Eagles vs. Panthers Notes: I Laughed, I Cried, I Worried Myself Sick

Like lightning on a clear day, this game completely changed from a worrisome teeth pull of a loss (first quarter, when the Panthers ran the ball down the field and the defense couldn't get off the field, to an absolute laugher, to more teeth pulling as Donovan McNabb got a shot to the ribs and left the game. Quick notes from a wildly encouraging opening week from my laundry, at least as long as McNabb's OK...

> Oh, Panthers Fan. This Jake Delhomme experience isn't going to end well, is it? When your home crowd is booing you with 10 minutes to go in the second quarter in your home opener, and you aren't in Philadelphia? That's not good. Neither is four more picks, getting pulled in the third quarter, and looking like the weakest link in the NFL, considering that the rest of the Panther team looks competitive. This team needs a QB, badly, and the palpable sense of failure that hangs on the man is over the top.

> DeSean Jackson's celebration penalty on the Brent Celek second quarter touchdown shows that, well, he's still DeSean Jackson. And so long as he wants to break punt returns for touchdowns, we're all OK with that.

> The amazing thing about this game was how quickly the Birds put up 24 unanswered points, most of which happened with the offense on the bench. Also notable: the early offense was actually looking very good, with both drive stalls happening from dropped passes. We all know how this movie ends: with a frustrating loss, not an explosive win.

> Jason Peters in space on a Brian Westbrook sweep makes me go, "Ohhh! That's why people like him!" On the two false start penalties, not so much.

> Oh, and the reports of Brian Westbrook's irrelevance have been greatly exaggerated. I still don't like his chances for a huge year in fantasy, because there are too many weapons for a lot of touchdowns, but he's still the shiznit. And LeSean McCoy almost putting the ball on the ground in the red zone (the play was overturned, correctly and obviously, after that rarest of miracles, a good Andy Reid challenge) helps, too.

> When you are down by three touchdowns and kneeling down to close the first half? I can see, Panther Fan, why you were less than intense in your love for the management.

> To start the second half, the Birds were grinding out a very nice game-ender of a drive, when McNabb made his first bad throw of the game -- a pick by all-world middle LB Jon Beason. It's the kind of play that was just a game-changer, not necessarily from the standpoint of causing a loss, but from the standpoint of creating additional minutes of starters have to play action. In the NFL, especially with such rife injury concerns, every mistake has a price.

> When the Birds sacked Delhomme in the third quarter for a 10-yard loss, leading to a 3rd and 18 and additional Panther timeout, my only worry was that they might have hurt him. Thankfully, Jake was hale and hearty enough to make the next play, which was his third godawful pick of the day. A small memo to any Panther opponents: Don't Hurt Jake. Ease him to the ground gently. You'll be much happier. (Not that Josh McCown is really anything to be frightened of, either.)

> Attention, Steve Smith owners. You can make those panicky trade offers now. You probably shouldn't, but you can.

> A special shoutout to Fox for having intermittent sound issues for the entire damned telecast (but only for the telecast, naturally; not the ads). It's not as if, well, every other game on my dial, the ones I don't care as much about, couldn't freaking work. Oh, and be sure not to repeat the news on McNabb going out of the game, and what possible injury he might have. In a 28-point-game, I can see why you wouldn't want to miss any of the action.

> Why Sean McDermott will be fine, really, as the defensive coordinator for the Eagles: when the Panthers had to bring in emergency third-string quarterback Matt Moore (heckuva career for that guy, after all of those years as a MLB starting pitcher), he sent the house. Twice. Primarily, one suspects, to amuse his defenders...

> So far, I haven't seen any indication that Kevin Kolb is a quality NFL quarterback. And given how many weapons this offense has now, and a game where you have a four touchdown lead, there really might not be any more chances. Mr Vick is waiting.

> Seven Panthers turnovers today, along with a punt return for a touchdown. I realize that the Panther defense had the benefit of an incomplete day from McNabb, but 38 points is actually a pretty great total for those circumstances, and it's not as if Andy Reid took the air out of the football late.

> Note, worried Eagles fan who needs something more than McNabb to worry about, the blocked field goal on David Akers. That's been something of a theme recently, and not a good one.

> With 40 seconds left and the score 38-10, McDermott sent the defensive starters back on for a fourth and goal, and stuffed DeAngelo Williams just to keep the score down. Golf clap, Mr. McDermott. Golf clap.