The same may apply here as with the Jets; the
Eagles seem to be coming together because they’ve sorted out how best to use
the players they have on the roster. This fits with the theory about the impact
of the lockout, and how it hit some teams particularly badly; I’ve talked about
why Philadelphia may fall into this category, so I won’t bore you again (it isn’t
my original theory anyway!)
Last week, Vick and the Eagles were very
impressive. One of the reasons it’s beginning to click on offense is that
they’ve moved away from just a big play team and come to terms with just moving
the chains before trying to complete a 50 yard TD pass, or break off a huge
running play. If Philadelphia can stick with that mentality, then they can
become the sum of their stellar parts. If not, and they get too cocky on the
back of some success, then it’s back to broken plays and Vick scrambling
nowhere and throwing picks.
Vick has plenty of weapons now that he’s looking beyond
his own running and his primary receivers, and although I expect DeSean Jackson
and Jeremy Maclin to get targeted deep and LeSean McCoy to see plenty of
touches (another smart tweak by Reid) look for Celek and Avant underneath
against the Bears’ Cover-Two defense to keep the offense rolling. Chicago’s
safeties have struggled all season and can be exploited.
Jay Cutler is still working behind a weak O line,
and tonight could bet very tough against the Eagles’ Wide-Nine pass rush. His
already pretty average options downfield should be further limited as Chicago
is forced to drop TEs into pass protection if Cutler comes under too much
pressure as Philadelphia bring everyone, safe in the knowledge that even if he
throws back against the pressure, their corners will cope.
Cutler’s lifeline will be Matt Forte and expect him
to be used in screens (why the Bills weren’t doing that with Jackson until late
in the game, I’ll never understand) to try and break up the defense and attack
the weakest element of that D; the Eagles linebackers. Forte has been
outstanding so far, even in this limited O, and he’s a threat to score tonight.
Giving up more than a TD in MNF is crazy, and if
these teams were called A and B, I’d take the points, but the way these two
match up, I just can’t see Chicago hanging in there. Let’s just hope hubris and
showmanship don’t get the better of the ‘dream team’ on national TV.
Pick:
Eagles -7.5 @ 1.91; -110; 10/11
Pick:
1st TD Michael Vick @ 13; 1200; 12/1
Pick:
Anytime TD Jeremy Maclin @ 2.1; 110; 11/10
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