Football
Associated Press 18y

An 8-8 finish out of reach for Eagles

PHILADELPHIA -- First came playoff elimination. Clinching
last place followed. Now they've secured a losing record.

The defending NFC champion Eagles completed their rapid decline
from first to worst with a 27-21 loss to Arizona on Saturday that
assured Philadelphia its first losing season since 1999.

Without several injured starters -- including quarterback Donovan
McNabb, running back Brian Westbrook and cornerback Lito Sheppard,
and banished wide receiver Terrell Owens -- the Eagles lost for the
seventh time in nine games and fell to 6-9.

"We wanted to win the game," coach Andy Reid said. "I don't
care about the 8-and-8. I wanted to take care of business and we
did not do that."

Now that an 8-8 finish is out of reach, the Eagles' only
incentive besides playing for pride against Washington next Sunday
is trying to ruin the Redskins' playoff hopes. Washington (9-6)
needs a victory to clinch at least a wild-card spot in the NFC
playoffs.

"You knew this wasn't going to be the season you wanted it to
be for the last four, five weeks," safety Brian Dawkins said. "As
a player, you have to have a short memory. You have to be able to
get rid of the sting, prepare in the offseason and come out ready
for next year."

Coincidentally, the Eagles' downfall this season started with a
17-10 loss to the Redskins on Nov. 6. Philadelphia lost 49-21 at
Denver a week earlier, but went to Washington with a 4-3 record and
an opportunity to close out the first half of the season with an
important win.

But Owens was suspended one day before the game and the offense
was shut down. McNabb sealed the loss with an interception at the
Redskins' 7 in the final minutes.

"It's been a bad season. We've been playing awful," linebacker
Jeremiah Trotter said.

One of the few bright spots for Philadelphia in recent weeks has
been younger players getting valuable experience. Rookie running
back Ryan Moats and offensive linemen Todd Herremans, Jamaal
Jackson and Adrien Clarke have filled in on offense because of
injuries. Second-year pro Bruce Perry made his NFL debut against
the Cardinals as a kickoff returner.

Perry returned his first kickoff 49 yards and averaged 31.7
yards on six returns, the best production on special teams for the
Eagles this year.

"That's what I pretty much wanted to do all year. I was given
the opportunity and I wanted to go out there and show what I can do
and I did that," Perry said.

Perry and the rest of the young guys have one final opportunity
to impress coaches this season against the Redskins.

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