The Eagles won three of their four games by a total of six points. Not that much separated them from an 0-16 season. In Game 4 where the Eagles won 19 to 17, Andy Reid came near losing at home with his time out before the first field goal try. If the second try had been on target, and it wasn't short by much, fans at the Stadium may have rioted. Jeffrey Lurie would have fired Reid before the night was out.
After the 3-1 start, the close losses to Pittsburgh and Detroit may have triggered the downward spiral. To sum up the close ones:
The 16 to 14 loss at Pittsburgh-The Eagles gave up a third and 20 completion from the Pittsburgh 15. The Steelers marched down for the winning field goal.
The 26 to 23 loss to Detroit at home-The Philadelphia Eagles were leading 23 to 20 with just under three minutes remaining. From the Eagles 35, Michael Vick had Jeremy Maclin open 15 yards downfield and no one around him. On the previous series, Maclin took a similar reception for a touchdown. This time a Detroit linebacker got one finger on the ball and it fell incomplete. The Lions then got two field goals.