Eagles Report Card

Paul Domowitch's Eagles Report Card

RUSHING OFFENSE
Donovan McNabb's big, 27-yard, third-down run with 5 minutes left in the fourth quarter changed the field-position battle that ultimately resulted in David Akers' game-winning field goal. Brian Westbrook, LeSean McCoy and Leonard Weaver combined for 79 yards on 22 carries.
Grade: C-plus

PASSING OFFENSE
Donovan McNabb notched just his third three-touchdown game. He had just four incompletions in the first half, but was just 5-for-16 for 80 yards in the second half. Teamed with Jeremy Maclin on a crucial, 27-yard completion that set up David Akers' game-winning field goal.
Grade: B-plus

RUN DEFENSE
Eagles did a good job of neutralizing Correll Buckhalter and Knowshon Moreno. Buckhalter gained 33 yards on a third-quarter lateral-and-run that was initially ruled a pass. Aside from that play, the two were held to 27 yards on 13 carries.
Grade: A-minus

PASS DEFENSE
The Eagles gave up three touchdown passes for the second time in 3 games, but did a decent job against the Broncos' short passing game, holding Kyle Orton to 4.6 yards per attempt. Brandon Marshall had eight catches, but for only 39 yards.
Grade: B

SPECIAL TEAMS
Macho Harris had a momentum-swinging fumble on a third-quarter kickoff return that gift-wrapped a Denver touchdown. Sav Rocca had a horrible, 28-yard punt in the fourth-quarter that kick-started a scoring drive. DeSean Jackson averaged just 5.7 yards per attempt on three punt returns. But David Akers was 3-for-3 in field-goal attempts, including a 28-yard game-winner.
Grade: C

OVERALL
The Eagles had a seemingly insurmountable, 27-10 lead 8 minutes into the third quarter, then took another second-half siesta. Until Jeremy Maclin's big catch, the Eagles had managed just one first down on their previous five possessions and were outscored in the second half, 20-10. That won't cut it in the playoffs.
Grade: B-minus