Another disappointing finish for Eagles

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Their star quarterback went down in November. Their best pass rusher missed almost the whole season. Another top player sat out the most important game.<br/> <br/>Written off months

Sunday, January 14th 2007, 3:37 pm

By: News On 6

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Their star quarterback went down in November. Their best pass rusher missed almost the whole season. Another top player sat out the most important game.

Written off months ago, the Philadelphia Eagles overcame several obstacles and nearly reached their fifth NFC championship game in six years.

For a team that is used to falling short, it's little consolation they even got that far. Winning it all is the only thing that matters in championship-starved Philadelphia, which hasn't celebrated the big victory since the 76ers won the NBA title in 1983.

The Eagles' remarkable ride ended with a 27-24 loss to the New Orleans Saints in an NFC second-round playoff game, leaving coaches and players to ponder so many near-misses and what-ifs.

"From where we were and where we came from, I'm so proud of the team," Eagles president Joe Banner said. "But the overriding feeling is disappointment. It's a game we could've won with a couple bounces."

Fans will dwell on the loss to the Saints throughout the offseason, and coach Andy Reid's decision to punt on fourth-and-15 with only two timeouts and 1:56 remaining might become the most questioned -- and ridiculed -- call in recent Philadelphia sports history.

It was a gut-wrenching finish to a roller-coaster season that began with so much promise after a 4-1 start. Donovan McNabb was back to playing at an MVP level after Terrell Owens and a sports hernia disrupted his 2005 season, and the rest of the team hopped on his broad shoulders.

Then came a three-game losing streak, including a last-second loss on a 62-yard field goal by Tampa Bay's Matt Bryant. It only seemed to get worse when McNabb tore a knee ligament in Week 11.

Hardly anyone expected much from this team after a 24-point defeat at Indianapolis a week later left the Eagles at 5-6. A defense that lost end Jevon Kearse to a knee injury in Week 2 was playing terribly, and a daunting schedule made it easy to starting looking ahead to next year.

But 36-year-old quarterback Jeff Garcia rallied his teammates, invigorated the offense with his fiery personality and inspired a city that reveres gritty, hard-nosed players.

He led the Eagles (11-7) to five straight wins, including three in a row on the road against division opponents, and they captured the NFC East title for the fifth time in six years.

Garcia guided Philadelphia to a playoff win over the New York Giants, but couldn't get beyond that.

A soft defense playing without injured Pro Bowl cornerback Lito Sheppard deserves much of the blame for the abrupt ending in New Orleans. Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson's unit struggled throughout the season, but improved down the stretch, made key stops and created game-changing turnovers.

The Eagles couldn't do much against Drew Brees, Deuce McAllister, Reggie Bush and the top-ranked offense in the NFL.

"I'm proud of my teammates for fighting until the end," linebacker Jeremiah Trotter said. "A lot of people had counted us out during the season, but those guys continued to make plays. We have a lot of character on this team. We still feel we left something on the table. When you come up short, they always hurt."

The Eagles could be right back in the hunt next season. All their projected starters are under contract except for wide receiver Donte' Stallworth. Garcia also will be an unrestricted free agent, though he's willing to return in a backup role to McNabb.

The only other notable unrestricted free agents are nickel cornerback Rod Hood and former Pro Bowl strong safety Michael Lewis, who lost his starting job to Sean Considine this season.

"My experience has been incredible," said Garcia, who revived his career by playing like the guy who went to three Pro Bowls in San Francisco. "It's been an outstanding last two months. From training camp, I knew this was going to be a positive experience. It's sad to see it end. We'll see what happens this offseason. Hopefully I can be back here and contribute to this team."

Garcia added it would take a "pretty special" opportunity elsewhere for him to leave Philadelphia.

With McNabb or Garcia, the offense was impressive. Brian Westbrook ran for a career-best 1,217 yards and went over 100 yards in both playoff games, and Reid and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg showed a new emphasis on the running attack. Stallworth and Reggie Brown emerged as solid big-play wideouts and the offensive line was outstanding.

The focus in the offseason must be on improving a defense that used to dominate. The Eagles had major problems stopping the run and their pass rush was too inconsistent. All-Pro Brian Dawkins' excellent play in the final month masked some of the defense's weaknesses, but the Saints exposed those problems when it mattered most.