by Ray Koob
OVERALL
With Week 3’s action around the league, we start to get a better handle on who every team really is right now. Maybe Buffalo really is that strong, and that with or without the fantastic Vince Young, the Titans really are a well-made football team. Week 3 also revealed the depth that a few franchises have fallen to…St. Louis, Kansas City,Cincy, Cleveland, and of course Detroit (Farewell, Monsieur Millen!)…take your choice. As we head into the end of the first month of the season, watch the cream rise, the dust settle, and that big fat pack in between start to thin out a bit.
DA BIRDS
With last Sunday’s “W” at The Linc over our cross-state neighbors, the Eagles showed themselves to be a tough, deep and resilient squad who seemingly can hang tough together through almost anything. Still, they are hanging back in the pack, and need a win in McNabb’s hometown to keep pace in The Beast that is the NFC East.
The defense reportedly was handed the assignment of winning it on Sunday, in part due to the shellacking they took at the hands of the Dallas offense, and partly to counteract the devastating week the offensive line experienced in the wake of Jamal Jackson’s brother’s death in an auto accident in Florida. It may not be easy to picture 300+ lineman all consoling and salving one of their own’s wounded heart, but that’s the way it seems to have gone down. And that kind of business takes a lot of personal energy. To their credit, the O line, including Jamal, played very, very well, and kept pressure off McNabb for most of the game, while opening some nice holes, mainly for Correll Buckhalter, who had a good, solid game filling in for the injured Brian Westbrook .
In short, a true team effort. With Westbrook unlikely to play (no matter what we are being told), and McNabb smarting from what the team called a chest contusion (my sources say that the ribs are involved, too, and that is never good), the backups need to be up-to-speed, and ready on a moment’s notice. My man, Reggie Brown should contribute more in the receiving game, as DeSean Jackson, Hank Baskett and Jason Avant continue to gel.
“Amazing!!!” is all I can say about the Birds defense, especially the run game, which is giving up a mere 45.7 ypg (ranked #1) and is the #4 overall D in the league. BDawk stepped it up with his best game this season, the LBs played recklessly, and Brodrick Bunkley had the kind of game that gets a guy a trip to Hawaii, if he keeps it up throughout the season. One guy who is not getting nearly as much love as his play deserves, Juqua Parker had a slammin’ day against the Steelers, and teamed with Trent Cole, should continue to pinch Kyle Orton’s head this week, too.
DA BEARS
Da Bears are no slouch in the defensive department either, ranked #4 against the run, after 3 weeks. Vets like Ogunleye and Harris up front, Urlacher, Briggs and Hillenmeyer at linebacker, and hard-hitting corner Nathan Vasher and safety Mike Brown comprise an awesome force in the Monsters of the Midway tradition. Most of those guys are nicked up, with limited practice so far this week, but expect most, if not all, to play on Sunday night against our Birds.
McNabb needs to exploit their 18th ranked pass defense to have a shot to break this game open.
On the offensive side, the Bears can run the ball, so that is an area they need to have success in, and the Birds defense needs to attack, like they did against Pittsburgh. Shutting down the run is a key to victory for Philly.
Forget Kyle Orton; I’ll be the 2nd most shocked guy in town should he be the reason the Bears pull off a win. The most surprised? Jim Johnson. And there are no really good or prospective backups on the depth chart at QB. His Receivers are OK, but when the Great Recycleds (Brandon Lloyd and Marty Booker) are your best wideouts, you are not a very good passing team. Oh yeah, their passing game is ranked #17. Gotta be a reason for that – here it is – their passing game just sucks.
OFFENSE VS DEFENSE
PASSING – EDGE BIRDS – Better QB, better receivers, and an offensive line that takes protecting their quarterback very seriously
RUSHING – EDGE BEARS – Unless Westbrook shocks everyone and plays on Sunday, the Chicago front seven should do a good job of containing, but not completely shutting down, Buckhalter and Lorenzo Booker.
ON THE LINE – EDGE BIRDS – A week after dealing with a loss in the extended Bird’s O-line family, Jamal and his band of brothers bring it big time at Soldier Field in prime time.
DEFENSE VS OFFENSE
PASSING – EDGE BIRDS – Jim Johnson attacking defense makes mince meat of Orton, Grossman and anyone else they trot out there. Secondary showed its mettle against Pittsburgh, and keeps that roll going.
RUSHING – #1 DEFENSE AGAINST THE RUSH…any questions?
ON THE LINE – EDGE BIRDS – It’s gonna be a war of inches in the trenches, and while Garza, Kreutz, Tait and company are good players, the Birds line has bottled up Willie Parker, Steven Jackson, and kept Marion Barber to his lowest rushing total of the season.
SPECIAL TEAMS
EDGE BEARS – Even if Devin Hester is out, the drop off to Danieal Manning (kickoffs) and Nathan Vasher (punts) is not huge, and they could fill the void, if needed. With Hester, they are a danger to score every time they receive the ball. Robbie Gould is a very good kicker in his prime, but Brad Maynard is no Sav Rocca, who is making a big name for himself. This one could go PUSH if Jackson or Quintin Demps start showing up Hester on the Sunday Night Football stage.
RAY PICKS IT!!!
The Bears are probably better than their 1-2 record, but you are what your record says you are. They are a typical Bears team; Solid defense, a strong running game, and well-coached, but just a couple years removed from a Super Bowl, they are a team that is at once too young and getting too old. They are super-skilled in some areas, and barely making it in others.
The Eagles come in on a palpable roll. Their energy in the first three weeks of the season makes me think that this could be a “let’s get nuts” kind of week for our side. Still, the X factor regarding Westbrook and McNabb (not to mention a few other of the walking wounded) makes me think this one will be closer than it should be. Remember, most of this team feels like they owe the Bears one after last year’s loss. Birds win, 28-17, and set the stage for the following week against the Dedskins.