SUNDAY 1:00 Lincoln Financial Field Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
THIS team was the last one to beat us in a playoff game (AT HOME!), so you may have noticed that I’m still working through some bitterness. This game has the ability to be a shootout that keeps you on your feet, or it could be the equivalent of Phil Simms appearing on the inside of your television, greeting you by name, and then smearing handfuls of feces all over his side of your screen. I think it will be the latter. This game will be won by the first team to realize there’s a game going on.
EAGLES
Defense
Having to play 95% of the minutes− Oops! Sorry, Chip. The “snaps” –in every game, is starting to show up in the number of injuries that are beginning to mount among our Defensive players. Right now we can’t stop the pass (ranked 25th) and are only okay at stopping the run (13th). However, stopping the run only gets harder as the year goes on. At this rate we won’t be able to stop anyone passing or running by December. But December is still weeks away. Unfortunately for the Saints, they face us in October.
Offense
Being unable to run makes us only half of an Offense. Teams know we’re going to pass because it’s the only way we really move the ball. We cripple ourselves with runs that start off going east-west instead of downhill. The one week we opened up with something different (vs the Jets) we were able to run our full Offense and we won the game.
Opponents are now just squatting in the “B” gaps to disrupt our blocking scheme. Look for how our opponents play the “B” gaps. You may be in danger of becoming a more knowledgeable fan.
Opponent
Defense
Rookie OLB Hau’oli Kikaha has recorded a sack in 3 straight games and he leads the Saints in that category. Word on him is that he’s a one trick pony. Then again, getting sacks is an impressive trick. Especially when it leads to 2 of the teams 3 turnovers. Yes you read that right. Going into Week 5 the Saints have a paltry 3 turnovers, none of which are interceptions.
Offense
Like us, they throw the ball a ton because they can’t reliably run the thing. For that reason more than any other they’re 3rd in passing yardage, but they’re 19th in scoring.
QB Drew Brees is still trading on his rep from back when he had weapons like RB Darren Sproles, TE Jimmy Graham and a functioning version of WR Marques Colston. In reality his TD and yardage numbers have been dropping every year for the last four. He’s still good, but he’s not “that guy”anymore.
WR Brandin Cooks is shaping up to be a phenomenally pedestrian player; (and to think some fans wanted this guy to replace DJax.) The receiver to keep an eye on is Willie Snead.
What the Saints do different this year is they’ve knocked off that RB by committee nonsense and now they run everything through the team’s leading rusher (in both carries and yards), and leading receiver (in both receptions and yards) RB Mark Ingram. It’s not producing great numbers or wins yet, but it’s a sound building block to establish a go-to for big moments.
BOTTOM LINE
This is two bad 1-3 teams hanging on by a thread. Somebody’s season is coming to an end on Sunday. The giants are almost certain to beat the 49ers and go to 3-2. We can ill-afford to fall to 1-4. On the other hand most of our issues are technical and can be overcome. The Saints however are every bit as bad as their 1-3 record indicates.
PREDICTION
EAGLES 28 – Saints 16
EAGLEMANIACAL.com 
I scouted the Saints last week and saw very little from Brees and company. The only thing that scares me is kelly getting out coached by Peyton. Other than that , the Saints are ripe and Bradford should have no touble picking them apart.
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I think people are waaaaaay too used to the idea of the Saints and not the reality of them.
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I totally buy the Eagles winning, I just don’t think the score will be that high.
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Neither team has a defense. My guess is that Bradford throws 3-4 TD’s, and everyone who jumped ship will come back aboard for 4 weeks.
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I think a lot of what you pointed out about Bradford is true. But I think he is shaking off rust. People have been jumping on Chip for making some really surprising player moves in the offseason. I give him credit for trying to shake things up and get what he wants. It may not work but at least he did not drag out a non superbowl formula like Reid did. The goal is superbowl and if Chips got a limited amount of time to produce and he thinks a different combo gives him better odds of winning it all. I have no problem with that. The guy might have some Lurie budget restrictions and has to change the pattern we have come to expect. This whole organization needs a gut check and maybe that is what Chip is doing. He is putting the pressure on the players to step their game up and take responsibility. No drama in this just raise your game. I kind of like it.
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Under the new CBA, every team has to spend at least 89% of their salary cap, so no team can really be but so cheap. And we did overpay of Byron Maxwell and Sam Bradford (in trade).
As far as liking what Kelly did because it shakes things up, so far history indicates that he was more successful leaving things as still as possible. The more of him he’s injected into this team the worse it’s gotten so far.
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Ultimately talent is probably the #1 thing that makes a team great. We have some holes for sure but we have a young developing team. Im not ready to write Bradford off. I think we can do so much better that at least we know there is an upside.
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