The problem with the Eagles

Now that we have all recovered from Pope-mania, it's time to return to the serious issues of the day.

Like the Eagles.

They managed to scratch out a win against the Jets, thanks in large part to Darren Sproles. His electrifying punt return might just have provided the spark this team needs to reverse its fortunes after a disappointing 0-2 start.

But this team still has problems, not helped by news reports that they may have lost their starting kicker and right guard to injury.

Cody Parkey and Andrew Gardner may be lost for the season.

But I don't think that's their biggest problem.

This team is only going to go as far as Sam Bradford takes them. And right now, it appears he can only take them 5-10 yards at a time. Bradford is quickly becoming the king of the dink and dunk.

He looks tentative, unsure of himself and rattled in the pocket. He's not getting a lot of help from his receivers, who continue to drop balls at an alarming rate. More importantly, none of them seem particularly adept at shedding press coverage. And they lack the sheer speed to provide much of a deep threat.

The result. Teams are packing the line of scrimmage and daring the Eagles to run the ball, seemingly not concerned in the least at a deep threat.

Bradford does not appear to be the same QB who looked so supremely confident in the preseason, leading the Eagles offense to touchdown in all four of the series in which he appeared. Which I guess tells you exactly how much stock you can put in preseason games.

Part of this is rust; Bradford has not played in almost two full years. Part of it is all the new faces that coach Chip Kelly brought in during a tumultuous offseason. Part of it likely is the group not getting enough snaps together in the preseason.

Of course, this has led to calls for Mark Sanchez to take over the struggling offense.

Here's what we know. Sanchez is not the answer. Bradford might be, but he's not right now.

For this team to make a playoff run, that has to change. Not by inserting Sanchez. By building Bradford's confidence and getting him back to the player who looked so sharp in the preseason.