Lack of Offense Creates No-Win Situation

Players from both teams called it a loss, which was appropriate because neither Baltimore nor Philadelphia played well enough to win.

The Eagles and Ravens played 75 minutes and managed only one touchdown apiece Sunday in a 10-10 tie, the first in the NFL since 1989.

The Ravens (4-6-1) converted only three of 15 third-down plays and lost a 10-3 lead in the final four minutes of regulation.

“It’s a loss, because now our chances of making the playoffs are pretty dim,” said Baltimore defensive end Michael McCrary, who had three of his team’s nine sacks. “That’s what we were fighting for. It’s a loss for us; there’s no other alternative to winning.”

The Eagles (4-6-1) made three first downs in the first half, ran for only 63 yards and botched a chance to win when Chris Boniol’s 40-yard field-goal attempt sailed wide right as overtime expired.

The kick came after Baltimore’s Matt Stover was wide right on a 53-yard attempt with 2:21 left in overtime.

“We had a chance to win it and fell short. A tie is just like a loss to me,” Eagle linebacker William Thomas said.

Baltimore rookie Jay Graham, subbing for the injured Bam Morris, had 154 yards in 35 carries before leaving because of an ankle injury halfway through the overtime. Morris was a late scratch because of an ankle injury.

“It’s like a loss. What does a tie do?” Graham said.

At least there were a few positives for the Eagles. Third-string quarterback Bobby Hoying, making his first NFL start, was 26 for 38 passing for 276 yards. Eagle Coach Ray Rhodes named Hoying his starter because the offense had struggled with Ty Detmer and Rodney Peete.

In addition, it was the first time in six road games this season that Philadelphia did not lose.

Baltimore got a 23-yard field goal from Stover with 3:40 remaining for a 10-3 lead, and the Philadelphia offense subsequently put together its first sustained drive of the day.

Hoying moved the Eagles 60 yards in five plays, completing four passes in a row before Charlie Garner’s two-yard touchdown run with 1:25 left in regulation.

That was the extent of the scoring. It was the first tie since the Cleveland Browns--now the Ravens--tied Kansas City, 10-10, on Nov. 19, 1989.