In all the years I’ve watched Eagles football, I don’t think I have ever heard so much post-game talk around the region that’s this insanely positive after a loss. Granted, last night the Eagles proved they can play with the big boys: Dallas is expected to be the team to beat coming out of this conference and the Birds came up just 4 points short. I will also say there were a large number of things that this team did very well against the Cowboys, but as much as I am pleased with the effort I am equally disappointed in certain aspects. I’ve been hearing TV reports, talk radio, and chatter among message boards and on the streets: this team is for real, we should have had that game, and we’re going to go deep in the playoffs. Really? After a loss, people are prepared enough to claim the Eagles as a Super Bowl XLIII possibility? Again, I liked some things I saw last night, but Eagles fans should be smarter than this. For every good thing that happened last night, there was something else that backfired. There are some problems that need fixing. So, fellow Birds fans, don’t jump the gun yet on proclaiming success. I’m not saying it won’t eventually happen, but last night was not enough substance to prove it. Let’s break it down:

Good Thing: McNabb looked like vintage McNabb

Donovan McNabb completed 25/37 for over 280 yards and a score. He also ran five times for another 20 yards. The striking contrast between last year’s injured McNabb and this year’s healthy McNabb is remarkable. Fans who gave up on number 5 last year are eating their words. Still want to put Kolb in now? Donovan showed a few signs that he is indeed back: that smile of his, and his ability to move around the pocket. On one play I’m sure you remember, he dodged 3 Cowboys in the backfield, and turned a possible sack into a positive play. He also completed passes to nine different receivers: if only he had a healthy Kevin Curtis (and Reggie Brown, I guess).The long ball was there, always looking so effortless when he throws a 60 yard bomb, to DeSean Jackson. All good signs for a pro-bowler returning to pro-bowl form.

Bad Thing: McNabb came up empty on the last 2 drives (again), and threw to his check down too much

Everyone in this city will get on Donovan for his inability to create a last gasp drive to win the game, they have been doing so since the Super Bowl a few years back. While he was able to scramble around and find the open man in the first three quarters, he held the ball too long and was sacked twice in the final 5 minutes: one sack by Demarcus Ware was a bonehead play - why didn’t he throw it away? There was also an easy pass right over the middle on 3rd down to Westbrook that was a guaranteed first down…but he threw too high, and it forced a long 4th down instead of having a fresh set of downs farther down the field. Also, I understand that it was part of the game plan to keep Dallas’ offense off the field with time consuming drives. A big part of that was the run game and short throws. But as the game wore on, and we saw the ability for Jackson to stretch the field, they never went back to the big strike. McNabb settled for the check down receiver, picking up 4 or 5 yards every time instead of mixing it up.

Good Thing: The defense forced turnovers and stuffed the run

When Lito Sheppard is your nickel corner you had better be a team that gets some turnovers. Sheldon, Lito, Asante, Trent Cole…the list can go on, and the fact is there are too many playmakers on this defense to not take the ball away consistently. Against St. Louis, a team that was ripe for the picking when it comes to coughing it up, the defense got nothing. But last night, the 50+ million dollar man Asante Samuel got his first pick of the year. It was a nice job, sitting back in coverage watching Romo, he was in the right spot to get the overthrown ball. They didn’t force it, but nice reaction too by Gocong jumping on Romo’s gaffe in the endzone. Another great job by the defense was against the run and the bruising runner in Marion Barber. He finished with 63 yards and a touchdown, but he was absolutely held in check for a long, long time. But…

Bad Thing: The defense got lit up for 34 points

…He did eventually find his groove. Like Romo did in the second half, Barber wore the Eagles down. His running style is hard and right at you and he was able to find holes that weren’t there in the first 30-40 minutes. But it wasn’t trying to stop Barber that was frustrating, it was the entire defense trying to stop the Cowboys all game long. Sheldon, usually a very good cover corner, bit on at least 2 fakes, one of them resulting in Owens’ first touchdown. The blitzes were few and far between for some reason, and gave Romo plenty of time in the pocket to pick the Birds apart. Witten, as usual, was wide open somewhere down field, and 34 points is simply too much to give up, to anybody.

Good Thing: The pressure on Romo worked

There were a few plays that really stick out from last night’s game when the rush got to Tony Romo. One was on a key 3rd down play late in the 4th quarter when the Eagles needed a stop. They weren’t bringing 1, or 2, they brought the entire house. It was successful, and Romo overthrew a wide open Barber in the flat, throwing off his back foot fearing the incoming pressure. Another play was Romo’s gaffe at his own 5 yard line. Now, granted, we have nobody to thank on this more than Romo himself: it’s like he enjoys fumbling (hey Seattle playoff game!) in big games. But the pressure got through, when he picked up the ball he saw nothing but 3 or 4 green shirts ready to pounce.  The pass rush worked.

Bad Thing: There wasn’t enough pressure on Romo throughout the game

I completely understand that when a team blitzes, there’s going to be somebody open or somebody with just man coverage. But after getting burned by T.O., exposed all over by Witten, and scored upon time and time again in the first quarter and a half, isn’t it time to bring it? I was concerned with the lack of pressure Jim Johnson was sending from his defense. We’ve heard it time and time again, but it’s true: the Giants proved in the Super Bowl that when you put a quarterback on the ground consistently and rough him up, he becomes pedestrian, mediocre at best, even if that player is Tom Brady. You have to keep Romo guessing where the blitz is coming from. Hell, even if it didn’t work, it’s better than getting thrashed for 34 points.

Good Thing: Demps had a good run back and Rocca had nice hang time

With 10 minutes left and up by just 3 points, the Eagles needed a good drive: at least a few first downs to gain the advantage in field position. Quentin Demps, who showed a lot and earned himself a job in the pre-season and camp, had a huge return, bringing the ball close to mid-field. The other return guy, some dude named Jackson, only had 2 chances at it and got just 12 combined yards. But hey, remember the Green Bay game, at least this time the ball was caught and secured. And seeing this rookie fly all over the field on offense, you know he’s going to break one or two soon enough. Just as importantly, Sav Rocca was absolutely outstanding punting the ball. Football is a game about field position, and even though both offenses were able to move it the length of the field almost every time, this put them in difficult spots if only for a little while (remember the Romo fumble? Thank Sav). He averaged 48 yards a punt with one going a whopping 61 yards.

Bad Thing: The special teams allowed a kickoff return for a TD and other kickoffs set the Cowboys up in very good field position

The return game of this special teams unit has been getting better and better, the coverage team has been poor and now worse. In a game of field position as noted before, the Cowboys main return man Felix Jones has 6 returns averaging 41 yards, 41 yards, with a 98 yard touchdown to top it off. Dallas is going to score, that’s just a fact with that offense. But the coverage team just made it easy last night. When any team starts around their own 40 consistently, they’re going to score, and they’re going to score often.