Vin+ 3,121 Posted September 5, 2018 Quote http://hosted.stats.com/fb/preview.asp?g=20180906021&home=21&vis=1 Thursday night's 2018 NFL season debut features a matchup of the victor and the vanquished from the last two Super Bowls as the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles welcome the Atlanta Falcons for an 8:20 p.m. (ET) skirmish at Lincoln Financial Field. From a historic perspective, this duel is between an Eagles team that outgunned the New England Patriots in the last Super Bowl and a Falcons team that was overcome in an embarrassing fall-from-in-front loss in the previous Super Bowl. Both Super Bowls were against the Patriots. Although the main news in big games usually surrounds the starting quarterbacks, the hot topic this time is about the quarterback who will not play -- Eagles second-year sensation Carson Wentz. He remains the starter-in-waiting until medically cleared for a return from that mid-December surgery to repair two ligaments in his right knee, which ended a spectacular season for the second-year quarterback. After initially acting testy about naming his starting quarterback, Eagles head coach Doug Pederson announced Monday that it would be Nick Foles, who was merely the Super Bowl LII MVP in a victorious 41-33 shootout over Tom Brady and the Patriots about eight months ago. Tuesday, Pederson openly shared the agony and reality of keeping Wentz on the sideline because he was not medically cleared after the player himself set a goal for opening day and worked hard to reach that goal. Pederson said that there were not setbacks, as such, and said the quarterback is in a "good place" and "close" to returning, although admitting frustration because "I'm no medical expert." And Pederson's frustration, which spilled out in two press conferences, might reflect what he does hear from medical experts. Dr. David Chao, a board certified orthopaedical surgeon who was team physician for the San Diego (now Los Angeles) Chargers for 17 years, does not sound optimistic about a rapid return by Wentz. In fact, he says it could be weeks, or maybe even next season, before Wentz should play. Only time will tell. Meanwhile, the Falcons are trying to become the first NFL team to play a Super Bowl in their own stadium, with SB No. LIII scheduled for Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Feb. 3, 2019. It is a realistic goal after the team added even more offensive firepower and is expected to return to the sort of high-scoring offense that propelled them to the championship game two years ago. Still, the 2018 Falcons are a bit of a mystery. Head coach Dan Quinn did a great job protecting wide receiver Julio Jones and running back Devonta Freeman. Neither played a down in the four preseason games. He limited the snaps for quarterback Matt Ryan and other key players, such as wide receiver Mohamed Sanu, running back Tevin Coleman and first-round draft choice wide receiver Calvin Ridley. As a result, the team is probably as healthy as it has ever been entering the first game. So, the Atlanta offense will have all its pieces in place and must hit the ground running, with Freeman and Coleman, and allow Ryan to get in sync with his receivers. The first-team offense looked great when it played against Kansas City, but struggled against Jacksonville (albeit both times without Freeman and Jones). The defense will repeat the same aggressive nature it took in the playoffs when it held the Eagles to 15 points. However, the defense must find a way to get Philly off the field faster. They allowed the Eagles to convert 6 of 13 third-down opportunities and allowed them to have three possessions of 5:42 or longer and three drives that lasted 12 or more plays. The Eagles must pressure Ryan, who historically has not played well in Philadelphia after growing up in the area. The Eagles have a way of dialing up their attack against him. Their defensive line may be even better than last season and is arguably the best in the league, with a rotation that includes Brandon Graham, Derek Barnett, Chris Long, Michael Bennett, Haloti Ngata and Fletcher Cox. On offense, the Eagles have issues other than the controversy at quarterback, where Foles has proven his ability. Receiver Alshon Jeffery did not participate in any team drills during training camp. Left tackle Jason Peters and running back Darren Sproles did not play in the preseason. Running back Corey Clement only played in the first exhibition game and running back Jay Ajayi was held out in the final two games while receivers Nelson Agholor and Mack Hollins did not play in any of the four games. But the Eagles' defense helped beat Atlanta before. Two years ago, it held the Falcons to 15 points and won. Last year in the playoffs, it held them to 10 points and won again. --Sports Xchange NFL team insiders Ed Kracz (https://footballmaven.io/eagles) and Stan Awtrey (https://footballmaven.io/falcons) contributed to this story. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RazorStar 4,025 Posted September 5, 2018 (edited) Without Carson Wentz the Eagles are going to be hard up to find a road to victory. Give me the Falcons in a somewhat defensive struggle. : 20 : 13 Edited September 5, 2018 by RazorStar Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
seanbrock 1,684 Posted September 5, 2018 Eagles beat the Falcons last year despite Foles playing like shit. If he plays well I think the Eagles will win this one pretty easily. If Foles plays like shit again Atlanta can definitely win. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RazorStar 4,025 Posted September 5, 2018 That was in a game that matters. You'll find the Falcons specialize in games that don't. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Favre4Ever+ 4,476 Posted September 6, 2018 Eagles are about to open up their title defense with a blowout loss... Gonna be embarrassing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BwareDWare94 723 Posted September 6, 2018 I think Philadelphia wins tonight. WIthout Wentz. WIthout Jeffery. Feed Ajayi and Clement, hit Ertz and Agholor. Get Dallas Goedert's career going TONIGHT. 23 17 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vin+ 3,121 Posted September 6, 2018 Quote Eagles declared WR Alshon Jeffery, QB Carson Wentz, OG Chance Warmack, OT Jordan Mailata, OG Matt Pryor and LB Josh Sweat inactive for Week 1 against the Falcons. WR Mack Hollins would have been the seventh, but he was placed on injured reserve earlier Thursday. Both Jeffery and Wentz are week to week, with Jeffery seeming slightly closer to a return. He was spotted working out on the field before Thursday's game. Quote Falcons declared OG Ben Garland, CB Isaiah Oliver, S Jordan Richards, CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson, LS Josh Harris, OT Matt Gono and DT Justin Zimmer inactive for Week 1 against the Eagles. It's a quiet list for the opener. Source: Vaughn McClure on Twitter Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FartWaffles 1,857 Posted September 7, 2018 (edited) Boring game is boring... Edited September 7, 2018 by FartWaffles Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteVo+ 3,702 Posted September 8, 2018 Do the Falcons miss Kyle Shanahan or what? Coaching matters. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
seanbrock 1,684 Posted September 8, 2018 You have to give credit to the Eagles defense for making plays and putting hits on Ryan late in the game. That DLine rotation looks as good as ever. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
