Partial's analysis of the Eagles for week 1

[The Leaper]

McNabb is always scary. He is a very good QB who has the ability to break containment and make plays happen. The DL needs to work on containment.

I see this matchup as being pretty much a coin toss. The Eagles offense is strong...the Packers defense is strong. The decider will probably be the other side of the equation...Packer offense vs Eagle defense. The longer our offense can possess the ball, the greater chance our defense can make things tough on the Philly offense. A ball control offense that doesn't turn it over will go a long way to putting up a W week one.

[The Leaper]

The big thing in this game is we will have to establish the run early and often. As long as we can do that, we can use playaction and they won't be sending the farm play after play on the blitz.

I'm not so sure...it will depend on what game plan Philly chooses.

I think we may need to pass the Eagles out of their blitzes. Our running game isn't strong enough to overpower a defense that will focus on stopping it. If Philly comes out with 8 guys in the box, Favre needs to beat them with the pass to keep those Philly defenders from running downhill against our RBs. With Driver's injury, you have to think Philly is going to be looking at eliminating our run game.

[woodbuck27]

McNabb is always scary. He is a very good QB who has the ability to break containment and make plays happen. The DL needs to work on containment.

I see this matchup as being pretty much a coin toss. The Eagles offense is strong...the Packers defense is strong. The decider will probably be the other side of the equation...Packer offense vs Eagle defense. The longer our offense can possess the ball, the greater chance our defense can make things tough on the Philly offense. A ball control offense that doesn't turn it over will go a long way to putting up a W week one.

We need to be patient on 'O' and (play tough on 'D') and get the TO edge to win this game.

[Partial]

McNabb is always scary. He is a very good QB who has the ability to break containment and make plays happen. The DL needs to work on containment.

I see this matchup as being pretty much a coin toss. The Eagles offense is strong...the Packers defense is strong. The decider will probably be the other side of the equation...Packer offense vs Eagle defense. The longer our offense can possess the ball, the greater chance our defense can make things tough on the Philly offense. A ball control offense that doesn't turn it over will go a long way to putting up a W week one.

McNabb is quite the weapon. He was probably the front runner for the MVP award after 8 weeks of the season last year. He is just that good. He isn't as mobile as he used to be, though. I think they'll be fine in containment and don't need to shadow him or anything like that because they have so much speed at the linebacker position. Both Jenkins and Kampman can anchor and hold the point if McNabb runs outside the linebackers shouldn't have any problem making a play within a couple of yards.

The key to the game for the Packers will be controlling the line of scrimmage. If they can stop the run and force McNabb to beat them on 3rd and long, the Packers will be successful. If the Packers can run the ball and give Brett 3rd and short to work with, they'll be very successful.

Based on what i've seen out of the defense, I think they will be able to contain the running game. In fact I could see the Eagles using a lot more screens and short passes to Westbrook to generate a "running game".

Based on what i've seen out of our offense, I think we'll be able to have some success running the ball. Even if they are only getting 2.5-3 yards/carry, the Packers need to commit to it and use it to keep the ball out of the Eagles hands. It will get more and more succesful as the game goes on as well.

I think they're going to start the season with a win for the first time in a while.

[woodbuck27]

Eagles Pre-Season to date (2 games):

Offense:

PTS
14.3
(27th)

YDS
308.7
(16th)

PASS YDS
237.3
(8th)

RUSH YDS
71.3
(28th

Eagles Defense:

PTS
22.0
(23rd)

YDS
344.7
(24th)

PASS YDS
242.7
(27th)

RUSH YDS
102.0
(14th )

Packers Pre-Season to date (3 games):

Offense;

PTS
24.7
(4th)

YDS
281.0
(27th)

PASS YDS
185.3
(23rd)

RUSH YDS
95.7
(19th)

Packers Defense:

PTS
14.3
(4th)

YDS
286.7
(12th)

PASS YDS
165.7
(6th)

RUSH YDS
121.0
(25th)

[Him8123]

I`ve read some eagle message boards, 95 % of the fans are predicting the eagles to only win 8 maybe 9 games.

[RashanGary]

I think we win this game even if we don't play our best football. I just don't think the Eagles are as good of a team as the Packers.

That said, I'm very anxious to see the ST's and the running game. I think those are going to be two pleasant suprises this year.

1. The K and P are going to be better than last year
2. We have more ST depth and we played well with the #1 ST's in the preseason
3. The Olineman are stronger and more prepared in the zone scheme which will allow us to be better in the run game

The defense is good, we pretty much know that. I'm looking forward to seeing the offense and ST's take the next step.

[RashanGary]

I think the game starts out like a normal close game. 3 pts here, 7 pts there. Nobody really walking away in the 1st half. Then the second half will roll around and our defense will still be rested up front and strong. They will continue to force 3 and outs, giving the ball back to our offense. Their defense will start to wear down as their depth up front is suspect. Eventually holes will start to open up in the running game and late in the 3rd, early in the 4th the Packers will start to dominate all phases of the game. They will have to blitz to get pressure and our Oline/RB's will pick up the blitz, allowing FAvre to connect deep to Jennings for a big, late TD. We'll win convincingly 24-10.

Favre will throw for 235 yds, 61% completion percentage and 2 TD's
Jackson will have 75 yards on 18 carries
Morency will have 50 yds on 11 carries
Jennings will have 7 catches for 90 yds and 1 TD
Jones will have 5 catches for 50 yds
The defense will look dominate, setting up the offnese for some easy points.


Go Pack

[RashanGary]

Nice thread by the way Partial. Looking at the Eagles roster sure makes you realize that playoff teams aren't superstars at every position. Sometimes its the strength of the whole, not the strength of one hole that makes the team.

[Bretsky]

I think we win this game even if we don't play our best football. I just don't think the Eagles are as good of a team as the Packers.

That said, I'm very anxious to see the ST's and the running game. I think those are going to be two pleasant suprises this year.

1. The K and P are going to be better than last year
2. We have more ST depth and we played well with the #1 ST's in the preseason
3. The Olineman are stronger and more prepared in the zone scheme which will allow us to be better in the run game

The defense is good, we pretty much know that. I'm looking forward to seeing the offense and ST's take the next step.

You are sounding like the an infinite cheerleading soapbox lately; the opposite of some of what you would call the haters.
Time will tell if your assumptions become reality.
I'm going to wait and see

[Bretsky]

I think the game starts out like a normal close game. 3 pts here, 7 pts there. Nobody really walking away in the 1st half. Then the second half will roll around and our defense will still be rested up front and strong. They will continue to force 3 and outs, giving the ball back to our offense. Their defense will start to wear down as their depth up front is suspect. Eventually holes will start to open up in the running game and late in the 3rd, early in the 4th the Packers will start to dominate all phases of the game. They will have to blitz to get pressure and our Oline/RB's will pick up the blitz, allowing FAvre to connect deep to Jennings for a big, late TD. We'll win convincingly 24-10.

Favre will throw for 235 yds, 61% completion percentage and 2 TD's
Jackson will have 75 yards on 18 carries
Morency will have 50 yds on 11 carries
Jennings will have 7 catches for 90 yds and 1 TD
Jones will have 5 catches for 50 yds
The defense will look dominate, setting up the offnese for some easy points.


Go Pack

If Green Bay can effectively run the ball on the Eagles I think they can win.
This game will go a long way towards telling us if we have a good chance at being a playoff caliber team.

Hey, you forgot Driver in your stats ? He toughs things out; IMO he will see plenty of time.

[HarveyWallbangers]

The Eagles have had our number in a big way. Quite honestly, I'd be happy with a 1-2 start with us looking competitive in the 2 losses. From there, the schedule gets a lot easier.

[4and12to12and4]

Great post, Partial, excellent breakdown of the team. They will be strong again defensively, and obviously with McNabb and Westbrook, they have an excellent offense. They also have a receiver that was a rookie last year, (weird name, can't remember it), but he is a deep threat. This will be a very tough game to win, and if we can pull it out, it will be a HUGE confidence booster for the season. Unfortunately, I see us giving up pics in this game, I think our defense will need some turnovers to give us a chance, and we won't be able to fully stop Westbrook, but we HAVE to keep him from getting the big plays. Our safeties will be tested often throughout this game. Let's keep our fingers crossed. Thank God the Bears have to deal with the best team in the AFC and maybe the league. I don't see the Bears winning this game. My prediction is the Lions will be taking an early lead in the division. I hope I'm wrong. If we can beat the Eagles, that will be HUGE towards how good this team can be this year.

[Partial]

The Eagles have had our number in a big way. Quite honestly, I'd be happy with a 1-2 start with us looking competitive in the 2 losses. From there, the schedule gets a lot easier.

That is definitely true. I cannot even think of the last time we beat them. I know its sad, but the last win I remember against them was Ryan Longwell's game winner many years ago. At least I think that was against the Eagles because I was like 16.

EDIT: THE LAST TIME WE BEAT PHILLY WAS SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2000. WE ARE 0-5 IN OUR LAST 5 MATCH-UPS. THAT IS INSANE. AND I DO THINK LONGWELL HIT A GAME-WINNER THAT GAME. IT WAS 6-3 PACK.

Great post, Partial, excellent breakdown of the team. They will be strong again defensively, and obviously with McNabb and Westbrook, they have an excellent offense.

Thank you.

One thing that everyone seems to take away from this that defensively they will be strong. That was kind of the exact opposite point I was making.

The strength of the Eagles has shifted from their defense and crazy blitzing schemes to their offense. The old Eagles that annually competed are mostly gone short of a few of the guys who were young back then. They're more of an offensive team these days. Not to say that they're a bad defensive team, but their two best players are on offense.

[Carolina_Packer]

One thing that I think will be in our favor is that McNabb probably won't do as much with his feet to make plays, as he will likely be less mobile and trying to protect himself more. There have been games where McNabb has really stuck it to us with his escapability. I think if we can contain him, put pressure on him, then I think that will bode well for us.