It’s gameday!! With a little over an hour away until kickoff, here are five bold predictions for the Eagles week 6 clash with the Vikings.
Record so far: 7-25
Scandrick SZN
Orlando Scandrick had a dream debut for the Eagles last week, registering an iconic ‘strip-six’ touchdown and becoming a total menace for the Jets to handle. He faces Adam Thielen this week, a receiver who is bound to present a much stiffer challenge.
Thielen is coming off of a two-touchdown performance where he finally surpassed the 100+ yard mark after weeks of failing to do so. Scandrick will be tasked with keeping him quiet.
To kick things off with a bit of an upset, I predict that Scandrick builds on his excellent Eagles debut, holding Thielen to under 50-yards and no touchdowns.
Cooking up a storm
Nobody can stop Dalvin Cook right now…nobody. The man is a runaway train and currently leads the Vikings in both receiving and rushing yardage this year. But this week, he faces the NFL’s best rushing defense and a porus secondary.
The Eagles have to be aware of screens and basically lock-in on Cook whenever he’s on the field. Preparation would have undoubtedly been centralized around him and with that in mind, I think the Eagles can hold him to less than 75 total yards and 1 touchdown….which would be a bad day at the office on any other day except today, where that’s considered ‘gold-star’ worthy
Goedert’s breakout
Dallas Goedert has had an unusually quiet start to 2019. Although his run-blocking has been fantastic, his receiving production has been non-existent at times, with misses and drops preventing a breakout game that almost feels inevitable at this point.
I think that changes today. With so much attention being placed on containing Alshon and Ertz, this would theoretically open the floodgates for Goedert to wreak havoc underneath, posting a 75+ yard game and a touchdown.
The streak continues
Carson Wentz hasn’t thrown an interception in three consecutive games. Now, deep into enemy territory and with a rampant crowd trying to throw him off, I think Wentz will have to protect the ball more than ever and with an increased emphasis on getting it out fast against a dominant front four, I’d like to think that streak continues.
Talk the talk…
Zach Brown chirped away at Vikings QB Kirk Cousins this week, calling him ‘the weak link’ in Minnesota’s offense. Of course, the two were teammates in Washington not too long ago, so the mind-games have officially started. The question is, who’s going to walk the walk?
Zach Brown has to have an impact game. As an elite run defender, he’ll be kept honest by Dalvin Cook all game, but it’s in coverage where he can really make an impact. My final bold prediction is for Brown to pick off Cousins, backing up his claim.
Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
