If the Eagles were deliberately trying to hurt my precious little sports feelings, it might actually look something like this season.

The Birds lost again. By a couple points again. In a game where they had their shots again. In the infuriating manner common to losing NFL teams.  Again.

No more pretending that they’re close to pulling some big miracle together. There’s no miracle. None. Just a middle-of-the-road NFL team that struggles to do any of the things required to consistently beat other NFL teams. We all thought they’d be better, but they’re not. They’re a six-win team at best. Just like 2005, but without the excuses.

The offense doesn’t have any rhythm or confidence at all. Third down was a nightmare all afternoon — it just never seemed like we had the right play called, let alone executed. I thought McNabb moved well, but you’d think that after dancing to escape a big rush that someone would be open downfield. Didn’t seem like it. Does the Eagles’ offense have too much structure or not enough? I can’t tell.

(For the record, I had to listen to this completely unbearable dude on the barstool next to me try to explain (a) that he thought Feeley was a “better passer than McNabb, even if he wasn’t a better decision-maker,” and (b) why he thought that the Eagles should run more. He definitely wasn’t picking up my “wildly impatient and on the verge of euthanizing him” vibe.)

The defense hung tough, but couldn’t seem to figure out that Manning was looking for Burress on every single play. Why not just concentrate on Plax? Let the other guys (none of whom are all that dangerous) run free. I didn’t get that.

(I did enjoy the Litoplex, though.  Minor delights.)

Were it not for a couple of huge hustle plays form Dawk chasing down Droughns or JT forcing a fumble from Jacobs just yards from the goal line, this would have been a lot more miserable.

All that, and they were still a few inches from overtime.

Meh. And that’s why they’re not very good. And why 7-9 will be a stretch.