Time for Shady to get things started.
As the 3-1 Philadelphia Eagles prepare to face-off against the 1 -2 St. Louis Rams this afternoon at the Linc, questions abound. Will the offensive line return to some of its former glory with the return of Lane Johnson from his suspension? And please, oh please: Is this the game when LeSean McCoy will FINALLY turn up and get something going?
Rams quarterback Austin Davis, though inexperienced in the NFL, has completed 72% of his passes in three starts. The Birds defense is ranked just 23rd against the pass in the league, and according to ProFootballFocus, Cary Williams is the most targeted corner in the league since 2011. That said, the Rams are not a team filled with offensive weapons, so if Philadelphia can stand firm and not give up big plays, they should be able to contain whatever the Rams try to get going.
As for the Eagles offense, the team has got to find a way to get LeSean McCoy going. “Embarrassed” by his performance last game, even with the battered line Shady has to make it work. And this is a good game to try: the Rams have given up 155 rushing yards a game this season, also allowing a 100-yard rusher each game. Will Shady finally get on the way to 2k? Currently at 2.7 yards per carry, he’s got a loong way to go to reach his stated goal for the 2014 season.
Philadelphia’s o-line will have their hands full with uber-defensive end Robert Quinn. He is just waiting to rack up some sacks, with zero this season after finishing second in the league in 2013 with 19. With Foles already battered and bruised, the Eagles can’t let that happen. He’ll be matched up against Jason Peters, the best left tackle in the league, which will make for an important battle to watch closely during the game.
There’s a big difference between being 4-1 and 3-2. An Eagles defeat against the Rams won’t settle all uneasiness about what this team truly can and cannot do, but it would help dull the queries for a little while. Major goals of the game are to keep Foles standing and get Shady going. If those two tasks can be accomplished, Philadelphia should be able to enjoy the first day that truly feels like Fall football in Philadelphia.
Now, to get your giggles on about the Rams, view this atrocious music video to accompany the team’s song “Ram It,” when the franchise was in Los Angeles in the ’80s. Overheard on 94WIP yesterday afternoon, as bad as the song is, the video is infinitely worse. Enjoy?
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