Post by Danchat on Oct 5, 2018 20:25:03 GMT -6
It's time for the rematch to the 2017 NFC Championship game, a match between the 1-2-1 Vikings and the 2-2 Eagles! Let's see how Philly's roster looks 9 months after that memorable blowout:
Injury Report
*My thoughts*
The Eagles have been off to a bit of an odd start, but as the reigning Super Bowl winner, starting out 2-2 is disappointing. After losing two middle-of-the-road games against Tampa and Tennessee, they need to get back on track. Carson Wentz will start his third game back from being physically cleared from his 2017 ACL tear. Wentz has some tools to work with, but thankfully it's nothing close to what the Rams had. Jeffery is a very good outside receiver and Agholor is solid in the slot, but with Mike Wallace and Mack Hollins on the IR, there isn't a deadly third option like Cooper Kupp to tear apart the CBs. The Eagles will use plenty of 2 TE packages with Ertz (who shredded the Vikes in the Championship game) and 2nd round rookie Dallas Goedert.
The Eagles' O-line hasn't been great to start the year, and they're being proactive about it. LG Stefen Wisniewski has been benched for Isaac Seumalo, according to reports. Wisniewski was an average guard (could we have him for a later rounder?) and Seumalo is mostly an unknown at this point. Peters and Johnson are great tackles and the interior is also manned by two other top 10 offensive linemen, so the Vikes won't be making much pressure. Ajayi and Smallwood should be decent running the ball.
Finally, the defense that stifled the Vikings in the Championship game isn't at its peak like it was before. With Barnett out and a banged up Ngata (and Timmy Jernigan on IR), there's some potential weaknesses here. They still have pass rushing nightmare Brandon Graham and all-around great DT Fletcher Cox, and both will eat the Vikings' O-line alive. The LB group should be better, but Bradham and Hicks haven't been as good as they had in the past. The DB group has taken a step down after dominating the Vikings and Falcons' WRs in the playoffs last year. Jalen Mills went from shutting Julio Jones down to becoming a turnstile, Sidney Jones doesn't look ready for the NFL yet and with FS Rodney McLeod on IR, Corey Graham is just an average safety. There are some big weaknesses here that Diggs and Thielen will eat up.
However, when deciding about this game... the Vikings play poorly at Lincoln Financial Field and generally on the road. They will have 2 active DEs on the team (!) and just 4 CBs. The Vikings O-line will be dominated and Cook is likely to be out. Sure, Cousins plays well against the Eagles and he'll probably pass for 400 yards again, but the rest of the team just doesn't look ready for this rematch. The Eagles have better special teams. Philly has better coaching and is easily the better team. So...
Predicted final score: Eagles 33, Vikings 24
Any thoughts?
Injury Report
Vikings
CB Trae Waynes - Out
CB Marcus Sherels - Out
DE Everson Griffen - Out
DE Tashawn Bower - Out
HB Dalvin Cook - Questionable (did not practice)
Eagles
DE Derek Barnett - Out
HB Darren Sproles - Out
HB Corey Clement - Questionable
DT Haloti Ngata - Questionable
CB Trae Waynes - Out
CB Marcus Sherels - Out
DE Everson Griffen - Out
DE Tashawn Bower - Out
HB Dalvin Cook - Questionable (did not practice)
Eagles
DE Derek Barnett - Out
HB Darren Sproles - Out
HB Corey Clement - Questionable
DT Haloti Ngata - Questionable
*My thoughts*
The Eagles have been off to a bit of an odd start, but as the reigning Super Bowl winner, starting out 2-2 is disappointing. After losing two middle-of-the-road games against Tampa and Tennessee, they need to get back on track. Carson Wentz will start his third game back from being physically cleared from his 2017 ACL tear. Wentz has some tools to work with, but thankfully it's nothing close to what the Rams had. Jeffery is a very good outside receiver and Agholor is solid in the slot, but with Mike Wallace and Mack Hollins on the IR, there isn't a deadly third option like Cooper Kupp to tear apart the CBs. The Eagles will use plenty of 2 TE packages with Ertz (who shredded the Vikes in the Championship game) and 2nd round rookie Dallas Goedert.
The Eagles' O-line hasn't been great to start the year, and they're being proactive about it. LG Stefen Wisniewski has been benched for Isaac Seumalo, according to reports. Wisniewski was an average guard (could we have him for a later rounder?) and Seumalo is mostly an unknown at this point. Peters and Johnson are great tackles and the interior is also manned by two other top 10 offensive linemen, so the Vikes won't be making much pressure. Ajayi and Smallwood should be decent running the ball.
Finally, the defense that stifled the Vikings in the Championship game isn't at its peak like it was before. With Barnett out and a banged up Ngata (and Timmy Jernigan on IR), there's some potential weaknesses here. They still have pass rushing nightmare Brandon Graham and all-around great DT Fletcher Cox, and both will eat the Vikings' O-line alive. The LB group should be better, but Bradham and Hicks haven't been as good as they had in the past. The DB group has taken a step down after dominating the Vikings and Falcons' WRs in the playoffs last year. Jalen Mills went from shutting Julio Jones down to becoming a turnstile, Sidney Jones doesn't look ready for the NFL yet and with FS Rodney McLeod on IR, Corey Graham is just an average safety. There are some big weaknesses here that Diggs and Thielen will eat up.
However, when deciding about this game... the Vikings play poorly at Lincoln Financial Field and generally on the road. They will have 2 active DEs on the team (!) and just 4 CBs. The Vikings O-line will be dominated and Cook is likely to be out. Sure, Cousins plays well against the Eagles and he'll probably pass for 400 yards again, but the rest of the team just doesn't look ready for this rematch. The Eagles have better special teams. Philly has better coaching and is easily the better team. So...
Predicted final score: Eagles 33, Vikings 24
Any thoughts?
... and neither is this Chris guy.