National Football League

Time’s ours, and what a time it was on busy sports night

Published Oct. 11, 2010 2:07 p.m. ET

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THIS WAS THE worst-case scenario of clock management, even worse than coach Andy Reid's. The Phillies and Eagles started virtually at the same time last night, both on national TV, both with huge implications.

It was so frustrating for a football town hopelessly in love with its baseball team (or vice versa). How could these schedule-makers and TV types do this to us?

The Phils were scheduled to start at 8:07 in a possible National League division series-clinching game in Cincinnati. The Eagles were starting 13 minutes later - and for the superstitious ones keeping track, yep, that was first bad omen of the night.

We heard the complaints about Philly getting hosed. In a good way, blame the Phillies. They are good enough for prime time. Having to watch simultaneous games is the price we pay for such success.

Tampa had the same situation yesterday with the Bucs and Rays playing at the same time - and both winning, we might add.

7:49 p.m.: The warmups are over. The clicker thumb has been stretched out. It feels good and limber. It's going to be a night of flipping between games, hoping we don't miss much.

8:07: Shane Victorino takes ball one. Quite a night in Philly sports - and TV watching - has begun.

8:18: A throwing error on a Jayson Werth ground ball gives the Phillies a 1-0 lead. It's the Reds' fifth error in two games.

8:19: The first official flip of the night. The Eagles-49ers hasn't started, and football analysts Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison are talking baseball.

8:21: Sorry, Eagles, but your game is running late and we want to watch Cole Hamels. The Reds' leadoff hitter, Drew Stubbs, gets on with an infield single. The second batter, Brandon Phillips, hits a rocket to left-center that only Victorino or DeSean Jackson could get to. Luckily for the Phils, Victorino is there.

8:26: Still no kickoff, but there is a cool Droid commercial. Hamels gets dangerous Joey Votto on a comebacker and strikes out Scott Rolen, looking.

8:30: The national media love Reid. Al Michaels calls him "unflappable."

8:37: The Niners are on the move, inside the Eagles' 20. Quick Niners TD, on the opening drive.

8:47: Hamels looks strong, 2008 strong.

8:48: Back to the Eagles. We want to see Kevin Kolb play quarterback. We aren't the only ones. Kolb completes his first four passes for 51 yards. He seems to get it.

8:52: TD, Eagles, on a LeSean McCoy run. Wait. Holding on Todd Herremans. Kolb scrambles and throws a TD strike to Brent Celek. It's 7-7. The audience will be back to see the Birds.

9: We are seriously feeling the oceanic pull of "Boardwalk Empire," airing right now on HBO. What's Nucky up to? Will Al Capone be in this episode?

9:02: Eagles recover Frank Gore fumble near midfield.

9:10: Oops, we missed a David Akers field goal. He really is automatic. 10-7, Eagles.

9:18: Between innings, Dimitri Patterson picks off Alex Smith deep in Eagles territory. After hearing all week how the Eagles were going to lose, the Eagles are playing well.

9:31: Watching more Eagles than Phillies, to our surprise.

9:33: Chase Utley hits a bomb. Instant replay can't stop the Phils. It's 2-0.

9:36: Beautiful view of the Bay area on NBC. McCoy scores on a tough cutback run. 17-7 Eagles.

9:52: A Kolb fumble gives the Niners some life right before the half. After connecting on a 50-yarder a minute before, Joe Nedney misses 40-yard field goal. 17-10 at the half.

9:54: Another Reds error. No damage on the scoreboard, but national pastime is grimacing.

10:09: Top of the seventh. Phils need three drama-free innings.

10:15: Instead of trying a 50-yard field goal, Eagles punt and barely improve their field position. Hmmm.

10:21: Niners fumble again; no wonder they're 0-4.

10:24: Hamels is still dealing, four hits and seven strikeouts through seven. His 2-0 lead seems enormous.

10:28: Eagles fail to convert fourth-and-1 as Celek can't hang on to a pass.

10:38: Did you see Kolb ball-fake and scramble for a first down? Gotta give him a "B" so far.

10:44: Pop foul drops with Carlos Ruiz and Placido Polanco right there. Another bad omen? Not for Hamels, who calmly gets the final two outs of the inning.

10:51: Brandon Graham forces fumble out of Alex Smith. Quintin Mikell returns it for a TD and 24-10 lead.

11:08: Hamels goes out for the ninth inning. Gets Votto to hit into a doubleplay. Sweetly and ironically strikes out Rolen to finish sweep. On to NLCS for this, uh, unflappable team.

11:09: Niners close gap to 24-17 with 7:35 to play. This isn't over.

11:12: TBS shows Phillies doing the champagne thing. Might see that again this autumn.

11:15: Kolb and offense try to melt some clock. Akers curls in a 45-yarder for 27-17 lead.

11:25: After a big kickoff return, Niners score TD. It's 27-24 with 2:02 to play and just in time for Phillies audience to tune in full-time. Yikes. Back to the champagne celebrations.

11:33: NBC's Cris Collinsworth is killing McCoy for sliding down instead of diving for game-ending first down. Kolb throws incomplete on third-and-2.

11:35: Niners on the move to tie or win game. Someone named Trevard Lindley, a rookie, picks off Smith. Eagles win. Phillies win. Everybody wins. *

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