It's gameday for the Eagles! I've got a long day ahead of me before they play tonight, but that's okay. I'll watch whatever games are on earlier as I steel myself for the game.
This has been a weird week in Philly. An anonymous Eagle (also known as Alshon Jeffery) has complained that the Eagles didn't do enough to land Jalen Ramsey, that Carson Wentz doesn't interact enough with the defense which is why our defense isn't playing as well. (Yeah, the multiple injuries couldn't possibly play a role there. It's all Carson's fault.) The same source also complained that Carson isn't checking the ball down enough and instead throws the ball down the field too much. The same source last year said Carson was throwing the ball too much to Zach Ertz. That source is likely to be an ex-Eagle next year at this time. He's not very good at hiding who he is.
In addition to the locker room gossip, Zach Brown, our former starting linebacker has now been cut loose. TJ Edwards, a rookie free agent linebacker will likely be getting his reps for a while. TJ earned a roster spot in training camp and is a good run stopper, but a bit iffy in pass defense.
Things I'll be watching for in tonight's game is our ability to contain Ezekiel Elliott. If we can do that, we have a shot. Ideally, our safeties would remember to play safety, and not try to be linebackers jumping anything in front of them and leaving the deep field open. We get Jalen Mills back after being out for a year with a foot injury and he'll be starting at one cornerback spot. He's prone to being an aggressive guy which is kind of boom or bust for a corner. If he guesses right, he gets a pass breakup or interception. If he guesses wrong or there's a double move, he's left watching a receiver zoom past him for a big gain. With our safeties forgetting to play deep far too often, instead of a long completion, those tend to turn into touchdowns.
On offense Andre Dillard our first-round pick in last year's draft gets his first start tonight at left tackle. He's been very good, but his one weakness is the bull rush. Quinn will test him tonight. Dillard's been filling in fairly routinely for Jason Peters and has a fair amount of playing time so far this year, so it won't be a brand new experience for him. The Cowboys secondary is a bit beat up and the Cowboys haven't been great at stopping the running game lately, so the Eagles should have multiple opportunities to move the ball on the Cowboy defense. Oddly enough, Miles Sanders, our rookie runningback has somehow become the deep threat without DeSean Jackson playing. The Eagles sneak him out of the backfield against a linebacker and he takes off down the field for a big gain. We'll get the opponent's safeties and corners covering the tight ends and wide receivers closer to the line of scrimmage and then sneak Sanders out and have him race the linebacker. If the Cowboys adjust to that by keeping a safety deep it should open things up underneath for a tight end.
This should be an interesting game. The Cowboys have lost three straight and have a daunting schedule ahead of them with games against the resurgent Giants next week, then the Vikings, Lions, Patriots, Bills, Bears, Rams, Eagles and finally the Redskins. A loss tonight would be very, very bad for them. Other than the Redskins' game (sorry Spurt) there isn't a clear-cut, sure-thing win on their remaining schedule. If they lose tonight they could be looking at a 5-11 or 6-10 record without a lot of trouble. A win tonight would give them some new life.
The Eagles schedule isn't a whole lot better, but we do have two games against the Giants, one against the Redskins, Cowboys, and Dolphins in addition to games against the Patriots, Seahawks, Bears, and Bills. A win tonight should give the Eagles some momentum and the schedule ahead is a bit lighter for the Eagles.
I suspect that second Cowboys/Eagles game in Philly on December 22 will determine the winner of the NFC East. There's still a good opportunity for the Eagles to win the NFC East even if they lose tonight, but a win would certainly help things out. It should be a fun, intense game tonight.
Fly!!! Eagles!!! Fly!!!
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