The Philadelphia Eagles are 2-0, and my partner and I both agreed that they would take this one down. I'll be honest though if you told me that the Eagles would have nine turnovers after Week 2 and still be 2-0, I would probably would have said "not a chance in hell." They have though and despite the turnovers and bone head and untimely penalties the Eagles beat a really good football team in the Baltimore Ravens. The Eagles looked incredible in the opening drive, they marched down the field and looked as if they were going to jump to an early 7-0 lead. Then Michael Vick tried to throw across his body again, as if that wasn't a bad idea in the first game, and threw another interception. I am a huge Mike fan and think his arm strength is incredible, but Favre's arm was just as strong if not stronger and he too threw picks when he threw across his body. I get it when you think your "Superman ", as Mike has claimed back in his Atlanta days, you think there is no corner or safety that can react quick enough to defend my pass. Well they can and they have been. Aside from that, I think Vick played a very solid game. He lost 2 offensive lineman, but still stood tall in the pocket and was very successful when he needed to extend the play and move the pocket. While he did throw another pick, that one wasn't on him, Brent gave the old clap pass and it tipped into the hands of ball hawk Ed Reed. The last thing I will say about Vick is that he is a leader, I have never had this much faith in an Eagles Qb late in the fourth quarter like I do in Vick. The Birds also ran the ball rather effectively against a stingy front 7 and while they totaled over a 100 yards, they also ran the ball 40 times, as long as you include Vick's runs. As I wrap up with the offense I saved the best performance for last, Brent Celek went off yesterday. He finished the game with 8 catches for 157. That's pretty damn impressive, but the more impressive part was when he hurdled Ed Reed or was it when he got laid out by a great hit by Pollard, jumped up and gave the "I'm ok" with an emphatic first down gesture. Either way Brent Celek had a hell of a game. Now to the other side of the ball , I could write about this for a long time but I will try and keep it on the short side. The Eagles, as I stated in my first blog, have legit linebackers. Ryans looks solid as our Mac, he ended the day with 6 tackles, a sack and an interception of his own. Pretty solid for a guy many said looked like he lost a step in the preseason. Ryans has been flowing to the ball and looks solid in coverage. Ryans' partner on the defense Kendricks also looks very good. The kid has said he shoots for at least 10 tackles a gain and while he didn't get there this game he always seems to ,like DeMeco, find himself around the ball. He made a huge play at the end of the game to tip the ball away from Ray Rice to give the Eagles back the ball to take a knee and end the game. He flys around the field and looks really good in coverage, and as the season progresses he is only going to get better and better. Lastly I want to talk about Brandon Boykin. Brandon was made the starting nickel back in the preseason when the Eagles cut veteran nickel corner Joselio Hanson. Boykin is proving why the Eagles felt confident in cutting the veteran. He defended a very good slot receiver in Jacoby Jones. Even as a rookie, he made a huge play on the last drive elevating up to tip the ball away and prevent the Ravens from moving into to any sort of field goal position. While there were many positives to take away from the game the reality is if the Eagles want to continue to win and contend in the postseason, you can't have all the turnovers and dumb penalties. With that said, the Eagles find themselves seated atop the NFC East as they head out west to play an undefeated Arizona team, that just beat the Patriots. Its always tough going out west, but the Eagles owe the Cardinals for that very tough loss last year (you know the one where DeSean was benched and is the game I say prevented the Eagles from going to the postseason). So while it's nice to be on top the Eagles need to keep it going and get the win out west. I'll end this like every post, let me know what you think about the Eagles-Ravens game or thoughts on Arizona next week.
-Brett D
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