Hi Friends!
Well, there's ugly and then there's real ugly and on Sunday the Eagles defense looked like it was beat by the biggest ugly stick anywhere! I know I should be happy that our Eagles got out of New Jersey with a win, and I am, but the way the defense played vs. the lowly Giants is quiet troubling. Now, was it a result of being on the road for three straight games? Or is it some other underlying problem that has all of Eagles Nation concerned? I do know that it's painfully obvious that the Eagles cannot anticipate winning any games going into the playoffs by playing defense like it has the past few weeks. The way our secondary performed vs. the Giants, I have no doubt in my mind that Pee Wee Herman would have torched them for big chunks of yardage. Hopefully the taste of home cooking will remedy whatever is ailing Jim Schwartz's defensive unit since we play our last two games of the regular season at Lincoln Financial Field, where we are perfect this year.
Now, on the other side of the ball you have to be very satisfied by the way that Nick Foles played in his first start with the Eagles since his first stint with the team. He threw for four TDs, and despite missing on some throws, he performed extremely well finishing with a QB rating of 115.2. That is excellent! Here in the Locker Room, I announced to a packed house that I predict Foles will throw for at least 3 TDs and more than 300 yards. Well, he exceeded the TD pass prediction and certainly would have easily gone over 300 yards if not for some dropped passes. I have all the confidence in the Eagles offensive unit heading into the playoffs as they are loaded with multiple weapons, but the defense must improve vastly from these past few weeks or our season will not end the way we all are hoping!
Three Things To Look For In This Week’s Game...
1. Looking for a Spoiler.
The Raiders, for all intents and purposes, will not have a shot at a playoff spot after losing to the Dallas Cowboys in a very controversial contest this past Sunday night. As it is so obvious to so many viewers, when you play the Jerry Jones team you not only have to beat Dem Boyz, but you must also overcome the officials. Case in point: on a very crucial play with Dallas trying to keep a drive going on 4th & short the officials awarded Dem Boyz the first down. The official even took out a folded index card and slid it between the ball & the stick but said he went by his view and gave them the first down. Unbelievable! That being said, the Raiders will still want to play the role of spoilers when they visit the "Linc" on Christmas night. The Oakland (soon Las Vegas) Raiders have some potent weapons on offense, and are led by a very good QB, Derek Carr. Carr has not had the kind of season that so many Raiders fans were hoping for, but believe me, he can put up BIG numbers and he'd love to do just that against our Eagles. At running back, the Raiders have Marshawn Lynch. He can be a nightmare for any defensive unit, and this past week he put up 76 yards vs. Dallas. Carr also has some very good options at the wideout positions with Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper, although Cooper missed the Cowboys game with a bum ankle, so we'll see if he'll be able to play. The Raiders also have a fine tight end in Jared Cook. The offensive line of Oakland is one of the best in all of football and will present a challenge for the Birds defensive line for sure. Left tackle Donald Penn, left guard Kelechi Osemele and center Rodney Hudson all made the Pro Bowl last year and right guard Gabe Jackson could've really been named as well. Hopefully the Eagles defensive players will want to make a huge statement this week to get the taste of the Giants game out of their mouths and have a shut-down game. They have to start strong and lay the wood on Oakland early and often to whip that crowd at the "Linc" into a frenzied state to get into the Raiders’ heads! I know this: if the Eagles defense plays like it did vs. the Giants, it's not going to be a very Merry Christmas at the "Linc" and in Eagles Land.
2. Foles will Settle In at Home.
Look for Nick Foles to be much more comfortable in this week's game. Playing at home will a great deal. Foles has to just be himself, not try to do too much and let his playmakers make plays. Now I don't expect Foles to duplicate his outstanding performance from a few years ago when he threw 7 - that's right 7 - touchdowns in a game against the Raiders. That performance got Foles into the Pro Football Hall Of Fame, and while I said I don't expect another performance like that, it sure would be a nice Christmas gift wouldn't it? The Raiders have some playmakers on the defensive side of the ball, but with the likes of Alshon Jeffery, Torrey Smith, Nelson Agholar, Zach Ertz, Jay Ajayi, LeGarrett Blount, Corey Clement it will be extremely difficult for Oakland to come out of this contest with a win.
3. Oh-so-special Teams!
The Eagles special teams had a game of games last Sunday against the Giants with a blocked field goal, a punt that led to a touchdown, and an extra point attempt. Three blocks in one game is just outstanding, and it's a safe bet to say that without that stellar performance, the Birds would be coming home a loser. It's that kind of play that teams that have any hopes at getting to the big show have to have in order to get there! The Eagles have been very consistent with their Special Teams play, and hopefully it continues going forward. One thing that I'd love to see would be to have someone break one, whether it be a kickoff or a punt, and take it the distance. We haven't had that excitement since we lost the great Darren Sproles, and I'm so glad to hear that he wants to come back for one more season. Hopefully it's with the Eagles as he will be a free agent at the end of the season. The Raiders lost their great kicker Sebastian Janikowski for the season as he's been placed on the injured reserve. The Eagles Jake Elliott, on the other hand, is healthy and has become one of the league’s most dependable kickers. I love the chances for the Eagles this week as the Raiders having to travel across the country with no chance of making the playoffs just might be ready to start planning their off-season vacations! Look for that crowd of rabid, passionate, maybe a little inebriated fans, to give the Eagles that extra edge.
Well that will about do it for me for this week, and please check back with me next Thursday as I look back at the Raiders game and take a look ahead to the team we all love to hate: those Dallas Cowboys. I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a healthy, Happy New Year, and as always…
Love, Luck, Lollipops & Linguini,
Barry "The Hatchet" Vagnoni
Fly Eagles, Fly!
