Resilient Eagles look to avoid consecutive losses
2014-12-10
That's why Chip Kelly preaches: ''Praise and blame are all the same.''
After dominating the Cowboys in a 33-10 win on Thanksgiving, the Eagles had seemingly stamped themselves as one of the elite teams in the NFC. But they followed up with a 24-14 loss at home to the Seahawks that dropped into the second tier behind Green Bay (10-3), Arizona (10-3) and Seattle (9-4).
They're 9-4 and tied with Dallas for first place in the NFC East going into Sunday's rematch against the Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field.
''They understand it doesn't define you,'' Kelly said about a bad loss. ''Someone says that you played well and you're real happy about it and then someone says you play poorly. I think you have to answer to yourself.''
The Eagles have been a resilient team under Kelly. They haven't lost consecutive games since Week 7 and 8 last year. They're 16-5 since.
Each time they've lost this season, the Eagles rebounded with two straight wins. They're averaging 36 points per game following a loss. They'll need another strong bounce-back effort and the Cowboys are the perfect opponent.
''This team has good resolve,'' Kelly said. ''There's no better thing to get their attention than playing the Dallas Cowboys at home in the Linc in front of our crowd, so I think they will be fired up for it.''
The Eagles practiced indoors Tuesday because of rainy weather, focusing on the mistakes they made against Seattle.
''We don't look at it like the past game is going to dictate our success this week,'' tight end Zach Ertz said. ''It's the business of football. It's a roller coaster. The highs are high and the lows are low.''
Kelly relies on his veteran players to make sure younger guys don't dwell on losses, especially when the stakes upcoming are high.
''We have a mature group of guys so that's never a problem,'' linebacker Connor Barwin said. ''This game is so important so late in the season.''
It might be tougher for some players to forget the loss to the Seahawks because guys like Richard Sherman and Michael Bennett criticized the Eagles afterward. But the Eagles realize there's a chance they'll play the Seahawks again in the playoffs.
First, they have to beat the Cowboys.
''They were the better team, but hopefully we see them down the road,'' linebacker Trent Cole said of Seattle. ''Our focus is on Dallas. It's a very big game and we have to win.''
NOTES: The Eagles released CB Roc Carmichael without making a corresponding roster move.
NFL Preview: This year, NFLs beasts reside in NFC West 2013-09-02By Tony Jones
The Salt
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First Published Aug 31 2013 03:40 pm Last Updated Aug 31 2013 11:18 pm
The NFC East has the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants.
The Denver Broncos are the talk of the AFC West. New England annually rules the AFC East, and the Green Bay Packers almost always are a guarantee to contend in the NFC North. All are glamour franchises in the NFL. All are good to great teams this season.
Separated by 12 hours if you choose to drive are Seattle and San Francisco, home of the Seahawks and the 49ers, respectively. They are the two teams that will comprise half of the best division in the league in 2013. Two franchises that share an intense dislike for each other. Two teams with charismatic coaches, star quarterbacks, nasty defenses that are trying to knock you out of a game on each play, and guys who have no issues with telling you what they think in the media.
And, oh yes: Both are serious Super Bowl contenders.
Listen to defensive back Brandon Browner when he says that Seattle "has big goals" this year after advancing to the playoffs last season, when the Seahawks defeated the Washington Redskins and gave the Atlanta Falcons all they wanted before bowing out in the divisional round of the playoffs.
Take heed when the pundits pick the Niners to win it all behind Colin Kaepernick, his bevy of offensive weapons and a defense led by Patrick Willis, the best linebacker in the league.
Add in the Arizona Cardinals, much improved because they have Carson Palmer at quarterback, a guy who can get the ball to Larry Fitzgerald. And dont overlook the St. Louis Rams. They think Sam Bradford is about to become an elite signal-caller, and their defense is much improved now that Jeff Fisher has had a year to settle in as coach.
To say the drama finally is returning out west after years when this division was a doormat might be an understatement.
"We have high expectations for this season," Seattle coach Pete Carroll told reporters during training camp. "We wanted to have a good offseason and we wanted to have a good camp, and I thought we did that. Were ready to go for the season coming up. Im happy with how seriously the guys took things, and were ready to try to take that next step.
Seattle and San Francisco are at the forefront. The Niners have Kaepernick, a talented dual-threat quarterback with a strong arm and eye-catching physical ability. The Seahawks have Russell Wilson, smart and compact and a great leader in just his second year. The defenses are two of the best if not the two best in the league.
Draft buzz: Sharrif Floyd responds to criticism2013-04-24Floyd was asked on "NFL AM" on Tuesday morning how he responded to that type of criticism.
"In my eyes there is no roadblock that is going to stop me," Floyd said on NFL Network. "A lot of people ask me 'Do you feel as though your arms are short?' And I say, 'I don't play like my arms are short.' So my tape speaks for itself and the type of person I am speaks for itself."
Here's more draft buzz from around the NFL:
Bob McGinn's draft series for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel continued with a look at how important the sack stat is in evaluating pass rushers.
McGinn asked 16 personnel men to name the best pass rusher in the 2013 NFL Draft. Dion Jordan led with 6 1/2 votes, followed by Jarvis Jones (four), Barkevious Mingo (2 1/2), Ziggy Ansah (two) and Tank Carradine (one).
Interesting to see Ansah, who has been discussed as a top-five pick -- and was ranked by many scouts as the top defensive end -- only is viewed as the fourth-best pass rusher.
Brooks: Planning to perfection
Bucky Brooks puts on his GM hat, laying out the optimal draft-day strategies -- including contingencies -- for all 32 teams. More ...
The St. Louis Rams sent offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and quarterbacks coach Frank Cignetti to Clemson on Monday to take another look at wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Tuesday, citing a league source.
The Jacksonville Jaguars know who they'll select at No. 2 overall to the point that general manager David Caldwell said Monday that when he is on the clock Thursday, he only will wait five of the allotted 10 minutes for any last-ditch trade offers, according to The Florida Times Union.
NFL Films senior producer Greg Cosell compared Jordan to former Pro Bowl pass rusher Jason Taylor.
http://www.nfl.com
QB Carousal continues in Philly, Colts vs. Eagles Betting Preview2010-11-05Sportsbook.com Colts vs. Eagles Betting Odds: Philadelphia -3, Total: 46.5
Injuries abound as the Colts travel to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles Sunday afternoon. Indianapolis will be without TE Dallas Clark (wrist) and most likely RB Joseph Addai who is doubtful because of a shoulder injury. Indianapolis could also be missing WR Austin Collie (thumb surgery) and RB Mike Hart (ankle) who are both questionable. Collie has a better chance to play than Hart does.
The NFL betting public doesn’t seem too concerned about Indy’s injury woes as 80 percent of the Colts vs. Eagles point spread bettors are backing the visitors.
The news for Philadelphia is much brighter as QB Michael Vick will return after missing five games due to a rib injury, meaning Kevin Kolb is back to the bench. WR De’Sean Jackson has been upgraded to probable despite missing last game with a concussion. The one negative is starting CB Ellis Hobbs is unlikely to play because of a strained hip flexor, which is not good news when you face Peyton Manning.
With injuries to Addai and Hart, Donald Brown will get the full workload of carries despite his lingering hamstring problems. Brown has just 97 yards on 32 carries (3.0 YPC) with one touchdown this season.
Luckily for Indianapolis, Manning is fully healthy. He is averaging 306 passing YPG with 15 touchdowns and just two interceptions. Collie leads the team with six TD catches and has 44 receptions on just 54 targets. WR Reggie Wayne continues to be Manning’s favorite target, and is tied for fourth in the NFL with 641 receiving yards.
On the defensive side of the ball, Indianapolis ranks 28th in the league in rushing defense, allowing 133 YPG.
The poor Colts rush defense plays right into the strength of Vick who is averaging 7.2 yards per carry. LeSean McCoy has also run the ball effectively with 477 rushing yards and a 4.5 YPC to go along with five touchdowns. He also has 38 catches (27 in the past four weeks) out of the backfield for another 293 yards. Jackson helps stretch the field with a 20.8 yards-per-reception average this year, but hasn’t done much in his past three games (6 rec., 77 yds, 1 TD).
The Eagles have taken care of the football, leading the NFC with fewest giveaways (nine) and sporting a plus-7 turnover margin this season.
The Eagles have lost five of seven ATS at home, while the Colts are only 1-3 ATS on the road this year. Although they have only played four times since 1996, Indy has won each of the four meetings by 22 points or more.
This NFL betting trend found at Sportsbook.com indicates that the Colts will win again this Sunday.
Play On - Road underdogs or pick (INDIANAPOLIS) - after having won 3 out of their last 4 games against opponent after having won 4 or 5 out of their last 6 games. (39-16 over the last 5 seasons.) (70.9%, +21.4 units. Rating = 2*).
To check out all of the Colts vs. Eagles betting odds or to scan all of the NFL Week 9 betting lines, head over to Sportsbook.com now.