Sam Bradford gets it.
He knows he’s not playing well. He knows the Eagles are winning in spite of him, not because of him.
Actually, they’re winning because of their defense. Oddly enough, it’s the other side of the ball that is bailing out the offensive genius of Chip Kelly, which continues to sputter as Bradford suffers one hiccup - and interception - after another.
But I’m not bailing on Bradford. I still think Kelly was right in going out and getting a former No. 1 pick in the draft and jettisoning Nick Foles in the process.
Bradford threw three more picks in a prime-time debacle Monday night vs. the Giants, even as the Birds’ defense was smothering Eli Manning and the Giants.
There is no reason to consider a change at QB, despite Bradford’s struggles. You know what you’re getting with Mark Sanchez. I still think there is a chance we don’t yet know how good Sam Bradford may be. He’s coming off nearly two years on the shelf with successive ACL tears. And his mechanics are showing it.
I know some people are saying he looks tentative. I think more accurately it’s a guy who simply has not played that much. Right now he’s like a pitcher who is trying to ‘aim’ the ball. There is nothing natural in his motions, certainly not the way he looked in the preseason.
He’ll be in the prime time spotlight again this week, with a marquee Sunday night matchup vs. Cam Newton and the unbeaten Carolina Panthers, fresh off an impressive trip to the West Coast and victory over the Seahawks, who almost never lose at home.
But I think it’s a good spot for the Birds to catch the Panthers. Plus their defense should nullify the Panthers’ strength. That means they way they run the ball, including with Newton. I don’t think this team is going to scare anyone in the air, but they can pound it down your throat if you let them. That’s where Fletcher Cox and crew come in. I believe they stuff the run, then force Newton into a couple of key errors. They have been rampaging in terms of creating turnovers, and that will be key again Sunday night.
Eventually, I think Bradford will come around, and look more like the guy who was taken No. 1 in the draft.
Sunday night would be a good time.
The Pick: Make it Eagles 26, Panthers 23. The Eagles will bank on their defense being able to shut down the Panthers’ ground game. On the other side of the ball, Kelly would be wise to start feeding DeMarco Murray early and often. Kelly likes to set up the run with his short passing game. With Bradford struggling, it might be time to reverse that trend.
Last Week: Raise your hand if you thought the Birds were in serious trouble after that first drive of the game, when Eli Manning and the Giants marched down the field and scored at ease. A quick 3-and-out from Bradford and pals and Manning had the G-Men on the march again. That’s when DeMeco Ryans took things into his own hands - literally. His steal of an interception turned the game around. A pick-6 by Walter Thurmond off Manning turned the lights out on the Giants.
Season Record: I keep walking in lockstep with the Birds. They scratched their way back to 3-3, good enough for first place in the NFC Least. I’m right there with them, getting back to the .500 mark. Now we both need to hit positive territory.
Game by Game: Cowboys 20, Eagles 10 (My Pick: Eagles 31, Cowboys 26.)
Falcons 26, Eagles 24. (My Pick: Eagles 37, Falcons 26)
Eagles 24, Jets 17. (My Pick: Eagles 27, Jets 23)
Redskins 23, Eagles 20. (My Pick: Eagles 26, Redskins 13)
Eagles 39, Saints 17. (My Pick: Eagles 23, Saints 13)
Eagles 27, Giants 7. (My Pick: Eagles 27, Giants 16)
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