By KO Kelly
Everyone has a handful of movies that no matter how many times you have seen them, if one starts playing on TV you will stop what you are doing and settle in to watch it for the umpteenth time. Remember the Titans is one of those movies for me.
Remember the Titans is a phenomenal portrayal of a changing time and how each individual has their role to play in making the world a better, more productive place. There is no room for excuses, only action towards a goal greater than yourself. There is joy and wickedness; triumph and disaster; integrity and cowardice; redemption and despair. Basically, if you have not seen this move yet - turn on the TV in whatever cave you live in and watch it tonight.
Speaking of Titans, with two wins against seemingly stout divisional rivals, they are starting to separate from the pack and priming themselves for another playoff run. A win against the defending Super Bowl Champs would certainly raise their expectations, so our Birds need to focus on this game and not look ahead to two upcoming conference battles against the plummeting but still potent Vikings and hapless but hated Giants.
Mariota - the dream quarterback of former Eagles HC Chip Kelly (no relation) - has struggled with injuries and his number one receiving threat is seeking a trade. However, with his offensive line getting healthy, his lead tailback Henry running with a chip on his shoulder, and a depleted Eagles secondary - No. 8 will put on a show at home that makes Eagles fans begrudgingly agree with Kelly’s assessment. Luckily, our own franchise QB is healthy and back on the field again.
In some ways the return of Wentz was not as amazing as we all would have hoped for (1 TD, 2 Turnovers & 89.9 rating) but in a much more meaningful way it was everything we could have asked for. Wentz is back on the field only 9 months after his devastating knee injury and is leading this offense with the same energy and passion as his MVP-level campaign last year. Was there some rust on a few of his throws and reads, sure. But with Jeffrey and Ajayi returning this week as well - Wentz will once again start putting on his weekly quarterback clinics.
The Eagles defense once again performed exceedingly well in the red-zone, limiting T.Y. Hilton to a mere 50-yds and no touchdowns (much to the chagrin of fantasy owners such as myself). But with the injury to McLeod and their tendency not to play as well on the road - this will be a tough game for Jim Schwartz’s unit. (Note: if a sea of green takes over Nissan Stadium - this prediction is voided and instead the Eagles defensive line will feast!)
The Eagles will ultimately come away the win this weekend but we will certainly remember the Titans as one of the better and more challenging teams we play this year.
Eagles win 24 - 21
(Record 3-1)
Saturday, September 29, 2018
Friday, September 21, 2018
Eagles' Fans Await the Return of the King
By KO Kelly
Last Sunday I was traveling back from West Virginia after a 3-day camping trip/bachelor party and missed the entire Eagles game. And from what I read, it sounds like half the team did not show up for the game either.
The injury bug we caught last year has continued to wreak havoc in these first two weeks. It was one thing not to have Carson Wentz on the field but to be missing Jeffrey, Sproles, Ajayi, and now Wallace - it is no wonder this offense has been inconsistent at best. And while the defense had a pair of take-aways and sacks, they missed on two major plays from which we never recovered. Lest not forget, Elliott’s 42-yd field goal miss. He should only be able attempt +50-yd field goals. I just have more confidence in him for at that range.
Having said all that, this team keeps fighting. They may look sloppy at times but they do not give up. They were in it until the end of the game - they just need more of a spark on offense. Luckily, that spark returns this week in the form of Carson Wentz. After watching from the sidelines as his teammates made history in the playoffs, he will certainly be fired up to reclaim his rightful throne.
Before we move onto this week’s match-up, though, let’s take a moment to once again thank Foles for stepping up when his team needed him. He wasn’t impressive this pre-season or through either of these two first games but his run last year will go down in the history books as one of the most spectacular performances by any quarterback - let alone a backup.
As an amateur armchair psychologist, it is my unprofessional opinion that Foles suffers from a form of Impostor Syndrome, which is “the idea that you’ve only succeeded due to luck, and not because of your talent or qualifications”. Many people experience this feeling at some point in their lives but imagine if you just won the Super Bowl as the back-up. Even for someone as talented as Foles, it would be hard to follow-up that act, especially knowing this team belongs to Carson. It was a tall order to fill last year and I am happy we started off 1-1 this year.
Now onto this week’s game. We have the rising sensei vs former student. The 2016 #2 overall pick vs 2012 #1 overall pick. If these teams were in mid-season form - it would have the possibility of being a real shoot-out. However, after last week’s shellacking, Schwartz is going to have his men ready attack. Luck is going to be chased around all afternoon by Cox & Co and with star receiver T.Y. Hilton potentially side-lined, there will be limited options.
As for the Eagles’ offense, I expect Carson to come out hungry and aggressive. He will take some time to settle in but once he does, he is going to re-establish himself as the rising star in this league. This is also the game were Clement further cements himself as the chief workhouse in our running attack. Ajayi has splash but I am not confident in his durability.
Eagles win 35 - 10
(Record 2-1)
Last Sunday I was traveling back from West Virginia after a 3-day camping trip/bachelor party and missed the entire Eagles game. And from what I read, it sounds like half the team did not show up for the game either.
The injury bug we caught last year has continued to wreak havoc in these first two weeks. It was one thing not to have Carson Wentz on the field but to be missing Jeffrey, Sproles, Ajayi, and now Wallace - it is no wonder this offense has been inconsistent at best. And while the defense had a pair of take-aways and sacks, they missed on two major plays from which we never recovered. Lest not forget, Elliott’s 42-yd field goal miss. He should only be able attempt +50-yd field goals. I just have more confidence in him for at that range.
Having said all that, this team keeps fighting. They may look sloppy at times but they do not give up. They were in it until the end of the game - they just need more of a spark on offense. Luckily, that spark returns this week in the form of Carson Wentz. After watching from the sidelines as his teammates made history in the playoffs, he will certainly be fired up to reclaim his rightful throne.
Before we move onto this week’s match-up, though, let’s take a moment to once again thank Foles for stepping up when his team needed him. He wasn’t impressive this pre-season or through either of these two first games but his run last year will go down in the history books as one of the most spectacular performances by any quarterback - let alone a backup.
As an amateur armchair psychologist, it is my unprofessional opinion that Foles suffers from a form of Impostor Syndrome, which is “the idea that you’ve only succeeded due to luck, and not because of your talent or qualifications”. Many people experience this feeling at some point in their lives but imagine if you just won the Super Bowl as the back-up. Even for someone as talented as Foles, it would be hard to follow-up that act, especially knowing this team belongs to Carson. It was a tall order to fill last year and I am happy we started off 1-1 this year.
Now onto this week’s game. We have the rising sensei vs former student. The 2016 #2 overall pick vs 2012 #1 overall pick. If these teams were in mid-season form - it would have the possibility of being a real shoot-out. However, after last week’s shellacking, Schwartz is going to have his men ready attack. Luck is going to be chased around all afternoon by Cox & Co and with star receiver T.Y. Hilton potentially side-lined, there will be limited options.
As for the Eagles’ offense, I expect Carson to come out hungry and aggressive. He will take some time to settle in but once he does, he is going to re-establish himself as the rising star in this league. This is also the game were Clement further cements himself as the chief workhouse in our running attack. Ajayi has splash but I am not confident in his durability.
Eagles win 35 - 10
(Record 2-1)
Thursday, September 6, 2018
Falcons at Eagles Battle of the Birds Free Pick
By KO Kelly
The kick-off to the 2018 season is less than 24 hrs. away. The 7-month drought of meaningful football is finally over! While there were some bright spots this preseason - DeAndre Carter (read his story and just try not to root for him), Shelton Gibson, Jordan Mailata, etc. - in general it was certainly one to forget.
Just imagine for a second how unbearable we Eagles fans would be right now if we were not still basking in Super Bowl glory. I shudder at the thought of that level of discontent - over meaningless games! Luckily, tonight we will watch a Super Bowl banner being unfurled at the Linc and any lingering grumblings from the past 4 weeks will be completely jettisoned from our memories.
Speaking of memories, do you remember how you felt at the beginning of last season and probably most seasons before it?
If you are like me, then you knew last year - like all other years before it - was finally going to be our year. Any green-blooded fan worth their weight in cheese steaks knows it is their civic duty to believe this year things will be different. This time of year is when the city’s hopes and dreams for the upcoming season would rise like the Phoenix out of the ashes of five decades of disappointment. Even Septa would start sounding like Confucius with their inspirational “Every Fall, We Rise” banners emblazoned on their trains and buses.
But last year was different - it actually was our year! Did it play out like any of us dreamers expected? No - it played out better. For the city of Rocky to live through their own Rocky moment - there could be no better story.
With that said, I wasn’t going to let that perfect storyline stop me from attempting to write a better story arc for this season! That is until I realized it would ultimately just end up being me predicting a 19-0 season, which is fun to dream about but tedious to read.
[Although, to be completely honest, I really do think they have a shot at running the tables and pulling off an even more improbable Super Bowl run than last year. They will be doubted throughout the season due to injuries, personnel changes, and other weak excuses they steam-rolled over last year. This will fuel their fire to repeat and make them eager to shutdown doubters at every turn of the road. So just remember where you heard this wholly-unsupported and completely outlandish prediction first!]
So instead, as our fearless leader Doug would assert, let’s take it one game at a time.
The first game in our campaign to defend our title is against a familiar foe: the Atlanta Falcons.
After falling short in January, the Falcons will try to make an early statement - both to the Eagles and the NFC in general. However, the energy in the Linc after they drop the Super Bowl banner will ignite the defense as they begin their night-long shellacking of Ryan, Jones, and any other Falcon who has their eyes set on the endzone.
Foles will continue to knock off some rust in the first quarter but with support from our stable of running backs, any early misfires will be neutralized. And remember, no booing - Foles is the reigning Super Bowl MVP after all.
Throughout the rest of the game, Foles will rely heavily on Ertz and Goedert, hitting both of them for jaw-dropping TDs. We will see some good runs from Clement and Ajayi but it will be mighty mouse - Sproles - who gets the TD in his triumphant return to the field.
It will be a hard-fought game with points left on the field and missed opportunities but the score will send the message that the Eagles are a force to be reckoned with this season. There will be no doubt they are ready to fight tooth and nail to defend their title. And we are not even at full health yet!
Eagles win 21 - 6
Record (1 - 0)
The kick-off to the 2018 season is less than 24 hrs. away. The 7-month drought of meaningful football is finally over! While there were some bright spots this preseason - DeAndre Carter (read his story and just try not to root for him), Shelton Gibson, Jordan Mailata, etc. - in general it was certainly one to forget.
Just imagine for a second how unbearable we Eagles fans would be right now if we were not still basking in Super Bowl glory. I shudder at the thought of that level of discontent - over meaningless games! Luckily, tonight we will watch a Super Bowl banner being unfurled at the Linc and any lingering grumblings from the past 4 weeks will be completely jettisoned from our memories.
Speaking of memories, do you remember how you felt at the beginning of last season and probably most seasons before it?
If you are like me, then you knew last year - like all other years before it - was finally going to be our year. Any green-blooded fan worth their weight in cheese steaks knows it is their civic duty to believe this year things will be different. This time of year is when the city’s hopes and dreams for the upcoming season would rise like the Phoenix out of the ashes of five decades of disappointment. Even Septa would start sounding like Confucius with their inspirational “Every Fall, We Rise” banners emblazoned on their trains and buses.
But last year was different - it actually was our year! Did it play out like any of us dreamers expected? No - it played out better. For the city of Rocky to live through their own Rocky moment - there could be no better story.
With that said, I wasn’t going to let that perfect storyline stop me from attempting to write a better story arc for this season! That is until I realized it would ultimately just end up being me predicting a 19-0 season, which is fun to dream about but tedious to read.
[Although, to be completely honest, I really do think they have a shot at running the tables and pulling off an even more improbable Super Bowl run than last year. They will be doubted throughout the season due to injuries, personnel changes, and other weak excuses they steam-rolled over last year. This will fuel their fire to repeat and make them eager to shutdown doubters at every turn of the road. So just remember where you heard this wholly-unsupported and completely outlandish prediction first!]
So instead, as our fearless leader Doug would assert, let’s take it one game at a time.
The first game in our campaign to defend our title is against a familiar foe: the Atlanta Falcons.
After falling short in January, the Falcons will try to make an early statement - both to the Eagles and the NFC in general. However, the energy in the Linc after they drop the Super Bowl banner will ignite the defense as they begin their night-long shellacking of Ryan, Jones, and any other Falcon who has their eyes set on the endzone.
Foles will continue to knock off some rust in the first quarter but with support from our stable of running backs, any early misfires will be neutralized. And remember, no booing - Foles is the reigning Super Bowl MVP after all.
Throughout the rest of the game, Foles will rely heavily on Ertz and Goedert, hitting both of them for jaw-dropping TDs. We will see some good runs from Clement and Ajayi but it will be mighty mouse - Sproles - who gets the TD in his triumphant return to the field.
It will be a hard-fought game with points left on the field and missed opportunities but the score will send the message that the Eagles are a force to be reckoned with this season. There will be no doubt they are ready to fight tooth and nail to defend their title. And we are not even at full health yet!
Eagles win 21 - 6
Record (1 - 0)
Saturday, September 1, 2018
When Will Carson Wentz be Back Under Center?
The Eagles' four preseason games were completely forgettable since the main storyline for the Super Bowl Champs is the return of Carson Wentz as the team's starting quarterback. Philadelphia fans will be eternally indebted to Nick Foles as the MVP of Super Bowl LII, but that is yesterday's news on the eve of the 2018 NFL regular season and this Thursday's season opener against the Atlanta Falcons.
News reports out of the Novacare Complex said that the team's head coach Doug Pederson was going to make his decision on which of these two quarterbacks would get the start in Week 1. He also stated that he might decide to keep that decision private for the time being. Friday came and went and we still do not know if Wentz will be medically cleared in time to resume his role with the starting offense just five days from now.
I personally believe that Foles will get the call against Atlanta and possibly against Tampa Bay in Week 2. Wentz is far too valuable an asset to risk when it comes to the health of his recently reconstructed left knee and Foles has more than proved that he can lead this team to victory despite his less than stellar play in the preseason.
The NFL did the Eagles a huge favor by scheduling the Buccaneers, Indianapolis Colts and the Tennessee Titans in the first four weeks of the season. They could possibly beat all three of those teams with Nate Sudfeld under center. That is actually meant to be a compliment for the team's third-string quarterback.
With an eye to the future, Pederson might want to wait until Week 5 to give Wentz his job back when Philly plays host to the Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 7 in a late start at the Linc. For now, the only thing we know for sure is that Christian Hackenberg will not be under center against Atlanta after failing to latch on as the Eagles' fourth-string quarterback.
Speaking of links, the one below is to a recent article I wrote for ScoresandStats.com covering Wentz's impending return to the field.
LINK: 2018 NFL Quarterback ‘Best Bet’ Prop Picks
News reports out of the Novacare Complex said that the team's head coach Doug Pederson was going to make his decision on which of these two quarterbacks would get the start in Week 1. He also stated that he might decide to keep that decision private for the time being. Friday came and went and we still do not know if Wentz will be medically cleared in time to resume his role with the starting offense just five days from now.
I personally believe that Foles will get the call against Atlanta and possibly against Tampa Bay in Week 2. Wentz is far too valuable an asset to risk when it comes to the health of his recently reconstructed left knee and Foles has more than proved that he can lead this team to victory despite his less than stellar play in the preseason.
The NFL did the Eagles a huge favor by scheduling the Buccaneers, Indianapolis Colts and the Tennessee Titans in the first four weeks of the season. They could possibly beat all three of those teams with Nate Sudfeld under center. That is actually meant to be a compliment for the team's third-string quarterback.
With an eye to the future, Pederson might want to wait until Week 5 to give Wentz his job back when Philly plays host to the Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 7 in a late start at the Linc. For now, the only thing we know for sure is that Christian Hackenberg will not be under center against Atlanta after failing to latch on as the Eagles' fourth-string quarterback.
Speaking of links, the one below is to a recent article I wrote for ScoresandStats.com covering Wentz's impending return to the field.
LINK: 2018 NFL Quarterback ‘Best Bet’ Prop Picks
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