PHILADELPHIA (AP) -In a game against a New Orleans Saints offense that didn’t need much help, the Eagles did it all on special teams.
All wrong.
Six penalties on special teams plays, including two illegal blocks on the same play. A couple of shanked punts. A fumbled kickoff return. Fielding a punt at the 2-yard line.
New Orleans, which has the NFL’s top-rated offense, put up 24 points courtesy of Eagles miscues – more than enough to propel Drew Brees and company in a 48-22 runaway.
Eagles special teams coach Ted Daisher vowed it will be better this week against the Kansas City Chiefs (0-2), if only because it couldn’t go much worse.
“Any time you have a game like that and you’re a coordinator, whether it’s offense, defense or special teams, you have a responsibility to the team,” Daisher said. “We are going to make sure that we get the things corrected that we need to get corrected and play better next week.”
The penalties and the fumbled return were the killers.
de it out to the 33, his return was negated by two illegal blocks and it was called back to the 3.
“When you make a play, it’s magnified. You get a big play, an 85-yard punt return, a 63-yard kickoff return, it’s magnified. When you don’t, it’s magnified as well. As we always say, there’s no second down on special teams,” Daisher said.
Jackson’s decision to field the punt came with the scored tied 10-10.
Backed up near the goal line, the Eagles went three-and-out on offense, giving New Orleans great field position to drive for the go-ahead touchdown. The Saints never trailed again.
Jackson, a dangerous punt returner, defended his decision, saying he was trying to make a play and that he would do it again.
Daisher said that would be the wrong decision – again.
“I think it’s important that we made good decisions,” he said. “Everybody has to make good decisions. Every player at every position has to make good decisions every play. DeSean knows that and that won’t happen again.
like to make a big play, but they just have to understand the situation and let it go.”
Jackson’s mistake wasn’t the only one. With the score 17-13 at the half, Ellis Hobbs fumbled the second-half kickoff, the Saints recovered and scored three plays later to make it 24-13.
On the next Eagles (1-1) possession, quarterback Kevin Kolb threw his second interception, the Saints scored quickly again and it was 31-13.
It was still early in the third quarter, but the game was essentially decided.
And then there was punter Sav Rocca, whose 41.6-yard net average made it appear he had a good day. But two of his weaker efforts helped the Saints to points: A 34-yard punt led to a New Orleans field goal and a 26-yard shank led to a touchdown.
“The biggest thing we have to do is learn from our mistakes and eliminate them,” Daisher said. “We don’t get the amount of plays as offense or defense. You have to hit the nail on the head every time on special teams.”
NOTES: Quarterback Donovan McNabb (ribs), running back Brian Westbrook (ankle), and wide receiver DeSean Jackson (groin) watched the beginning of practice, but went inside about a third of the way through. Westbrook and Jackson are expected to play this week. Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said Michael Vick will play Sunday. “How much? We’ll see,” Mornhinweg said.
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