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Eagles News: Brandon Marshall says Carson Wentz is like Brett Favre and Cam Newton put together

Philadelphia Eagles news and links for 12/3/17.

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NFL: Chicago Bears at Philadelphia Eagles Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

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Six Eagles thoughts on the Alshon Jeffery contract extension - BGN
The simple takeaway is that Jeffery is now under contract through the 2021 season. That’s great. Jeffery was scheduled to be a free agent after the 2017 season since he originally only signed a one-year deal with the Eagles. Now the Eagles will have some more continuity at the wide receiver position.

Five over/unders for Eagles vs. Seahawks on Sunday Night Football - PhillyVoice
Total points: 47. That's the current total being offered at Bovada, and based on the predictions I've seen from other football writers, it seems about right. Personally, I predicted a total of 50 points, so I'm stuck taking the over here. But if I was a betting man, I'd say the safer money is on the under. The Eagles defense is good enough to keep the Seahawks from scoring too many points – Seattle is currently averaging just over 24 points per game while Philly is allowing just 17.4 points per game this season, third best in the NFL – and that's the main reason they've failed to hit the over in three of their last four games despite the offense scoring at least 31 points in each.

Regardless of numbers, Alshon Jeffery a legit No. 1 WR - NBC Sports Philadelphia
In the Eagles’ last four games, Jeffery has 17 receptions for 265 yards with five touchdowns. Extrapolate his current run over a 16-game season, and he would finish with 68 catches, 1,060 yards and 20 trips to end zone. This may be just the tip of the iceberg for Jeffery. Or, it could be that he’s finally realizing his potential. Either way, Jeffery looks increasingly like the No. 1 wideout that he truly is. At this point, any criticism of Jeffery’s No. 1 credentials may boil down to expectations. He’s not necessarily going to catch 80-plus passes, as he did twice in Chicago, or rack up 1,400 yards receiving as he did in his 2013 Pro Bowl campaign. Nor do the Eagles require that type of volume, with tight end Zach Ertz playing a huge role in the passing attack and one of the NFL’s best running games.

Alshon Jeffery extension good for Carson Wentz's growth - ESPN
Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie used the term "optionality" when talking about the team's offseason approach. The idea was to take shots on talented players on short-term deals and see if they proved to be scheme and culture fits. If it worked out, they'd be in position to try and sign them to extensions before free agency hits, and if they didn't, they could move on with minimal damage done. That was part of the thinking when the Eagles inked wide receiver Alshon Jeffery to a one-year deal this offseason worth upwards of $14 million. Jeffery wasn't in the original plans, but when the market didn't shape up for him as expected and the one-year contract came into play, Philadelphia decided to dive in.

New Deal For Alshon Jeffery Is A Perfect Fit - PE.com
You can see what’s happening. The chemistry and the comfort level between quarterback Carson Wentz and wide receiver Alshon Jeffery is growing, and so is the production on the field. So it makes sense, as the Eagles announce a four-year contract extension for Jeffery, that the expectations should continue to grow ...

Carson Wentz vs. Earl Thomas: A heavyweight showdown - Inquirer
When Pete Carroll said last year that Carson Wentz would become a great player – “There is no question,” the Seahawks coach insisted – he wasn’t inflating an upcoming opponent. The Eagles had already played and lost to Seattle. Wentz tossed two interceptions, completed only 51 percent of his passes, and averaged a paltry 4.8 yards per attempt in the 26-15 defeat. But the numbers hardly told the story of the rookie quarterback’s first foray into CenturyLink Field and against the Seahawks’ Legion of Boom defense. “He was poised,” Seattle all-pro cornerback Richard Sherman said then. “He wasn’t shook. He’s a rook.” Wentz is no longer a rookie, and Carroll’s and Sherman’s words have proven prophetic. Two of the best at their craft noticed something special in the quarterback, despite his faults that day. A year later, Wentz returns to the great Northwest with arguably the NFL’s best team and as a legitimate MVP candidate.

Eagles look to keep NFL’s “worst-to-first” streak alive - PFT
The Eagles will clinch the NFC East with a win or a tie on Sunday night at Seattle. It will mark the 14th time in the past 15 seasons that a team wins its division the season after finishing in last or tied for last place, via the NFL. During that stretch, 2014 was the only season a team failed to go from worst to first. Of the 44 teams in league history to go from worst to first, 21 have done so in the past 14 years (2003-16), including an NFL-record three such teams in 2005 and 2006.

Eagles, WR Jeffery agree on 4-year extension - PFF
After a slow start (just 1.35 yards per route run through five weeks), Jeffery has given the Eagles substantial production on the outside of late, averaging 2.05 yards per route run from Week 6 on (17th among 83 qualifying wide receivers).

Making sense of the Eagles' decision to extend Alshon Jeffery - The Athletic
One of the Eagles' biggest issues last year was that Wentz had nobody to throw to. This season, Wentz has weapons, and he's made a big leap. The Eagles rank fifth in passing efficiency and are 10-1. Coaches have pointed out previously that Jeffery has helped open things up for his teammates, and the extension shows that wasn't just lip service. They are projecting that he'll be a more effective receiver as he continues to play with Wentz. Looking ahead to next year, the only current starter (and really, he's part of a rotation) who isn't under contract is LeGarrette Blount. That's important, considering the Eagles currently lead the NFL in scoring and are third in overall efficiency (DVOA).

Eagles wear custom cleats to support charitable causes close to home - 6ABC
When the Eagles lace up their cleats Sunday night in Seattle, they will be putting their best foot forward on and off the field. Sporting custom cleats, players from Carson Wentz to Chris Long to Brandon Graham are raising awareness for charitable causes that hit close to home. Eagles Receiver Torrey Smith is among the more than 800 players league-wide taking part in the "My Cleats, My Cause" campaign. He's digging his heels into multiple causes.

The Seahawks can’t afford a bad start against the Eagles - Field Gulls
The Seattle Seahawks try and win football games by steadily breaking you down and then ramping things up in the fourth quarter. Think of them like a boxer who’s willing to concede early rounds, not throw too many punches, attack the body more than the head, and then when the opponent tires in the later rounds, the Seahawks turn up the heat and go for the knockout, with all of that early cardio-sapping body work paying its dividends late. Marvin Hagler vs. Thomas Hearns is exactly what the Seahawks actively look to avoid. I’m here to tell you that this team, as it is currently constructed, cannot win against elite teams implementing this strategy.

NFL playoff picture 2017: 3 wild postseason scenarios that are still possible - SB Nation
The Bears and Broncos in the playoffs? The Patriots on the outside looking in? It’s still possible.

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