From Pederson, a ‘crazy’ response to second-day questioning

PHILADELPHIA >> There were 69,696 in the Linc Sunday, each having spent hundreds of dollars for tickets and parking and overcoats, most leaving disappointed after the Eagles’ 21-17 loss to the Carolina Panthers. How did it happen? Why didn’t the Eagles run the ball later in the game?

Why wasn’t there more blitzing of Cam Newton, who concocted three scoring drives in the fourth quarter, four if a two-point conversion were included? Don’t ask. At least that was Doug Pederson’s message Monday, in a potentially image-redesigning press conference where he’d been presented to answer just such questions.

“Now you’re getting into game plan stuff,” Pederson said, technically to the assembled press, but indirectly to all critics. “You’re getting into scheme. You guys aren’t in there watching the tape like we are for 18 hours a day and putting game plans together. It’s easy to sit in a press box and say, ‘They should run the ball.’ Come down and stand on the sideline with me and make decisions. ‘I should run it here, I should pass it here, let’s throw a screen here, let’s get the quarterback out of the pocket right here. No, there’s 15 seconds left on the clock.’

“Until you’re down there with me on the sideline making ingame decisions, then I guess you can ask all you want.” Asked, not answered. Indeed, Pederson characterized such football chit-chat as insane.

“Is it going to change the outcome of the game?” he said, of his late-game strategies. “I don’t

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MATT ROURKE — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Carolina Panthers wide receiver Devin Funchess, center, catches a touchdown pass from quarterback Cam Newton, not pictured, as Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Ronald Darby, left, and cornerback Avonte Maddox (29) defend during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday.