There was an ESPN report on Monday saying Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo will miss next Sunday’s crucial final game of the regular season against the Eagles because of a back injury he sustained in their game against the Washington Redskins. He will miss the rest of the season because of the injury.
So that mean Dallas backup quarterback Kyle Orton will start against the Eagles in the most important game of the season. Whichever team wins will go to the playoffs, while the other team will go home. It means that the only thing standing between the Philadelphia Eagles and the playoffs are the Dallas Cowboys led by Kyle Orton.
Yes the same Kyle Orton, who let Tim Tebow take his starting job in Denver. This does concern me although Chip Kelly is confident his football team will prepare with the same intensity as if Romo were playing for the Cowboys. He talked yesterday before the news about Romo and says his Eagles will be ready.
“It’s really the consistency and I think if you make it more than what it is, [the players] know,” Kelly said of his approach with his players leading up to Dallas.
“They’re pretty sharp. It’s just like how I can’t give them a fire-and-brimstone speech in a preseason game and tell them this is a Super Bowl. They’re going to go, ‘Coach, it’s a preseason game.’
“They understand what it is, but they also have to understand our mentality is that every single time you get a chance to compete, you’ve got to consider what’s on the line.”
The playoffs are on the line for the Eagles and the Cowboys. It all comes down to what happens on Sunday night.
“I think that’s been our approach,” Kelly said. “Since we went 3-5, every game has been kind of our backs are against the wall.
“This game is no different. As I told the guys [Sunday night], and I’ll say again, for us the playoffs just started this week.
“If we’re fortunate enough to win on Sunday, then we get an opportunity to play again. If we don’t win on Sunday, then we’re not playing again. It’s very black-and-white to us. I don’t think I have to hammer home in terms of this is the biggest game, because it is.”
I’m concerned because the key to this game isn’t who the Eagles will be playing against, the key to this game is which Eagles team will show up to play.
How do you explain the Eagles cornerbacks putting a blanket on Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery, but getting destroyed by Greg Jennings and Cordorelle Patterson? The attitude that the Eagles prepare with and the attitude they take the field with is more important to than Kyle Orton quarterbacking the Cowboys and not Tony Romo.
Matt Cassel and the Vikings would have scored over 50 points if their field goal kicker hadn’t missed the first kick. Cassel and the Vikings scored 48 points against this same Eagles defense, so don’t think it would be impossible for Orton to put some points on the board against the Eagles defense, if they fail to show up ready to play well.
Former Eagles superstar safety Brian Dawkins was on 97.5 The Fanatic yesterday and he warned the Eagles not to take Orton for granted.
“I watched him play in Denver, so I know that he can complete some of the quick rhythm throws, some of the quick outs and curl routes”, Dawkins said via PhillyMag.com. “He’s not the best downfield thrower there is but he can complete passes, so you can’t get overconfident,”
“He’s seen enough football, he’s a smart enough dude to be able to take in the offense in its totality and be able to go out and run the same exact plays,” said Dawkins. “He may not be able to keep plays alive like Tony Romo does by scrambling and moving around in the pocket, but he can run the exact same offense…He can step back, he can read blitz protections, he can set protections up and he can get the ball to where it belongs. I don’t think you can go into this game thinking that we can have a different defensive game plan because it’s not the starter.”
Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman was on 94WIP Sportsradio yesterday and he stressed agreed with Dawkins about the importance of the Eagles preparing properly for Kyle Orton and the Cowboys.
“Kyle’s had success in this league,” Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said on his radio show on WIP-FM (94.1). “We’ve played backup quarterbacks who’ve had success against us. We’ve got to keep our edge on. This is too big a game or a situation to take anyone lightly.”
The key to this week’s game will be the attitude of the Eagles in practice as they prepare. They must prepare with concern that they could get beat. They must respect Kyle Orton and the Cowboys and remember what happened up in Minnesota with Matt Cassell and Greg Jennings. The Cowboys will still have outstanding weapons to help Orton like Dez Bryant, Jason Witten and DeMarco Murray.
The Eagles had better not forget what happened in Minnesota.
This is not Minnesota. The Vikings had a losing record their coach just has his career games against the eagles. The Minnesota game was a blessing. It grounded the team and they will be focused. The Cowboys will adjust their game plan and stay with the short stuff and slow the game down. Kelly has to stick with the run, then play action the big pass plays.
It will be close in the middle of 3rd quarter and then the Eagles will pull away after a Kyle Backup throws an interception that sets up an Eagles TD.
Then Shady will break one and it will end up in a blow out.
The Eagles will be the #3 seed and host a playoff game.
I said for 14 years Andy Fat man, was a bum who would never win the superbowl. Within 4 years the Eagles will finally win the superbowl.
Kelly just needs to revamp the secondary and add some youth to the offensive line.
The secondary isn’t terrible, I actually think both of the corners have made great strides as the season has progressed. That being said, if a great corner is available when the Eagles pick in the first round, I wouldn’t have a problem if they take him.
I would like to see an upgrade at safety, the only players that fear Patrick Chung are his teammates. Nate Allen has played better, but he’s still just a serviceable player.
I’d love to know what went into the decision to hire Billy Davis. Remember how disappointed we all were when it was announced that he was the guy? Somebody in the organization looked beyond this guy’s past record and saw something in him.
I want to thank whoever that person was.
Eagles Defense and Secondary need to play man-press coverage as they did a lot with the Bears last week… Orton does not have a big arm to begin with,
he also is not going to scramble nad extend plays like Romo does and where Receivers run free down the field for big plays..
I do have some concerns with kyle Orton as QB though that Eagles D need to prepare for .. He is a strictly a Rhythm Passer, short to medium routes Passer who uses a 3-Step,5-Step and 7-Step Drop Back and throw’s the Ball out quickly .. (Orton has a similar style to Playing QB that other QB’s who have given the Eagles problems this year in Phil Rivers, Peyton Manning, Carson Palmer & yes, Matt Cassell)
3 Things for Eagles Defense to do consistently to ensure Orton does not get into a Rhythm where he can nickel and dime you down the field
1) Man-Press Coverage by CB’s on Wide-Outs – No Free Releases
2) Pressure Orton right from up the Gut to get Orton moving off his spot and and get him moving laterally which is a real weakness for him.. (look for Kendricks/Ryans to get some shots at him early)
3) Guard the RB’s out of the Backfield.. Watch for Screens,Dump-offs, Quick Bubble Routes … and the Eagles OLB (Barwin/Cole and Safeties need to be up to the task.. Cowboys RB D Murray in the open field is a difficult back to get down one on one… Need to swarm and gang tackle and beat him up a little
4) Last thing is TE J Whitten who has hurt the Eagles for most of his Career.. QB Orton is probably going to have happy feet and really doesn’t have the arm strength to look for Dez Bryant/Miles Austin/T Williams for big plays down the field, but he will look for and go to Jason Whitten on 8yd-12 Yard Routes between the numbers all Game long.. Eagles need to line up Defender across from Whitten all game and be physical with him at the line-of-scrimmage and don’t allow him free-releases whether thats Kedricks,Barwin,Ryans or Safety Chung.. Whitten is not going to run by anyone , but he will body up a defender , run his crisp routes and catch everything within reach..so slow him up, bang him around, mess up his timing to his route which will make Orton hold the ball longer and the Eagles DL a better opportunity to get to him before passing the ball..
Eagles DC and Staff must Game-Plan for 2 Cowboy Players this Game
if ROmo doesn’t plan and thats #1) RB D Murray and #2) TE J Whitten
If Orton Plays, I would not worry as much with the Cowboy outside Receiver’s and keep my focus on limiting and containing Murray & Whitten and force Orton to have to make throws downfield where the Eagles Secondary has a real good chance for Int’s
The whole team needs to play their ‘A’ game.
The Cowboys will not roll over, and Orton may bring a few surprises.
That said, think of the December 28, 208 Cowboys – Eagles game.
God bless