FOUR THINGS: WK 18: EAGLES – GIANTS

Posted by The BEAST on 2023/01/05
Posted in: breakdown, Coaching, Defense, Four Things, NFC East, Offense, Players, Preview, Rivals. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

LAST week was a total disaster. We lost to a bottom-feeder team, when we stood to gain directly from their loss. We blew it from stem to stern. Worse yet, we had a player (DE Josh Sweat) leave the game in an ambulance.

On the menu this week, is a giants team that we carved up 48 – 22, just four weeks ago, while playing what I said, was our best game of the season. It’s unlikely that the giants have gotten 26 points better in the last four weeks, so if we put our hardhats on, we should be able to exploit the same weaknesses this time around.

With a win we lock-up the NFL’s best record this season, at 14 – 3. A win would also mean that we lock-up the division, and the #1 seed in the National Football Conference. That’s regardless of whatever else happens. More importantly, it would mean that we went 4 – 2 in our division, and not 3 – 3. We would have at least swept the giants.

A loss opens the door to Dallas winning the division, and us falling to the 5th seed in the conference. The NFL season is a marathon, not a sprint, and the finish line is ahead of us, not behind.

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The point of Four Things isn’t to predict a winner, it’s to discuss which tactics would give our Eagles the best chance to win this game. So here are the Four Things that we need to focus on this week, versus the: giants.

1) Give Sanders the Ball: For fuck’s sake, run the damned ball! Specifically with RB Miles Sanders. Do it to beat up their defensive front. Do it to give our Defense a chance to catch their breath. Do it to set up play-action. Do it because Sanders is one of the best backs in the league, when he gets carries like a real starter.

This is not a game where QB Jalen Hurts should have more than TWO designed runs. (QB Sneaks don’t count.) Scrambling is fine, but it should be the aim of this Offensive line that Hurts’ jersey should still smell like Tide when the game is over. Hand-offs will help that immensely.

2) Set the Edges: Last time we didn’t let them run inside. This time we want to send the message that we can also handle size on the perimeter. Especially after what “QB” Taysom Hill did to us last week. It was just 46 yards on 14 carries (3.2ypc), but he muscled his way for almost all of it. We can’t let that happen!

Force smaller holes, and funnel everything down and inside to MLB T.J. Edwards. For more pop, it would be great if LB Nakobe Dean started over OLB Kyzir White, but that’s not likely to happen just yet.

3) Show Dallas Some Love: Running TE Dallas Goedert down the seam can keep the run game open. Nothing about this needs to be clever or complicated. Put Goedert on a few routes up the field, and to the outside of the box. Some play-action, then a short pass. Boom. That’s it. Shorter passes will also preserve Hurts shoulder, and get the ball out of his hand quickly, cutting down on hits he takes.

Executing a couple of these early, will make the giants do one of two things. Either pull an OLB to the outer edge of the box, which will open up the run game. Or if they pull a S down into the box, daring Hurts to go deep, his deep passes will be easier to place.

4) Go Get Ball!: The Eagles have to be better about forcing turnovers. Over the last 3 games we have 8 giveaways to just 4 takeaways. The giveaway issue goes without saying. That said, aside from clawing at the ball during tackles, I can’t say that I’ve seen many Eagles defenders go for the ball, in the last few weeks.

That has to change this week. We need two turnovers in this one. We haven’t had two turnovers in a game since Green Bay in Week 12. Enough. Go get the ball!!

****

If the Eagles do these Four Things, then we’ll be virtually impossible to beat. That being said…

This game isn’t about beating the giants. It’s about not choking. For 17 weeks we’ve been at the head of the class of the NFL. Sadly, due to two late stumbles, we face being pulled back into the middle of the pack. Now we face either never being the road team in these playoffs, or possibly never being the home team.

Whether we play in our house or on the road, isn’t the issue. The Eagles can beat anyone put in front of us. The issue is the perception that the Eagles can be had if there are stakes to play for. We don’t need to empower opponents with that, or let the idea creep into our own player’s heads.

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Prediction: EAGLES 28 – giants 20

WARNING: I don’t have the faintest clue as to what a point spread is, and I know even less about how it works. I know football and that’s IT. If you use Four Things as a gambling tool, you are trying to lose your money, and will deserve it when you do.

Check back in a couple of days for Four Things Reviewed, and we’ll discuss how this game went.

FOUR THINGS REVIEWED: WK 17: SAINTS

Posted by The BEAST on 2023/01/02
Posted in: breakdown, Coaching, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, NFL, Offense, Players, playoffs, Reviews, Special Teams, stats. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

THIS one Hurts.

EAGLES 10 – Saints 20

EAGLES STATS:

Categories include an EXCLUSIVE weekly Offensive Line Report (Rushing TD’s (6 points) + 3rd downs converted by handoffs (1 point) + sacks allowed (-2 points) = score); as well as Drive Killer (Int – FR – 4th down Tackles – FF – TD).

New Category Ace is for Kick return TD’s, Returners run-down, kicks blocked, etc.

Passing :(S) QB Gardner Minshew (18/32 – 56.2% – 274 – 1 – 1)

Rushing :(S) RB Miles Sanders (12 – 61 – 5.0 – 0 – 0)

Receiving :(S) WR Devonta Smith (13 – 9 – 115 – 12.7 – 0)

Offensive Line Report/Enforcer : (0+ 0 – 6 (-12) = -12) LG Landon Dickerson

Drive Killer : (R ) NCB Josiah Scott (1 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0)

Sack Leader : (S) DE Brandon Graham (3 – 2.0 – 0 – 0)

Ace : NA

****

I hear you asking, “What about all the stuff that stats don’t reveal?” Well, that’s the reason for these Four Things articles. It’s to point out what we need to address BEFORE the game. Then AFTER the game, there’s a no-bullshit assessment of whether or not the Eagles did any of what they needed to do, to ensure the win.

So how much of what I mentioned in Four Things: SAINTS did the Eagles actually get around to doing? Well let’s see:

1) Run the damned ball: The Eagles had TWO hand-offs (back to back), in the first half for 9 nine yards. There were 12 (for 58 yards (4.8ypc) in the second half, but Offensive Coordinator Shane “Possibly Retarded” Steichen, wanted to show everyone how clever he is, while starting a back-up QB and a back-up RT. The result was 10 points. (NOT DONE)

2) Tight man on the Corners: Nope! Not at all. Once again we were playing our Corners 5 to 8 yards deep, making them late to Screens and outside run fits. There was no excuse for this. Defensive Coordinator Jonathan Gannon called a spineless game, in which got his Defense jerked around like kittens on a leash. This was embarrassing (NOT DONE)

3) Get Chunk Plays: Eagles seemed to want to do this, but an inability to protect Minshew (6 sacks allowed) short circuited any attempt to establish a rhythm offensively. This was made worse as no commitment to the run game, meant that the Saints didn’t buy our play-action. (NOT DONE)

4) Blow up the “A” Gaps: Early in the game, they had us on our heels with this. It was made worse by the Offense giving the Defense no time to rest, with three and out after three and out. Later in the game we got to a point where we were holding our own at the point of attack, but that’s not the same as winning. (NOT DONE)

****

This week we didn’t do any of the Four Things and we got… Have you ever gotten your butt crack waxed?

That’s sort of what happened to us out there. Because of this, next weeks game vs the giants is a MUST WIN. A win next week means that no playoff opponent will have home-field advantage over us. So we need this. NEED. Think of it as our first playoff game of the year.

****

On The Whole:

Get off of Gardner Minshew’s back! He’s a back-up QB who had to split reps this week, playing behind a damaged O-line, with a coaching staff that decided to rest the game squarely on his shoulders. Minshew has been fine over the last two weeks. Not great, but fine.

OFFENSE: We ran 15 plays in the first half. Just 2 were hand-offs. This was versus the #23 rushing defense in the league. I said in Four Things this is free yardage, and what happened? Miles Sanders averaged 5.0 yards per tote on his 12 carries. He had just 12 carries despite making solid gains when he did see the ball.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Poor play-calling is always a problem, but it’s an even worse problem with perpetually shitty field position. It is well past time to cut PR Britain Covey. He’s an out right liability at this point. When he isn’t fair catching everything, he’s getting blown up in ways that energize our opponents. We’re getting no energy, momentum, and no contribution from our not so Special Teams.

DEFENSE: Anybody care to explain why we were in deep zones again, allowing the QB to complete passes like it was a 7 on 7 drill? Because I sure as hell can’t! Nothing we did made sense today. It’s like the coaching staff was TRYING to throw the game. This cost us a clinch and a higher draft pick.

Calling this game an embarrassment, is like saying the Washington Commanders organization has a couple of things to correct. Adding injury to insult, DE Josh Sweat was carted off the field, and taken to a nearby hospital (probably Methodist since they’re part of Jefferson now), and scheduled to be released Sunday night.

FOUR THINGS: WK 17: EAGLES – SAINTS

Posted by The BEAST on 2022/12/30
Posted in: breakdown, Coaching, Defense, Four Things, Front Office (F.O.), NFC East, NFL, Offense, Players, playoffs, Preview. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

LET’S not try to spin last week’s loss to the Cowboys as a “good” thing. That said, let’s not ignore how many great lessons we learned from it. We put up 34 points, despite 4 turnovers, and playing with a back-up QB. The next time we face them, QB Jalen Hurts should be back, and we won’t be giving the ball away four times.

Now the league means to entertain the world, by ushering Saints into the Colosseum that is Lincoln Financial, to be devoured by the BEAST of the East.

Winning will make us 14 – 2, give us the NFC East crown, install us as the Number One Seed in the Conference, and position us to pick in the top ten of the upcoming Draft. Whether we win by one or one thousand, the results will be the same for us.

A loss here would drop us to 13 – 3, leaving the door open for the Cowboys to win the East, the Vikings to win the NFC, and leaving the Saints alive for a possible playoff berth, which would drop our potential top ten pick, all the way down to twenty-first. At best.

****

The point of Four Things isn’t to predict a winner, it’s to discuss which tactics would give our Eagles the best chance to win this game. So here are the Four Things that we need to focus on this week, versus the: Saints

1) Run the damned ball: By run the ball, I don’t mean run the QB, I mean hand it off to RB Miles Sanders. The Saints come into this game giving up 4.5 yards per tote, and have a smallish front 7 seven vs our huge Offensive Line. This is free yardage! For the love of Pete, just take it!

Also, hand-offs set up play-action. Why not make life easy on our QB, (regardless of which plays), if we can?

2) Tight man on the Corners: The Saints don’t have a WR that we need to be overly concerned about. The real reason for our CB’s playing tight to the Line Of Scrimmage, is to already be in position to create a funnel, when they throw any Screen passes. The idea is to funnel the receiver back into a million hands clawing at the ball and vicious collisions.

3) Get Chunk Plays: Instead of Hurts attempting forty-five 9yard passes, how about we whittle it down to fifteen 20yard passes. Let’s put up 20 first half points, and let Gardner Minshew take over. There is no sense in sacrificing a deep playoff win, just to get the top seed. Preserve Hurts shoulder. No playing with our food this week. Go for the killshots, early.

4) Blow up the “A” Gaps: Seriously folks, QB Andy Dalton is a statue. His rushing stats are 71 – 244 – 3.4 – 0. Since 2020! Get after him. Make him change his launch angle by making him move his feet. This should impact their passing game as well as the inside run game, and make it hard for them to move the ball in any regard.

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If the Eagles do these Four Things, then we’ll be virtually impossible to beat. That being said…

No need to talk a bunch here. Last week we didn’t handle business, and here we are with everything we worked this season, on the verge of being stolen at the last moment.

No more chit-chat. Go win.

****

Prediction: EAGLES 24 – Saints 13

WARNING: I don’t have the faintest clue as to what a point spread is, and I know even less about how it works. I know football and that’s IT. If you use Four Things as a gambling tool, you are trying to lose your money, and will deserve it when you do.

Check back in a couple of days for Four Things Reviewed, and we’ll discuss how this game went.

FOUR THINGS REVIEWED: WK 16: COWBOYS

Posted by The BEAST on 2022/12/26
Posted in: breakdown, Coaching, Defense, Draft, Four Things, Front Office (F.O.), NFC East, Offense, Players, Reviews, Rivals, Roster, Special Teams, stats. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment
LT Jordan Mailata comforts RB Miles Sanders after his fumble.

WE fumbled the game away

EAGLES 34 – Cowboys 40

EAGLES STATS:

Categories include an EXCLUSIVE weekly Offensive Line Report (Rushing TD’s (6 points) + 3rd downs converted by handoffs (1 point) + sacks allowed (-2 points) = score); as well as Drive Killer (Int – FR – 4th down Tackles – FF – TD).

New Category Ace is for Kick return TD’s, Returners run-down, kicks blocked, etc.

Passing : (S) QB Gardner Minshew (24/40 – 60% – 355 – 2 – 2)

Rushing : (S) RB Miles Sanders (21 – 65 – 3.0 – 0 – 1)

Receiving :(S) WR Devonta Smith (12 – 8 – 113 – 14.1 – 2)

Offensive Line Report/Enforcer : (1 (6) + 0 – 0 = 6) RG Isaac Seumalo

Drive Killer : (S) DE Josh Sweat (1 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 1)

Sack Leader (S) OLB Haason Reddick : (4 – 2.0 – 0 – 0)

Ace : N/A

****

I hear you asking, “What about all the stuff that stats don’t reveal?” Well, that’s the reason for these Four Things articles. It’s to point out what we need to address BEFORE the game. Then AFTER the game, there’s a no-bullshit assessment of whether or not the Eagles did any of what they needed to do, to ensure the win.

So how much of what I mentioned in Four Things: Cowboys did the Eagles actually get around to doing? Well let’s see:

One of TWO interception taken from WR Quez Watkins

1) Make their OLB’s Cover: They came out in a 4-2-5 alignment, moving OLB Micah Parsons (3 – 0 – 0 – 0) all around the formation to try and create a mismatch. While Minshew was under a fair amount of pressure during the game, Dallas collected no sacks all game long. We failed in this aspect, but we may gain a new tactic after this film study. (NOT DONE)

2) Punish the Blitz: Aside from a 21 yard pass to RB Kenny Gainwell (4 – 1 7 – 4.2 – 0 – 0 / 4 – 4 – 41 – 10.2 – 0), at no point did we catch them over-exposed during a blitz. Also, more could have been done with play-action. (NOT DONE)

3) Take Away the Quick Stuff: Slot WR Ceedee Lamb (11 – 10 – 120 – 12.0 – 2) was immediately into his routes. The timing routes were so good, that their QB could have almost played with his eyes closed. (NOT DONE)

Sacks. Pick Sixes. DE Josh Sweat did it all.

4) Squeeze and Occupy the Gaps: Well executed. Cowboys RB’s ran for 74 yards on 25 carries (2.96ypc). This also opened up pass rush opportunities, leading to six sacks. (DONE)

****

Sadly, we rung up just 1 of the Four Things this week, but we’ll see this team again, soon. Having not taken care of business this week, we need to play another meaningful game next week vs the Saints. Which in all truth, may be the best thing for our playoff run.

****

On The Whole:

FIRST! That interception by Josh Sweat was a amazing. The last time I saw a play like that, I was making it at age 15. It was just street ball. No pads. I’ve never seen that play made in pads, and couldn’t believe it when I saw it. The degree of difficulty to make that play in pads… I need to give Sweat props, before going into the postmortem.

Two fumbles. One by RB Miles Sanders where he simply lost the handle; and an inexplicable one by RB Boston Scott (0 – 0 – 0.0 – 0 – 1) where he took a handoff and for whatever reason never closed his arms over the ball. Worse was WR Quez Watkins (5 – 1 – 19 – 19.0 – 0) giving up two interceptions by letting the defender take the ball out of his hands.

Don’t tell me how competitive each man on the team is, when I see a lack of hunger this pronounced. Next season it might be wise to distill Watkins, RB Boston Scott, and KR Britain Covey’s roster spots into a back-up WR or RB, who has college KR experience. Our third round pick should be a GREAT place to find that player.

Aside from the four turnovers, there was the 3rd and 30 that we allowed the Cowboys to convert. While everyone else is harping on the coverage, the real problem was the lack of pressure that allowed the clean look, on a pin-point pass, delivered with follow through. Just a four man rush on 3rd and 30? It was clear that was the plan pre-snap, so I was in my living room screaming for five. Screaming! So the catch wasn’t surprising.

Overall, I didn’t see anything that worries me for the rubber match in a few weeks. Do I see us forcing just one punt, and giving the ball away four times, again? Not at all. I also don’t see us holding their RB’s to 74 yards, but the tactic for playing them will jump off any game tape. A six point loss, with four turnovers, playing with our back-up QB? Plenty of confidence for when we see them next.

FOUR THINGS: WK 16: EAGLES – COWBOYS

Posted by The BEAST on 2022/12/23
Posted in: breakdown, Coaching, Defense, Four Things, NFC East, NFL, Offense, Players, playoffs, Preview, Rivals, Roster. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

OUR win over the Bears came at a cost, as our QB Jalen, hurts with (what we’re told is) a shoulder sprain. (See wha’ aw deed there? (Yes! And then I wrote with Sharlto Copley’s accent. You’re welcome!) In any case, we toughed our way past injury, brutal cold, and an opponent that I warned last week, that we can’t let hang around.

This week’s opponent doesn’t do so well against the run. Given that running the ball is a strength of ours, it can be the Trojan Horse that we use to sneak in our passing game this week. In that way we’d exploit a glaring Cowboys weakness, while strategically attacking what would normally be a strength that they rely on.

QB Gardner Minshew. Dallas, you have a problem.

A win here makes us 14 – 1, and uncatchable both as the winner of the NFC East, and as the #1 seed in the NFC. A win here also means, the only playoff game we’d play on the road, would be the Super Bowl. A win here would have the NFL looking at Eagles back-up QB Gardner Minshew and thinking, “Oh shit. Not again”

A loss puts us at 13 – 2 , leaving the division winner, and #1 seed in question for at least one more week. Which is why this game will be a NASTY one. Anyone who thinks they want it more than we do, is about to find themselves slumped over a fire hydrant. (Had to go old school, to paint that picture.)

****

The point of Four Things isn’t to predict a winner, it’s to discuss which tactics would give our Eagles the best chance to win this game. So here are the Four Things that we need to focus on this week, versus the: Cowboys

WR A.J. Brown for six ahead of olb/DE Micah Parsons

1) Make their OLB’s Cover: It’s a given that OLB Micah Parsons is just a pass rusher. He’s a good one, but he’s exploitable in coverage and against the run. Almost to the point of being a liability. So run at him. Also have TE Dallas Goedert motion to Parson’s outside hip, so that when he pass rushes, he leaves Goedert open at the snap. Easy money until the Cowboys make Parsons cover.

The other OLB Anthony Barr doesn’t see as many snaps due to Nickel and Dime packages, but with his his age (30), weight (250), and injury history to his right leg, he’s no match for either WR Quez Watkins or WR Zach Pascal. Line them up on his outside leg and run him out of the box. Or even better, sub him out for smaller.

2) Punish the Blitz: The Cowboys like to walk S Donovan Wilson up into the ‘A’ and ‘B’ gaps to let him rush the QB practically unblocked. They’ve gotten him 4 sacks and 8 QB hits off of this tactic. Said the Little Tailor “Ahhh, but I know a trick worth two of that!”

With Hurts out of the game, it’s an automatic that hand-offs are back on the menu. So use play-action. No! Better yet, abuse play-action. Get the blitzer to honor the RB, so that Minshew has a second longer to let a receiver come uncovered on a quick route up the seam. Or put RB Miles Sanders in motion for a Quick Screen pass.

3) Take Away the Quick Stuff: Of course CB’s Darius “Big Play” Slay and James Bradberry will play aggressively, but NCB Avonte Maddox needs to delay receivers releases into their patterns. Give no quick timing throws to QB Dak Prescott. We don’t have to shut the receivers down, just throw Prescott off.

Get their routes unfolding at a slower rate, than Prescott’s muscle memory. That doesn’t mean slow the game down for him! The pass rush is still coming at full speed! Due to a rash of interceptions, he’s said last week that he has to do a better job of assessing risk. Get him holding the ball a little longer, and get some sack/fumbles.

Our BACK-UPS at DT: Marvin Williams, Linval Joseph, Ndamukong Suh. This is so damned unfair.

4) Squeeze and Occupy the Gaps: This game will be won or lost at the Line Of Scrimmage. We don’t need to tackle their RB’s for a loss on every play. However, if we get bodies in the gaps and narrow run holes, (that goes for the ‘C’ gaps too!) it gives us time to get population to the football, and slow their run game down.

We don’t need to shut down their run, just make it unreliable. The more bodies we can put in gaps, the cleaner MLB T.J. Edwards stays. So take the run off the table and force Prescott to have to carry his team.

****

If the Eagles do these Four Things, then we’ll be virtually impossible to beat. That being said…

This is going to be a physical game, since both teams need the win. We need it to be able to rest players, and maybe practice new concepts for the playoffs. A win allows us to give some guys a day of two off. Just like Spring baseball.

Goosebumps.

The Cowboys on the other hand, need this game to have a mathematical chance at the East’s 2022 banner. A loss here will lock them in as the 5th seed. Yet they couldn’t afford to rest starters, with Prescott’s interception issue not being resolved. They need more reps to work on what’s wrong with their passing game.

So the Cowboys have to play the next two games hard, and then play Wild Card week. If we start the pounding on Saturday, they should be fall apart tender by the time we see them in four to five weeks. So let’s get to tenderizing!

Oh, and expect a nail-biter.

****

Prediction: EAGLES 21 – Cowboys 20

WARNING: I don’t have the faintest clue as to what a point spread is, and I know even less about how it works. I know football and that’s IT. If you use Four Things as a gambling tool, you are trying to lose your money, and will deserve it when you do.

Check back in a couple of days for Four Things Reviewed, and we’ll discuss how this game went.

FOUR THINGS REVIEWED: WK 15: BEARS

Posted by The BEAST on 2022/12/19
Posted in: breakdown, Coaching, Defense, Four Things, NFC East, NFL, Offense, Players, playoffs, Reviews, Roster, Special Teams, stats. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

RUNNING a lot hurts Jalen.

EAGLES 25 – Bears 20

EAGLES STATS:

Categories include an EXCLUSIVE weekly Offensive Line Report (Rushing TD’s (6 points) + 3rd downs converted by handoffs (1 point) + sacks allowed (-2 points) = score); as well as Drive Killer (Int – FR – 4th down Tackles – FF – TD).

New Category Ace is for Kick return TD’s, Returners run-down, kicks blocked, etc.

Passing :(S) QB Jalen Hurts (22/37 – 59.4% – 315 – 0 – 2)

Rushing :(S) QB Jalen Hurts (17 – 61 – 3.5 – 3 – 0)

Receiving : (S) WR A.J. Brown (16 – 9 – 181 – 20.1 – 0)

Offensive Line Report/Enforcer : (3 (18) + 1 (1) – 1 (2) = 17 ) LT Jordan Mailata

Drive Killer :(S) OLB Haason Reddick (0 – 1 – 0 – 1 – 0)

Sack Leader :(S) OLB Haason Reddick (4 – 2.0 – 0 – 1)

Ace : RB Boston Scott: 58 yard KR (3 – 92 – 30.6 – 0)

****

I hear you asking, “What about all the stuff that stats don’t reveal?” Well, that’s the reason for these Four Things articles. It’s to point out what we need to address BEFORE the game. Then AFTER the game, there’s a no-bullshit assessment of whether or not the Eagles did any of what they needed to do, to ensure the win.

So how much of what I mentioned in Four Things: Bears did the Eagles actually get around to doing? Well let’s see:

DT Javon Hargrave and DE Josh Sweat each had 2 sacks in this game.

1) Lock The Box: Don’t mush-rush. Play the LB’s in shallow zones, and get aggressively after their QB with our front four. That was the call and that’s EXACTLY what we did. Three different Eagles had 2 sacks each, as DT Javon Hargrave (3 – 2.0 – 0 – 0), DE Josh Sweat (6 – 2.0 – 1 – 0) and OLB Haason Reddick (4 – 2.0 – 0 – 1) all laid hands upon Chicago’s QB.

Aside from 95 rushing yards to a run-first QB, we gave up just 62 yards on 15 carries (4.1) to the rest of their team. Some of the yards were in small chunks, but most were in small pieces and slivers. So it was never something they could rely on, or use to complement the rest of their offense. (DONE)

2) Man Coverage on the Corners: Chicago’s top three WR’s COMBINED for 4 catches, 72 yards (18.0 yards per catch), with a 35 yard score on a blown coverage. Our CB’s played up in the receivers faces and reduced them essentially to spectators. (DONE)

3) Use Play-action: You can’t use play-action if you don’t hand the ball off. In the first half of this game RB Miles Sanders (11 – 42 – 3.8 – 0 – 1) carried the ball all of 4 times. That’s a recipe for getting your QB killed. (NOT DONE)

4) Quick Hook: We never got the chance to pull our starters because we never had a 20 point lead. However, the contingency plan of hammering the football was also not even glanced at. (NOT DONE)

****

OLB Haason Reddick with one of of his two sacks

This week 2 of the Four Things was enough for us to grab a the “Dub”. Next week we go to Dallas to clinch the NFC East, and guarantee home-field advantage (and then a neutral site), throughout the playoffs.

****

On The Whole:

WR A.J. Brown gets the catch, but no laundry for “some” reason.

Let me get this gripe in, first. I’ve been very vocal about how much wear and tear all the running will put on Hurts. I haven’t talked about punishment. I’ve talked about wear and tear. I don’t know if YOU noticed it, but Hurts looks slower running these days. More catchable. That’s the wear and tear. Like on your own joints!

With Hurts being easier to catch, that means he’s now easier to hit. Notice the kind of hits he took in this game? In September/October no one repeatedly got those sort of shots on him. They did in this one! And he’s only going to keep getting up slower and slower. You want to watch the Cowboys knock him out of a game? Me either. They have to ease up on the called runs.

Thanks to QB Tom Brady and Deflate-gate, I’ve repeatedly talked about how cold weather affects footballs. Early in the game I figured this was why Hurts’ ball placement was so spotty. Turns out his hands were numb, and he was having trouble seeing. He doesn’t think Philly will get as cold as Chicago did. Somebody tell him!

Do I think this team looked past Chicago, to next week’s match-up with Dallas? In the fourth quarter, on the two point conversion, Miles Sanders went into motion, setting off a series of pre-snap shifts. When he went by the TE, Sanders touched him on the rear, that TE shifted and touched the rear of the next man to go into a shift.

For those who don’t know what that was, it was the Eagles running silent, to handle noise. Soldier Field wasn’t loud at that point, so why do that? Because it was practice for next week. The Eagles used this Bears game as a first practice for Dallas. It’s not just players that looked past the Bears. The coaching staff was doing it too.

This is only the beginning.

2022 QUARTERLY REPORT CARD: QUARTER THREE

Posted by The BEAST on 2022/12/18
Posted in: breakdown, Conversations, Defense, NFC East, NFL, Offense, Players, report, Reviews, Roster, Special Teams, stats. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

SEASON Reviews are usually done at the end of the season. A few are also done at the halfway mark. Starting in 2017, Eaglemaniacal.com began treating the season like a game, and breaking it into four quarters.

In 2021, the NFL expanded the season to 17 games, which makes for an uneven split. So this year (at least), these Quarterly Reports will come after games 5, 9, 13, and 17. (Ugh. I hate even looking at that format.)

Since football is a hard sport, we’ll take a hard look at where our team currently stands, in relation to where it started. Then we can discuss where it needs to go next.

STATUS: 12 – 1, 1st in NFC East, 1st in the NFC

OPPONENTS:

(W ) Indianapolis         4 – 8 – 1

(W ) Green Bay             5 – 8

(W ) Tennessee              7 – 6

(W ) New York giants   7 -5 – 1

OVERVIEW:

Offensively, the Eagles have shown an ability to beat opponents either with the run game (363 yards vs Green Bay), or with the passing game (386 yards vs Tennessee). Regardless of what opponents try to stop, the Eagles have an answer for that. Defensively, any talk that the Eagles can’t stop the run, has disappeared to the point where it’s not even gossip anymore.

Now, all the media talk has turned to whether or not QB Jalen Hurts is the NFL’s MVP. Honestly, I doubt most of us care. Local talk wants to discuss playoff scenarios. And possible parade plans.

*****

GRADES:

QB: A / Jalen Hurts is doing as much as can be asked of him this quarter. Run the ball in for the game winner? CHECK. Set a franchise rushing record? CHECK. Throw for nearly 400 yards and three scores vs no picks? CHECK. In fact, Hurts has been stellar both as a passer (84/123 – 68.2% – 940 – 8 – 0), and as a runner (47 – 332 – 7.0 – 3 – 1). That said his usage as a runner on called run plays, is far too high.

RB: A / Miles Sanders (61 – 358 – 5.8 – 5 – 0) had a career day vs Green Bay (143 rushing yards) and then had another vs the giants, en route to becoming the Eagles first 1,000 yard rusher since LeSean “Shady” McCoy in 2014. Sanders is a talented runner, a capable receiver, and has demonstrated solid command of pass protection reads as well as effective blocking. Someone is going to pay him this off-season, the only question is, who.

Kenneth Gainwell (12 – 54 – 4.5 – 1 – 0) has seen an uptick in passes (5 – 4 – 43 – 10.7 – 0). Specifically on checkdowns right in front of the vacated MLB area, resulting in some easy first downs. Boston Scott (18 – 81 – 4.5 – 1 – 0) seems to have gotten some of his juice back since becoming the primary KR. Still, we may want to get a look at Trey Sermon.

TE: C / Jack Stoll (6 – 6 – 68 – 11.3 – 0) needs to see more targets, if only to keep opposing defenses honest. He’s been dependable when we go to him. That’s not to suggest that he can fill the shoes left by Dallas Goedert (I.R.), but it seems like Stoll’s lack of production is strictly opportunity based. Grant Calcaterra (6 – 4 – 41 – 10.2 – 0) and Tyree Jackson, have been afterthoughts.

This position is graded low, but the problem seems more like a coaching issue, than a player issue. They can’t produce if they aren’t invited to the Offense, and Offensive Coordinator Shane Steichen, is doing a terrible job of developing these three young players.

WR: B / A.J. Brown (29 – 21 – 295 – 14.0 – 1) has coughed up 2 fumbles this quarter. Otherwise, he’s been an absolute nightmare for defenses. (Especially his former team, the Titans.) Devonta Smith (34 – 20 – 294 – 14.7 – 2) doesn’t get the fanfare that Brown does. Instead he’s been quietly killing secondaries with precise routes that keep the chains moving.

Quez Watkins (18 – 14 – 122 – 8.7 – 2) has started the last three games, and been a key contributor in each one. His speed loosens the secondary and invites opponents settle for handing over intermediate completions, instead of long scoring strikes. Zach Pascal (4 – 4 – 30 – 7.5 – 0) only had 9 yards of YAC this quarter. That needs to rebound next quarter.

OT: B / LT Jordan Mailata has played every snap this quarter, drew three flags, added a fumble recovery, and dropped a FIRE Christmas album. RT Lane Johnson who’s been flagged three times this quarter, is also on that Christmas album. Solid play, but these two have been flagged and cost the team 25 yards this quarter. Gotta be better than that.

OG: C / More is needed from LG Landon Dickerson, in pass protection. Between he and G Issac Seumalo, there are still too many sacks given up by us week to week. The run blocking has been great. Andre Dillard has also logged some time at LG, when Dickerson left the Titans game with an injury.

C: B / Jason Kelce is also on the Christmas album. Three penalties for 21 yards this quarter plus a bad snap vs the Colts, is the bad news. The good news, is watching him get ahead of runners on touchdown runs. Cam Jurgens has had a few down on mop-up duty and he hasn’t stood out. Which is exactly what you want from a back-up lineman.

DE: A / Brandon Graham has never had a 10 sack season. Currently he has 8.5, but if he plays like he did this quarter (5.5 sacks, 1FF), he will eclipse that number in what could be his swan song as an Eagle. Josh Sweat has racked up 4 sacks in the last 4 games, giving Eagles the ability to reach from either edge.

Robert Quinn added no measurable production before being placed on I.R. after Week 12. Patrick Johnson is listed at LB. But plays almost exclusively at this position for depth.

DT: B / Fletcher Cox is no longer being overused, playing around just 30 snaps per game. He’s rejuvenated and has responded with 3 sacks in the last 3 games, plus 4 TFL (tackle for loss). Javon Hargrave had to cool off after the torrid pace he kept up last quarter. Jordan Davis returned from I.R. playing just 24 total snaps in two games.

Linval Joseph came over at the beginning of this quarter, to occupy blockers and others clean, but he’s even chipped in half a sack. Ndamukong Suh does more penetrating and blowing up blocking schemes. He also has half a sack. These two were brought in to help with run defense and boy have they! Playing here and on the End is Milton Williams, with 2 sacks and 4 TFL. Deep and disruptive group here.

OLB: C / Haason Reddick also lines up at DE, and has helped himself to 3.5 QB kills this quarter. Kyzir White hasn’t made any splash plays in months, opening the door for rookie Nakobe Dean who impressed during his 6 tackle performance in just 15 downs, during a Week 13 victory.

MLB: C / T.J. Edwards Hasn’t been the tackle machine that he was before we added DT’s Joseph and Suh, but he also hasn’t had to be that MLB. Now he’s back to showing up in coverage.

S: B / Marcus Epps helped win the Colts game with a timely FF. Seems to be lurking around the box a little more these days, but that’s likely him covering for injured players. Chauncey “CJGJ” Gardner-Johnson went on I.R. after Week 12.

Filling in admirably for CJGJ, was rookie Reed Blankenship. Until he got injured. Snagging an interception and a handful of key stops, Blankenship has just about guaranteed himself a 2023 roster spot. K’Von Wallace filled in for Blankenship, and got a few tackles.

CB: A / Teams just aren’t testing Darius “Big Play” Slay much. He got fingers on 3 passes, but he doesn’t see much traffic. The exact same things can be said for James Bradberry. Teams seemed to have learned their lesson.

Josiah Scott intercepted a ball deflected by Slay during Week 12. Avonte Maddox returned from I.R. on Week 14. Zech McPhearson and Josh Jobe haven’t really played much.

LS: A/ Rick Lovato hasn’t had any screw-ups snapping and even snagged himself another tackle.

P: D/ Not been a great quarter for Arryn Siposs. Two games with punt averages of 35 yards or lower, and being injured on block. Now he’s on I.R.

K: A/ Jake Elliott was 17/18 on extra points, 5/5 on Field Goals, and even threw in a 35 yard punt, after an injury to Siposs.

PR/KR: WR Britain Covey exclusively handles punt returns this quarter, and it’s working like crazy! His returns (11 – 147 – 13.3 – 0) are a far cry from where he was last quarter. Handling kick-offs, has been RB Boston Scott (9 – 245 – 27.2 – 0). He’s had a few nice returns, but he has no chance of scoring without some extraordinary blocking.

*****

SINCE LAST QUARTER:

The mission last quarter was to secure a playoff berth. DONE! We’re taking things a step at a time, and it’s allowing players to have a sense of urgency, and timeliness. Players have been dialed into the here and now. Just a couple more weeks like that, and we should be in a great spot.

MISSION FOR THIS QUARTER:

Win the division, then secure a first round Bye.

Those can’t be done against Chicago just yet. However, the following week in Dallas, we could lock up the division, and the conference with just that win. No other help would be needed after that. Starters could sit for the last two games. (They shouldn’t.) Winning these next two games, ices it for us.

FOUR THINGS: WK 15: EAGLES – BEARS

Posted by The BEAST on 2022/12/17
Posted in: breakdown, Coaching, Defense, Four Things, Offense, Players, playoffs, Preview, trade. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

CLINCHING a playoff spot last week, validates the Eagles efforts so far. Goal number one of any season, in any sport, is to qualify for the playoffs. Well, that part is in the books. Goal number two is to win our division, so that we get to host at least one playoff game.

Standing in the way of that goal, are the run-dimensional Chicago Bears. (See what I did there?) Should be fun to watch QB Jalen Hurts stalk these animals in their den, and fire multiple touchdowns right though the heart of their secondary.

Skinny Batman Alert!!! WR Devonta Smith has 775 receiving yards. He needs 225 more in the next four games, to reach 1,000. The Eagles already have one 1,000 yard receiver in WR A.J. Brown. The franchise has never had two in the same year.

A win pushes us to 13 – 1, and helps us hold onto a two game lead in our division, as well as our two game lead as the NFC’s top team.

A loss sees us sag to 12 – 2. We’d still be the top team in the NFC East, and the NFC, regardless of how Sunday works out. Still, the Bears are an opponent who has already been eliminated from playoff contention. It’s our duty to help them improve their position in this upcoming Draft.

****

The point of Four Things isn’t to predict a winner, it’s to discuss which tactics would give our Eagles the best chance to win this game. So here are the Four Things that we need to focus on this week, versus the: Bears

1) Lock The Box: Because of QB Justin Fields’ ability to run past pass-rushers, many teams opt to “mush rush” him, where they gradually try to shrink the pocket, instead of penetrating. It usually works, but it allows the Bears to hang around in games they shouldn’t be in. Why give up a ton of easy yards and points?

Here’s what we should do with our front seven. No mush-rush. Full rush our four D-Linemen, and put the LB’S in shallow zones. That way, if and when Fields slips by our Line, we already have LB’s closing on him, and hoping to trade paint. We also need to be ready to corral their RB’s. Once we have the lead, just continue to “dance with the girl who brung ya.” Stick with the strategy.  

2) Man Coverage on the Corners: The Bears receivers are trash, and their QB is no miracle worker. Take them off the board as options immediately, to force the QB to either run, or dump it underneath. Otherwise, he’s putting the ball in harms way.

3) Use Play-action: That immediately means that RB Miles Sanders needs to receive actual hand-offs, to get the defense to bite on the fakes when they happen. Play-action to Sanders, then a deep shot to Devonta Smith, sounds like six already!

4) Quick Hook: At any point, if we get up by 20 points, we need to immediately pull our starters. Two reasons:

1) It protects our players from potential injuries, in a game that could quickly become mean-spirited, if the Bears feel humiliated.

2) The earlier we pull our starters, the more the Bears will feel we don’t take them seriously. Bears players were gut-punched earlier this year, when DE Robert Quinn was traded here. That was followed by a shoryuken, when the Bears traded away LB Roquan Smith. Bears players were publicly questioning what they were playing for. The humiliation of watching us sub early, would send that team into Quit Mode. DO IT! (If we get the chance.)

If we never see a 20 by the 4th quarter, then frequently bring in Offensive Lineman as eligible receivers, then run off-Guard power stuff. Switch to a physical run style. Punish the Bears to advertise that when opponents make us give them our undivided, then there’s going to be trouble.

****

If the Eagles do these Four Things, then we’ll be virtually impossible to beat. That being said…

The number one rushing team in the NFL is the Bears. Mostly because 1) their QB is a gifted runner, and 2) in proud Bears tradition, their QB isn’t very good at the QB part of playing QB. So how afraid should we be?

The Bears have lost a lot of close games this season. If we let them hang around, we’ll have problem, later in the game. That’s why getting up early and resting starters, is so important.

[eagles celebrating]

We’re dealing with an opponent that went into the Trade Deadline with a front office screaming “Fire Sale!”. So don’t tell me they want to win a couple for pride. Perhaps the players may, but from the head coach on up, the Bears want to tank to move up in the 2023.

So we should help them out!

****

Prediction: EAGLES 29 – Bears 20

WARNING: I don’t have the faintest clue as to what a point spread is, and I know even less about how it works. I know football and that’s IT. If you use Four Things as a gambling tool, you are trying to lose your money, and will deserve it when you do.

Check back in a couple of days for Four Things Reviewed, and we’ll discuss how this game went.

FOUR THINGS REVIEWED: WK 14: GIANTS

Posted by The BEAST on 2022/12/12
Posted in: breakdown, Coaching, Defense, Four Things, NFC East, NFL, Offense, Players, playoffs, Reviews, Rivals, Special Teams, stats. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

QB Jalen Hurts celebrates clinching a playoff berth

PLAYOFFS, here we come!

EAGLES 48 – giants 22

EAGLES STATS:

Categories include an EXCLUSIVE weekly Offensive Line Report (Rushing TD’s (6 points) + 3rd downs converted by handoffs (1 point) + sacks allowed (-2 points) = score); as well as Drive Killer (Int – FR – 4th down Tackles – FF – TD).

New Category Ace is for Kick return TD’s, Returners run-down, kicks blocked, etc.

Passing : (S) QB Jalen Hurts (21/31– 67.7% – 217 – 2 – 0)

Rushing : (S) RB Miles Sanders (17 – 144 – 8.4 – 2 – 0)

Receiving : (S) WR A.J. Brown (6 – 4 – 70 – 17.5 – 1)

Offensive Line Report/Enforcer : (4 (24) + 2 (2) – 4 (-8) = 18) C Jason Kelce

Drive Killer : (B) DE Patrick Johnson (0 – 1 – 0 – 0 – 0)

Sack Leader : (S) DE Brandon Graham (4 – 3.0 – 0 – 1)

Ace : K Jake Elliott: 6/6 XP, 2/2 FG, 35 yd punt (no return)

****

I hear you asking, “What about all the stuff that stats don’t reveal?” Well, that’s the reason for these Four Things articles. It’s to point out what we need to address BEFORE the game. Then AFTER the game, there’s a no-bullshit assessment of whether or not the Eagles did any of what they needed to do, to ensure the win.

So how much of what I mentioned in Four Things: GIANTS did the Eagles actually get around to doing? Well let’s see:

DE Brandon Graham collecting one of his THREE sacks in this game.

1) The T.J. and Nakobe Show: This section was given this title because I figured MLB T.J. Edwards (6 – 0 – 0 – 0) and LB Nakobe Dean (1 – 0 – 0 – 0) would be best suited to carrying out the strategy of holding RB Saquon Barkley (9 – 28 – 3.1 – 0 – 0) to under 4 yards per carry, to shift the game onto the shoulders of QB Daniel Jones (18/27 – 66.6% – 169 – 1 – 0).

The strategy worked like a charm! Only thing is, the LB’s didn’t need to be who pulled it off. Once again the Defensive Line stepped up and made the day easy for Edwards, by getting their own mitts on Barkley. I could call it “half done”, but I won’t. The TACTIC is what is important, not who gets the snaps. (DONE)

2) Run Miles Run: Miles Sanders 17 carries were more than everyone else’s on the team, combined. As a result, the Offense flowed smoothly ALL GAME LONG. Their defense was never able to key solely on Hurts, and they also fell much harder for play-action. What you saw today, is a formula for winning playoff games. (Although a big RB would be a nice addition, right about now!) (DONE)

3) Use A Release Valve: We came out doing this, as TE Grant Calcaterra (4 – 2 – 24 – 12.0 – 0) caught both of his passes on the opening drive. I mentioned getting TE Jack Stoll (2 – 2 – 20 – 10.0 – 0) involved and it led to them having to respect him. It was a simple, simple thing, yet it helped open up all kinds of room for the run game. (DONE)

This 41 yard TD grab by WR Devonta Smith was NASTY. Just nasty.

4) Don’t Collapse: “We need to keep scoring in the second half. Stalling out on points is not an option this week”. Those were my exact words. The result was scoring 24 points in BOTH halves of the game. We even managed a touchdown drive with our second unit out there. (DONE)

****

This week we did a 4 of the Four Things, in a game that was nowhere as close as the score indicates. While their playoff hopes aren’t completely dead yet, the contract is down on them. “The guys. The guns. The lime pit’s already dug.” Next week we travel to Chicago, to help them move up in the 2023 Draft.

****

On The Whole:

FINALLY! This was the best game the Eagles have played all season. Offense, Defense, and Special Teams, all played well. We played two halves of football. We got stops without having to rely on multiple turnovers. It wasn’t a flashy, splashy win. It was quiet domination.

RB Miles Sanders setting a career high for the second time in three weeks

Along the way, RB Miles Sanders secured his first 1,000 yard rushing season, and WR A.J. Brown eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving, in his first year as an Eagle. In the next 4 games WR Devonta Smith needs 225 to reach 1,000. The Eagles have never had two 1,000 yard receivers in the same season. Time for “a new page when they go look in the notebook.”

(I’m out of control. I’m on here using NY based quotes, after we dismantled their team. The irony resulting from showing our mettle at winning high stakes. Not everyone is Mary Lou Retton behind the eyes. So for some, that may take days to get, but don’t flip out. It’s just true craftsmanship. Words from the mind of a Master.)

I don’t know if you noticed this, but this was the third game where we rested our starters, once we got a big lead. It says something about a coach when he doesn’t risk his starters, just to run up the score vs a bad team. Nice to root for a team with some class.

If the playoffs were to start now, they’d have to hand us the Lombardi, because we’re the only team with a guaranteed berth. Even better, Minnesota fell to 10 – 3, giving us a two game margin of error in the race for the #1 seed in the NFC.

Time to close the book on New York, and see Chicago.

FOUR THINGS: WK 14: EAGLES – GIANTS

Posted by The BEAST on 2022/12/09
Posted in: breakdown, Coaching, Defense, Four Things, NFC East, NFL, Offense, Players, playoffs, Preview, Rivals, Roster. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

YOU know you beat a team’s ass, when it precipitates a firing. Our passing game, led by QB Jalen Hurts, absolutely torched what was supposed to be one of the NFL’s toughest teams. Well, this week expect to see a lot of RB Miles Sanders running the ball right down the giants throats.

A win puts us at 12 – 1, and clinches the first of the NFC’s seven playoffs spots. Despite currently boasting the NFL’s best record, the success of other teams, has so far kept us from locking down a playoff berth yet. Once we get this ‘W’ we can start talking about clinching the division, and so forth. But one thing at a time. Let’s clinch this berth.

A loss would leave us at 11 – 2, but still atop the NFC East. We’d also retain the top spot in the NFC even if the Vikings win and go to 11 – 2 themselves. Having beaten them, we own the tie-breaker.

We’ve come very far, but we haven’t quite come far enough, yet. Though near impossible, it all could still just fall apart, and be for nothing. Winning this game guarantees that that can’t happen. So a little less conversation. Let’s take care of business.

****

The point of Four Things isn’t to predict a winner, it’s to discuss which tactics would give our Eagles the best chance to win this game. So here are the Four Things that we need to focus on this week, versus the: giants.

1) The T.J. and Nakobe Show: The national media predicted that MLB T.J. Edwards would lose his starting spot to rookie LB Nakobe Dean. I on the other hand, repeatedly said not so fast. Well, Edwards is third in the NFC in tackles (109), and having a career year so far. Dean saw his first extended action last week, when LB Kyzir White went down, and Dean acquitted himself well, making 6 stops in just 15 snaps..

These two LB’s need to see more time on the field together. Their ability to read, shed blocks, and make solid dependable tackles, is exactly what’s needed to hold giants RB Saquon Barkley to under 4 yards per carry.  At that point, the game will shift to the shoulders of QB Daniel Jones.

Jones isn’t strong enough to carry the team, and Barkley is wearing down. He’s up to 282 touches this year, and hasn’t had this many touches (and counting) since he was a rookie, many injuries ago. He’s already hitting a wall.

2) Run Miles Run: This isn’t the week for QB runs. This needs to be the week of Miles Sanders, and his Offensive Line. The giants are susceptible to the run for a couple of reasons. We need to be smart enough to take advantage of the easy road they’ve paved for us, and just let our O-Line tee off on them.

The giants have large DT’s and they generally play them for over 80% of the snaps in a game. That is not a typo. The giants are already wearing their guys out, for us. There are also locker room concerns. Some players have complained to the media, about their playing time. Run defense is an attitude as much as anything else. Without the right attitude, there is no cohesion, and vice versa.

3) Use A Release Valve: The giants are yet another 3 – 4 defense that plays more like a 5 – 2 with pass rushing OLB’s who can’t cover. If TE Dallas Goedert weren’t on I.R. I’d say use the “Kerrigan Plan” to loosen the box. Goedert’s back-up, TE Jack Stoll isn’t as fluid a route runner, so that strategy has to change.

Having Stoll directly challenge ILB Micah McFadden in his area, and throwing him a couple of early passes, would help open space up for the run game. Micah is trash in coverage, and should be exploitable on quick hitters. Once Stoll is established as a target not a decoy, they have to cover him. Thus pulling a man away from the inside of the box.

4) Don’t Collapse: We need to keep scoring in the second half. Stalling out on points is not an option this week. This is where adjustments will become key. We are facing a division rival. They know us. So there won’t be any long range surprises. This will be a test of whether or not Head Coach Nick Sirianni, can spot an opening DURING a fight and exploit it.

The giants have seven wins, but three of them (TEN, BAL, GB) have more to do with their opponent collapsing, than anything giants did to change the course of those games. Don’t collapse. Don’t help them. This is where our Eagles start to learn what it means to put an opponent away. This is early prep for the playoffs.

****

If the Eagles do these Four Things, then we’ll be virtually impossible to beat. That being said…

For the first time this season, the Eagles are playing for actual stakes. This game will give us a real idea of how much killer instinct this team has innately.

Every proficient killer requires training and discipline. You have to learn and master your weapon(s). You have to understand your prey, and why it behaves the way it does. What drives it. What it fears, and what it thinks it has mastery of. You have to know where your breaking point is. What your own limits are. When to run and when to settle. Settle. Breathe. Effective killers aren’t born. They are made.

This week we will see if the Eagles have a talent for this sort of work. If they play with their prey and let it escape (Novice). Or if they strike heavy, and then squeeze out life before an opponent can develop hope of survival (Prodigy).

Been a while since I’ve looked as forward to a game, as I am this one.

****

Prediction: EAGLES 28 – giants 16

WARNING: I don’t have the faintest clue as to what a point spread is, and I know even less about how it works. I know football and that’s IT. If you use Four Things as a gambling tool, you are trying to lose your money, and will deserve it when you do.

Check back in a couple of days for Four Things Reviewed, and we’ll discuss how this game went.