Eagles @ Bengals

[Vin+ 3,121]

http://hosted.stats.com/fb/preview.asp?g=20161204004&home=4&vis=21

 

The Philadelphia Eagles skidded in the wrong direction after a 3-0 start.

 

The Cincinnati Bengals never really got going this season.

 

The two below-.500 teams look to halt their free falls when the Eagles visit the Bengals on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, FOX).

 

Philadelphia (5-6) has dropped six of its last eight games after its strong start and is desperate for a victory to remain a viable contender in the NFC wild-card race. The Eagles are just 1-5 on the road and the lone victory came on Sept. 19 against the Chicago Bears.

 

Cincinnati (3-7-1) is well aware that its streak of five consecutive playoff appearances will come to an end. The Bengals all but assured that with three consecutive losses and quarterback Andy Dalton isn't sure how to handle the predicament.

 

"It's different. I've never really been in this situation in my life or with any sport that I've ever played." Dalton said on a conference call. "I've been just trying to figure out how to change it."

 

The Bengals are averaging 15.3 points during their skid, and will be without star receiver A.J. Green for basically the third consecutive game. Green injured a hamstring on the opening series against the Buffalo Bills on Nov. 20 and missed last Sunday's 19-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

 

The Eagles also are having issues finding the end zone. Philadelphia averaged 14 points while losing to the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers in the past two games and rookie quarterback Carson Wentz is experiencing growing pains.

 

Wentz, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 draft, was the talk of the NFL as he threw seven touchdown passes and was intercepted only once through the first five games.

 

The last six games tell a different story, with Wentz throwing seven interceptions and four touchdowns.

 

The struggles have been alarming and have been a big factor in Philadelphia's decline. Yet Wentz maintains he and his team should not be counted out.

 

"We just have to stay the course. We can't dwell on anything," Wentz said during a press conference. "We just have to keep plugging along. Can't throw in the towel. I know the guys in that locker room and that's not going to happen. Our effort is always there. We just have to keep fighting, keep believing, and we can't change our preparation."

 

Eagles first-year coach Doug Pederson changed his tune lately with the defeats mounting.

 

Where he often mentioned the playoffs while the team was soaring, Pederson is now talking more about the building process.

 

"Teams in our situation right now, even though you are still maybe on the edge of getting to where you want to be at the end of the season, you can kind of go the other way," Pederson said in a press conference. "It's not to put any added pressure on anybody, but ... I don't want people to just start tanking it in the last month of the season."

 

Pederson said it is likely that leading receiver Jordan Matthews (ankle) will play after missing most of the second half of Monday's loss to the Packers. Matthews leads the Eagles with 57 receptions for 686 yards and three touchdowns.

 

However, running back Ryan Mathews (knee) will miss his second straight game. Mathews leads the Eagles with 427 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.

 

Defensively, Philadelphia is performing well and tied for fifth in scoring defense (19.4 points per game) and stands eighth in total defense (339.4 yards per game). Outside linebacker Nigel Bradham leads the Eagles with 70 tackles and safety Rodney McLeod has a team-best three interceptions.

 

Defensive ends Brandon Graham (team-high five sacks) and Connor Barwin (four sacks) will attempt to pressure Dalton, who had several passes batted down in last Sunday's 19-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

 

Dalton (3,043 yards, 12 touchdowns) went past 3,000 yards for the sixth straight season, joining Peyton Manning as the only quarterbacks to do so in each of their first six years.

 

Defensive end Carlos Dunlap (team-high 6.5 sacks) and weak-side linebacker Vontaze Burfict (team-leading 76 tackles) are playing well for the Bengals' defense. Burfict is aiming for his fifth consecutive outing of 10 or more tackles.

 

With basically little to play for, Cincinnati head coach Marvin Lewis is striving to keep the troops motivated.

 

"I think coaches work harder, turn over more stones, become better coaches and people when things are a touch off," Lewis said during a conference call. "When you're winning, you are doing the same thing, you're just not questioned by the masses about it. It doesn't change your outlook on things."

 

 

[Favre4Ever+ 4,476]

The Eagles are really going all in on Wentz. Asking him to throw 60 times? The more that they ask him to shoulder, the worse he gets. Not a great way to welcome a rookie to the league, IMO.

[SteVo+ 3,702]

The Eagles are really going all in on Wentz. Asking him to throw 60 times? The more that they ask him to shoulder, the worse he gets. Not a great way to welcome a rookie to the league, IMO.

 

 

Doug Pederson 2 weeks ago: "We need to run the ball more."

 

Doug Pederson calls the plays.

[BigBen07 285]

60 passes... poor kid.

[RazorStar 4,025]

You end up passing a lot when you're in a 4 TD hole.

[BigBen07 285]

You end up passing a lot when you're in a 4 TD hole.

Even so that's still a ridiculous amount for a rookie.

[BwareDWare94 723]

They need to draft an RB and a WR in the top 4 rounds of the draft.

[SteVo+ 3,702]

Eh, you can get WRs anywhere. In terms of the offense, two of the top 3-4 picks almost have to be WRs.

 

But then, we need some OL depth and need to replace Jason Peters soon.

But then, we need CBs who can actually cover.

But then, we need some good pass rushers.

But then, our linebackers are pretty meh...

 

Oh, rebuilding.

[ATL_Predator+ 1,196]

Nothing sweeter than seeing the Eagles season come to an absolute shitshow after that start they had

[Favre4Ever+ 4,476]

You end up passing a lot when you're in a 4 TD hole.

 

Drive 1, Score 0 - 0:

1 run, 2 passes

 

Drive 2, Score 3 - 0:

3 runs, 5 passes (one of these was a called pass, but ended up with Wentz scrambling for yardage)

 

Drive 3, Score 10 - 0

5 runs, 7 passes

 

Drive 4, 13 - 0

2 runs, 6 passes

 

That's the half.... 11 runs, 20 passes

 

Eagles normally run 41% of the time... Through the first half on Sunday, they ran 36% of the time. Only the Packers, Browns, and Ravens rush a lower percentage than that.

 

For the record, first drive of the 2nd half was 4 passes and 1 rush (by Agholor) and ended in a Wentz interception.

 

Eagles lone TD drive was mostly all Wentz, so I give him props there, but he had a super short field thanks to a great kick return. The best and longest drive of the game? That 5 to 7 run pass drive that ended in a FG.-- not sure that's a coincidence.

 

Also fun fact.. this Eagles nose dive begins and ends with a 66% pass heavy offense (and let's be honest, a pretty lackluster defense). If the eagles have been averaging 66% passes during their slump but for the whole season still average 59%, what doe sthat mean for the numbers they had to start the year when they were doing well?

 

They have decent to good backs and a large number of them... They should be using them.

Edited December 5, 2016 by Favre4Ever

[seanbrock 1,684]

Pretty clear to me that Paul Turner needs to see he field more if for no other reason that he will consistently catch a pass that hits him in the hands. It's also pretty clear that Wentz must be falling back into bad habits because he was a lot more accurate early on in the season. The guy was surgical with his passes. Good news is we know he has that ability but he needs to get back to that. The beautiful thing about Wentz is that he's very smart and he works very hard and I have 100% confidence that he can become more consistent in that area with an offseason/season or 2 under his belt.

 

As for the Eagles offensive line, man it's great having guys like Barbre and Wisniewski. Position flexible and Wiz provides such valuable depth. The Lane Johnson situation really sucks because we'd be pretty set for the future him and Big V at the book ends.

 

As for the Eagles draft needs, I think they have too many to say they should draft at a certain position no matter what. I mean that's a losing mentality anyway. You don't force a fit. I'm a big proponent of BPA. I mean, yes there should be somewhat of a mix of need into the equation but by in large I think the Eagles have to go best payer available. The Eagles just need play makers on both sides of the ball, period.

[SteVo+ 3,702]

As for the Eagles draft needs, I think they have too many to say they should draft at a certain position no matter what. I mean that's a losing mentality anyway. You don't force a fit. I'm a big proponent of BPA. I mean, yes there should be somewhat of a mix of need into the equation but by in large I think the Eagles have to go best payer available. The Eagles just need play makers on both sides of the ball, period.

 

 

Agreed 100%. I know most fans are focusing on WR/OL/CB, but if the best player on your board in round one is an impact pass rusher or linebacker, you take him.

[seanbrock 1,684]

Yeah I mean, we basically pulled Jalen Mills off the scrap heap in the 7th round. We only had two draft picks in the first 3 rounds this year and we got excellent results so far. Having impact players at other positions can hide the flaws of other players. You can always find decent stop gap solutions in free agency too.

[Cherry 1,302]

"Carson Wentz is great and the Eagles are one of the best teams in football."

[BwareDWare94 723]

You put Carson Wentz in Dallas and he looks better than Prescott

[Cherry 1,302]

That didn't happen with Weeden fam.