Hi Friends!
Here it is a Sunday in November with our Eagles on a bye week and boy does it feel strange not enjoying the Birds play. The Eagles entered their Bye week with the best record in all the NFL at 8 & 1 and even I, the eternal optimist when it comes to my Eagles, never expected this. The fact that they are sitting here with the best record is even more incredible considering the fact that they lost three of their best players to season-ending injuries.
Tackle Jason Peters, linebacker Jordan Hicks and all-purpose star Darren Sproles are gone for the year, but the team just keeps running like a well-oiled machine. I love that you never hear Coach Pederson or any of the coaches or players mention the losses of the trio of team stars; it's always the next man up mentality. The same can't be said for some other teams which I'll elaborate on a little later. Last week, leading up to the Eagles/Broncos game, all I heard was how Carson Wentz and company would never be able to dent the leagues #1 defense of the Denver Broncos. Well, they not only dented that so-called #1 defense of the Broncos, they totally DEMOLISHED it, putting up an incredible 51 points on the scoreboard. That gives the Eagles 7 straight wins and the luxury of getting rested up this Bye week for the stretch run.
Fletcher Cox and company held the Broncos to a total of only 226 net yards and an unbelievable 35 yards rushing on 19 carries. The Broncos came into the game allowing an average of 261 yards and 18 points per game and the Eagles racked up 419 yards and 7 touchdowns. On offense, Carson Wentz once again played like he's definitely the front-runner for league MVP, throwing 4 touchdown passes with a QB rating of 118.7. Rookie Corey Clement was superb, scoring three touchdowns and newly acquired running back Jay Ajayi scampered for 77 yards rushing along with a touchdown. It was a total team effort that left Denver in a state of shock and you have to wonder what the Eagles might have done if Wentz's favorite weapon, Zach Ertz, would have been in the lineup. Ertz was out with a hamstring pull, but all indications are that he'll be back for the Cowboys game after the Bye.
Three Things To Look For In This Week's Game
1. Sack Attack.
Not having the Eagles playing on a Sunday is a most boring thing to endure, but getting to watch those stinkin Dallas Cowboys get their butts spanked on the Game Of The Week for the whole country to see is priceless. The Atlanta Falcons went around and through the Cowboys offensive line and pummeled Dak Prescott, sacking the Dallas QB 8 times. That's the most sacks on a Dallas quarterback since 1991 when our Eagles sacked Troy Aikman 11 times at Veteran's Stadium. I remember that game very well and how sweet it is that I now have a large section of the Vet Stadium turf right here in my Eagles Locker Room. They told me when I bought it that a few of Aikman's sacks took place on the section of turf I was buying. After watching the Boyz play this past Sunday, I came away from the game realizing a few things. First off, Dak Prescott is not as good as the Jerry Jones cronies would want you to believe he is. Secondly, I learned without Ezekiel Elliott, the Cowboys are a mediocre running team at best. I also learned that the Cowboys offensive line is also way overrated, and if they have that left tackle playing against the Eagles that played vs. the Falcons, then that 11-sack performance of the ‘91 Eagles will be surpassed...BIG TIME! Our Eagles enter this game with the defense allowing an average of only 68 yards rushing per game. I look for Philadelphia to really put the heat on Prescott, which will force him into some costly turnovers. Dallas has Alfred Morris and Darren McFadden at running back and they're good in their own right, but they are not the caliber runners that Elliott is and I feel the Eagles will completely shut down any run game Dallas will try to establish. Cornerback Ronald Darby should be back for this game and will be a major boost to our secondary and I look for Darby to be singled up with Dez Bryant. Of course, the Cowboys have the great Jason Witten at tight end to go along with their other wideouts Cole Beasley and Terrence Williams. They have some formidable weapons at the skill positions. but I just feel that the Eagles defensive front four is going to be in Prescott's face all day and if a QB does not have time to set his feet, he's not going to complete too many passes. I have a feeling that Fletcher Cox, Timmy Jernigan, Brandon Graham & Vinny Curry are licking their chops at the possibilities that are awaiting them in Big D.
2. A Big Game for Jefferey.
I am so sick of turning on every TV sports station to hear the hosts with their LOVE FEST for Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys; it is beyond sickening. Carson Wentz is having a sensational year and has led his team to the best record in the entire NFL, but it's the Cowboys that receive all the accolades, not the Eagles. It will change after this Sunday night when Carson Wentz will masterfully take apart the Cowboys defense in front of the nation. I look for Wentz and company to rack up 400+ yards on Dallas and expose them for the frauds they are. Newly acquired running back Jay Ajayi has been at the Nova Care Complex during the entire bye week getting comfortable with the playbook and I look for him to get the ball quite a bit Sunday. Also Coach Pederson will continue the ground and pound attack by using LaGarrette Blount & Corey Clement to tire out that Dallas defense. Alshon Jefferey has been getting more and more comfortable with Carson Wentz and look for him to explode this Sunday night with a big game. Dallas looks like they will be without their best defensive player linebacker Sean Lee, which means Zach Ertz coming back from a slight hamstring pull could have a major impact on this game. The Eagles defense is playing great and this week they will be looking to make a huge statement to the rest of the league. Be scared Dak Prescott; be very, very scared!
3. Overcoming Injury.
The Eagles special teams play has been outstanding and rookie kicker Jake Elliott has really proven to be a great pick up by Howie Roseman & Joe Douglas. Eagles punter Donnie "LongBall" Jones has been money in the bank and is as consistent as a Swiss clock. Meanwhile, the Cowboys are without their pro bowl placekicker Dan Bailey, which is a big loss. The Boys do have a good punter in Chris Jones, a six-year player out of Carson-Newman college. I really don't see this game coming down to a special teams play though, but if it does, my money is on the Eagles. Getting back to what I had said at the beginning of my blog about the effect of injuries on a team. I must have went on a dozen sites Monday and Tuesday following the beatdown of the Cowboys by Atlanta. In every single article the writer went on and on about Dem Boyz being without All Pro Elliott and Pro Bowl tackle Tyron Smith and pointed to that as a big reason the Cowboys lost. Well let's see, the Eagles lost for the season All Pro tackle Jason Peters, All Pro running back/kick returner Darren Sproles and a sure-to-be Pro Bowler this year, Jordan Hicks. Well if the Cowboys are losing because the league finally suspended Elliott and wouldn't let Jerry Jones bully them around anymore, then how about hearing how awesome it is that the Eagles are on a 7-game win streak while missing three of their very best players? What a joke! It will be very gratifying to watch our Eagles go into Big D Sunday night and wipe that smirk off the face of Jerry Jones - that is if he doesn't sneak out his secret door so the TV cameras won't spot him.
Well folks that will do it for me this week. Please check back with me next week as I take a look at our next opponent: the Chicago Bears. Until then, I wish you...
Love, Luck, Lollipops and Linguini,
Barry "The Hatchet" Vagnoni
Fly, Eagles Fly!
