NOTES FROM THE NOSEBLEEDS: There's no season like post-season

As if it couldn't get any worse, the Eagles blew a fourth-quarter lead for the third week in a row, this time in a loss to the San Francisco 49ers ...

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NOTES FROM THE NOSEBLEEDS: There's no season like post-season

POSTED: Tuesday, October 4, 2011, 2:00 PM

Sports nut Massimo Pulcini rounds up a week of everything Philly sports. High five!

EAGLES COLLAPSE IN FOURTH QUARTER, LOSE TO 49ERS

As if it couldn’t get any worse, the Eagles blew a fourth-quarter lead for the third week in a row, this time in a loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

Despite his wounded right hand, QB Mike Vick performed well, breaking his career high for passing yards in a game. He went 30 for 46 for a whopping 416 yards and two touchdowns, along with 75 rushing yards. The game also featured a heavy dose of Pro Bowl receiver DeSean Jackson, who caught six passes for 171 yards. This offensive production helped the Birds build a 23-3 lead into the third quarter. Vick avoided two shots from the 49ers rush, scrambled right, and found tight end Clay Harbor wide open in the right corner of the end zone — the exact type of play Eagles' fans expect from their escape-artist quarterback.

But a multitude of miscues led to the Eagles' undoing, who ended up blowing their 20-point lead.

To start the downfall, rookie Alex Henery missed two fourth-quarter field goals. The irony of it all is that the kicker Henery replaced, David Akers, kicked the game-wining extra point for the Niners, getting revenge on the team that kicked him out of town after 12 seasons of outstanding play on Eagles green.

The much-maligned defense played well in the first half, but gave up three touchdowns in the second. Much of the damage came from the running game, with San Fran’s Frank Gore rushing for 127 yards on only 15 carries, including the go-ahead score with only three minutes left to play.

The Eagles got the ball back after that score, and were driving toward victory when receiver Jeremy Maclin (pictured) fumbled the ball with 2:06 left. He caught a short-screen pass and was running up field for a gain when he lost the ball on a tackle. This was the second time Maclin pounded the final nail into the Eagles coffin — the first being a dropped pass in the fourth quarter against Atlanta two weeks ago.

Now at 1-3, the Eagles are falling in the standings. On offense, red zone efficiency is the chief concern. This is where they've had difficulty getting touchdowns once they get inside the 20-yard line. A big reason for this has been poor play-calling by head coach Andy Reid.

On Sunday, the birds have a chance to turn things around when they travel to Buffalo to visit the 3-1 Bills in their first inter-conference match of the season.

PHILLIES WIN GAME ONE, CARDS TAKE IN GAME TWO

There’s no season like post-season.

The Phillies opened up the National League Divisional Series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday with a matchup pitting Cy Young hopeful Roy Halladay against the Cardinals’ Kyle Lohse. After a rough first inning where Doc allowed a three-run homer to Lance Berkman, the Phillies ace retired his next 21 batters and got more than enough help from his offense, giving the Phils an 11-3 lead entering the ninth. The biggest play was Ryan Howard’s go-ahead three-run bomb (pictured) in the sixth, which was followed up by a Raul Ibanez two-run homer only two batters later.

The Cards got three runs off relief pitchers Michael Stutes and Ryan Madson in the ninth but by then the damage had been done, and the Phils emerged victorious, gaining a 1-0 series lead.

Game two featured another marquee matchup, this one pairing Cliff Lee with the Cardinals' Chris Carpenter.

Philly got four runs off Carpenter in the first two innings, making it seem like a smooth-sailing win for the Phils.

But much like their football counterparts, the Phillies broke down with a lead.

The Cardinals battled back, adding three runs in the fourth and tying the game at 4-4 in the fifth. Albert Pujols’ single in the sixth put St. Louis up by one run and the score held, Cards winning 5-4, evening the National League Divisional Series at one game apiece.

The series now shifts back to St. Louis with game three (Hamels vs. Garcia) tonight and game four tomorrow (Oswalt vs. Jackson). Game five, if necessary, will be played in Philly and will feature Halladay vs. Carpenter.

IN OTHER PHILLY SPORTS NEWS

➤ On Saturday, the Temple Owls lost to the Toledo Rockets in both teams’ MAC Conference opener. Temple’s primary weapon, running back Bernard Pierce, was held to only 75 yards and the Rockets scored 21 unanswered points, stomping the Owls 36-13. ➤ The Flyers open up the regular season against the defending Stanley Cup-champion Boston Bruins on Thursday night. This rematch of last year's playoff series will be nationally televised on Versus at 7 p.m.

Have outside-the-big-league sporting event tips for Max? Email him at massimo.pulcini@citypaper.net.

(@massimopulcini)

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