Shanahan.

In other news, a source out of Houston, Texas has stated that Houston Texans head coach Gary Kubiak has wished the best of luck to Offensive Coordinator Kyle Shananan with his endeavors in Washington.

More to come.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Super Bowl Predictions: The 10 Most Compelling Scenarios

The regular season is over. The playoffs began this weekend. The Super Bowl is a little more than a month away, and already NFL fans are salivating over potential match-ups and storylines. There are a lot of possible match-ups in the annual twelve-team tournament, and we’ll take a look at 10 of the best possible ones here.

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Fearless First-Round NFL Playoff Predictions…Saturday Edition

Well, it certainly has been a long time since I’ve ventured here to write something of value, but now that I have a bunch of free time before my LAST SEMESTER OF COLLEGE, I will once again grace you with my thoughts.

The NFL playoffs are upon us, which is equally exciting and depressing. Exciting because, well, it’s the playoffs, and who doesn’t get jacked up to watch truly meaningful games?

It’s depressing because once February passes, it’s up to the NBA, NHL, and MLB to carry us through spring, which can get pretty ugly (try getting excited about a TNT double- header featuring powerhouse teams like Golden State vs. Sacramento).

But let’s take this time to focus on what really matters, the aforementioned NFL playoffs. Week 17 wrapped up yesterday, and the playoff matchups are set. Let’s dive in to Saturday’s matchups!

NY Jets vs. Cincinnati (Sat. 3:30 CST)

If you watched this game last night, you know that Cincy might as well have just forfeited. It’s unfortunate that fans are being forced to put up with these two lackluster teams again, but I guess that’s just how the wild card matchups turn out sometimes.

The Jets have shown some fire the past few weeks, and they managed enough fortitude to grab the last playoff spot. I think the defense is playing great, the run game is gaining momentum, and Rex Ryan even busted out the surprisingly effective Wildcat formation last night.

However, Mark Sanchez has been putting up numbers that I’m pretty sure I could accomplish if given the chance (grand total of 63 yards passing last night). But I suppose it didn’t really matter, given that they stomped Cincy 37-0.

I don’t quite know what to make of the Bengals this year. They started the season hot, then essentially gained a division championship because the rest of the teams in the AFC North forgot how to win games.

I don’t expect last night’s game to be anything like what will take place Saturday. Cedric Benson is coming back to the starting lineup, and the Bengals have at least shown that despite their anemic passing offense, they can pound the football and take big chunks off the clock.

Within the friendly confines of Paul Brown Stadium, I think Cincy takes it in a close, grinding battle.

Final Score prediction: Bengals 20, Jets 13

 

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys (Sat. 7:00 CST)

I’ll spare you the statistical garbage of saying something like, “When was the last time two teams faced each other in the last week of the regular season only to play again the following week in the playoffs?” We all know it’s happening three times this weekend, and we all don’t give a crap.

That being said, this game is eerily similar to the Cincy/NYJ game. Philly came out flat yesterday and got absolutely dominated at Dallas. I still think Philly is the better team, but after yesterday’s listless effort, I don’t know what exactly to think anymore.

Dallas is a pretty sexy pick amongst national sportswriters to win the NFC, but I’m not buying it. Everyone is making a big deal about how Dallas is “getting hot at the right time.”

Really? Hmmm, would you call “getting hot” beating the Redskins 7-6 in week 11? Or wait, how about losing to the Giants 31-24 in week 13? Oh wait, they must be talking about the Dallas loss at home to San Diego in week 14?

Dallas won their last three games, and one of those wins was against the Redskins, who should seriously be relegated to the CFL.  Therefore, all this “getting hot” talk is a bunch of crap.

Philly is the better team, hands down. They have receivers who actually try to make big plays (I’m looking at you Roy Williams). Plus their defense, despite laying an egg yesterday, is better than Dallas’ and has more playoff experience.

Another thing you have to consider is the fact that Dallas swept the regular season series against Philly. History has shown that it’s extremely difficult to beat a team three times in one season, and I don’t expect things to change here.

Final score prediction: Eagles 31, Cowboys 14

 

 

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Pittsburgh Steelers: Possible Options For Tomlin’s Staff

Welcome to Black Monday, when coaches and staffs all throughout the NFL get fired.

By 4:00am on Monday Jim Zorn was already gone from Washington. So is the entire coaching staff in Buffalo.

The firings are bad news for the teams who now must rebuild their staff and the chemistry between the team and a new coach.

It’s great news, however, for teams looking to plug a few holes in their own staff. Some top names will doubtlessly be available.

One of those teams is the soon-to-be-dethroned Steelers.

The shopping list includes four potential positions: offensive coordinator, offensive line coach, defensive backs coach, and special teams coordinator.

Here’s a look at a few possible candidates, based on whether or not their team is considering (or has already) fired their head coach and/or coaching staff. This list will no doubt be upgraded in the next few weeks, but here’s a preliminary look at who should be available and, more importantly, be considered.

 

Offensive Coordinator

Jim Zorn

Zorn is a plausible name. He was never a coordinator before being hired by the Redskins. He was then, two weeks later, promoted to head coach when owner Dan Snyder couldn’t woo another big name.

Zorn didn’t fare so well in his first stint as a head coach, but he’s known through the league as a top offensive mind. Maybe he would fit as a coordinator on a team with established stars.

That team could be Pittsburgh. It has been rumored that Bruce Arians may be on his way out in Pittsburgh, a move which would seem to please a fan base tortured by the team’s offensive inconsistency.

Positional failures aside, the Steelers offense needs someone who can and will utilize the team’s versatile talent and depth to create big plays. They also need a coach who is inventive and not sold on a basic offensive system.

Zorn’s offense was not always effective in Washington, but he brings the versatile West Coast mindset to the table. The Steelers are quite effective at running short passing plays and setting up their running game with the pass. Both are trademarks of the West Coast offense.

If Zorn was hired, I would expect to see the Steelers adopt some aspects of the West Coast system, but retain their dedication to balance and to allowing quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to call the plays.

Jim Fassel

Fassel most recently coached in the fledgling UFL, but I’m sure he’d welcome a return to the NFL in some capacity.

Fassel is another respected name in coaching and, like Zorn, brings the possibility of a diverse system and better utilization of the team’s talent to the table. He’s popular with his players and is known as a good motivator.

Fassel did excellent work during his last stint in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens, where he was an offensive assistant. Since Mike Tomlin has a defensive background, it makes sense to bring in an experienced name for the offense rather than bring along a young assistant.

 

Offensive Line Coach

Joe Bugel

Bugel was on Jim Zorn’s staff in Washington and was also a holdover from the Joe Gibbs administration. He’s a long-time and well-respected assistant and would be an immediate upgrade over Larry Zierlein.

Bugel’s offensive lines have let up far fewer sack totals than Pittsburgh’s in the last three seasons, and Bugel has been relatively successful despite several key injuries during the 2009 season.

If Zorn was hired, Bugel would have an established relationship with the team’s offensive coordinator as well.

Bugel has developed many top linemen in his NFL career, something the Steelers sorely need. Chris Kemoeatu still needs some polishing and all of the team’s linemen could improve in most areas, particularly run blocking.

The Redskins were effective running the ball with Clinton Portis, who’s style compares favorably with Rashard Mendenhall. It’s likely that Pittsburgh’s running game would improve markedly under Bugel’s guidance.

 

Defensive Backs Coach

Jerry Gray

Yet another member of Zorn’s former staff in Washington, Gray is likely to be retained by the Redskins in some capacity. He was interviewed for the team’s now-vacant coaching position already, although that may have been only to satisfy the Rooney Rule.

Gray is a good secondary coach who has a lot of experience. The Redskins secondary performed well under his guidance and he would be asked to serve in a similar capacity with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Gray would be tasked with growing young corners and possibly a young safety to help the Steelers field a more effective secondary.

Lionel Washington

Washington currently is on Tom Cable’s coaching staff in Oakland, but the Raiders are rumored to be considering dismissing Cable this week.

Washington has presided over the continued development of Nnamdi Asomugha and young defensive back Michael Huff.

The development of Asomugha, one of the league’s top shutdown corners, could potentially mean good things for the Steelers, who need an infusion of young talent and good coaching at the cornerback position.

 

Special Teams Coordinator

Bobby April

April was part of the Buffalo Bills staff that was given an en masse pink slip this morning by owner Ralph Wilson and new GM Buddy Nix.

April is one of the most respected special teams coaches in the NFL and is someone the Steelers should already be on the phone with communicating interest.

Bob Ligashesky has failed, particularly this season, to field a good unit. The Steelers allowed far too many kick and punt returns for scores, and even more that went for long gains. Losing the field position battle was a huge reason for the team’s 9-7 record.

April brings a strong and lengthy resume and a great body of knowledge. His units are often at or near the top of the NFL, a place the Steelers’ special teams have rarely glimpsed in the past decade.

Special Teams has been a revolving door for Steelers assistants and April would likely bring stability to the position. He’s the best special teams coach likely to be available this offseason and he has the experience the Steelers need.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Josh McDaniels Is Not at Fault for Latest Denver Broncos Collapse

They say a picture can say a thousand words. 

If that’s the case, then the photo above says a lot about how some Broncos fans and critics alike are painting head coach Josh McDaniels.

McDaniels has been called every name in the book and is unfairly carrying the weight of the Broncos’ epic 2009 collapse. 

As the head coach of the team, it is common for McDaniels to have to carry this weight, but in this case, it is completely unjustified.

In McDaniels’ first season as head coach, the Broncos took a wild roller coaster ride, cliche’ as it may sound. 

He was chastised for trading away Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler, and following the trade, nobody in the media thought the Broncos would win more than six games, maybe seven if they were feeling generous.

Following the Cutler trade, drama with both tight end Tony Scheffler and wide receiver Brandon Marshall ensued, and McDaniels was under the microscope yet again as a young kid who couldn’t handle a professional football team.

While under the microscope, McDaniels went into the NFL Draft and free agency and upgraded many areas of need for the Broncos, and added both promising young college players and savvy veterans. 

Even then, McDaniels was cursed for “reaching” in the draft and adding too many “old” free agents to the Broncos’ defense.

The preseason was unkind to McDaniels as well, and the Broncos lost three out of four contests including a game against recently traded quarterback Jay Cutler. 

In the first preseason game, Kyle Orton threw three interceptions in a Broncos loss, and the team suspended Brandon Marshall.

On the surface, it did not appear as though the Broncos were going to have a great season, but that is only if you put a lot of stock into the preseason. 

Following the tumultuous offseason, Denver started the season 6-0, and it seemed he had repaired any burned bridges or broken hearts in Denver, and the team headed into the bye week on a high note, defeating rival San Diego on the Chargers’ home turf.

At this point, McDaniels was no longer being heralded as “McIdiot” or “McDumb(rear),” he was being called a “McGenius.” 

Winning heals a lot in the NFL, and the Broncos’ young coach was an early Coach of the Year candidate, and his team even had Kyle Orton and Elvis Dumervil in the MVP mix.

McDaniels was all hugs with his players (Brandon Marshall) and appeared to have the Broncos on the right track.

And he still does.

The Broncos finished the season with a 2-8 record, and became the first team in franchise history to start the season 6-0 and not make the playoffs.  In fact, it was the first time in Broncos history that a 6-0 start didn’t translate to a Super Bowl victory.

Is McDaniels solely to blame for Denver’s collapse? 

Absolutely not.

This is not to say the rookie head coach did not make some mistakes in the games or in how he handled his PR business, because he did. 

After all, he is new to this head coaching gig.

The 33-year old McDaniels came into Denver to an unhappy quarterback who didn’t want to be there without Shanahan anyway, and if you need proof of that, then you haven’t read enough into the story than you have been told.

And it is also not McDaniels’ fault that Brandon Marshall lets his emotions get the best of him. 

In case you didn’t see, Marshall had an epic freakout in practice before the start of the season, and recently was deactivated because he was tardy to a physical therapy session and refused to play with a minor injury.

In the end, fans right now are just angry with the Broncos’ late-season collapse, and they have every right to be. 

But to direct all the blame toward Josh McDaniels is simply unfair.

McDaniels overhauled half of Denver’s roster from 2008 to 2009, and while many rebuilding teams are picking in the top five of this year’s draft, the Broncos finished 8-8 and in the 14th slot. 

Their record did not improve this season, but the direction this team is going is exciting, and fans will come to realize that. 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

The 2009 Philadelphia Eagles Are What We Thought They Were After All

To borrow an infamous phrase from Dennis Green, the Philadelphia Eagles “are who we thought they were.”

What is that? A team that can’t run the ball, struggles on defense against well-balanced teams, and exhibits some horrible play-calling and clock management in key situations.

And that, at least for this week, is a good thing.

Gone is the six-game winning streak that brought the Birds to the brink of the NFC East title. In the blink of an eye, they went from looking at a first-round bye to a second straight No.6 seed; from a week off to having to face the Cowboys in Dallas twice in six days.

But let’s not be fooled.

After all, that six-game winning streak was full of last-second comebacks, thrilling offensive plays, and, well, victories over mediocre teams. Not a single team in that stretch made the playoffs, and only Atlanta finished better than 8-8.

In short, it wasn’t all skill, and it had to come to an end sometime…and it’s better that it was sooner rather than later.

See, by losing now, what do the Eagles actually lose? Okay, yes, home-field advantage, the division title, and a bye. All big things, sure, but their season lives on.

And while Birds fans are upset, disappointed, disgusted—name your adjective, really—about what happened in Big D on Sunday, the reality is this: Maybe now the team will learn from it.

For everything the Birds did right over the last month-and-change, all the bad habits thought to be gone resurfaced.

The deep threat passing game was all but missing; DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin had one big 30-yard play each, and that was it outside of Brent Celek exploiting a busted coverage.

That’s due at least in part to Donovan McNabb, who looked like the bumbling Donovan whose head is always on the chopping block. He consistently overthrew or underthrew receivers all night, including a early bomb to Jackson that would’ve given the Pro Bowler his record ninth 60-yard touchdown catch.

He also put a ton of balls in places where his receivers would have to be Stretch Armstrong to make a successful catch, sots where the only outcomes were drops or big hits. The most egregious was late bomb to Maclin, who simply put his head down to avoid an onrushing defender instead of trying to make a catch—and getting hung out to dry like yesterday’s laundry in the process.

Oh yeah, and then there was that first-half fumble in the red zone.

Beyond that, the rushing game (which has been improved if still bad as of late) went from disappointing to non-existent. Even with the return of Brian Westbrook, the Eagles only rushed the ball 10 times for 27 yards. That’s not even bad, that’s pathetic.

Then there was the defense.

While the Eagles gained only 228 offensive yards all day, the Cowboys shredded their top 10 defense for 291 before the half, 474 overall. The usually stout run defense allowed 182 yards on 29 carries—that’s more than six per, if you’re counting—and the ballhawking secondary got burned going for the pick on numerous occasions instead of, you know, actually trying to defend.

And to top it off, David Akers—who had statistically the best season of his career in 2009—missed a 52-yard field goal, something that has long been the bane of his existence.

They are what we thought they were: a team that will beat those they’re better than and lose to those those they aren’t. 11-5…with an 11-1 record against teams 10-6 or worse and an 0-4 mark against this 11-5 or better.

So how is this all good?

Well, for one, the Birds won’t have to worry about needing a 10-game win streak to win the Super Bowl. There have already been three in the NFL this year, and while the Colts and Saints semi-intentionally choked theirs away, the Chargers will need to make it 14 straight if they want to leave Miami as NFL Champions. That’s not easy.

Secondly, they can adjust.

In the midst of that barrage, they saw Dallas’ hand. Maybe Sheldon Brown and Asante Samuel won’t go for the pick so often next Saturday, and maybe Quintin Mikell will actually do his job at safety.

And maybe, just maybe, they might actually try to run the ball to set up that big play offense. If they think you’re passing all the time, there should be an opening for Brian Westbrook or LeSean McCoy somewhere.

So while the Dallas Cowboys may have “crowned their asses”—and crowned themselves division champs in the process—the Eagles lost the one thing they needed to: the air of invincibility.

They’re mortal. They know they can lose.

That makes them scrappy. Just like last year, when they were the NFC East runners-up and No. 6 seed in the playoffs—where Arizona was the No. 4 seed and the No. 1 seed was a team that dominated early and faded late.

You remember what happened then, right?

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

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