The Philadelphia Eagles will host the San Diego Chargers Sunday looking to start their season 2-0. The Chargers are coming off a game that they allowed 24 unanswered points in the final 20 minutes to lose the game to the Houston Texans by a last second field goal.
DeSean Jackson got off to a quick start Monday night against the Redskins when he caught seven passes for 104 yards and a 25 yard touchdown in the first half. However, as the Eagles sat on the ball on the second half and conserved clock, Jackson didn’t register another catch in the final 30 minutes.
After letting up a 21 point lead in the Monday night game that followed the Eagles game, don’t expect the Chargers to take their foot off the gas if they get a lead. The question is: what is their “foot on the gas” compared to the Eagles?
“I felt like [the offense] was a little slow, honestly,” said Head Coach Chip Kelly Tuesday afternoon. The sentence provoked laughs from a few reporters to which Kelly made sure that they knew he was not joking. Chip Kelly wants to move faster than 53 plays in the first half. He especially wants to move faster than the 24 plays the Eagles were limited to in the second half.
The Chargers, along with many of the teams the Eagles will play this season, have yet to see an offense like the Eagles’. San Diego faced just 28 runs in their week one game against the Texans. Three running backs combined for just 120 yards and no touchdowns on the ground. On Sunday, the Chargers will have to account for LeSean McCoy, the NFL’s leading rusher after one week, and Michael Vick, who added nine carries for 56 yards and a touchdown. As a team, the Eagles ran the ball 49 times for 263 yards and two touchdowns.
“We only showed about 60 percent of our offense. We still have plenty left,” said Vick after the game Monday night. The Eagles showed a lot on Monday and took the league by surprise with the pace and efficiency in which they carried out their offensive attack. There is still plenty left in their arsenal and slowing down as they did in the second half against the Washington Redskins is not something they want to do. Chip Kelly expressed that they slowed down too much while attempting to kill the clock and conserve the lead.
“I don’t have to carry the ball 31 times to be successful,” said McCoy following practice earlier this week. McCoy hinted that he was tired after Monday night’s game and carrying the ball 30 times per game will not hold up over the 16 game season. When he holds onto the ball, Bryce Brown is effective. Chris Polk also showed promise in the preseason in his limited touches. To keep McCoy fresh and Vick healthy, the Eagles will need to utilize their full depth chart. Brown and Polk will likely get their share of carries Sunday and as the season progresses.
On Sunday, the Eagles will be looking to repeat their first half from Monday night and keep their foot on the gas through the entire 60 minutes. The Eagles put together the league’s most potent rushing attack in week one while San Diego allowed the eighth most rushing yards in the league. Shady, Vick, and Brown will be looking to slice through the defense for a second straight week while duplicating the result of a W for the Eagles.
Follow Brenden on Twitter @brendenp2011 or email him at BPeddigree2011@gmail.com
Chuck Bednarik was the original 60 minute man playing Center on offense and MLB on defense. If they all play with his desire, they will do well.
Keep proving them wrong Vick
Eagles jump out quickly as they should with a leg-heavy, traveled weary Chargers. A 1pm Startvtime is 10am Pacific Time to the Chargers Players & Coaches.. Eagles jump out 20-7 at half Time, then roll to a 27-7 lead in the 3rd Quarter, and then the back-ups cone in to finish the game while
Vick,mcCoy & D-Jax & Peters rest up for the Chiefs game 4 days later
Final Score 33-17 Eagles
Defensively, Cole, Curry, Barwin & Kendrick’s are in QB Ricers face all game long As Eagles get 6-7 Sacks, & 2 Int’s..
Game should not even be close
Eagles rushing game is ranked #1 in the league, I had to double check that stat, LOL.( FU Reid & Mornhinweg) Their rushing attack will continue to have success today although Charger safety Eric Weddle won’t allow those egregious long runs like redskin safety stiffs Rambo and Biggers.
It’s just after one week in the Season..
Let’s wait to about Week #4 before you can see where Team Stats fall and have any relevance..
It’s just after one week in the Season..
Let’s wait to about Week #4 before you can see where Team Stats fall and have any relevance to them..
Bradley Fletcher is out for today. Ouch
5’9” Boykin can’t possible cover 6’5” Malcolm Floyd.
which Eagle OLB covers Chargers’ TE Gates?
If Eddie Royal gets matched up against Poyer that is a massive speed advantage for the Chargers.
Charger passing game has alot of nice matchups to work today.
I’m concerned.
And then their is always timid Nate Allen afraid of contact.
It will be Interesting to watch Boykin, who I have stated since last year and believe that he would be better suited at playing the outside CB position rather then playing the Slot.. He will get tested no doubt..
Need some serious pressure up front. They match up well in the passing game.