Everything about this game tell you the Eagles should get smoked.
Which is exactly why I think they have a real chance to steal one.
The Birds go West a couple of time zones for a mile-high date with the 3-0 Broncos in Denver. The altitude will be the least of their worries. Grounding Peyton Manning and his high-flying offense will be a huge task for their struggling defense.
Most teams would attack the Broncos with the time-tested adage of keeping Manning and his offense off the field. The problem for the Eagles is that’s not the way Chip Kelly’s offense is constructed. It’s meant to strike quick. Besides, long methodical drives give Michael Vick too many opportunities to divert back into the turnover machine who revisited the Birds in their last game against the Chiefs.
After a scintillating debut vs. the Redskins, the Eagles have gone backward, struggling in a loss to the Chargers and just flat-out not playing well against their old boss Andy Reid and the Chiefs.
I lean toward throwing out that Thursday night game. No one seems to play well on Thursday. The NFL might want to reconsider it altogether.
This one is simple. The Eagles’ defense is not going to defuse Manning. He has not thrown an interception yet, and has connected for 12 TDs.
The Birds will have to outscore them. They have the firepower to do it, with Vick, LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson making up as potent a trifecta as you’ll find in the NFL.
I think the Eagles will score plenty on Sunday. Just not enough.
The Pick: Make it Broncos 41, Eagles 27. Too much Manning against a Birds’ defense that is still susceptible to making big mistakes. If Philip Rivers could stand at the line and see what they were going to do, what do you think Manning will do?
Last Week: I was very disappointed in both the team and Chip Kelly in that matchup vs. the Chiefs. The team needs to play better. And Kelly needs this kind of signature win to let people know this system will work in the NFL.
Season Record: I’m still looking for my first win, sitting on an 0-for-3 schneid. The Eagles have cooled off after that explosive opener and now sit at a fairly pedestrian 1-3. 1-4 is not the way Chip Kelly wants to start this season.
Game by Game: Eagles 33, Redskins 27 (My Pick: Redskins 31, Eagles 23)
Chargers 33, Eagles 30 (My Pick: Eagles 33, Chargers 17)
Chiefs 26, Eagles 16 (My Pick: Eagles 31, Chiefs 23)
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