After Taking A Break, Eagles Try to Regroup

His words trailed off and he smirked.

"It doesn't matter," he said.

The players talked about the mistakes they have made this year, some wondering if at times they have unraveled as a team, with some players pushing to do too much. Others, like wide receiver Donte Stallworth, beat themselves up for mistakes they made.

Stallworth went back to a home he keeps in Florida and spent a few days walking the beach, reading and contemplating a season that has yet to yield any great catches or big plays for him. Picked up late in the summer from the Saints, he was supposed to be someone who could fill part of the offensive void left by the departure of Terrell Owens. Instead, he has been slowed by injuries and confused as to why he hasn't done more.

When the thoughts weren't clear in Miami, he flew to Tennessee -- where he went to college -- and visited his former coach, Phil Fulmer. Two plays ate at him the most. One was a pass he dropped in overtime against the Giants that would have given the Eagles a first down and -- who knows? -- maybe the momentum to win the game. The other came in the last game, a loss to Jacksonville. He couldn't hold onto a third-down pass near the Jaguars 20-yard line, one he is just sure would have helped win the game. Instead he dropped it and they lost.

"I went home, took a hammer and pounded myself over the head," he joked.

Or, at least, he appeared to be joking.

The strange thing is that now that Owens is gone, the Eagles lead the NFL in offense with 3,147 total yards and have the second-most passing yards (2,185) in the league. But the defense -- once Philadelphia's great strength -- has struggled. It has given up too many big pass plays and has been hurt by penalties at the most inopportune times.

Before the bye week, Reid said he did not have the Eagles properly prepared for the Jacksonville game. He said this was his fault.

"I've got a football team that will work hard, I need to lead them in the right direction," he said that day.

When someone wondered if he was frustrated to have to motivate a team midway through the season, Reid shook his head.

"I have to get my side right first and then I will communicate with the players," he said.

Reid was not available on Monday. He won't speak publicly until Wednesday. But with a second-half schedule that includes three straight road games against division opponents, he and his players will have to find themselves fast.

Otherwise they will be replaying the Giants game and the Buccaneers game over and over through the winter.