Second Quarter
October 6 – Home vs New York Jets
2018 Ranks:
- Passing offense: 25th
- Rushing offense: 26th
- Passing defense: 24th
- Rushing defense: 26th
Key additions: Head coach Adam Gase, running back Le’Veon Bell (free agency – Steelers), linebacker C.J. Mosley (free agency – Ravens), defensive tackle Quinnen Williams (first round draft pick), wide receiver Jamison Crowder (free agency – Redskins), guard Kelechi Osemele (free agency – Raiders), general manager Joe Douglas (sad face)
Key departures: guard James Carpenter (free agency – Falcons), cornerback Buster Skrine (free agency – Bears)
The Jets. That’s all you’ve really needed to say to describe the team for many years. But now they have Le’Veon Bell and a talented second-year quarterback in Sam Darnold.
The Jets won the sweepstakes (was it really one?) for Bell and he instantly improves the bottom-ranked offense, in both passing and rushing. Darnold had a decent rookie year, even with his first ever pass being a pick-6:
Sam Darnold's first career NFL pass is a pick-6!
(? ESPN, 7:10pm ET)https://t.co/MBK8gJaQec
— ESPN (@espn) September 10, 2018
He has speedy and talented wide receiver Robby Anderson back to improve on his 752-yard campaign. He also has Jamison Crowder to help out, but he’s an injury risk. Darnold was well protected last season, only getting sacked 30 times, but their run blocking wasn’t the greatest. The team brought in Osemele to sure up that weakness, but he had a down year in an injury-plagued year in Oakland. Despite those injuries, he is only two years removed from an All-Pro season.
The defense returns dynamic safety Jamal Adams, but he was by far the most productive of the secondary. He allowed a passer rating of 67.2 in coverage in 2018 and had a league-high 22 quarterback pressures from the safety position. This dude is elite. But outside of him? Meh. Morris Claiborne allowed 662 receiving yards and ranked 83 out 121 corners ranked by ProFootballFocus. C.J. Mosley adds some punch to the linebackers, but can he justify his $17 million a year contract? He had 105 tackles last season with a half sack and one interception. He’ll add impact, but don’t expect it to make a big difference in this game.
The biggest key will be containing third overall pick Quinnen Williams. He was ProFootballFocus’ highest graded defender in 2018, regardless of position. 43 pressures, eight sacks, 19.5 tackles for loss, and 48 defensive stops. He’s an animal. Jason Kelce and/or the guards will have their hands full with him, which will open up defensive tackle Leonard Williams to get into the backfield more often.
The Jets will have tough tests the weeks leading up to this game, opening up the season versus the Bills, Browns, and Patriots, but they get lucky with a bye right before the Eagles game. Despite that rest prior to the game, don’t expect an Eagles let down in this one. Look for the Eagles to use a lot of 11-personnel, maybe even 10-personnel, to exploit the Jets’ corners and win this one easily.
October 13th – Away at Vikings
2018 Ranks:
- Passing offense: 13th
- Rushing offense: 30th
- Passing defense: 3rd
- Rushing defense: 15th
Key additions: center Garrett Bradbury (first round draft pick), guard Josh Kline (free agency – Titans), tight end Irv Smith Jr. (second-round draft pick)
Key departures: defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson (free agency – Browns), running back Latavius Murray (free agency – Saints), safety Andrew Sendejo (free agency – Eagles), offensive tackle Mike Remmers (free agency – Giants), guard Tom Compton (free agency – Jets), defensive tackle Tom Johnson (free agency)
The Eagles return to the site of their first ever Super Bowl win. Two weeks prior to that win, the Eagles denied the Vikings the chance to be the first ever legit home team in a Super Bowl. Poor Vikings fans.
The Vikings had one of the league’s worst offensive lines last year, leading to Kirk Cousins being sacked 40 times and having the third worst running attack. The team signed guard Josh Kline but Kline was one of the biggest issues on the Titans offensive line last year. center Garrett Bradbury will provide a huge boost to the run game, however, as he was ProFootballFocus’ second-ranked center in 2018 in terms of run blocking. He also only surrendered four sacks in his entire collegiate career.
Stefon Diggs and Adam Theilen will still provide a tough matchup for the Eagles, they totaled 207 yards receiving against the Eagles in 2018, and Kyle Rudolph and Irv Smith Jr. will complement them to make a formidable receiving corps for Cousins.
The big question mark is running back Dalvin Cook. There’s no question in his ability on the field, it’s in his ability to stay on the field. e only played four games his rookie season in 2017 due to a torn ACL, and only played in 11 last season. He averages 4.7 yards per carry, but if he can’t stay on the field that doesn’t matter.
The Vikings defense returns mainly every player of their 2018 fourth-ranked defense. Linebacker Anthony Barr was almost a Jet, until the Vikings backed up the Brinks truck for him. They lost defensive tackles Sheldon Richardson and Tom Johnson, who combined for nine sacks last season. Danielle Hunter was their leader in sacks with 14.5, but next on that list is Everson Griffen with 5.5, so those nine sacks put a nice dent into their pass rush.
The bread and butter of this defense is their secondary. Harrison Smith was named ProFootballFocus’ player of the year in 2017 and only trails Earl Thomas in overall grade over the last five seasons. He had a bit of a down year last season but he still remains a force. Joining him in the secondary will be Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, Anthony Harris, and second-year player Mike Hughes. Hughes was decent as a rookie before tearing his ACL, but only allowed a passer rating of 43.8 in college, so the talent is there.
This will definitely be a slugfest and the Vikings fans will be out in full force with their “SKOL” chants as they’re still bitter that the away team won the big one in their building. Expect a low scoring game with the Eagles defending their championship turf.
October 20th – Away at Cowboys
2018 Ranks:
- Passing offense: 23rd
- Rushing offense: 10th
- Passing defense: 13th
- Rushing defense: 5th
Key additions: Defensive end Robert Quinn (trade – Dolphins), defensive tackle Christian Covington (free agency – Texans), wide receiver Randall Cobb (free agency – Packers), safety George Iloka (free agency – Vikings), tight end Jason Witten (un-retirement – ESPN)
Key departures: wide receiver Cole Beasley (free agency – Bills), defensive tackle David Irving (retirement/quit/got out before getting suspended), defensive end Randy Gregory (still on the team but he’s suspended indefinitely. Kind of a trend for the Cowboys, isn’t it?), tight end Geoff Swaim (free agency – Jaguars)
Eagles. Cowboys. Primetime. Does it get any better than this?
The intense rivalry kicks off on a mid-October Sunday night, with plenty of bad blood between the two teams. After Wentz received his contract extension, Cowboys defensive end Demarcus Lawrence gave his two cents:
https://twitter.com/TankLawrence/status/1136796017691508737
Well, Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson, whom Demarcus Lawrence has NEVER had a sack against, responded:
— Lane Johnson (@LaneJohnson65) June 7, 2019
Trying to respond back to Johnson, Lawrence retweeted a video from a fan showing Lawrence tackling Wentz on a scramble, to which Johnson had the perfect response:
@ me next time Boss! https://t.co/AAmunuZ8oz see y'all week 7
— Lane Johnson (@LaneJohnson65) June 8, 2019
This game is going to be good.
The Cowboys lost two talented, but troubled, defensive players to suspension in Irving and Gregory. After Irving was suspended in March, he “quit football” via Instagram live while smoking weed. Gregory is still on the team, however, and is suspended indefinitely due to a FOURTH violation of the league’s substance abuse policy. Four times. Woof.
To replace Gregory and Irving, the Cowboys brought in Robert Quinn and Christian Covington. While Covington has had his share of injuries, he is very talented. Quinn is a two time Pro Bowler, one time First Team All-Pro, and has a 19 sack season on his resume, but that was way back in 2013. Last season, he played and started all 16 games but only mustered up 6.5 sacks. He has the pedigree, but it remains to be seen if he’s still got it.
Losing Beasley and Swaim takes away 914 receiving yards and 91 receptions, so the Cowboys and quarterback Dak Prescott will look to replace that with oft-injured Randall Cobb and former ESPN broadcaster Jason Witten. Ok, ok. Witten is a Cowboys legend and one of the best tight ends in NFL history, but he’s coming off a year-long “retirement” and 2017 was his worst year since his rookie season in 2003 in terms of production. Hard to see him making a huge impact in 2019. ut the team does have Blake Jarwin, who had the most receptions from the tight end position for them in 2018 with 27, 89 less than the Eagles’ reception leader at tight end.
The Cowboys defense is no longer a laughing stock, but the key to this game will be containing Ezekiel Elliot. He’s averaged 115.8 rushing yards per game versus the Eagles in the four times he’s played them, and 167 yards total per game. He’s the guy the Eagles need to focus on, not Dak Prescott.
Prescott is 4-2 in his career versus the Eagles, with his last game being his best game by far. In December last season, he had 42 completions for 455 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. A big improvement over his career averages prior to the game, in which he averaged 183.6 passing yards and less than a touchdown per game. The Eagles must make Prescott pass the ball instead of turning and handing it off to his Pro Bowl running back. Prescott was the second most sacked quarterback in 2018, the defensive line needs to keep this trend. If they do this, it’s an easy win.
In the end, I do believe the Eagles extend their division record to 2-0 and shut down “Jerry World” and promptly humble Demarcus Lawrence.
October 27th – Away at Bills
2018 Ranks:
- Passing offense: 30th
- Rushing offense: 9th
- Passing defense: 1st
- Rushing defense: 16th
Key additions: Running back Frank Gore (free agency – Dolphins), cornerback Kevin Johnson (free agency – Texans), cornerback E.J. Gaines (free agency – Browns), wide receiver Cole Beasley (free agency – Cowboys), wide receiver John Brown (free agency – Ravens), center Mitch Morse (free agency – Chiefs), defensive tackle Ed Oliver (first round draft pick), tackle Cody Ford (second-round draft pick), Devin Singletary (third round draft pick)
Key departures: Defensive tackle Kyle Williams (retirement), tight end Charles Clay (released – signed with Cardinals)
Da Bills.
Going to school in Central New York, I can wholeheartedly say that Bills Mafia is the only fanbase that rivals the Eagles’ fan base. (Enter Browns fans into my mentions)
This is a game that’s going to be fun to watch. It’s going to be a defensive battle as the Bills boast the league’s best pass defense and an average rush defense that got better with the addition of rookie Ed Oliver. He seemed to always be in the backfield of opposing teams last year as soon as the ball was snapped and will chase down every ball carrier until they’re on the ground. He’s a monster.
On the offensive side, second-year quarterback Josh Allen is coming off an above average rookie season. As a passer, he was meh. He had 2,074 yards passing in 12 games with 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The team added former Eagles’ rival Cole Beasley and former Ravens’ speedster John Brown to help give Allen more targets in the passing game.
Their running attack, however, was relentless. Allen was their leading rusher last season with 631 yards, averaging over 52 yards per game on the ground, including back to back games over 100 yards. Former Eagles great, and franchise leading rusher, LeSean McCoy was second with 514. However, that total was 123 yards fewer than his previous career low of 637, which was his rookie season with the Eagles.
The rushing attack was given an even bigger boost this offseason with the addition of ageless Frank Gore, who had 722 rushing yards last season with a 4.6 yards per carry average. Gore will be entering his 15th year in the league and is only 521 yards away from tying Barry Sanders for third all-time on the NFL career rushing list. The Bills will have six games prior to this one, so he will need to average 75-80 yards per game going into this one for it to be a potential record-setting game.
The team also drafted running back Devin Singletary, who was second in all of college football in forced missed tackles per attempt according to ProFootballFocus. So if the Bills do utilize Singletary in this game, the Eagles better get ready to wrap up on tackling.
This is a surprisingly hard game to call. The Bills will be much better than people expect and I believe LeSean McCoy will want to put it into another gear for his second career game versus the Eagles. If he and Gore, who averages 81.8 rushing yards against the Eagles in his career, can get the ground game going, then this game will be all Bills. But I believe the Eagles’ defensive line overpowers the Bills’ offensive line more than the opposite matchup and the Eagles grind out a hard-fought win on the road in snowy Western New York.
Second “Quarter” record: 4-0
Regular season record: 7-1
