So many questions, so little time. Before we get to the on-the-field issues facing the Eagles this weekend, check out the injury report as of Thursday night.
- Donovan McNabb - Probable
- Brian Westbrook - Questionable
- L.J. Smith - Questionable
- Shawn Andrews - Questionable
- Tony Hunt - Probable
- Kevin Curtis - Doubtful
7 starters on offense possible out for this Sunday's game. I don't think it'll shake down like that, I think McNabb plays, Hunt plays and possibly Andrews plays. I'll be surprised if Westbrook plays and I'm never shocked when L.J. Smith misses a game.
The good news, the Bears only legit scoring threat, Devin Hester, is listed as questionable with rib problems.
After the jump I'll take a stab at pointing out the keys for this week, although I think the overwhelming priority is to just get everyone healthy.
Let's just get right into the keys:
Offense
- Keep McNabb upright. The Eagles are going to have to use more max-protect schemes because they don't have Brian Westbrook back there to pick off blitzers like a sniper. Using Buckhalter, Booker or even Hunt to protect McNabb from Urlacher and Briggs is a recipe for disaster.
- MJG or Andrews. Whoever gets the start needs to be adequate. The Eagles running game hasn't gotten off to a great start so far this season, Chicago has been very good against the run in two of their first three games. If Andrews makes it back, and he's 100%, he should be able to open up holes in the D-line. If it's Max-Jean Gilles again, well, he just needs to be average, which he was last week.
- Let Buckhalter be Buckhalter. Correll Buckhalter is not Brian Westbrook. Lorenzo Booker is not Brian Westbrook. The coaches need to change the gameplan to shift the focus from the running backs to the outside guys. When they do call an RB's number, use their strengths. Buckhalter is much better as a north/south runner, give him the ball up the gut. Booker has a better chance at getting to the edge, both can be used in the passing game. Play to their strengths.
- Loosen up the D. I want to see one shot deep per quarter, at a minimum. Send DeSean outside, if he gets a one-on-one matchup, throw it to him. He's got the ball skills to make the play, even if he doesn't catch it, it'll help stretch the defense out and create more room for the run.
Defense- Stewart, meet Matthew. Second-year MLB Stewart Bradley deserves a boatload of credit for the Eagles' performance against the run. This week, he'll have rookie Matt Forte to contend with. Forte burst onto the scene against Indy in week one with 123 yards, his yards/carry have dropped each week since then, but the Bears appear to be committed to the run (wouldn't you be if Kyle Orton was your QB?) so Bradley and Co. need to make them rethink that strategy by stuffing the run early.
- Asante, meet Brandon. After matching up with Tory Holt, T.O. and Hines Ward in the first three games, seeing Brandon Lloyd line up against him may seem like child's play to Samuel, but Lloyd is coming off an excellent game against Tampa.
- Kyle, meet your maker. When this game is over I want Kyle Orton's jersey to be dirtier than Ben Roethlisberger's was last Sunday. I want this kid blitzed, blitzed and blitzed some more. I want him on his back, I want him running for his life, I want to see happy feet in the pocket and dying quails in the air being picked off. It's highly questionable that he even belongs in the league, let's make him rethink his career choice after this one.
- Weapon X, welcome back. I only wish there were more articles in the paper questioning Brian Dawkins this week. He eats that type of motivation up.
Special Teams- THIS. IS. VERY. SIMPLE. If Devin Hester plays, kick the ball out of bounds. Give Kyle Orton the ball on the 40 yard line after every single score. Look at it this way, if you kick the ball to Devin Hester 10 times, I'd say the odds are about 70/30 in favor of him bringing one back for a touchdown. If you give the ball to Orton on the 40 ten times, I'd say odds are about 80/20 against him driving this team 60 yards for a score. Don't let your special teams submarine your defense.
To see why even Bears fans think the Eagles are going to win this one, check out
Ricky's preview over on Tremendous Upside Potential. His prediction has me a little worried, though. He's 0/3 so far this season in his Bears' predictions. His prediction probably has more to do with the epic choke job the ChiSox just finished up in Minnesota than football, though.
I think the Eagles win this game 17-10 or so with a late TD by the bears making it closer than it actually is...
the defense will dominate the bears one sided attack and maybe score a TD.
The offense will likely sputter with no westbrook and a game but not 100% Mcnabb(again ?!?)
When Mcnabb is 100% hes top 3 in the league. The problem is he is almost NEVER 100% for more than 2 games in a row.
I hate to say it but its looking like the same story different year with the Eagles. Mcnabb can never stay healthy...he just cant. and then he plays (when maybe he shouldnt) and throws 10 passes in the dirt or way over his receivers heads a game. We then wait the entire season for him to get himself "right"...
I hope/pray that isnt the case with his latest injury.
and LJ Smith ? A wonderful tease but he will never be 100% for an entire year...I dont see him on the birds next year. Time to move Celek ahead of schedule.
The good news for Celek is that being L.J. Smith's backup always means a ton of reps in the games.
God, when I read that "epic choke job" line last night, it took all my willpower to stop me from sending you the nastiest email of all-time. Now, i'll just call you an asshole.
By the way, there's at a 40% chance Urlacher and Briggs break both of DeSean Jackson's legs on Sunday. Even when the Bears lose, they make their mark. And the Bears have a GOOD chance to win too.
32-31 since the All Star break, 9-13 in September. The ChiSox don't deserve to be in the playoffs. They were lucky to have hung around this long.
As for the Bears, they have a shot at winning this game, I don't think I'd call it "good" though. I don't think you can ever really say the Bears have a good shot at beating anyone as long as Orton is their QB. That being said, if McNabb isn't healthy and Westbrook doesn't play the Eagles may only win by a touchdown.
Hate to be a party pooper, but Westbrook is out.
Good news is, I think the Eagles could win it without him if the D plays like they did last week.