Hi Friends,
It's the most wonderful time of the year, and that is especially true for all of us Philadelphia Eagles fans with the way our Birds are destroying their opponents each and every week. I've been a fan since 1954, and I can honestly say that this year, by far, is the most exciting season I have ever witnessed. That includes the 2004 team that went to the Super Bowl! This current team is a better overall team in my opinion. Carson Wentz is playing at a level that most definitely has him at the top of the list of MVP candidates. Once again Sunday he demolished a team by throwing 3 touchdowns and made the Bears look like they were totally outmatched from the opening play of the game. Wentz is young, but he is mature far beyond his years, and when he speaks, you can see that he's special and is a natural leader.
What I like about Carson Wentz is with him it's not a "Me" attitude; it's always about what's best for the team. It's easy to see why all of the Eagles players are really tight on and off the field, and that chemistry is what championship teams are made of. What is also very impressive to me is that it's not just about one or two players: it is a total team effort. On offense, they are spreading the ball around to all of the running backs and each is contributing and the same can be said of the wide receivers. On the defensive side, they are playing at a very high level and are at the top or near the top of every statistical category. They remind me a lot of the great Jimmy Johnson defenses. The Eagles defense held the Chicago Bears offense to just 6 yards rushing for the entire game, which is unbelievable. Just imagine what it will be like in the future when second round draft pick cornerback Sidney Jones gets on the field as well as injured Jordan Hicks! Yes friends, the future looks very bright for our Eagles and for all of us diehard Eagles fans. We have lived and died with our Birds for years and finally it looks like our time has come. It certainly is “A Most Wonderful Time Of The Year” and I am looking forward to an exciting finish to our season...let's say around February 2018.
Three Things To Look For In This Week’s Game
1. Look out for Wilson.
The Seattle Seahawks are one of the NFL's very best teams and this will be the toughest test for the Eagles thus far this year. Quarterback Russell Wilson can beat you with his arm as well as with his legs, and the Eagles defense will have to have a spy on him to contain him. The Eagles secondary will be tested with receivers Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lockett & Paul Richardson. Also, the Seahawks have one of the best tight ends in all of football with Jimmy Graham. The Eagles have to make sure that they play him tough. When you think of the Super Bowl-era Seahawks, you think of running back Marshawn Lynch running wild carrying two or three defenders on his back for big yards. Well, those days are over as Lynch is now with the Raiders and, in my opinion, should be banned from the league for sitting during the playing of our National Anthem. Seattle does have Eddie Lacey, formerly of the Green Bay Packers who is capable for sure if he doesn't eat his way onto the bench, as he's been known to do. In my opinion, the Seahawks will not be able to hurt the Eagles with their running game unless it's by Russell Wilson. Also, Seattle's offensive line is average at best and I feel that Cox, Jernigan, Graham, Curry, Barnett & Long will be able to pressure Russell Wilson all day long!
2. A Tough Defense.
Seattle's defense, while aging, is one of the best in the entire NFL. Defensive linemen Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril are studs and will be quiet the test for the Eagles offensive linemen. At tackle, Seattle has Ahtyba Rubin, who is a monster of a run stuffer and the yards will be hard to come by against Rubin and company. Linebacker is a position of strength for Seattle with Bobby Wagner & K.J. Wright, both outstanding especially with the defensive front four playing lights out! When you discuss defensive secondary's the Seattle Seahawks have to be at the very top when healthy. Every team has to deal with injury problems, but Seattle has lost two of the best defensive backs in all the NFL in Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor. Make no mistake about it, the Seahawks will not be as tough to throw on with these two guys gone for the season. They still have Earl Thomas at cornerback, who's terrific but he can only cover one guy at a time, and the Eagles have too many weapons. And while the Eagles are standing at the top at 10 & 1 with the best record in all of the NFL, I still feel that they have yet to explode on offense. I honestly feel that this week will be the time to shut up all the naysayers and put a smackdown on the Seahawks in front of the entire nation with Carson Wentz leading the way!
3. A Loud Crowd.
Usually at this point I discuss special teams, but not this week. Although special teams are important, I think that with this game, the special team units will offset each other. What really could have a major effect on this game is the 12th man, which is what the throngs of Seattle Seahawks fans in their home stadium are called. It's the loudest stadium in the league and they make it very hard on opposing teams offenses to say the least. What Carson Wentz and company have to do is score early and often to take the crowd out of it, and I think the future MVP will do just that.
Well, that will do it for me this week. I invite you to check in with me next Thursday as I take a look back at the Seahawks game as well as take a look ahead to the next opponent: the Los Angeles Rams. I have a very special night coming up for this coming Sunday night game here at the Locker Room and I will tell you all about it in next week's blog as well. Until then I wish you...
Love, Luck, Lollipops & Linguini,
Barry "The Hatchet" Vagnoni
FLY EAGLES, FLY!
