Should the Eagles have run the ball more?

Should the Eagles have run the ball more on Sunday? Maybe. But considering down, distance, and score there really weren't more opportunities to run. Here is the Eagles play by play chart from Sunday's game, courtesy of information on NFL.COM here. My comments are in bold after each drive.

Philadelphia Eagles at 15:00, (1st play from scrimmage 14:55)

1-10-PHI 14 (14:55) (Shotgun) M.Vick sacked at PHI 5 for -9 yards (D.Bishop).
2-19-PHI 5 (14:23) (Shotgun) M.Vick pass short right to J.Avant to PHI 23 for 18 yards (C.Peprah).
3-1-PHI 23 (13:36) M.Vick left end to PHI 23 for no gain (E.Walden).
4-1-PHI 23 (13:04) S.Rocca punts 36 yards to GB 41, Center-J.Dorenbos. B.Underwood MUFFS catch, RECOVERED by PHIO. Gaither at GB 41. O.Gaither to GB 41 for no gain (T.Crabtree).

OK - first possession sack on 1st play loss of 9 killed chance to run. Have to throw 2nd & 19. Then designed roll out by Vick on 3rd and 1, short of first down. Maybe a different running play should have been called than that, but they ran it. I might have ran it on first play.

Philadelphia Eagles at 12:49
1-10-GB 41 (12:49) M.Vick scrambles left end pushed ob at GB 30 for 11 yards (C.Peprah). R1
1-10-GB 30 (12:14) (Shotgun) L.McCoy left guard to GB 25 for 5 yards (C.Woodson).
2-5-GB 25 (11:38) L.McCoy left tackle to GB 23 for 2 yards (C.Jenkins).
3-3-GB 23 (10:53) (Shotgun) M.Vick pass incomplete short left to R.Cooper.
4-3-GB 23 (10:49) D.Akers 41 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-J.Dorenbos, Holder-S.Rocca.

Next series - all runs until 3rd and 3. Again, like I noted last week with McCoy, if you don't sustain drives, it limits your run attempts. His 2 yard run on 2nd and 5 was a drive killer. Or at least a play that forced them to throw.


Philadelphia Eagles at 8:34
1-10-PHI 9 (8:34) (Shotgun) M.Vick pass short right to B.Celek to PHI 18 for 9 yards (S.Shields).
Penalty on GB-C.Matthews, Defensive Offside, declined.
2-1-PHI 18 (8:15) J.Harrison right tackle to PHI 21 for 3 yards (D.Bishop). R2
1-10-PHI 21 (7:38) (Shotgun) M.Vick pass incomplete deep right to J.Maclin (S.Shields).
(7:29) L.McCoy up the middle to PHI 27 for 6 yards (C.Peprah). PHI-D.Jackson was injured during the play. His return is Questionable.
2-10-PHI 21 PENALTY on PHI-B.Celek, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at PHI 21 - No Play.
2-20-PHI 11 (6:58) (Shotgun) M.Vick pass short middle to J.Avant to PHI 22 for 11 yards (C.Woodson; A.Hawk). Timeout #1 by PHI at 06:16.
3-9-PHI 22 (6:16) (Shotgun) M.Vick pass short left to L.McCoy to PHI 27 for 5 yards (E.Walden). FUMBLES (E.Walden), recovered by PHI-W.Justice at PHI 26. W.Justice to PHI 26 for no gain (C.Woodson).
4-5-PHI 26 (5:58) S.Rocca punts 52 yards to GB 22, Center-J.Dorenbos. T.Williams to GB 32 for 10 yards (J.Dorenbos).

Pass to Celek, then run by Harrison, then the holding call on Celek (who I think had had more penalty yards than receiving yards most games this season). Then you're in 2nd and 20 so no more runs on this drive. They threw it to McCoy (and he fumbled, luckily recovered by the Eagles...can't forget that when it comes to calling plays for him).

Philadelphia Eagles at 0:08
1-10-PHI 20 (:08) L.McCoy left end to PHI 27 for 7 yards (B.Raji).
2-3-PHI 27 (15:00) (Shotgun) L.McCoy left tackle to PHI 28 for 1 yard (C.Woodson).
3-2-PHI 28 (14:21) (Shotgun) M.Vick up the middle to PHI 31 for 3 yards (E.Walden). R3
1-10-PHI 31 (13:44) L.McCoy right tackle to PHI 35 for 4 yards (R.Pickett).
2-6-PHI 35 (13:09) M.Vick pass incomplete short left to J.Maclin.
3-6-PHI 35 (13:05) (Shotgun) M.Vick sacked at PHI 23 for -12 yards (C.Matthews).
4-18-PHI 23 (12:33) S.Rocca punts 42 yards to GB 35, Center-J.Dorenbos. T.Williams to GB 43 for 8 yards (M.Fokou).

Runs on first 4 plays of the drive, then incomplete (Maclin dropped it), then a sack.


Philadelphia Eagles at 5:21, (1st play from scrimmage 5:15)
1-10-PHI 26 (5:15) (Shotgun) M.Vick pass deep middle to J.Maclin to GB 30 for 44 yards (T.Williams). P4
1-10-GB 30 (4:27) (Shotgun) PENALTY on PHI-W.Justice, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at GB 30 - No Play.
1-15-GB 35 (4:08) (Shotgun) M.Vick pass short left to L.McCoy to GB 30 for 5 yards (B.Raji).
2-10-GB 30 (3:28) (Shotgun) M.Vick pass incomplete short left (B.Raji).
3-10-GB 30 (3:25) (Shotgun) M.Vick scrambles left end to GB 16 for 14 yards (S.Shields). R5
1-10-GB 16 (2:41) L.McCoy up the middle to GB 13 for 3 yards (D.Bishop).
2-7-GB 13 (2:01) (Shotgun) M.Vick pass incomplete short left to D.Jackson.
Two-Minute Warning 3-7-GB 13 (1:57) (Shotgun) M.Vick pass short left to J.Avant to GB 11 for 2 yards (T.Williams).
4-5-GB 11 (1:15) D.Akers 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-J.Dorenbos, Holder-S.Rocca.

Now it's 14-0, so mostly passes with 5 mins left in first half. And surprise...they move the ball now that they have stopped dicking around with 4 yard runs. Still ran it twice on this drive and overcame Justice penalty.

3rd Qtr Philadelphia Eagles at 13:56
1-10-GB 24 (13:56) M.Vick pass incomplete short left to L.McCoy.
2-10-GB 24 (13:55) (Shotgun) M.Vick pass deep middle to J.Avant for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

2 plays - TD off fumble recovery. Both passes. Perhaps they should have into the line on those 2 plays to set up a 3rd and long.

Philadelphia Eagles at 7:33, (1st play from scrimmage 7:27)
1-10-PHI 29 (7:27) (Shotgun) M.Vick pass incomplete deep left to D.Jackson.
2-10-PHI 29 (7:21) (Shotgun) M.Vick pass short left to J.Maclin to PHI 40 for 11 yards (C.Peprah). P7
1-10-PHI 40 (6:49) L.McCoy left tackle to PHI 45 for 5 yards (C.Woodson).
2-5-PHI 45 (6:09) (Shotgun) M.Vick pass short left to J.Maclin pushed ob at GB 37 for 18 yards (E.Walden). P8
1-10-GB 37 (5:33) (Shotgun) M.Vick scrambles right end to GB 35 for 2 yards (N.Collins).
2-8-GB 35 (4:47) (Shotgun) M.Vick pass incomplete short left to J.Avant.
3-8-GB 35 (4:43) (Shotgun) M.Vick pass incomplete short left to J.Avant.
4-8-GB 35 (4:37) S.Rocca punts 33 yards to GB 2, Center-J.Dorenbos, downed by PHI-C.Anderson.

Now down 11 again, 21-10 with 7:33 to go in 3rd Qtr. Only 1 called run on this drive. But they did move the ball 50 yards before punting from the 35 yard line. I don't get the punt there. But it worked out. Held GB to 3 and out from inside their 10 on next series. I think they should have treated the 3rd and 8 like they had 2 downs and tried to get half of it on 3rd. Tough to go on 4th and 8. But if it's 4th and 3 you probably go for it.

Philadelphia Eagles at 2:52
1-10-PHI 46 (2:52) (Shotgun) PENALTY on PHI-W.Justice, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at PHI 46 - No Play.
1-15-PHI 41 (2:52) (Shotgun) M.Vick scrambles up the middle to PHI 42 for 1 yard (D.Bishop).
PENALTY on PHI-W.Justice, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at PHI 41 - No Play.
Penalty on PHI-W.Justice, Illegal Formation, declined.
1-25-PHI 31 (2:23) (Shotgun) M.Vick pass short left to J.Avant ran ob at PHI 42 for 11 yards.
2-14-PHI 42 (1:50) (Shotgun) M.Vick pass incomplete short right to L.McCoy.
3-14-PHI 42 (1:40) (Shotgun) M.Vick pass deep middle to J.Avant to GB 37 for 21 yards (N.Collins). P9
1-10-GB 37 (:55) L.McCoy left tackle pushed ob at GB 28 for 9 yards (S.Shields).
2-1-GB 28 (:30) L.McCoy up the middle to GB 25 for 3 yards (B.Raji). R10
1-10-GB 25 (15:00) (Shotgun) M.Vick pass short middle to R.Cooper to GB 18 for 7 yards (S.Shields).
2-3-GB 18 (14:29) (No Huddle) L.McCoy left end to GB 16 for 2 yards (C.Wilson).
3-1-GB 16 (13:52) (Shotgun) L.McCoy left tackle to GB 16 for no gain (C.Matthews).
4-1-GB 16 (13:09) D.Akers 34 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-J.Dorenbos, Holder-S.Rocca.

Desperation time now. End of 3rd Qtr down 11 still. Then Justice moves them back with 2 killer penalties. And they convert the 1st down, in spite of 15 yards of penalties. Ran it 4 times. McCoy had 2 downs to pick up 3 yards on the ground and once again can't move the chains. Then Akers misses the FG.

Philadelphia Eagles at 8:50
1-10-PHI 25 (8:50) (Shotgun) M.Vick pass short middle to D.Jackson ran ob at PHI 44 for 19 yards. P11
1-10-PHI 44 (8:16) (Shotgun) M.Vick pass short left to L.McCoy to GB 45 for 11 yards (T.Williams). P12
1-10-GB 45 (7:49) L.McCoy up the middle to GB 40 for 5 yards (C.Woodson)
2-5-GB 40 (7:30) (Shotgun) M.Vick pass incomplete short left to J.Maclin.
3-5-GB 40 (7:26) (Shotgun) M.Vick pass short left to J.Avant to GB 34 for 6 yards (C.Matthews). P13
1-10-GB 34 (6:48) (Shotgun) M.Vick pass incomplete short right to B.Celek.
2-10-GB 34 (6:37) (Shotgun) M.Vick pass short middle to L.McCoy to GB 18 for 16 yards (E.Walden). P14
1-10-GB 18 (6:02) (Shotgun) M.Vick sacked at GB 19 for -1 yards (J.Wynn).
2-11-GB 19 (5:36) (Shotgun) M.Vick pass short left to B.Celek to GB 3 for 16 yards (A.Hawk). P15
1-3-GB 3 (5:01) (Shotgun) M.Vick up the middle to GB 2 for 1 yard (C.Peprah).
2-2-GB 2 (4:22) M.Vick pass incomplete short right to J.Maclin.
3-2-GB 2 (4:17) (Shotgun) M.Vick left tackle to GB 1 for 1 yard (A.Hawk).
Timeout #1 by PHI at 04:08.
4-1-GB 1 (4:08) M.Vick up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. R16
TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. M.Vick pass to B.Celek is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS. PENALTY on PHI-B.Celek, Illegal Touch Pass, 5 yards, enforced at GB 2 - No Play.
TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. M.Vick pass to L.McCoy is incomplete. ATTEMPT FAILS.

Really desperate time now...8 mins left down 2 scores. Still ran it 4 times. And last drive I'm not going to bother, since all plays were obvious passes at that point.

Overall maybe 2 or 3 plays you could look at score, down, distance, and field position and say they should have run rather than passed. 1st play of the game was one of them for me. Other than that I can't find many more.