Cooney’s Column: An Ugly Win Can Be Beautiful
By Bob Cooney Sometimes ugly is pretty. If any of us thought that 20-17 win by the Eagles here in Arizona yesterday had some good looking features, well we may…
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 09: A Philadelphia Eagles fan holds up a sign after the Eagles’ 20-17 win against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on October 09, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Play calling was suspect. The defense, while allowing just those 17 points, didn’t impress the way they had in weeks past, and yes, there were more than a couple times when receivers appeared to be missed by Jalen Hurts.
Those things happen in games. And bad teams lose handily when they do and good teams find a way to grind out a win despite their shortcomings.
Make no mistake about it, the Eagles are a good team. A really good team. Not evidenced yesterday by a plethora of quarterback sacks, or by magical catches from the likes of Devonta Smith and A.J. Brown. No. This one was identified by a gritty 17-play, 70 yard drive that ended with Cam Dicker’s game-winning field goal.
It was a drive that had just 2 plays of more than 10 yards. It was the grindiest of grinds. And it was exactly what was needed at the time. A drive that really good teams execute in order to remain undefeated.
