It wasn’t a pretty game tonight. Neither quarterback played very well. Sam Bradford threw three interceptions, which usually spells doom for a team. Despite that, the Eagles defense made sure the Birds were the winners with an awesome effort as they beat the Giants 27-7.
The Eagles defense put on quite a show by holding the Eli Manning-led Giants offense to just seven points. Manning took the Giants to that lone score on the first drive on the game and no one would have predicted it at the time. Every area of the Birds defense stood up the rest of the way.
During the OTA’s and training camp the Eagles have been emphasizing that all their defensive players go after the football when they’re covering wide receivers or tackling ball carriers. It has been a huge benefit to the Eagles season. It has helped them force turnovers.
Inside linebacker DeMeco Ryans made an outstanding play to take the ball away from Giants tight end Larry Donnell to stop a New York drive which was inside the Birds 20 yard line. It was a huge play in the game because the Eagles defense shut them down the rest of the way.
It was an outstanding game by the Birds defensive line, which were the main reasons the Giants scored only seven points held New York to 247 yards of offense.
Eagles underrated right cornerback Nolan Carroll made the defensive play of the game, when he jumped on a Manning pass on a quick screen and took it back all the way for the go-ahead touchdown. The great play by the Birds defense made that scored hold up the rest of the way.
Inside linebacker Jordan Hicks led the team in tackles with 10 tonight. The rookie continues to play great football as if he were a seasoned veteran and they can’t take him off the field.
The Eagles defensive line was the difference in the game. They dominated the Giants offensive line, took away the Giants running game and wouldn’t let Manning get comfortable in the pocket. They took turns sacking and getting hits on the Giants quarterback.
Vinny Curry had a big night with 1.5 sacks and quite a few hurries. He just refused to be blocked and gave the Giants head aches the entire evening. Fletcher Cox got a sack and contributed four tackles with half of them being in the New York backfield. They couldn’t block him.
Brandon Graham got half a sack in the game, but he was very active, as was nose tackle Bennie Logan.
The Birds are now tied for first place with the Giants and it was clear last night which squad is the better team. These teams could decide who wins the division in the season’s very last game.
Can we be the men in black every week?
It has been reported on sat. radio that Deshawn Jackson will be cut outright after the season is over by the Redskins . no reason was given . Wonder what happened.
Ummmm…because he’s a “me first” whiner who quits when he doesn’t get his way or when things are going badly.
Hamstring injury my ass.
Sweet Jesus those all black uniforms are the shit. Glad we went 2-1 in them tonight.. Bet the house we wear them again this season when we Play New England or Buffalo.
Is it to early to state that this is an elite defense? All this team does is force turnovers, stop the run, forcing teams to punt more often, and holding teams to 3 alot when the opposition does drive. If you ask me, the defense has played good enough for us to win in every single game this season, and even games in San Fran and Arizona last season.
As much as I dislike Davis as a DC…I have to give him credit for the job he did last night. After the first drive, which saw a lot of zone coverage, I was expecting a long night on the defensive side of the ball…The players on this defense just make plays! D Ryans, takeaway was a beast move! Nolan Carroll, has been our best CB this season….the best we’ve had since Asante…Cox, Graham, Curry, Barwin….were taking turns getting in Eli’s face…Jenkins still doing his thing…The players on the defensive side of the ball are simply better than what we’ve had in years past as a collective unit…which is a big help to Billy Davis…Good defensive game called and played by the Eagles…
Although, I have to mention the Giants WR corps was depleted…and their top active WR’s Beckham and Randle both played banged up….
Still a strong effort by the D!
I don’t understand why Nolan Carrol was nailed to the bench last year, he seems like an upgrade, glad he is playing. Why don’t the Eagles just let Vinnie Curry rush the passer ? He might not be good in coverage, but the man can find the QB !
Jordan Hicks ? What do you see from him, I don’t care if every single LB comes back healthy to the team, this guy has to be a starter.
When you evaluate this team at the 1/3 pole ,you’d be blinded by pessimism not to believe that they can be a difficult out .Have Sam manage the game and ride the horses at the three headed backfield..Let the offenses persona try to replicate the defenses.Mean and gnarly ..all through September we cried out to why we don’t throw deep? Now we can pull our best Gilda Radner..”never mind”
Dear bill Davis..I apologize ..you’re not a piñata ..your a bad man ,and Thank you for the hair on fire ,men in black ..I was hoping by concentrating the assets in the offseason we’d be better ,but this exceeds our expectations..one thing is clear ,however the front 7 has a chance to be the best vs the Denver broncos unit for a statue at the end of this season..Sam I am vs Peyton senior vs both defenses ..
LMBO!!!! Sam I Am reference was hysterical
Great movie by the way
Vin curry. Like death taxes and pressure ..get this man on the field more
NFL network power ratings. Pats ..pack..bengals ..panthers ..Broncos..Falcons.jets steelers ..cards Vikings..beat #4 Carolina and having already taken down the jets ,we’d become relevant ..
It’s always good to see an Eagles win, but realistically we are a bad team. It just so happened that the Giants were worst last night.
We aren’t going to the playoffs, and we aren’t going to win the division..
We don’t have the talent on Offense at WR, RB, OG, TE, or QB, nor Defense at OLB, which because is non existent – except against Giants OT’s that should be on the practice squad, and a rookie on a bad day – we have less impact from a pass rushing perspective.
Enjoy the win, but don’t read more into it than what’s realistic.
Our front 3 – not 7 – THREE, is the strongest part of our Defense
5 when Curry, and Bair are rotated in there omitting dud pieces like Taylor Hart.
The weakest is our LB Core – specifically from the outside.
On a side note, I love how this past week will lead into Carolina. I was initially worried that if we clicked on all cylinders against the Giants we would be primed for a let down game against Carolina. But the fact that we won and the offense played like crap lessens the let down factor as they will be highly motivated all week and into Sunday night.
On the other side, the Panthers just had a huge come from behind win in Seattle which in their minds “proves they are for real.” That is some prime let down material there.
Add on the fact that the line opens at 2.5 which is a stone cold Eagles line and I like our chances Sunday night.
Its all about the ebs and flows of a football season and I like where we are right now.
Paulman’s Power Rankings for the NFC
1) Packers (6-0) — Their Defense has been a little shaky lately
2) Panthers (5-0) — Cam Newton having his Best Season as a NFL QB
3) Falcons (5-1) — Is their Fast Start catching up to them..
4) Cardinals (4-2) — Disappointing loss to QB Landry Jones & Steelers
5) Eagles (3-3) — Yes our Eagles, Winner of 2 Games in a Row…
(This just goes to Show how Wide Open not only the NFC East is, but the Entire NFC Conference)
Gmc i agree we are a bad team, but in the land of bad teams we are the best in our duvision
Eagles defense destroyed Carolina last year – 9 sacks, 3 interceptions, 2 fumbles recoveries –
Has the Panthers OL improved from last year to prevent what just happened to Eli Manning yesterday from happening to Cam Newton again next sunday?
Yes the Panthers OL has Improved, Cam Newtons pre-Snap reading of Defenses has improved and OC David Shula has improved
Their RB Corps areall Healthy thisSeason..
Last Years Game and Match-up means nothing in 2015
The Panthers have probably the most physical Secondary,
One of the Best LB Corps and are still able to generate a Pass-Rush with their 4 D/Line even though they are down3 of their Top 7 D/Linemen
Their Special Teams Coverage Teams are much improved
Their WR Corps is about the same as the Eagles
Ted Ginn, David Funchess, Jeremy Crotchery & Philly Brown are about it but their TE’sGreg Olsen & Ed Dickson are very important with their attack
The Key to the Game will be who can run the Ball with Success and which WR Corps can make plays down the Field…
Panthers CB’s Josh Norman, Charles Tillman & Bene Berwierke are playing very well .. Their Safeties Roman Harper, Kurt Coleman & Tre Bostonare vulnerable ontogeny Deep Passes, but that means Bradford has to have time and the Eagles Receivers have to be on the same page.
No they have not and they dont have benjamin…..not worried about carolina, we should. Win it easily
Lol kurt coleman, I will give you cam newton has improved but Olsen is the only weapon they have, everything else is garbage, carolina will get exposed sunday night, they beat a seahawks team that have major problems on oline and secondary problems, all that emotion from that win and they will come out flat
I agree the Panthers will likely come out Flat for their Game vs the Eagles means little to them in terms of their Playoff Chances,etc,etc outside of Pride which is something their Coach Rivera has instilled in them..
The Panthers are 10-2 in their last 12 Games including a Playoff Win..
You and everyone else keep reflecting a the Panthers of past Seasons and they are a better and more talented Team then many realize…
I see these guys every week as I am in NC TV market and they are a solid, fundamentally sound, well-coached and more Athletic Team than before…
RB’s J Stewart and M Tolbert are physical Runners and rarely go down on first contact… TE’s Olsen & Dickson are one of the best TE Tandems in the NFL.. Someone on Eagles Defense has to Account for Cam Newton on every Play… Who will that be… J Hicks, C Barwin ?
Paulman I live here I’m Charlotte. Cam is the panthers. But I can tell you they schedule has been a cake walk compared to ours. This game will come down to our front seven keeping him in the pocket. I think the Eagles win this game 35-23 with late garbage touchdowns from the panthers.
Z, the Eagles are not in a position to underestimate any opponent that they face, I hope they are not thinking along the same lines as you. The Eagles are not that good either, the defense has improved, but, the offense and special teams have regressed and the QB is a turnover machine. The Carolina D line will pressure Bradford, dude already throws picks when no pressure is applied.
NFL website has an article putting Cam Newton on a short list of MVP candidated with Rodgers and Brady. I just remember how dominate last year’s defense was against Newton. It was a bloodbath – NINE SACKS
Do you Guys think the Eagles WR Corps with Matthews,Cooper,Austin and
inconsistent Huff & Agholor are going to get free-releases from the Panthers
Charles Tillman, Josh Norman, Bene Benwierkie ?
Norman is playing at a All-Pro Level, Tillman has been rejuvenated after be let go by the Bears and is Healthy and Benweirkie may be the most Physical CB in the entire NFL and a borderline head hunter…
I just don’t see many Receptions by the Eagles Wideouts at all in this Game which means Bradford will be forced to throw more inside Passes between the Numbers in heavier traffic against their aggressive Safeties and LB’s who are good in Pass Coverage..
Roman HArper, Kurt Coleman are good versus the Run, then Panthers bring in Safety Tre Boston and Colin Jones in obvious Passing Downs who are better in Pass Coverages…
Sam Bradford and the Eagles need to utilize Play Action on 1st Downs to take advantage of Harper/Coleman down the middle of the Field, if the don’t, they will see that Field shrink on their Receivers as the game goes along
You know Panthers DC Sean McDermott would love nothing more than to shut down Chip Kelly’s Offense… Sean McDermott is Coaching his Way for some Head Coaching Interviews that will Open up after the Season..
MCDermott’s Expertise is with the Secondary which he has done a nice job in rebuilding the Panthers Secondary from where it was a couple of seasons back..
Pman..while I’m agreeable,that you have to play the schedule that’s on your broad ,let’s all look under the hood a bit..Carolina opened with the jags and won 20-9 ..then a Texans team 24-17.. Saint 27-22 in a last second gasp..bucaneers 37-23 and obviously a Seattle team that blew a coverage and a game and spiraling..I’m not saying the Eagles are where they need to be ,but let’s not let Pman put them on top of any great NFC mountaintop..to me they’re the bully who hasn’t yet been smacked in the mouth..
Panthers are never going to BLow Teams out and Put up big POints for they are not Built that way.. What they will do and slap you around, win the battles in the Trench’s, stay with the Runing Game even if its not working real well and stay close and win the Games in the 4th Quarter.. Its what they do and how they play, so the Games you list above have no bearing on Eagles Contest ..Both the Texans,TB Bucs scored late TD’s and points to make the Final Score closer than what games really were .. When the Panthers get up, they milk the clock and rely on their Defense instead of pushing the pedal to the medal and taking chances on Offense of trying to get more Points.. Its just how they Play..
At Home at the Biggest Game in Charlotte in a few Years I like the Panthers over the Mistake Prone Eagles 24-20…
The teams they’ve beaten are a combined…1-5. Seattle 2-4. Saints 2-4. Tampa 2-3 .. 7 and 20 …times yours
Oops Texans 8-24
Tex. 2-4. So 9- W vs 25 Ls
Eagles 6 Opponents are a Combined 18-16
I never buy into what your opponents Records area, for if you beat them, then obviously they will have a worse record…
What is your Record and waht kind of Ball are you Playing as a Team is what matters and right now, the Panthers are the better coached Team making less mistakes and taking advantage of their Opportunities than what the Eagles are… Talent means little at the NFL Level for all the Players are Talented.. HC Rivera has instilled a Toughness, an Identity with the Panthers while Chip Kelly is still trying to figure out what works in the NFL and so bottom line, the Panthers are the better all-around Team as of right now in 2015… Rivera, McDermott,Shula are all very competitive Coach’s who have been knocked down here and there with their previous JObs, but they have come together to make a pretty good Staff…
Remember I see these Guys Play every week and I know a Well-Coached, Prepared,Fundamentally Sound and play Physical Football when I see it, and this is how the Panthers are built as a Team and how they Play..
I also stated that the Panthers have had match-up issues in the past with wide open, spread offenses like the Packers and the Eagles, but with their updgrades in their Secondary and more athleticism, they should match up better and to be quite honest, the Eagles 2015 Receiving Corps is not running away from anyone..
Do you think the Eagles have the mental toughness to Beat the Seahawks up in Seattle in a Must-Win Game, especially when Trailing by 11 Points with 8 minutes to Play… Do you really think Sam Bradford can will this Eagles Team to Win under tough conditions… I don’t…
We can hope that he does, but lets call it what it really is and my biggest gripe about acquiring Sam Bradford in the first place was his lack of proven mental toughness… He just doesn’t have this as far as I can see for as long as he’s been in the NFL, he hasn’t displayed it..
Do you think the Eagles are tough minded?Pman to be honest ..We really don’t know about the persona on the offensive side of the ball .I think Chip is still tinkering with that very fact.Hes been criticized and had to defend his 3 and outs ,especially at high speed intervals ..he’s been criticized last year and this for his propensity to turn the ball over…he’s been criticized for running east to west vs north to south ..He’s trying to develop in his mind an identity on the fly ,and I believe he started to see a light ,with 2 tight ends ,and play action ..as an end game off a successful run game ..Ii think he’s been spoon feeding Bradford ,and now he understands better what this guys DNA is.Hes not a guy you can have survey the options and get the ball out ,as he had hoped..he’s certainally not a Read and react guy ,he is Sam I am….he needs now devise a way to manage this guy so he doesn’t have to rely on him as much..His initial hopes of who shurmur thought he was and sold chip ,has been trashed ..
I do not think the Eagles are Tough-Minded Yet, their Defense is well on their way and playng well, but the Eagles offense is still trying to find themselves and find their Identity.. They want to be a Power Rushing Team but they can’t RUn the Ball in between the Tackles.. They want to make big plays down the Field but Bradford can’t throw deeper than 30 Yards without hanging the ball up in the air for potential Int’s…They want quick mis-matches for their Athletic WR;s to make YAC but aren’t strong enough to get away from Man-Press Coverage, which is all the Panthers Play…
Everything the Chip Kelly wants to do offensively, they are not about to do consistently, It’s Week 7 already, and the Eagles are what I thought they were..
I’m giving your NC panthers all the respect ,but let’s be real .. They ain’t all that …they play a style that normally won’t play from behind..(last week was an aberration) they like to keep it slow and steady ..lets see if there conditioning becomes an issue when there hair is set on fire by mr two minute offense ..It will be a chess game ,and I don’t see anything but a snot kicking group in the panthers ..lets see if they’re adaptable
As I stated earlier, this Eagles/Panthers Game will come down to who can best Run the Ball, and what Receiver Group can make a big Play or Two..
This will likely be a low scoring First Half with points very hard to come by unless one Team just comes out really flat or if there is a lot of turnovers by one Team..
Cam and Company are pumped, the City of Charlotte is Pumped and so are the Fans so I expect their Crowd to be about as loud as it’s ever been for this is new territory for many of the Players and Fans
Also I am not stating that the Panthers are Super Bowl Caliber Team, its just that they have been much more consistent and physical with every game more so than the up and down Eagles who we still don’t know which team is going to show up any given week… Eagles could very well be finding their groove and rhythm right now but lets be honest, that 20 Point Win over the Giants was a pathetic performance from their QB, WR’s and Special Teams… Their Defense and the Giants Poor OL Play and Effort and WR’s at 75% were not a very good litmus Test to gauge on how good the Eagles really are…
Meanwhile going up to Seattle and playing a wounded, dangerous and still a powerful Team and beating them at their Place speaks Volumes on the Mental Toughness and Maturity of the Entire Panthers from their Coaching Staff, to its Players that they haven’t shown in recent Years…
Pman. Let’s see who they get punched in the mouth how they respond …all else is rhetoric. And talk is cheap
I agree– But I still take a 5-0 Record over 3-3 anyday of the week regardless of who those Wins are against… Winning begets Winning… How do you establish a Winning Culture, It’s simple and only comes by Winning ….
The Panthers are on a Roll over their last 3 Months of Playing Football going back to last December where they had to Win every Game just to finish at 7-8-1 and sneak into the Playoffs and are now a Confident and Battle Tested bunch regardless of being the less talented Team.. I really like how their Coach Ron Rivera has molded this Team into his likeness of never quitting and to keep working and chopping wood
The Eagles with ego-maniac Chip Kelly at the helm are still trying to find out who they are…maybe they will get it together and maybe they won’t but I seriously doubt that Chip Kelly really cares one way or the other for he is not truly committed to anything but himself, its just the way he is and I don’t care for him very much even though he’s Coaching my Favorite Hometown Team, the Eagles..
Hopefully it will be a highly competitive and Football played at a high level as opposed to most of the garbage we have seen this Year from the Eagles..
Lets see some real Football like the Panthers/Seahawk Game of last Week
Of all the undefeated donut teams ..in the NFC Green Bay ..and panthers ,they’re both flawed.they both have had identity issues,yet ,they’re clean as far as wins and losses ..The turnover of personnel on the Eagles has forced a coaching staff to reshape and remodel there game plan..The ability to adapt to that ,will in the end game ,strengthen this team from philly.I agree I’d rather be 5-0 Pman. But I’d also not discount a bye week staring at them , and a team now with all its imperfections sitting atop there division ..it’s just as easy to say ,I’d prefer be hot in December than to start out vs weak opposition (Carolina) and have a team peak at the right time of the year ..that’s my half full glass ,and I’m drinking down the green Kool aid ..
How can you say that Panthers lack an Identity ?
If anything, they are probably one of few Teams in teh NFL that you pretty know what your going to get every Game Out … I disagree 100% with your Statement
The amount of Personnel is now irrelevant for its almost 2 months into the Season and Kelly Picked His 53 Man Roster in August just like the Panthers, Packers, Cowboys and every other NFL Team did so these 53 Current Players and Coach”s have been together since the late Spring with OTA’s, Camps, Summer Camps, Pre-Season, etc,etc…
Teams have all incurred Injuries (Panthers MLB and Leader Luke Kuechley missed 3 Games for the Panthers) .. Every Team, Coach has to utilize his 53 Man Roster and make adjustments and replace Injured Players..
The Panthers went 4-0 last December where every Game was an elimination game and then Won a playoff Game and then Won their first 5 Games this Year… for many of the Players and Coach’s, they Expect to Win every Time out and that’s what they’ve been doing regardless if its pretty or not .. They Win Ugly and Lose Ugly and force Opponents to Play Ugly, Some Teams can Adjust, some Can’t and we all know that the Eagles can Play Ugly for that’s what they’ve done all Season..So its a close good match-up for both Teams to see how they are almost halfway thru the Season
Panthers Defense is without Top DE Charles Johnson,
and Run Stuffer DT Dwan Edwards and Top Pick LB Shaq Thompson who has really come on over the last few games.. Designated Pass-Rusher Jared Allen missed last weeks game with a pinched-nerve in his Neck but was at Practice today as a full participant.. Jared Allen and Jason Peters should be a fun battle to watch as 2 old wily Veterans duke it out …
Pman..by my identity issues, I was referencing there loss of Benjamin and cams resurrection. .seem a tad defensive?
I only mention and ask that since you typically have good reads on Teams, etc..
But To say the Panthers lack an “Identity” is simply true or shows how little you know about them during this Ron Rivera era…
Losing their Top WR in K Benjamin has done little to nothing about changing their “Identity” or how they play or prepare or call a game..They got over his season-ending Injury 2 months ago for they had no real choice but to move on… It’s only been the “talking heads” that keep bringing up the coulda, woulda or shoulda about KB…
Pman. As I recall cam had the accident ,and there was swirling suspicions regarding that incident ..obviously I defer to your insights ,as I’m here in the southwest as you know..I also recall there were rumblings regarding the coach who albeit went to the playoffs ,had a sub 500 record.As stated …I defer to you..We didn’t adress My comments regards to GREEN BAY ,BUT YIELDING 500 yds..tO San Diego at home caught my attention.Im in HACs camp ,I’d like see the panther team punched in the mouth at home and see how they respond .Ill also be interested to watch if Chip responds to there pace and tempo ,or if he pushes the pedal and looks to take the initiative to push that pace ,and test there conditioning ..and abilities to play from a deficit ,as I know they did last week ..
There’s no doubt that Cam Newton had some maturity, leadership issues
that he has had to work on.. Some in the Panthers Building would even say privately say that the Accident Cam was involved with, may have been the best thing that’s ever happened to him and that has given him a better perspective on things on not taking things for granted, working hard on your Craft, being a Leader in the Locker Room and in the Community as well as on the Field… He has made great strides in these areas and now all of a sudden, he’s becoming more focused and consistent on the FIeld which helps his Team Tremendously…
on Ron Rivera, remember this Panther Team Went 12-4 in 2013 and then went thru a Salary Cap Purge once their new GM D Gettleman (From the NY GIants Orgainzation) came on board..
2014 Season saw some 20 New Players on a 12-4 Team which took a half-season to start gelling before they were any good and finished last Season at 7-8-1 to back into the Playoffs, but to be 100% Honest, 2014’s Team had very little talent and most Coach’s & Staffs would have never made it to the Playoffs with that Roster..
Fast Forward to this Season, they added about a dozen new Players
(Along the OL & Secondary) had another Nice Draft
The have 3 OL that are 2nd Year Players who will only get better and better and a Veteran Center in Ryan Kalil and LT Michael Oher is is playing pretty Well for them so far this Season..
Check Rookie WR D Funchess, very raw but improving,
LB Shaw Thompson playing a lot of snaps but was injured on SPecial Teams last week, 2nd Year CB Bene Bienwierke, 2nd Year Safety Tre Boston, 2nd Year DE Kony Ealy, 3rd Year DT Kawann Short and Star Lotuleile
I believe that Newton gets beat to hell this weekend.I think Cox and company are going to get their shots at him. We shall see how he responds. I have never considered him particularly tough but I can’t say I’ve seen too much of him.