A Season Lost: The Story of the 2009 Philadelphia Eagles

Two short weeks ago the Philadelphia Eagles were the "it" team in the NFC.

While the Saints and Vikings struggled down the stretch, it was the Eagles who were looking at a first-round bye and the number two seed in this year's playoffs. However, after an embarrassing and heartless performance last week in Dallas, the Eagles proved to be a flawed team.

Despite the loss, many including myself expected Andy Reid and his coaching staff to make the necessary adjustments for tonight's upcoming wildcard rematch. After all, this is still a Wade Phillips-coached Dallas team that has not won a playoff game in ages. What became clear from the outset of this game was the simple fact that, not only were the Cowboys a much better team, but the Eagles are a franchise on the decline.

Throughout this season the Eagles found ways to win close games. Whether it was a big run by rookie LeSean McCoy or a clutch deep ball to Desean Jackson, this was an offense that made plays down the stretch. That being said, the Eagles were also a team that gave up a lot of points and lacked veteran leadership.

With the passing of former legendary defensive coordinator Jim Johnson and the departure of veteran safety Brian Dawkins, the Eagles no longer had a defense that could dominate and confuse opposing offenses. However, with the offense scoring points, many assumed it was just a matter of time before the defense could put it together under new defensive coordinator Sean McDermott—in time for a playoff run. Unfortunately for Eagles fans, that time never came.

Furthermore, with successive blowout losses to the Cowboys, one has to wonder what steps the Eagles will take this offseason to regain their defensive swagger.

Offensively, the big questions are Brian Westbrook's health and Donovan McNabb. While McNabb has been a warrior during his tenure and a staple during their playoff runs, only once has he taken the Eagles to a Super Bowl. One has to wonder even with the young talent at the skill positions, have we seen the best that coach Andy Reid and McNabb have to offer?  After watching Jason Peter's abysmal performance late in the season, the offensive line has to shoulder some of the responsibility for the team's collapse.

There is no argument that this Eagles franchise has experienced a nice run during the past decade. Now the question is: When does management start to look at possible replacements for several key players, including McNabb?

If Eagles fans are content with getting knocked out in the first round of the playoffs, then the answer is to sit tight and do nothing. After losing the NFC Championship game to Arizona last year—a game they could have won—I wonder if the Eagles' best days around behind them under this current regime.

For all the aforementioned talent at the skill positions, these guys were silent against the Cowboys and may prove to be great statistical players who fail to come up big against top ranked defenses. As for the Michael Vick experiment, that was a head scratcher from the beginning and a bet that never panned out.