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Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links ...
Why Wendell Smallwood doesn’t want to share Eagles’ secrets with Redskins, even though they cut him - NJ.com
They know he knows the Eagles’ offense, and Washington opens the season Sunday at Philadelphia — the team that just cut Smallwood. But even though Washington gave Smallwood a new home (with a waiver claim) — and even though he wants to prove the Eagles wrong — he is hesitant about sharing too many of their secrets with Washington. That just wouldn’t feel right, Smallwood told NJ Advance Media on Wednesday. “The history I have with that team, winning the Super Bowl,” he said of the Eagles. “That was my childhood team growing up, and that team means a lot to me. I wouldn’t feel comfortable going out there and giving the playbook and saying, ‘These are their plays.’ I wouldn’t ever go that far.”
2019 NFL season predictions: Division winners, playoff projections, Super Bowl picks, and more - BGN
Behind a healthy Carson Wentz and the best collection of Eagles skill players in my lifetime, the Birds cruise to 13-3 and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. I’m buying all the Falcons stock this year too. Matt Ryan will have a 2016-esque season while Julio Jones leads the league in receiving yards, but they’ll lose in Philadelphia for the fourth time in as many years come the NFC Championship Game. The Birds will meet in “The Steagles Super Bowl” against Pittsburgh, as the Steelers shine this season with a post-Antonio Brown glow. With three touchdown passes from Wentz, in addition to a second half DeSean Jackson punt return tuddie, the Eagles raise the Lombardi Trophy once again. Fraud Sean McVay and the Rams slug their way through a Super Bowl hangover and finish 7-9 (their win total is more than double the amount of points they scored in Super Bowl LIII).
Week 1 Preview & Picks - BGN Radio
Brandon Lee Gowton & John Stolnis get you prepped for Week 1 of NFL action by making their picks on each game PLUS season-long predictions AND an in-depth preview of Washington-Philadelphia!Powered by SB Nation and Bleeding Green Nation.
How Worried Should the Redskins Be about the Philadelphia Eagles? - Hogs Haven
How Worried Should the Redskins Be?: Pretty worried! A little over halfway through the 2018 season, the Eagles found themselves staring up at the division-leading Redskins. But Philadelphia had yet to play Washington. As everyone reading this undoubtedly remembers, the Redskins got swept by the Eagles, with Philly having the good fortune to play Washington twice after the Redskins lost Alex Smith. And the first loss was the game in which Colt McCoy broke his leg. The Redskins may not have been at full strength last season against the Eagles, but the 2019 Redskins will open with a host of unanswered questions. Trent Williams’ absence, Case Keenum’s ability to lead this offense, an unproven receiving corps, Jordan Reed coming off of another concussion, Derrius Guice getting his first official NFL action after missing all of last year. Taken together, this list does not inspire confidence.
It’s hard to find major weaknesses on the 2019 Eagles’ roster - PhillyVoice
Can the combination of Curry and Hall/Sweat/Miller come close to replicating the production of Chris Long and Michael Bennett, who are no longer with the team? The short answer, on paper, is “hell no,” but it’s a more complicated question than it seems. To begin, they may not have to. Barnett is, in theory, the player who would be picking up Bennett’s slack, at least as it pertained to his 2018 production, as Bennett became a starter when Barnett went down. And while Long put up good pass rush numbers in his own right while playing in high-opportunity situations as a dedicated passing down specialist, the Eagles aren’t exactly hurting for a front four in Graham, Barnett, Fletcher Cox, and Malik Jackson, that can get to the passer in those high-leverage situations. If Graham or Barnett were to go down, it would indeed be a significant dropoff to the next guy up. Of course, that’s true of most 4-3 teams around the league (go see for yourselves). I do believe, however, that the Eagles’ loaded group of defensive tackles could help pick up the slack should the Eagles experience some missed time from Graham or Barnett.
Week 1 NFL Best Bets: A number we like on each game - ESPN In$ider
Johnson: This line has been climbing since it opened at -8, and I still think there is value before it reaches double digits. My projection is Eagles -10.7, and it appears there is more downside to this Washington team than upside this season (especially with the Trent Williams situation still unresolved). The hype surrounding a healthy Carson Wentz is deserved, and I’m thrilled to buy on my third-highest-rated team in the NFC playing in their Week 1 home opener against my second-worst-rated team at -9.5 (only the Cardinals rate lower). Pick: Philadelphia -9.5
Eagle Eye: Washington’s D-Line will present a challenge for the offense, here’s why - PE.com
Watching this Washington defense, two things stand out most to me. First, the defensive front is absolutely the strength of that entire roster. Second, Washington has some new faces in the secondary that will give the back end of that unit a new look in 2019. Let’s start this breakdown up front with a defensive line that is chock full of talent. Washington employs one of the top defensive line coaches in the NFL in Jim Tomsula, and while it plays a traditional 3-4 scheme, those players all have the versatility to play in the subpackages. The three-man front in the base defense features two former first-round picks in Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen, as well as a very productive player in Matt Ioannidis.
Week 1 NFL Survivor strategy and picks - DraftKings Nation
Philadelphia Eagles over Washington: There are a few teams every year that everyone is going to be picking against on a regular basis. There’s a decent chance Washington is on that list. Divisional matchups are not ideal, but Philadelphia is decidedly better than Washington, and playing this game at home.
The one thing that really held the Eagles back last year - NBCSP
Think what it means to score 41 points all year in the first quarter. That’s a little more than a safety per game, a little less than a field goal. That’s what the Eagles did in 2018, when they were the slowest-starting team in the NFL. The Eagles last year tied their fourth-fewest first-quarter points since the NFL went to a 16-game schedule in 1978. They scored 31 in 2012 (Andy Reid’s final year), 33 in 1998 (Ray Rhodes’ final year) and 36 in 1993. Worse, the Eagles were outscored by 20 points in the first quarter, and only eight teams allowed a bigger point disparity in 2018, including bottom dwellars like the Jets, Jaguars, Raiders and Dolphins. Not the company you want to keep.
Eagles-Washington cheat sheet: What to watch, lineup notes, predictions & more - The Athletic
The biggest mismatch will be the Eagles defensive line versus the left side of Washington’s offensive line. Washington’s left guard is Ereck Flowers, the former Giants first-round pick who is now on his third team (and playing a new position). He will likely line up against new Eagles defensive tackle Malik Jackson. That will be an inviting matchup for the Eagles, especially if Washington uses center Chase Roullier to help against Cox. Washington will play without Williams as the left tackle continues his holdout. They signed veteran Donald Penn, but that’s a drop-off from Williams. If Barnett plays, as expected, he’ll rush from the right side against Penn. Vinny Curry will get work on that side regardless. The right side of Washington’s line is more stable; the Eagles’ best chance to create problems will come with Jackson and Barnett.
Your Week 1 Matchup Guide: The Patriots-Steelers Rivalry Defines Modern Football - THe Ringer
The Eagles starting their season against Washington is like Alabama starting their season against Duke. Iron out the kinks, stay healthy, and don’t give up more than three points.
9/5 Brandon Lee Gowton Interview - ESPN Richmond
We take a look at the Philadelphia Eagles from the perspective of the operator of Bleeding Green Nation. Redskins vs. Eagles kicks at 1pm this Sunday.
Last season serves as a reminder not to overreact to Week One - PFT
The Buccaneers were better than the Saints last year. The Bengals were better than the Colts. The Panthers were better than the Cowboys. The Packers were better than the Bears. And the Broncos were better than the Seahawks. At least, they were in Week One. Those were five Week One matchups from the 2018 season that have one thing in common: In all five cases, the team that won in Week One missed the playoffs, and the team that lost in Week One made the playoffs.
Cowboys are hoping to get a deal done with Dak Prescott by the season opener on Sunday - Blogging The Boys
What of those talks, though? What type of timeframe are we looking at? Stephen Jones appeared on 105.3 The Fan on Friday and added some clarification, if you want to call it that, to both Prescott and Cooper. He noted that the Cowboys are hopeful to get something done with Prescott by kickoff but also added that things are currently “very limited on Amari for a range of reasons that will eventually get worked out.”
Worst-to-first: Few seem to think 2019 Giants can do it - Big Blue View
In every NFL season it seems like there are a few surprising teams that reach the playoffs. Invariably, one or more teams go from worst in their division the year before to first in the current season. Can the New York Giants, last in the NFC East in 2018, pull that off this season. Only 8 percent of voters in SB Nation’s national FanPulse survey seem to believe they can.
The Giants’ WR corps is a big reason they shouldn’t rush to play Daniel Jones yet - SB Nation
Jones was a preseason demigod, but it’s in the team’s best long-term interest to be patient while the rookie quarterback sits behind Eli Manning.
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