Vin+ 3,121 Posted September 16, 2017 http://hosted.stats.com/fb/preview.asp?g=20170917012&home=12&vis=21 (TSX / STATS) -- The defensive units for Kansas City and Philadelphia face familiar foes Sunday, getting a chance to apply what they learn taking on their own offenses in practices when Chiefs coach Andy Reid and Eagles coach Doug Pederson face each as adversaries for the first time after being long time collaborators. "There's nobody you play more than your own defense and you go back and forth with them," Reid said. "You're going to have successful plays against your own defense." Pederson served as understudy to Reid first as a player for Green Bay and Philadelphia and later as a coach with the Eagles and Chiefs. The tangled web of relationships between coaches and players mean both sides know much about their adversary. "I think more just knowing the people, knowing the personnel, knowing the coaching staff, how they think, how we think is the biggest similarity," Pederson said. The challenge for both offenses rests with figure out how to beat defenses that know their tricks. Kansas City, fresh off a convincing win on the road at New England, must figure out how to protect Alex Smith and open up running lanes outside for rookie running back Kareem Hunt. The Chiefs offensive line fared well against the Patriots, consistently providing time for Smith to find open receivers. Hunt found success on the edges in Week 1. The rookie picked up 11 yards on three inside rushes. Outside the tackles, however, Hunt rushed 14 times for 137 yards. "All that stuff starts with those guys up front," Smith said of his offensive line. "They don't always get a ton of the credit but certainly where it all begins for us." The Chiefs' offensive line faces a steep challenge against the Eagles' front seven, starting with defensive tackle Fletcher Cox. The Eagles present a tough, physical pressure defense that will test the nimble and athletic Chiefs offensive front. That puts pressure on Smith and his receivers to get rid of the ball quickly. "Timing becomes so important," Smith explained. "You've got to be good with the ball in the pocket because these guys are great at making the ball get out." When the Eagles have the ball, the biggest battles loom on the edges with tackles Lane Johnson and Jason Peters tasked with protecting quarterback Carson Wentz from pass rusher Justin Houston and Dee Ford. But Wentz showed last week he doesn't always need time to make plays down field. Pederson believes his quarterback display newfound maturity against Washington that only comes with experience. "Protection wasn't perfect for us last week and he was able to escape the pocket," Pederson said. "He's a lot like Alex in the standpoint he can extend plays with his legs and continues to keep his eyes down field and finish the play." Reid understands the comparison between Smith and Wentz and sees the second-year quarterback already putting his own twist on the West Coast offense. "I guess there's a little bit of everybody in each person that does this offense, but they all put their own mark on the offense," Reid said. "It looks like he's off to a great start. He's a pretty talented kid." The one thing Went must avoid is the left side of the Chiefs defense patrolled by cornerback Marcus Peters. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady completed only two of eight passes for 24 yards toward Peters' side of the field last week. "What they did to that high-powered offense," Pederson said of Kansas City's defensive effort against Brady and the Patriots. "They scored a little bit but at the same time they shut them down when they had to." The Chiefs injury picture looks relatively clear. Only defensive tackle Bennie Logan missed practice Wednesday, nursing a knee contusion sustained against the Patriots. The team expects him to play against the Eagles. Left guard Parker Ehinger and linebacker Reggie Ragland continue to participate in practice on a limited base and appear unlikely to play this week. Eagles starting cornerback Ronald Darby suffered a dislocated ankle against Washington in week and expects to miss 4-to-6 weeks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RazorStar 4,025 Posted September 17, 2017 I have a feeling we'll get a drawn out slugfest. If Alex Smith channels the mad bomber again though... the Eagles are in serious trouble. 27 20 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
seanbrock 1,684 Posted September 17, 2017 This game is probably going to be decided by FG's and the Eagles kicker has never kicked in an NFL game. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BwareDWare94 723 Posted September 17, 2017 Really, Darren Sproles? A fumble before the half... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BwareDWare94 723 Posted September 17, 2017 The new Eagles kicker missed a 30 yard field goal. 30 yards. 30 fucking yards Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RazorStar 4,025 Posted September 17, 2017 Roberto Agauyo is currently a free agent. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteVo+ 3,702 Posted September 17, 2017 Very happy with how the Eagles played. It got a little out of hand in the fourth quarter, but we went toe to toe with one of the best teams in football. Thrilled with how the defense played, cautiously optimistic about the offense. On to New York. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
seanbrock 1,684 Posted September 19, 2017 Eagles played one of the best teams in the league and they gave them all they could handle for 3 quarters. Carson looked like a young QB. He made some plays. He missed some plays. He also had to throw the ball a lot against a really good defense though. All things considered I can't complain. Defensively the Eagles might give the Giants a run for their money as the best defense in the division. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BwareDWare94 723 Posted September 19, 2017 And it's not like the Chiefs overpowered them. They called a bad defensive set on the first Hunt TD and then had a tipped pass INT. They had the stop after that in the books but then 2 guys somehow whiffed on a sack and it became a first down Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cherry 1,302 Posted September 20, 2017 https://twitter.com/BenjaminSolak/status/910220529331789824 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BwareDWare94 723 Posted September 20, 2017 Yeah that whole sequence is unacceptable. Trent Richardson even would have scored that TD Share this post Link to post Share on other sites