Fading fast: Brady rips lifeless Eagles

They started late in the third quarter, after a failed fourth-and-1 play from the Patriots’ 2-yard line. As Vince Young’s pass sailed out of the reach of Brent Celek, the masses at Lincoln Financial Field started chanting, “Fire Andy.”

With a 4-7 record and their playoff chances all but dashed, the pressure is mounted as heavy as it has ever been on Eagles head coach Andy Reid. His players, at least publicly, maintain they still have Reid’s back.

“Fans don’t understand some of the situations that go on with the game,” quarterback Vince Young said. “You can’t really put it all on Andy.”

A terse Reid sat at the podium, inside his home stadium, once again as a loser following yesterday’s 38-20 thumping by New England. It was the eighth time in the last nine home games that he’s walked away as the losing coach.

“To sit up here after a game like that, I’m disappointed in a lot of things, starting with myself,” Reid said.

Reid’s team was especially sloppy against the Patriots, churning out 10 penalties that cost them 60 yards. They also stalled in the red zone (2-for-4) and on third down (4-for-13). Despite the lopsided score, the Eagles actually led 10-0 after the first nine minutes. Then, it quickly turned into a bad dream.

“That’s not Eagles football. I’m just being straight out,” defensive end Trent Cole said. “I’ve been here for seven years and I’ve never had a year like this. This is shocking to me.”