Andy Reid at what is likely his last home game as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. Photo by Jeff Berkes/conbtrastphotography.com

Say want you want about Eagles fans. They can as boorish as any fans in the NFL.

All season they had called for head coach Andy Reid’s head in a language that left no grey area about their feelings.

They will most certainly get their wish after next week’s game at the Giants, who are in the process of their own epic collapse.

But after what was probably Reid’s last home game, an exciting 27-20 loss to the Washington Redskins (9-6), the Eagles faithful showed class and gratitude for 14 years of mostly very good coaching by chanting “Andy!” “Andy!” “Andy!” as he walked off the field.

Reid said he got what the fans were saying to him.

“We have great fans,” said Reid, who guided the Birds to nine playoff appearances, 10 playoff wins, Six NFC East titles, five NFC title games and a Super Bowl appearance. “I’ve always said that we’re kind of on the same page. When you stink, they let you know you stink, and when you’re doing good; they’re going to let you know you’re doing good. I got it. I understand. I understand the situation. I appreciate everything.”

At his post game press conference Reid was asked if this was his final home game as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles who limp into the season finale with a 4-11 record.

“I don’t know that, I have nothing to tell you on that,” said Reid, who was named NFL Coach of Year in 2000, 2002 and 2010. “I’m the coach right now, and I’m just coaching. That’s what I’m doing the best that I possibly can.”

Reid said he never thought about Sunday as possibly his final home game.

“Those are good stories, but when you’re in the process of getting ready for a game and then when you’re playing the game, your mind doesn’t go there,” said Reid, who left the game with a record of 130-92-1. “Especially coaching a game like this one; which came down to the last second. That’s not where I’m at.”

Rookie quarterback Nick Foles drove the Eagles from their own 15-yard line with 4:14 to go in the fourth quarter, trailing 27-20. Dion Lewis’ 17-yard touchdown run and a defensive stop had pulled the Eagles to within seven and a chance to force overtime.

Foles drove 80 yards to the Redskins five-yard line with eight seconds to go but was called for intentional grounding with one second left and the game was ended by the infraction.

“We said in that situation the clock is the most important thing and it’s just one of those things where initially I didn’t feel like anything was open so I was just trying to make a play,” Foles said. “I just have to be smarter and make sure it gets past the line of scrimmage. It’s on me.”

With 23 seconds left and the ball at the 17-yard line, Foles bounced a pass to a wide-open Jeremy Maclin in the corner of the end zone.

“I just have to drive the ball, continue to drive it out there,” said Foles, who broke his throwing hand just before halftime but was not diagnosed as a break until after the game. “Maclin ran a great route and gave us good coverage so I just have to take advantage of that and get the ball out there to him. Give him an opportunity to make a play.

Foles was 32 of 48 for 345 yards, one TD pass, and an interception. He was sacked five times.

The Eagles rushing totals were not very impressive. As a team, they rushed 22 times for 90 yards and on touchdown. LeSean McCoy, playing for the first time since suffering a concussion on November 18, had just 45 yards on 13 carries.

Center Dallas Reynolds was asked if there were some positives to take away from the game, it was close and team looked organized, at least more than in previous weeks.

“There are always positives you can take away from any game,” Reynolds said. “There are always things to learn from every game. But this is frustrating. Another loss. We have to take what we did good and continue, take what we did bad and learn from it and not to it anymore.”

If you are looking for positives to take away from the Eagles game against the Redskins in the home finale at the Linc, it was the third game in a row the defense did not look confused or disjointed.

All NFL defenses are going to get beat, All NFL defenses are going to get scored on every week. Shutouts are rare.
Since Andy Reid fired defensive line coach Jim Washburn, the Birds defense has looked like…well, an NFL defense.
The embarrassing long completions have stopped and players generally look like they know where they are supposed to be.

In several cases, such as the safety position, the talent just isn’t there.

Linebacker DeMeco Ryans he knows the defense has improved since Washburn’s firing, but a loss is a loss.

“We lost,” Ryans said. “Obviously we didn’t play well enough to win. We did some good things, got a turnover there (Colt Anderson’s interception), but it still wasn’t enough to win.”

These last few games are auditions. The Eagles, as was well as other teams, want to know who can play. The players know the No. 1 attribute teams are going to look for is a winning attitude.

Reynolds said that is the only thing he can focus on.

“I not even worried about that,” said Reynolds when asked if he had made people believe he is a legitimate NFL player after spending three seasons on the practice squad. “I am not focused on that at all. I am just focused on doing my thing every week and getting better. That stuff…if it works out, it works out.”

A win next week against a desperate Giants team would help work things out.